Economical luxobarge for 10k?

[hornetrider]

May be looking at a change of job circumstance which would necessitate switching from an E61 V8 to a motorway mile muncher.

Would like 40ish on a cruise if possible, give or take. Active cruise would be nice. Refinement paramount.

List so far is:

A8 3.0TDi
730D
CLS320 CDI

Left field: 5k LS430 (with or without possible LPG?)

Not keen on S Class in budget.

Anything else to consider? Anyone with experience of the above provide some input into pros/cons or things to look out for?

[Silverbullet767]

The same 3.0tdi in the A6 would be more economical due to the weight difference would it not?

10k might get you a le mans edition. But I must admit I've not been keeping up with used prices. Mine is worth about £3-4k on a 05 plate with 150k.

[hornetrider]

Thanks - realise its not rational given the LS being in the list but the A6 doesn't float my boat lookswise.

[Shaw Tarse]

How much will it cost you to change?
Can you justify that much fuel?

[garycat]

VW Phaeton?

[Krikkit]

LPG kit on the 550? Seems a shame to get rid of a car you like.

[hornetrider]

Krikkit said:

LPG kit on the 550? Seems a shame to get rid of a car you like.

Also seems a shame to alienate it from future buyers whilst hammering it for 25k miles a year... hence thinking a big old diesel with active cruise for the motorways might be the way forward.

[pti]

garycat said:

VW Phaeton?

What I would have suggested too.

[74merc]

hornetrider said:

Also seems a shame to alienate it from future buyers whilst hammering it for 25k miles a year... hence thinking a big old diesel with active cruise for the motorways might be the way forward.

V8 + LPG = cake and eat it, plus there should be a healthy market for it when you come to sell it on.

[sparkyhx]

LS430 with LPG - 50mpg equivalent on a run

[infradig]

Get the CLS,the others will make you look like an airport taxi driver. Just be sure you're not going to miss that middle seat,as much as I enjoyed the one I had,this is the reason I wouldn't have another,

[zebra]

The A6 will be lucky to reach 40 unless you have lots of motorway cruises.

Even with long journeys mixed in with my everyday drives I was lucky to see 36 average from when I bought mine. Still, as has been said, that will be way better than the A8 with the same engine.

They are not that economical to look after either in comparison to other barges available for the same money.

[Mr E]

Potential sale of an e61 550 you say?

[Dan_1981]

Do you want to spend £10k on something just to hammer with lots of miles?

5/6k alternative and put the surplus to something else / away for a rainy day?

[Benbay001]

Krikkit said:

LPG kit on the 550? Seems a shame to get rid of a car you like.

And a supercharger. Everyone knows forced induction helps fuel economy.

[jamieduff1981]

An XJ 2.7V6 diesel may be an alternative to all the Germans listed above.

[R6VED]

I have a CLS 500 V8 and love it for the way it looks and makes me feel, mine has all the kit including Distronic, Air Suspension, AMG bodykit/wheels, Bi-Xenon's etc etc and the sound it makes with the exhaust resonator removed is epic.

I would imagine the diesel variant would offer most of the performance with the benefit of increased economy. I only do 5-6k a year so can currently justify 19mpg combined.

Charlie

[hornetrider]

Thanks folks. Did look at the XJ but the interior design doesn't seem to have moved on since my old man had one of '89 vintage!

Am toying with LPG now and the possibility of keeping the old girl for a good few years. Not as refined as a 7 or similar though.

[hornetrider]

So I took out a CLS350CDI.

I think driving a 5 litre V8 has effectively ruined me for other engines I found it similar to the E320CDI I drove, engine very noisy in lower gears, 1st ridiculously short and the shift from 1st to 2nd quite clunky. Sigh.

On the upside I thought the interior was a very nice place to be, extended leather to dash, gear surround etc.

Gah. I'm going to find an x35D to see if Munich can do diesel any better than Stuttgart.

[schmalex]

I've suddenly come into the market for a new car at around this price point. Finding the normal German alternatives a little under-whelming, I racked my brains and happened upon the Lexus GS450H. They may not be the last word in evocative motoring, but they come with every conceivable extra, about 340bhp, a whopping slug of torque from the electric motor, mid thirties on the combined cycle and one can pick one up from a franchised dealer at around this price...

I plan to test one in the next week or so.