Another what car thread! Mid range diesel

[vinnie83]

Sorry chaps for yet another what car thread!

I recently swapped my pre LCI BMW 535d for a 123d M-sport in favour of better fuel consumption.

Now that box has well and truly been ticked, currently averaging about 45mpg compared to my 28mpg in the 535d. The problem is however, with about 75% motorway driving, the 123d is making me feel sick!

The suspension is absolutely shockingly stiff - my 997 turbo in sports mode is more comfortable. It seems that the M-sport suspension + 18" wheels + runflats are not the greatest of combinations.

So yet again, I'm deciding what to do... I really don't want to be changing cars every few months!

I am looking at the following cars:

Lexus IS220d SE

Jaguar X-type 2.0d / 2.2d

Alfa Brera 2.4 JTD

Audi A6 2.0d

I need ~40+mpg, a comfy ride, reliability and something that looks good. Performance isn't really an issue, as long as it can hold it's own on the motorway.

Any opinions on the above, as well as any other suggestions?

My budget is whatever I can get for my 123d - I paid £14,500 for it 3-4 months and 7k miles ago.

[Deerfoot]

Wouldn`t it be cheaper to stick with the 123d but get some 17 inch wheels with non run-flat tyres?

[Arthur Daley]

If ride quality was important than why buy a BMW M Sport, its got to be something French!!!

Laguna Coupe's are a real bargain now, the one below is just over £10k!
I was working for Renault when they were released, fantastic drive (GT models have 4 wheel steer), build quality is very good and they are fantastic to look at.

Get the 2.0 DCI M9R engine and decent economy is within reach, chain driven so no belt change and plenty of go..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-09-Reg-Renault-Lagu...

[D188ERS]

2.4 alfa option (brera, 159) sounds a reasonable solution.
or what about golf / leon with a 170 diesel engine?

ps re: laguna - i have the 2.0dCi m9r engine in my laguna estate, and as well as being great economy / power balance, it has just passed 190k tonight (i have just had to quote this to rac....battery issue, not engine :-)).

[jr123]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2854811.htm

[visual123]

Deerfoot said:

Wouldn`t it be cheaper to stick with the 123d but get some 17 inch wheels with non run-flat tyres?

+1. My Dad's Z4 was much more comfortable without run-flats, and that's including fitting bigger wheels, obviously running a much lower profile.

[Steameh]

What about the Octavia vRS, I hear they are great cars in diesel form.

[vinnie83]

Deerfoot said:

Wouldn`t it be cheaper to stick with the 123d but get some 17 inch wheels with non run-flat tyres?

I know someone who has 17's, and it's no better. Apparently changing to non-runflats do make an improvement, but not hugely.

Arthur Daley said:

If ride quality was important than why buy a BMW M Sport

My 535d M-sport had superb ride quality!

I've never been a fan of french cars to be honest, they just don't seem to be as well built - although the modern ones may be better.

[IceBoy]

To tick those boxes, it has to be a merc c/e class with 320cdi...which is a great motor with a fair punch.

Failing that the A6 is a nice motorway mucher from your list.

IceBoy

[vinnie83]

I have considered the E320cdi, but am slightly put off the (lack of) reliability of my old E55 AMG ('03).

What kind of real world MPG would I expect in the merc?

[vinnie83]

visual123 said:

+1. My Dad's Z4 was much more comfortable without run-flats, and that's including fitting bigger wheels, obviously running a much lower profile.

Was it really that big a difference?

I have read that it is noticeable, but still a very firm ride.

[blambert]

Golf GTD?

£135 quid tax, quick as a GTI point to point and gets 50+mpg.

Edit: Just saw the budget line my bad.

[entwisi]

8th gen honda accord.
nice place to sit, reliable, Etc


Got to be worth a test drive, alternatively, mondeos get rave reviews for driveability,

[Tonberry]

Save yourself some money and just ditch the runflats.

Mate has a MINI Cooper with them on 17 inch wheels and the ride is nothing but devastating. Thought the springs had snapped the first time I rode in it.

[IceBoy]

The 320cdi should on a run, give you low to mid 40's and a combind figure of around 39.

Probably the best motorway muncher in total comfort.

Iceboy

[vinnie83]

Tonberry said:

Save yourself some money and just ditch the runflats.

Mate has a MINI Cooper with them on 17 inch wheels and the ride is nothing but devastating. Thought the springs had snapped the first time I rode in it.

Well the rears only have a couple of thousand miles left in them, so I will be changing them for normal tyres, and the fronts are only a few months behind...

I'm just tempted to get a bigger car again, something a bit more barge-ish.

The Alfa obviously is in there because of it's looks though!

[y2blade]

Vinnie, have you looked at any of the Volvo D5s?

[voiceofreason]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2841864.htm

Stylish
Comfy
Rare

Also available in V6 diesel form with less mpg.

[visual123]

vinnie83 said:

Was it really that big a difference?

I have read that it is noticeable, but still a very firm ride.

I'd say a fair difference. We did South West to the borders in it, felt fairly comfortable. Obviously it's not the most comfy thing ever but it might just be enough for you to gloss over the ride and enjoy the car. The main thing it stopped was the awful tramlining!

[grayr]

On the plus side it seems you didn't pay OTT for the 123d.

Not sure if you are taken with the car but the 123d SE variant which I drive doesn't have sports suspension and its a lovely drive, maybe something you could consider?