Sporty Cruiser

[Chazaxl]

Hi, long time member, rare poster :-)

I am looking for a sporty cruiser that is happy to cover 100 miles per day motorway driving but still fun enough to drive in a spirited fashion.

This weekend past I test drove a 2014 Porsche Panamera Turbo and a remapped 700 HP BMW M5. My past car ownership experiences are heavily BMW biased, including a number of 5 series cars including a E60 M5.

I've also had an Audi A8 4.2 TDI (2009 model) which I really liked.

So, the Porsche Panamera was lovely, the seats (I dont think these were the base seats like you get in the Diesel Pana but certainly not the 20 / 24 way ones either, too few buttons. The seat is simply too firm for my liking. The older Pana's interior is starting to look dated (small nav setup) and whilst I enjoyed the car and the power, something wasnt 100%, maybe just the hard seats.

I then drove a 2012 (Pre Facelift F10 M5). I have a soft spot for M5s and whilst it didnt have the upgraded seats, it felt immediately more comfortable than the Pana. The car is running some home brew remap, decat etc. I wont buy it but was nice to try. Got the rear very sideways on mild throttle. Certainly a handful and fun.

So, my current thoughts to go look at / drive.

BMW M6, I really like these. Is the M5 a better (but more common) daily for less money?
Audi S8, ultimate sporty cruiser or just too big and heavy?
Audi RS6, I keep reading about them being blisteringly fast but a bit numb and whilst you get over the acceleration and grip, they are not as 'involving' as an M car.
Audi RS7?
Alfa Gulia Quadrofoglio. This ticks many many boxes but not sure if Id want to do the 100 miles a day in it?


Previously I had a 2001 Jag XJR, paid next to nothing for it, what a lovely drive. How do I get this type of refinement / comfort but in a modern sporty car? Does what I am looking for exist?

Budget, not sure, £40 - 50K?

[GiveItSomeWellie]

If you liked the 2001 XJR, have you considered a nearly-new XJR?

They've just stopped making them, but they're almost half price at a year or so old.

White wouldn't be my first choice, but it's done 174 miles and lost nearly £50k from new!

2017 Jaguar XJR

[Herbs]

Alfa Gulia Quadrofoglio. This ticks many many boxes but not sure if Id want to do the 100 miles a day in it?

A Director here has one and done over 20k in it ove rthe last year and has been faultless. Very good cars. M6 would probably be where my money went though.

[ZX10R NIN]

Maserati Quattroporte

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

Mercedes E53 these have a softer more compliant ride with slightly lower NVH than the 63 & are hardly lacking in power.

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

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

A very good but very underrated option is the Lexus GS F these are a very good car that remind me of the old 4.7 Quattroporte in terms of character, trying to find one may be the hard part but they're worth a test drive:

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

If you want more fire power:

XJR is actually a really good drivers car with a great ride.

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

S63

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

If you can live with two doors & you want the ultimate ballistic cruiser then it has to be the CL65 AMG:

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

The depreciation has slowed massively on these to the point where owning one is a decent (an M5/RS6 etc will depreciate more over the coming years) proposition.

The Alfa is a comfortable place to be but it's a more sporty car than anything else on your list so it will feel more alive & be a bit more noisy etc than the above because it's a sports saloon that can cruise rather than being a cruiser.

Bentley Flying Spur

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

Arnage

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

The M6 GC is a very good car but I'd probably take the RS7 because with cars of this size you don't normally have the roads to exploit them in which case I'd rather spend my time in the car that's better 90% of the time which IMO makes the RS7 the pick rather than the M6 which is the better steer & better looking.

M6

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

RS7

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

Or there's the CLS 63S which sits somewhere in the middle of these two:

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

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

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

[Chazaxl]

Thanks all. Would an M4 be in the same category or too sporty for a 100 miler per day?

Drove one at Palmersports Day, it was good albeit after the single seaters. Could do with a bit more 'punch' but certainly not slow.

[Herbs]

Thinking about it, how much do you need the rear seats?

An Evora would be ideal as they are very comfortable whilst very much at the sporty end of the scale. You can easily get 2 adults in the back as well although you wouldn't want to spend an extended time back there!

[Chazaxl]

Herbs said:

Thinking about it, how much do you need the rear seats?

An Evora would be ideal as they are very comfortable whilst very much at the sporty end of the scale. You can easily get 2 adults in the back as well although you wouldn't want to spend an extended time back there!

My current daily is a BMW X4 3.5D. Not bad, we will keep this in the family.

For my day to day stuff I dont need more than 2 seats. I think I would have liked the Panamera if the seats were more comfy.

[ZX10R NIN]

The M4 is is in the same class as the Giulia so if you don't find the QF comfortable then you may feel the same with the M4, both are good cars but the Quadrifoglio is the better car although the C63/M4/RS4/RC-F are all very good cars.

[Chazaxl]

Would any of the Merc options be any worth considering? E63? CLS63?

I drove a colleagues 2015 Disco Vogue the other day, very boatlike but very comfy or plush ..... this experience in something sporty, does it exist? X6M?

[ZX10R NIN]

I think you need to book some test drives because only you can decide what seats/ride quality is acceptable to you.

[Chazaxl]

ZX10R NIN said:

I think you need to book some test drives because only you can decide what seats/ride quality is acceptable to you.

Indeed, thanks.

I'm dropping my X4 off for a service / recall tomorrow. They have both an M3 and M4 competition pack that I can look at.

On Saturday I have a demo with a Guilia, which I am very much looking forward to.

[ZX10R NIN]

The BMW's are (for me the M3 looks better than the M4) very good but the Giulia is just better in every way.

[Chazaxl]

ZX10R NIN said:

The BMW's are (for me the M3 looks better than the M4) very good but the Giulia is just better in every way.

I expect that too, even as a die hard M fan. I like familiarity but I want something special / different (ideally).

[Chazaxl]

So, drove the Guilia. What an awesome car, best Ive ever driven, no doubt. Such a pity they are pricey.

Were mean to drive a Stelvio this morning but had to cancel, moved to next Saturday. Select Car leasing are doing Stelvio deals that dont look bad. Perhaps the X4 should go and be replaced by the Stelvio ....

Man, what a car.