Estate, 20k, ULEZ, not depressing

[ChattingWham]

On the 5GT -- the configuration of the rear seats is model-dependent. Some of them had two executive-style seats, with no middle seat. Others had a quasi-bench (although the middle seat is still occasional only). Pretty sure the rear seats move back and forward too, and recline. Kids won't feel short-changed in the back, that's for sure. It's a cabin environment from the class above, really.

The seats do fold but they don't go completely flat. You'd probably need to poke around one in the metal to see if your rods etc would fit in. It is certainly a long car so I would be optimistic but I'm not a fisherman/angler so I can't say for sure.

I'd forgotten that the 6GT existed! Basically the same thing. It was there and gone again in a flash so I don't think there are many around, whereas the 5GT was on sale for eight years.

[ChattingWham]

Oh and yes, the parcel shelf can be removed -- there's a storage compartment for it built in.

[otolith]

There is not, estates start at 2020 for about 30k.

Never quite understood what the Arteon is about, though - is it a fancy Passat?

[ChattingWham]

(sorry, me again)

If you're open to vast, luxurious oddities, the other one that's popped into my head that might be worth a look is a Mercedes R-Class.

[anonymous-user]

Walk past the estates, and towards the proper cars please sir.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206086...

FFRR. 4.2l petrol supercharged engine. Waftlicious.

Or this one with an extra 0.8 of a litre for additional serenity.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112130...

[otolith]

The 5 GT is a viable option, I think. The R class is a bit too MPV-ish.

[aussieal]

otolith said:

I've got two cars to offload and was planning to trade one of them in against whatever I buy, so buying privately leaves me with the problem of having to sell another one - but I was interested in your reasons for selling. You mention in your thread that it feels cramped inside and there's little space behind you (6'2) for a tall 5 year old in a booster seat. I do have a slight concern about rear legspace. My OH and I are both 5'6 ish, but we've got two teenagers and their father is quite tall. The boy is a couple of inches taller than us already at 14 and still growing rapidly, and is moaning about legroom in the back of her CLK. I did read that the sports seats in the S4 reduced legroom compared to boggo A4s, and that they weren't all that spacious to begin with, is this likely to be a problem?

Understood re the challenges of a private sale x 2!

On space, generally it does feel very compact inside - previous family wagon was a current shape Passat estate, which was vast inside. Still, the S4 is a far nicer place to be.

At 6'2" my main challenge is getting comfy in the front, when my OH, who is 5'7" is driving absolutely no issue for her or for the kids in the back. In fact when she's driving there's plenty of the room for me in the back as I've done that a few times when out with friends and the car seats have been removed.

I struggle, because I really like the car but the above, combined with increased mileage at current pump prices, just makes me think it's time to go. Someone is going to get a very clean S4 though, that won't need anything doing anytime soon.

[otolith]

3 series GT looks more spacious than the 3 series estate. Think I might have to go kick some tyres this weekend.

[ingenieur]

Oh go on, buy another E-Class. I'm on my 3rd and looking for a 4th. You could by my old one, it is ULEZ.

[757]

leef44 said:

Subaru Legacy 3.0R Save the pennies for fuel and maintenance. It won't depreciate.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

Nice! Love these. But the VED rate would be a stinger when it comes around for me - very annoying!

[otolith]

ingenieur said:

Oh go on, buy another E-Class. I'm on my 3rd and looking for a 4th. You could by my old one, it is ULEZ.

Nah, I'm done. Garage has now had mine since the 15th trying to fix the rear air suspension.

[aussieal]

otolith said:

3 series GT looks more spacious than the 3 series estate. Think I might have to go kick some tyres this weekend.

I watched a few videos on the 6GT last night, the boot on those is bigger than the G31 touring

Going to go and check a few out this week that are local, to get a feel for them. Seem to offer a good mix of size and practicality. Imagine the 3GT is similar, just on a smaller scale.

[Pistonheader101]

otolith said:

3 series GT looks more spacious than the 3 series estate. Think I might have to go kick some tyres this weekend.

wouldn't waste your time mate. Its a boat.

my 335d xdrive gt m sport had halogen lights. would have though LED would have been standard on them.

