New Car Advice £5k barge

[hondafanatic]

I though it better to start a new thread as I've posted the information below in the barge thread but as I'm in genuine need to sort this out within two weeks I'm hoping to expand the audience.

As per £1k to £5k barge thread...

In need of some advice please

I've just got rid of my C63 Estate (I'll be back in one sometime soon) as I'm having to take a sensible approach money wise. It was my first Merc and I have to say, even coming from a newer Audi, the Merc had something about it...granite like quality. It was a 2011 model.

So I've got £5000 to play with for a replacement. Currently on Easter holidays so I've got just short of two weeks to source a replacement. Ideally I don't want to drive 000's of miles from my Lancaster postcode. I was filtering 40 miles away but if there's something ideal I will travel for it.

My commute to work is an 80 mile round trip which is virtually all motorway and outside of normal commuting hours. I tend to stick cruise on around 70ish so my cars have an easy if very boring life. I will do the odd trip into town but normally take the better half's car. My car will be used for the odd camping trip which is four up plus a lab. Roof rails are a 'nice to have'.

I'll only keep the car for 12 months max as I'll be looking to upgrade back up to C63s etc.

Ideally I'd like an auto, cruise and bluetooth for all my podcast listening. Other than that I'm not too fussed if it's petrol or diesel. Anything will feel ecomoical against a 6.2 V8. I think I'd like to avoid Jap cars as i've had 19 Honda's and quite like the German barge's although I have one shortlist which is over budget and a bit of trek find that I like the look of that is Italian.

So I've got four cars shortlisted...three are close by and one, as mentioned is too much and too far away for the budget but heyho it's pulling at my heart rather than head. My cars are maintained by a good friend of mine and thrown in straight away for a check over and service regardless and I'm happy to do 6k oil changes regardless of service schedules.


Merc C class estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Merc E class estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

BMW 5 series estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Left field choice
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

In saying that, if theres anything else that might be interesting e.g. something like a Jag XJ or other barge-like saloon then I can sacrifice the estate part.

Would really appreciate everyone's input as I'm out of my depth here as I've tended to by new/newish cars...the C63 being the oldest car i've owned.



I then found a couple of Volvos that seem like a good match after a couple of responses.

hondafanatic said:

Krikkit said:

hondafanatic said:

Prinny said:

I like the e-class, but the plate doesn’t show on mot history for me? (maybe just changed from a pp and not yet updated?) I can see it has a parrot kit, but don’t know whether that allows bt streaming?

I like the fact that the 5-series has comfort seats (the best I’ve ever been in). The bluetooth on the 5- however won’t stream music, for phone calls only. Also hidden plates annoy me as no ability to history check...

Therefore hard to choose without viewing/more detail.

So you should buy the 159.

I dooooo really like the 159. And thank you for checking out the others

That Parrot does support BT streaming, we have one, a very competent unit.

I'd probably go for the 211 out of that bunch, although if you can run a V8 I would. That 211 is the facelift with the V6 diesel, not a great unit.

I wouldn't bother with the 159, as beautiful as they are they're not a high-quality product! That engine is rather spiffing though.

What about a V70? Very solid, nice enough cars to steer. T5 easily within budget.

Thanks for the info. When you say 'not a great unit', do you mean anything specific? It's just a motorway plodder so I'm not looking for anything particularly memorable.

I looked for a nice V70 that was London based but they seem very thin on the ground. Doesn't even have to be T5.

I think i'm basically looking for a comfy armchair car.

This looks a nice place to sit...

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

Edit to add that I actually really quite like that ^^^

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

And another! ^^^^

[J4CKO]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-CLS-320cdi-7g-...

[hondafanatic]

It’s because I don’t want to lease isn’t it??

That’ll for the suggestion J4cko but it’s hundreds of miles away for a bit of tatty looking merc with things I don’t need. But I appreciate the reply

[fastbikes76]

Get an E60 530d , we’ve had ours 4 years now as the general abused car and it’s been faultless. Knocking on 150k now but still happily burn down to Disneyland and back at 40+ mpg.

I would avoid the 535 though as the twin turbo ones are pretty troublesome from my time on the face ache page.

[hondafanatic]

fastbikes76 said:

Get an E60 530d , we’ve had ours 4 years now as the general abused car and it’s been faultless. Knocking on 150k now but still happily burn down to Disneyland and back at 40+ mpg.

I would avoid the 535 though as the twin turbo ones are pretty troublesome from my time on the face ache page.

That’s good to know!! Many thanks.

