What car: ca. £28k; 4 seats; 300+ HP

What car: ca. £28k; 4 seats; 300+ HP

Author
Discussion

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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dunc69 said:
Good luck Bob. Hope you can get a cracking deal!

Let us know how you get on!
Thanks Dunc: I’ll be sure to provide closure to the thread if/when I buy something!

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
Mr_Megalomaniac said:
Enjoying reading the reviews and your impressions Bob.
I know it was recommended earlier but I'd suggest looking into the XE S as well. There's 3.0l supercharged V6, produces 335bhp (2015-2017) and revised to produce 375bhp from 2018 onwards.
Good luck with the rest of the list to choose from!
The XE S was my ‘first love’ when settling in a shortlist: there was a beautiful 18 plate in Firenze red, with black wheels and all the options, for sale in Devon a few months ago (let’s call it “Fiona”). Fiona sat in my AT saved adverts for 6 months or so, and I was counting down the days until I’d paid off enough of my current loan to be able to afford her...

One day I noticed the price had been dropped by £500: my beautiful dream car was closer than ever! I frantically searched for a way to pay off my loan, get to Devon and buy the Jag... a week later it had disappeared from AT. Panicked, I went to the dealer’s own website in a vain hope the AT advert had simply expired. Alas and alack, Fiona had disappeared from there as well, my dream car gone...

Since then, XE Ss have been few and far between (there’s one within 80 miles of me), and none even come close to the spec of Fiona, and the standard interior feels very incongruous at that price point, so anything short of Fiona will surely be a disappointment.

If a high-spec ones comes up, I’ll jump all over it. Until then, I’ll always have my memories and dreams of the one that got away...

andrew333

1 posts

93 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
Just buy what you want the more you ask others the more confused you will get.
its your cash make your own mind up you will be happier .
What do you want to go that fast for bloody speed cameras everywhere, good hunting hope you keep your licence.

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
andrew333 said:
Just buy what you want the more you ask others the more confused you will get.
its your cash make your own mind up you will be happier .
What do you want to go that fast for bloody speed cameras everywhere, good hunting hope you keep your licence.
I had every intention of buying something I wanted: I do, however, like to ‘bounce’ things off PH, as (as demonstrated in this very thread) people can often suggest options which might not previously have been considered, or be able to provide unique insight to a vehicle that cannot be garnered by a test drive alone...

I appreciate your concern for my licence: arguably there’s no need for such low 0-60 times. My counter-argument would be is there any need for anything beyond a Davis Sandero..? Maybe not...

Anyway, today I put down a deposit on this little beauty:

https://www.baytreecars.com/stock/mercedes-benz-3-...

My reasons:
- the Stinger, whilst the sensible and economical choice, just didn’t feel ‘special’ enough, especially inside.
- the 540i I had my eye on (very well-specced: adaptive suspension, HUD, sunroof, tech pack) and even made an offer on (£700 below asking: rejected) has now sold.
- I couldn’t find a 3/440i made before June 2018 (for the MPPSK) anywhere near me.
- the C43 seemed to be the perfect middle ground between wafty comfort (5 series) and handling. It also didn’t feel too big on the road.
- my BIL is a workshop manager at a Mercedes commercial outlet, so can do stamped servicing at a useful discount.
- the c43 dealer (independent place near Derby) was the most helpful of the lot.

I collect it on Saturday: very much looking forward to it!

dmsims

6,450 posts

266 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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Looks nice in that colour (and not a jelly mould in sight smile )

dunc69

687 posts

246 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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Great choice and stunning motor! Enjoy it Bob!

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
andrew333 said:
Just buy what you want the more you ask others the more confused you will get.
its your cash make your own mind up you will be happier .
What do you want to go that fast for bloody speed cameras everywhere, good hunting hope you keep your licence.
Hey mate chill, you know you can break limits in a 1.0 Aygo! He wants a fast car because he wants one which means he's he's actually doing what you're telling him to do.

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
dmsims said:
Looks nice in that colour (and not a jelly mould in sight smile )
Sorry, don’t get the jelly mould comment: someone is going to have to explain that to me!

dmsims

6,450 posts

266 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
bobsavage789 said:
dmsims said:
Looks nice in that colour (and not a jelly mould in sight smile )
Sorry, don’t get the jelly mould comment: someone is going to have to explain that to me!
Some Mercs to my eye looked like they plopped from a jelly mould (and not in a good way!)