[draytonians]

aussieal said:

Without wanting to breach PH rules, I will be putting my S4 Avant up for sale in the next week or so. Doesn't quite hit the above as it's a 2013 car with just shy of 64k miles. Great spec and condition though, so would be happy to share details direct if it was of interest.

Incidentally, you've just had me looking at 6 series GT's, which seem to be better spec'd and better value than equivalent aged 5 series tourings.

I could be interested

[otolith]

Pistonheader101 said:

otolith said:

3 series GT looks more spacious than the 3 series estate. Think I might have to go kick some tyres this weekend.

wouldn't waste your time mate. Its a boat.

my 335d xdrive gt m sport had halogen lights. would have though LED would have been standard on them.

More of a boat than an E class?

I'm more interested in rocket propelled sofa than pseudo-sportscar, to be honest.

[ingenieur]

otolith said:

ingenieur said:

Oh go on, buy another E-Class. I'm on my 3rd and looking for a 4th. You could by my old one, it is ULEZ.

Nah, I'm done. Garage has now had mine since the 15th trying to fix the rear air suspension.

Bad garage, I've fixed air suspension faults before, they're easy. It's a pump and airbags with some hoses and wiring, it's not at all mysterious.

[ChocolateFrog]

otolith said:

ChocolateFrog said:

I've no idea what is and isn't ULEZ compliant but vaguely remember some older petrols are OK.

So on that assumption and without doing any research a Porsche Panamera?

That is actually a better shout than I assumed, it's more practical than I thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dvteqt2_5w

Would be an older petrol model, 2010 ish and 80k miles, but maybe special enough not to feel too short changed.

Bit brave pill, I suspect, I should think they have a capacity to throw up properly eye watering bills.

You'd need to be quite handy with the spanners or friendly with a local independent but it certainly wouldn't be depressing.

Annoying that prices have strengthened, I got close to buying a lovely low mileage turbo for around £25k before the pandemic.

[otolith]

ingenieur said:

Bad garage, I've fixed air suspension faults before, they're easy. It's a pump and airbags with some hoses and wiring, it's not at all
mysterious.

They've replaced the damaged section of pipe that was leaking, but they've found that didn't fix it. I'll speak to them when they've sorted it and can explain, but it looks as if constantly trying to pump the sagging suspension back up may have damaged the pump. I think they thought it was going to be an easy job, because they previously fixed it on a car they sold and that was simple.

I should have taken it to my usual Mercedes specialist (who replaced the torque converter, and replaced the motor in the inlet manifold, and the auxiliary battery) but the local garage are walking distance and did a good job of replacing the alternator after the car was recovered to it.

[otolith]

ChocolateFrog said:

You'd need to be quite handy with the spanners or friendly with a local independent but it certainly wouldn't be depressing.

Annoying that prices have strengthened, I got close to buying a lovely low mileage turbo for around £25k before the pandemic.

Yes, it's certainly a tempting option. Sort of opposite end of the spectrum to the Mondeo/Passat in the desirable/appropriate spectrum.

[anonymous-user]

ChocolateFrog said:

otolith said:

ChocolateFrog said:

I've no idea what is and isn't ULEZ compliant but vaguely remember some older petrols are OK.

So on that assumption and without doing any research a Porsche Panamera?

That is actually a better shout than I assumed, it's more practical than I thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dvteqt2_5w

Would be an older petrol model, 2010 ish and 80k miles, but maybe special enough not to feel too short changed.

Bit brave pill, I suspect, I should think they have a capacity to throw up properly eye watering bills.

You'd need to be quite handy with the spanners or friendly with a local independent but it certainly wouldn't be depressing.

Annoying that prices have strengthened, I got close to buying a lovely low mileage turbo for around £25k before the pandemic.

I had a gen 1.5 4S for about a year during covid. Nice but strangely boring. Rear legroom was excellent (though it’s a steric four seater, not five). The front felt a bit more cockpit like. Overall for me it fell between two stools. It reminded me of my old S8 and how good that had been, so came off worse in that comparison; and wasn’t as practical or serene as the FFRR. I regard the claims that it handles like a sports car as imaginative. It handles a lot better than most cars in that class, but it doesn’t handle like a sports car.