Next car recommendations for COMFORT in particular

[Ninety1]

Good evening all, I'm looking for some advice for purchase of my next car as my E46 320ci is not worth repairing. Forgive the long post.. I figured the more info the better when asking for such advice.. thanks in advance!

Annual Mileage - 12,000 at about 85% motorway / 15% local stop/start

Usage example:
Tues - 130 mile motorway run one way (3 weeks p/month - 1 week = no long run)
Weds - 130 mile motorway run one way (3 weeks p/month)
Weekends - Local stop/start mileage about town
Once or twice a month - Additional 200 mile motorway round trip over a weekend, with other half

Requirements:

• Comfort (Other half has long term illness including neck problem, hypersensitive to humps and bumps, I have to crawl over speed bumps in the BMW and try and avoid any unevenness on roads.. Also, I spend plenty of hours in car)
• Good reliability
• Decent fuel economy (40+ mpg)
• Cruise Control & AC
• Still a bit of fun to drive
• Saloon/Compact SUV - unless you can suggest something else suitable!

Budget:
Ideally <£3500 - this can go as far as £9000 thanks to long 0% credit card but I'm happy with something older & reliable vs. newer with more depreciation (but open to suggestions).

Currently, I think I'm looking for something around 80,000 miles with FSH, ideally Main Dealer and then run it into the ground. Basic service myself 6 monthly and a main service 12 monthly from an Indy Garage.

Fuel type:
I was initially looking at diesel as I estimated my annual mileage to be closer to 20k, but I've done some sums and looked through my last 2 MOTs and 12k is accurate (includes some contingency).

Size/Body:
I started off with a toss up between a Golf and a Leon, before moving on to Honda Civic. I had my heart pretty much set on the Civic however comfort is absolutely key and after some reading it seems that I won't get the comfort I'm after from any of these 3 options, despite them being fun to drive (I'm not particularly interested in having to make a load of changes to suspension, wheels etc to try and get marginal gains).

For the comfort factor, that led me to think I'm only really in the market for a saloon:

• Skoda Superb, Honda Accord, Mazda6, 5 series (although I have found my BMWs quite pricey to maintain, although I used to do 20-25k miles pa)
• Any thoughts on best of this bunch for comfort/reliability, or other suggestions?

I have also recently rented a number of cars when flying to the north for medical trips, her favourite was Citroen C4 Picasso (no chance!) but we both liked Toyota Rav4 2016. Have also driven 2009 Honda CR-V Diesel on a few short trips - not enough experience to judge

Car history (I'm 26 now with 5 or 6 yrs no claims):
- E46 320ci, E46 318i, 90s bangers (Corsa, 106 etc)

Location:
If posting any actual motors for sale - I generally look for within 80 miles of RG21 7BA (Basingstoke), as that gives a good area that I can reach from home, work, parents' etc.

In summary:

• Car recommendations please as per requirements?
• Would you recommend petrol or diesel with this usage/mileage?
• Do I need to be high up (i.e mini SUV) for comfort, or can I get it from a saloon?

[Gareth1974]

S60 Volvo? https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[valiant]

^^^^reading your post, this came immediately to mind.

You'll have a wide range to choose from with your budget, they'll all have decent levels of kit and although your marginal on mileage with regards to the diesel/petrol conundrum - your use would probably suit a diesel, maybe a nice D5.

Avoid the R-design as the suspension is harder and probably come with bigger wheels. I have the V60 and have a knackered back and the seats live up to their reputation. I can do long journeys without ending up crippled, although in hindsight I should have stuck with the 17' wheels rather than the 18s but they are sooo much nicer.

Whatever you choose, try and get an extended test drive to make sure you can live with it comfort wise.

[dave_s13]

Citroen C5 with hydro suspension.

They are as comfy as you like.

[Ninety1]

Gareth1974 said:

S60 Volvo?

valiant said:

^^^^reading your post, this came immediately to mind.

Avoid the R-design as the suspension is harder and probably come with bigger wheels. I have the V60 and have a knackered back and the seats live up to their reputation. I can do long journeys without ending up crippled, although in hindsight I should have stuck with the 17' wheels rather than the 18s but they are sooo much nicer.

Whatever you choose, try and get an extended test drive to make sure you can live with it comfort wise.

Cheers lads - I hadn't considered Volvo at all actually. Growing up I hated the look of them.. but I don't mind some of the newer models. Will have a bit of a read up and look through what's on the market - good shout on the extended test drive.

[Ninety1]

dave_s13 said:

Citroen C5 with hydro suspension.

They are as comfy as you like.

Sounds interesting - is this standard on all C5s - would you recommend a certain year/model or spec?

Also.. I've generally always gone with the cliche that you should avoid French. What's reputation of these C5's like for reliability?

[Ninety1]

valiant said:

.. although your marginal on mileage with regards to the diesel/petrol conundrum - your use would probably suit a diesel

This was what I wondered - thanks. Any one else concur / disagree that diesel is well suited for my usage?

[Latters]

What about a late Saab? I had a 9-3 when I was 19 and it was by far the comfiest car I've owned. There's a couple of the last version 9-5s for sale in your budget with about 60,000 miles.

[PurpleTurtle]

I'd say Volvo or Saab, comfiest seats going in your stated price range.

[bearman68]

Volvo.

I have a 9-3 and a V50. Volvo seats are way better than anything else. Saab is comfy, but suspension is too hard for really good comfort.

C5 is a decent shout.

Renault might be a good bet as well, but it's hard to see past the Volvo

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say if you give yourself a budget of around 6k you could land yourself a nicely spec'd mid size saloon, fuel wise with the way you do your miles a diesel would be fine but a petrol is just as good but you'll be closer to mid 30's.

If you want a comfortable the models below will hit the mark:

Mercedes E270cdi Avantgarde (these go on forever in a day, also they don't have a DPF so there'll be no issues there) FSH

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

E320cdi Elegance FMBSH (straight 6 version of the above)

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

E320cdi Avantgarde (with the later V6 engine & 7 Speed box)

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

If you don't mind a realistic 28-34mpg down the motorway then the best one is the E500:

E500 Avantgarde FMBSH

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

BMW 530d SE FBMWSH

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

BMW 525i SE

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

Mondeo Titanium X FSH

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

Lexus GS300 SE FSH

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

[crugster]

Been hoping for a thread like this - I commute to and from Plymouth to London once a week and then about London in the traffic when I'm there about a 550 mile round trip.
For the last three years I've run a couple of Mercedes auto CLK270cdi which give 55mpg at 80 on the motorway and about 25 around town. Decent balance of comfort and performance (not quite enough performance) and I'm just bored with them now though after 75K miles.
Have been thinking of getting a 530d but the speed humps about London can be such a pain and I'm guessing the BMW doesn't ride them too well - or is that just the MSport models.
Liking the S500 idea a lot, but maybe just a bit too l(b)arge for the back lanes of the London suburbs
Budget would be £4-6K

[dave_s13]

Ninety1 said:

Sounds interesting - is this standard on all C5s - would you recommend a certain year/model or spec?

Also.. I've generally always gone with the cliche that you should avoid French. What's reputation of these C5's like for reliability?

In the newer shape I think it's only on the Exclusive models, there's a up/down/suspension button on the centre console bit (I think).

I had an older shape one for a while and it was brilliant. Speed bumps cease to exist. They are as robust as anything else really and I wouldn't let them being french put you off.

[ZX10R NIN]

crugster said:

Been hoping for a thread like this - I commute to and from Plymouth to London once a week and then about London in the traffic when I'm there about a 550 mile round trip.
For the last three years I've run a couple of Mercedes auto CLK270cdi which give 55mpg at 80 on the motorway and about 25 around town. Decent balance of comfort and performance (not quite enough performance) and I'm just bored with them now though after 75K miles.
Have been thinking of getting a 530d but the speed humps about London can be such a pain and I'm guessing the BMW doesn't ride them too well - or is that just the MSport models.
Liking the S500 idea a lot, but maybe just a bit too l(b)arge for the back lanes of the London suburbs
Budget would be £4-6K

A 530d SE will be fine even more so if you get rid of the run flats but make sure you carry a spare.

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

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

The 270 is a bit lacking but a remap normally sorts that out.

The CLS320 is another good shout for your budget:

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

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

Or the car that the CLS is based on:

E320di

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

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

I'd be very tempted & probably would go for the E500 though.

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

[fatandwheezing]

dave_s13 said:

Ninety1 said:

Sounds interesting - is this standard on all C5s - would you recommend a certain year/model or spec?

Also.. I've generally always gone with the cliche that you should avoid French. What's reputation of these C5's like for reliability?

In the newer shape I think it's only on the Exclusive models, there's a up/down/suspension button on the centre console bit (I think).

I had an older shape one for a while and it was brilliant. Speed bumps cease to exist. They are as robust as anything else really and I wouldn't let them being french put you off.

Correct, on the last model C5, with the concave rear window, that suspension was only on the top spec model. I have standard suspension, and it is still very comfy, only concern is the adjusting of the seat back is really awkward to get just right. I have the asthmatic 110bhp diesel, and would definitely recommend more power if you can find the next engine spec up.

Also vouch for Volvo. Our V50 is super comfy, and it is the R design. Father in law has an '04 S60, and it is the same. When pondering a replacement to the Citroen, I keep going back to the V60.