Althalus

341 posts

238 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
bobsavage789 said:
andrew333 said:
Just buy what you want the more you ask others the more confused you will get.
its your cash make your own mind up you will be happier .
What do you want to go that fast for bloody speed cameras everywhere, good hunting hope you keep your licence.
I had every intention of buying something I wanted: I do, however, like to ‘bounce’ things off PH, as (as demonstrated in this very thread) people can often suggest options which might not previously have been considered, or be able to provide unique insight to a vehicle that cannot be garnered by a test drive alone...

I appreciate your concern for my licence: arguably there’s no need for such low 0-60 times. My counter-argument would be is there any need for anything beyond a Davis Sandero..? Maybe not...

Anyway, today I put down a deposit on this little beauty:

https://www.baytreecars.com/stock/mercedes-benz-3-...

My reasons:
- the Stinger, whilst the sensible and economical choice, just didn’t feel ‘special’ enough, especially inside.
- the 540i I had my eye on (very well-specced: adaptive suspension, HUD, sunroof, tech pack) and even made an offer on (£700 below asking: rejected) has now sold.
- I couldn’t find a 3/440i made before June 2018 (for the MPPSK) anywhere near me.
- the C43 seemed to be the perfect middle ground between wafty comfort (5 series) and handling. It also didn’t feel too big on the road.
- my BIL is a workshop manager at a Mercedes commercial outlet, so can do stamped servicing at a useful discount.
- the c43 dealer (independent place near Derby) was the most helpful of the lot.

I collect it on Saturday: very much looking forward to it!
Glad you found something you love. Looks like a great car!

Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Great thread. I'm possibly going to be in the same situation a little later this year (if I don't find a lease deal I like), and had a similar shortlist (no 540i though, just 340/440), but at the start thought my choice would be Stinger, C43 or S4, with the C43 probably favourite.

Enjoy the car and do update the thread once you've had it for a few weeks.

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
dmsims said:
Some Mercs to my eye looked like they plopped from a jelly mould (and not in a good way!)
Fair enough. Thankfully I didn’t buy the C43 for its exterior styling: it’s not much of a looker, that’s for sure!

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Actus Reus said:
Great thread. I'm possibly going to be in the same situation a little later this year (if I don't find a lease deal I like), and had a similar shortlist (no 540i though, just 340/440), but at the start thought my choice would be Stinger, C43 or S4, with the C43 probably favourite.

Enjoy the car and do update the thread once you've had it for a few weeks.
Glad you’ve enjoyed the ride!

I shall of course give the people/Actus Reus what they want and report back with any interesting findings.

AR: let me know if you’ve any questions about the Merc/Stinger: I may only have bought one of them, but have spent seemingly ages researching them!

I’m also happy to share AT ads for some appealing examples (depending on your budget).

Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Thanks Bob - I've spent a bit of time reading about them and I've driven a C63, but that was at Mercedes Benz World so it passed in a blur of sliding and wheel spinning.

I guess my first impressions are that the Kia is too long and the Merc is now a bit long in the tooth and the various infotainment is a bit dated. Is that fair or does it feel up-to-date in the Merc? And just how much bigger is the Stinger in practice? The Stinger's 7 year warranty has a lot to recommend it, as does the rarity. I was surprised that the cabin felt small, though.

dunc69

687 posts

246 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
AR, happy to help you with any Stinger questions. Have had mine for nearly a year. In short, absolutely love it!

Also see my Kia Stinger GTS 2019 thread in Readers’ Cars.


bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Actus Reus said:
Thanks Bob - I've spent a bit of time reading about them and I've driven a C63, but that was at Mercedes Benz World so it passed in a blur of sliding and wheel spinning.

I guess my first impressions are that the Kia is too long and the Merc is now a bit long in the tooth and the various infotainment is a bit dated. Is that fair or does it feel up-to-date in the Merc? And just how much bigger is the Stinger in practice? The Stinger's 7 year warranty has a lot to recommend it, as does the rarity. I was surprised that the cabin felt small, though.
Whilst the idea of a C63 sounds very appealing, I've read/heard they're actually nowhere near as usable in the real world as its lesser-powered sibling: RWD means any bit of damp on the roads makes the tyres spin, and then you've got the running costs. Obviously the sound and performance are glorious...

I'd agree that the C class desperately needed a facelift at the very least, so yes, the cabin does feel dated; especially with that silly screen plonked on top. I'd argue the lack of 'styling' (in the nicest possible way, Dunc!) means the Stinger's cabin is sort of timeless, but it felt very utilitarian to me... depends how much you care about interior styling. I do love the open-pore wood in the Merc though! Of the 3 I tested, the 5 series had by far the nicest cabin, both in terms of styling and quality.

