Small(ish), yet refined?

Small(ish), yet refined?

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Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Trying to help my dad find a new car. He wants to downsize from his 2007 E-class estate, but without losing much in the way of quality and refinement. Has to seat four adults in comfort. Budget is £20k, but it must be under 5 years old/40k miles.

I've just taken him to see an F31 335d Luxury, thinking it would be ideal. Sadly not - lots of road noise and the engine, which I thought as a six cylinder would be vastly superior to the four pot, wasn't great either. Seemed no more settled than my old E39 530d!

We've also been to look at the Lexus CT200h, which might've won out on NVH, but we didn't even get as far as test driving due to poor rear seat space/access.

So, any ideas?

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Yearly mileage?

yajeed

4,888 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Jag XF (though rear headroom wasn’t great on the previous model and I’m not sure you’ll get a newer one).

My XJ is noticably quieter than my 330d (inside and noticably from outside); starting them both when nose to nose and standing behind the jag, I can only hear the 3 series.

Lexis is a decent shout - maybe one of the larger models for rear space - an IS?

Wooda80

1,743 posts

74 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Part of the issue with your search is that your dad will have become so accustomed to his Mercedes, which in turn will have worn and softened to fit around him.

It's rather like replacing your favourite old shoes with a new pair which, whilst much more smart serviceable and durable, pinch and rub uncomfortably until you have worn them in. Unfortunately you are not going to overcome this on any kind of test drive.

It might be worth setting your dad's expectations regarding this before he rules out any more contenders.

335 Lux is probably going to as good as anything else on offer saloon wise. Things like Jeep Grand Cherokees are big lazy comfy things you don't mind an SUV

henrycrun

2,448 posts

239 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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I can't advise but the HJ car picker might help
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/chooser/

PSRG

643 posts

125 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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If he likes the Merc, why not look at a petrol C class estate that’s not in AMG trim with 19” wheels. Something like this...?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
Yearly mileage?
10-15k. If this is leading you on to recommending a petrol instead, then fear not, we're considering petrols too. He wants a significant improvement on his E500 though, and that manages over 30mpg on a motorway run...

yajeed said:
Jag XF (though rear headroom wasn’t great on the previous model and I’m not sure you’ll get a newer one).

My XJ is noticably quieter than my 330d (inside and noticably from outside); starting them both when nose to nose and standing behind the jag, I can only hear the 3 series.

Lexis is a decent shout - maybe one of the larger models for rear space - an IS?
XF is too big, sadly. It needs to be XE/3er/C class -sized maximum. Something even smaller (Golf sized) earns it more points still.

Forgot to say, needs to have a hatch. No saloons. Sadly that rules out the IS300h as it never came as a wagon.

Wooda80 said:
Part of the issue with your search is that your dad will have become so accustomed to his Mercedes, which in turn will have worn and softened to fit around him.

It's rather like replacing your favourite old shoes with a new pair which, whilst much more smart serviceable and durable, pinch and rub uncomfortably until you have worn them in. Unfortunately you are not going to overcome this on any kind of test drive.

It might be worth setting your dad's expectations regarding this before he rules out any more contenders.

335 Lux is probably going to as good as anything else on offer saloon wise. Things like Jeep Grand Cherokees are big lazy comfy things you don't mind an SUV
Love the 'old shoes' analogy - shall pass that on!

Jeep GCs are too big sadly, although the raised rise height is a nice to have.

poing

8,743 posts

199 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Synchromesh said:
Something even smaller (Golf sized) earns it more points still.
Has he tried a Golf or Audi A3 then?

yajeed

4,888 posts

253 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Left field;Tesla Model 3 and offset the extra cost through reduced running costs and depreciation?

lord trumpton

7,321 posts

125 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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what about a nissan note? Very popular with the older generation and seem fairly spacious

or a b class?

kieranblenk

865 posts

133 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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My twopence...

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Skoda Yeti/Octavia Laurin & Klement
Range Rover Evoque
Volvo V40 Inscription
DS5

Hopefully at least one of those may fit the bill.

bennno

11,516 posts

268 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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Yeti is a good call, well made, brilliant ride quality, DSG box refined, very comfortable, 1.2TSI ok speed wise + cheap to buy.

Dolf Stoppard

1,318 posts

121 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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lord trumpton said:
what about a nissan note? Very popular with the older generation and seem fairly spacious

or a b class?
I suspect with a budget of £20k, annual mileage of 10-15k, and having already rejected a 3 series as not refined enough, a Nissan Note is not going to fit the bill!

Easternlight

3,424 posts

143 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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+1 on the Yeti , bought an elegance last year to tow with AMD it's a very nice place to be, the heated leather seats are softer and more comfortable than my Audi.
Had a look at the new Karoq in the dealers last week and that also has a nice feel to it, £20k plus a bit would get a new one, or the same thing with a Seat badge.

Shiv_P

2,727 posts

104 months

Sunday 28th January 2018
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You might be able to squeeze into a nice B9 A4. Much better than 3 series and equal C class for road noise and comfort.

tickedon

121 posts

76 months

Monday 29th January 2018
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Shiv_P said:
You might be able to squeeze into a nice B9 A4. Much better than 3 series and equal C class for road noise and comfort.
Should easily be able to get a nice B9 A4, probably about a year old in Avant estate form.

Otherwise I was going to suggest looking at a Volvo V60.

talksthetorque

10,815 posts

134 months

Monday 29th January 2018
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Merc GLA?
I think the GLC is out of range price wise, as the cheapest I can see on Autotrader is 26k. I say Autotrader, as Pistonheads classifieds have not deemed the GLC worthy enough of a tickbox on the search funciton.
Not sure on rear room either but worth a look I would have thought.


Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Monday 29th January 2018
quotequote all
Wow, thanks for all the responses. A bit too many to quote but I'll try to address all the cars put forward:

New Mercs (C-class, B-class, GLA, etc) - We find the interiors a bit gaudy
Mondeo - Too long
Golf - Assumed it wouldn't have the refinement of it's posher A3 sibling
A3 - Had the saloon as a company car last year. Didn't find it much to write home about
A4 - Good shout - borrowed my bosses one and loved it. Dad's previous DSG car needed a new 'box at 40k miles so that always puts us off VWG stuff if auto is a must, but might be worth giving one a second chance, we were probably just unlucky last time
Model 3 - Loving the lateral thinking, but nowhere to change it as no off-street parking (hence wanting a shorter car...)
Note - Errr, moving swiftly on
2 Series Active Tourer - much quieter than the F31?
Skodas - Won't have the NVH of the Audi, surely?
Evoque - Too flashy
V40/V60 - I like these, but the interiors look cheap in the photos. Maybe better in real life?
DS5 - Ugly (sorry)

Apologies if that all sounds a bit dismissive. Just trying to be realistic about what my dad will think of them.

In summary, I think the B9 A4, and possibly the Volvos are worth a look/drive. I've also discovered the Peugeot 3008 (ventured outside of my German barge comfort zone!) - anyone had one?

bennno

11,516 posts

268 months

Monday 29th January 2018
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Yeti is a good piece of kit. Drives well, rides as nicely as anything without a 2 ton weight and air suspension - wouldn't discount without looking.

We got one on a £99 month lease, purely as it was cheap. Its surprised me to the degree that I cancelled my c350e order at work and will just keep my car allowance and buy it from the lease company if they come up with a sensible valuation.