[Djr1]

So had a similar commute, slightly longer but outside of rush hour. I had a 3.0 XJ6 (x350) that was fantastic. Also fine for carting wife and children around on holiday. Very comfy, didn't have any issues with it. Only had to move it on as I changed job and commute changed to a few miles a week and a lot of trains.

[djt100]

I was in a similar boat a little while ago price wise, I ended up with a Lexus GS300, I'd had mercs before and really wanted a CLS but heard too many trouble stories about them, All the BMW's I look at were sh** same for the A6's E class mercs, So started looking elsewhere, Always fancied a Lexus but never seemed right for my needs. But now I've for one, Its great, powerful enough to cruise at 80 at just over 2000rpm and comfy enough to do the 160-mile drive to the office once a month without arriving like I've just been in a fight. Plus all the toys included and the Stereo is the best I've heard in any car ever.

[hondafanatic]

Djr1 said:

So had a similar commute, slightly longer but outside of rush hour. I had a 3.0 XJ6 (x350) that was fantastic. Also fine for carting wife and children around on holiday. Very comfy, didn't have any issues with it. Only had to move it on as I changed job and commute changed to a few miles a week and a lot of trains.

I do like the Jags. Plus o get to say Jaaaaaaaag much to the annoyance of just about everyone.

[hondafanatic]

djt100 said:

I was in a similar boat a little while ago price wise, I ended up with a Lexus GS300, I'd had mercs before and really wanted a CLS but heard too many trouble stories about them, All the BMW's I look at were sh** same for the A6's E class mercs, So started looking elsewhere, Always fancied a Lexus but never seemed right for my needs. But now I've for one, Its great, powerful enough to cruise at 80 at just over 2000rpm and comfy enough to do the 160-mile drive to the office once a month without arriving like I've just been in a fight. Plus all the toys included and the Stereo is the best I've heard in any car ever.

Thanks never even though about the GS

[bennettse2025]

djt100 said:

I was in a similar boat a little while ago price wise, I ended up with a Lexus GS300, I'd had mercs before and really wanted a CLS but heard too many trouble stories about them, All the BMW's I look at were sh** same for the A6's E class mercs, So started looking elsewhere, Always fancied a Lexus but never seemed right for my needs. But now I've for one, Its great, powerful enough to cruise at 80 at just over 2000rpm and comfy enough to do the 160-mile drive to the office once a month without arriving like I've just been in a fight. Plus all the toys included and the Stereo is the best I've heard in any car ever.

This in spades. I've got an 58 plate gs300 and it's the fking tits. Has all the toys you'd need, has the trademark lexus reliability, isn't as thirsty as you'd think for a heavy petrol V6 barge (if you're on the motorway). It's also the most comfortable car I've ever been in and, as djt100 says, has a brilliant stereo.

[J4CKO]

hondafanatic said:

It’s because I don’t want to lease isn’t it??

That’ll for the suggestion J4cko but it’s hundreds of miles away for a bit of tatty looking merc with things I don’t need. But I appreciate the reply

Didnt mean that one specifically, was just an example and a suggestion that a CLS may be a possibility.

[Jimi.K.]

bennettse2025 said:

djt100 said:

I was in a similar boat a little while ago price wise, I ended up with a Lexus GS300, I'd had mercs before and really wanted a CLS but heard too many trouble stories about them, All the BMW's I look at were sh** same for the A6's E class mercs, So started looking elsewhere, Always fancied a Lexus but never seemed right for my needs. But now I've for one, Its great, powerful enough to cruise at 80 at just over 2000rpm and comfy enough to do the 160-mile drive to the office once a month without arriving like I've just been in a fight. Plus all the toys included and the Stereo is the best I've heard in any car ever.

This in spades. I've got an 58 plate gs300 and it's the fking tits. Has all the toys you'd need, has the trademark lexus reliability, isn't as thirsty as you'd think for a heavy petrol V6 barge (if you're on the motorway). It's also the most comfortable car I've ever been in and, as djt100 says, has a brilliant stereo.

Another vote for the GS from me. Mine's an 12yo early mk3 and its unbelievably well equipped for its age, and much more so than the e-class/5-series/A6s I was also looking at. It's comfortable, refined, surprisingly economical, and crucially at this price point they have a reputation for reliability and careful previous owners, and even at this age often have a full dealer service history. I've done a thread on mine here if you're interested: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I notice all your links are estates though, so if you really need the extra space that might rule it out for you - no estate version and no folding rear seats.

Edited by Jimi.K. on Wednesday 28th March 08:50