The infotainment in the C43 does everything I need it to: I can play music from my mobile 'phone, can make hands-free calls, the sat-nav is clear enough and the menus seems to make sense (to me, anyway). It doesn't, however, have Carplay/Android Auto, so that might be a turn-off for some.

In terms of sizes, the Mercedes is only 15cm or so shorter and 6cm narrower, so not much in it in pure numbers. It may be that the Kia has a lower roof and the C43 I've bought had a panoramic sunroof, so the Kia felt darker and more cramped inside: it may have been useful to sit in one with the lighter leather.

As I've said many times, the Kia would doubtlessly have given me many years of worry-free motoring, and I am already fretting about what to do when the 6 month warranty on the Merc runs out, but it just 'felt' like the car for me... I suppose it helped that the wife much preferred the Mercedes!

Oh and I'd thoroughly recommend Dunc69's Kia Stinger thread in Readers' Cars: I found it very useful and he's very good at responding to questions on there!

Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Thanks both - appreciate that. I’ll have a look at Dunc’s thread. Both cars have always appealed to me quite a lot - a lot to be said for each of them.

dunc69

687 posts

246 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
bobsavage789 said:
Actus Reus said:
Thanks Bob - I've spent a bit of time reading about them and I've driven a C63, but that was at Mercedes Benz World so it passed in a blur of sliding and wheel spinning.

I guess my first impressions are that the Kia is too long and the Merc is now a bit long in the tooth and the various infotainment is a bit dated. Is that fair or does it feel up-to-date in the Merc? And just how much bigger is the Stinger in practice? The Stinger's 7 year warranty has a lot to recommend it, as does the rarity. I was surprised that the cabin felt small, though.
Whilst the idea of a C63 sounds very appealing, I've read/heard they're actually nowhere near as usable in the real world as its lesser-powered sibling: RWD means any bit of damp on the roads makes the tyres spin, and then you've got the running costs. Obviously the sound and performance are glorious...

I'd agree that the C class desperately needed a facelift at the very least, so yes, the cabin does feel dated; especially with that silly screen plonked on top. I'd argue the lack of 'styling' (in the nicest possible way, Dunc!) means the Stinger's cabin is sort of timeless, but it felt very utilitarian to me... depends how much you care about interior styling. I do love the open-pore wood in the Merc though! Of the 3 I tested, the 5 series had by far the nicest cabin, both in terms of styling and quality.

The infotainment in the C43 does everything I need it to: I can play music from my mobile 'phone, can make hands-free calls, the sat-nav is clear enough and the menus seems to make sense (to me, anyway). It doesn't, however, have Carplay/Android Auto, so that might be a turn-off for some.

In terms of sizes, the Mercedes is only 15cm or so shorter and 6cm narrower, so not much in it in pure numbers. It may be that the Kia has a lower roof and the C43 I've bought had a panoramic sunroof, so the Kia felt darker and more cramped inside: it may have been useful to sit in one with the lighter leather.

As I've said many times, the Kia would doubtlessly have given me many years of worry-free motoring, and I am already fretting about what to do when the 6 month warranty on the Merc runs out, but it just 'felt' like the car for me... I suppose it helped that the wife much preferred the Mercedes!

Oh and I'd thoroughly recommend Dunc69's Kia Stinger thread in Readers' Cars: I found it very useful and he's very good at responding to questions on there!
Cheers Bob, interesting insight as ever. Enjoy the Merc mate! Lovely car.....

quinny100

920 posts

185 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Very nice example that, the Driving Assistance package is great.

bobsavage789

Original Poster:

647 posts

53 months

Monday 13th July 2020
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Time to update everyone after my first couple of days:

Picked her up on Sunday, then had an hour and a half journey to get to grips with things:

1) the infotainment really takes some getting used to! I didn’t find it very intuitive at all.
2) it sounds superb, even without the sports exhaust.
3) the acceleration off the line is incredible: having 4WD is a big help, but the auto ‘box is also very quick.
4) in Eco/Comfort, it’s actually a very comfortable, relaxing drive
5) the adaptive cruise control is great, although the controls feel a lot cheaper (on a funny stalk) than the Golf GTI I had.
6) using the lane keep assist requires enormous cojones: it often didn’t recognise the edge of a roadway if there was no white line there, so I must have seemed like a drunk driver at times! It works great on a motorway though...
7) not having had a 4WD car before, the acceleration around corners is something I’ll have to get used to: it’s relentless!

Anyway, here are some gratuitous images: