reasonable to run big cars up to 15k
Discussion
Wanting to replace the old c class with something bigger and better but having been silly years ago with an ls430 beleiving it would easily do 30mpg im wanting to go into this more informed than before 
Thankfully im now not doing 70miles a day infact im doing 0 so will maybe do a few hundred miles a month so while mpg isnt hugely important id like to make sure i know what im getting into in that regard so when we use it im not gonna be crying every time i fill up (like with the lexus)
also with big cars maintenance is an unknown for me don't want to get stuck with a car where I'm having to pay stupid servicing costs just because so want to avoid things like the m car tax inflated prices just because.
Car classes I'm thinking of is the 5/7 e/s xf/xj
The wife quite likes the look of an xfr and I do too but I think I'd be lucky to see north of 20mpg on a run and I'd like to get more
I also have a soft spot for 7 series
Mercs I've had bad luck with the om642 in my c class and the 7 speed box too. But quite fancy a s class.
So any suggestions of things to look at or avoid
Upto 15k big boot decent rear space prefer split fold rear seats and a nice would be cooled seats too
Cheers in advance
Thankfully im now not doing 70miles a day infact im doing 0 so will maybe do a few hundred miles a month so while mpg isnt hugely important id like to make sure i know what im getting into in that regard so when we use it im not gonna be crying every time i fill up (like with the lexus)
also with big cars maintenance is an unknown for me don't want to get stuck with a car where I'm having to pay stupid servicing costs just because so want to avoid things like the m car tax inflated prices just because.
Car classes I'm thinking of is the 5/7 e/s xf/xj
The wife quite likes the look of an xfr and I do too but I think I'd be lucky to see north of 20mpg on a run and I'd like to get more
I also have a soft spot for 7 series
Mercs I've had bad luck with the om642 in my c class and the 7 speed box too. But quite fancy a s class.
So any suggestions of things to look at or avoid
Upto 15k big boot decent rear space prefer split fold rear seats and a nice would be cooled seats too
Cheers in advance
I ran an x350 Jaguar XJ V6 3.0 petrol in Sov spec for a while. Black over cream with walnut trim.
It was a lovely thing and the V6 was juuuuust about powerful enough for the car that it rarely felt wanting. Made an excellent motorway cruiser. At autobahn speeds it started feeling a bit lethargic above 200kph. It would ‘gain speed’ in a flurry of revs rather than haul.
Around town it was relaxing to drive, but parking it in the SE was a bugger like any large car. Supermarket spaces felt very narrow and when on street parking, it was obvious that whatever car had recently vacated a spot was probably 3ft shorter... so around the block you’d go...
Average over 58k miles was 26.3mpg. Nothing broke, just routine maintenance at local back street garage.
Cost me about the same all in as the e39 BMW 530i I’d run previously.
You could get a minter for half your budget and have a big enough war chest to buy another if it catastrophically failed.
It was a lovely thing and the V6 was juuuuust about powerful enough for the car that it rarely felt wanting. Made an excellent motorway cruiser. At autobahn speeds it started feeling a bit lethargic above 200kph. It would ‘gain speed’ in a flurry of revs rather than haul.
Around town it was relaxing to drive, but parking it in the SE was a bugger like any large car. Supermarket spaces felt very narrow and when on street parking, it was obvious that whatever car had recently vacated a spot was probably 3ft shorter... so around the block you’d go...
Average over 58k miles was 26.3mpg. Nothing broke, just routine maintenance at local back street garage.
Cost me about the same all in as the e39 BMW 530i I’d run previously.
You could get a minter for half your budget and have a big enough war chest to buy another if it catastrophically failed.
If you're not badge conscious there are some gems with mid to high 20's being normal with 30's on a run being possible:
Hyundai Genesis these have every option you could possibly want, I've supplied 3 of these to clients & all are very happy with their purchases, they also benefit from still being in warranty which can also be extended:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
You could always look for some Hybrid options which will get you where you want to be MPG wise but won't be as grin worthy as the XFR but they will be quick.
Infiniti Q70 3.5h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
535 Active Hybrid M Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Lexus GS450h F Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Hyundai Genesis these have every option you could possibly want, I've supplied 3 of these to clients & all are very happy with their purchases, they also benefit from still being in warranty which can also be extended:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
You could always look for some Hybrid options which will get you where you want to be MPG wise but won't be as grin worthy as the XFR but they will be quick.
Infiniti Q70 3.5h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
535 Active Hybrid M Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Lexus GS450h F Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 28th December 21:16
ZX10R NIN said:
i had a older shape GS450H and loved it. 30mpg, fantastic build, AC seats. Plenty of power with the hybrid, I really liked the CVT gearbox too. Not a drivers car buf def wafted us aroundTrustmeimadoctor said:
Any more suggestions?
Any E Class. CLS or S with the 5.5 V8.I've got the E class version and love it. It'll do 25+ on a normal run.
Wafty and electric-car quiet when you want it to be. Snarly and quick when you fancy that - 11s to 100. Air suspension tightens up appropriately when you give it the beans.
Really good all rounder. If I didn't have teenagers and need the space of an estate I'd have the CLS. Both seem well made. I'm on my second E. very few unexpected fixes over the last 9 years. Air suspension the most likely thing to throw up bills.
They're not that well known but theyr'e the sort of cars Alpina would make if they did Mercs.
Agreed, in your scenario I would go petrol.
But on one hand you say you don’t do many miles yet on the other you talk of ‘selling mpg to your wife’?? So I don’t really get where you’re coming from. Running a barge over a small mileage will cost you more in maintenance / depreciation / age related repairs than annual fuel.
So just quote her the book figures and get on with buying whatever you fancy! She doesn’t audit your petrol receipts / mileage logs I take it
An LS is a pretty well proven sensible barge, so with the greatest respect, if simply filling the tank up with fuel when the light came on irked you then I’m not sure you’ve fully embraced / accepted older barge ownership. Bigger cars have bigger tanks that fuel bigger engines that shift big bigger weight around
An XFR won’t get better mpg vs an LS.
Also, I’ll add that I’m not convinced by the smaller engine in a bigger car working at all. When I had an e39 bmw 530i my dad also had an e39 with the 2.2 engine. On a convey run to Cornwall they got pretty much identical mpg. Little engines look good on paper, but have to be worked harder.
But on one hand you say you don’t do many miles yet on the other you talk of ‘selling mpg to your wife’?? So I don’t really get where you’re coming from. Running a barge over a small mileage will cost you more in maintenance / depreciation / age related repairs than annual fuel.
So just quote her the book figures and get on with buying whatever you fancy! She doesn’t audit your petrol receipts / mileage logs I take it
An LS is a pretty well proven sensible barge, so with the greatest respect, if simply filling the tank up with fuel when the light came on irked you then I’m not sure you’ve fully embraced / accepted older barge ownership. Bigger cars have bigger tanks that fuel bigger engines that shift big bigger weight around
An XFR won’t get better mpg vs an LS.
Also, I’ll add that I’m not convinced by the smaller engine in a bigger car working at all. When I had an e39 bmw 530i my dad also had an e39 with the 2.2 engine. On a convey run to Cornwall they got pretty much identical mpg. Little engines look good on paper, but have to be worked harder.
Edited by Plate spinner on Sunday 29th December 10:40
Trustmeimadoctor said:
My only thoughts with diesel is for and the increasing costs of the fuel and the increasing decrease in resale of derv's was wondering if I should just suck it up and go petrol.
I'd avoid diesel and get a big simple petrol lump which won't go wrong. Even my previous 2005 5.0 E500 is ULEZ exempt. Sold it to a doctor oddly enough. He lives near Bristol and is no doubt glad to have dodged the diesel bullet. I'm in London so any diesel prior to the Euro 6 ones are a no no. Even then they're not a good idea with my usage pattern - 3,500-5,000 miles a year.Plate spinner said:
Agreed, I’m your scenario I would go petrol.
But on one hand you say you don’t do many miles yet on the other you talk of ‘selling mpg to your wife’?? So I don’t really get where you’re coming from. Running a barge over a small mileage will costs you more in maintenance / depreciation / age related repairs than annual fuel.
So just quote her the book figures and get on with buying whatever you fancy! She doesn’t audit your petrol receipts / mileage logs I take it
An LS is a pretty well proven sensible barge, so with the greatest respect, if simply filling the tank up with fuel when the light came on irked you then I’m not sure you’ve fully embraced / accepted older barge ownership. Bigger cars have bigger tanks that fuel bigger engines that shift big bigger weight around
An XFR won’t get better mpg vs an LS.
Re the mpg the Mrs is tight and to her mpg is a sticking point she thinks all 'normal' cars can do 50+mpg But on one hand you say you don’t do many miles yet on the other you talk of ‘selling mpg to your wife’?? So I don’t really get where you’re coming from. Running a barge over a small mileage will costs you more in maintenance / depreciation / age related repairs than annual fuel.
So just quote her the book figures and get on with buying whatever you fancy! She doesn’t audit your petrol receipts / mileage logs I take it
An LS is a pretty well proven sensible barge, so with the greatest respect, if simply filling the tank up with fuel when the light came on irked you then I’m not sure you’ve fully embraced / accepted older barge ownership. Bigger cars have bigger tanks that fuel bigger engines that shift big bigger weight around
An XFR won’t get better mpg vs an LS.
Well she's wrong. I think all normal cars do 25mpg or less :-).
Seriously, though, if you knock up a spreadsheet with various running costs inc fuel, mtce, tax, insurance and depreciation when you do low miles the relative difference of between one car doing 25mpg and another doing 35 is f
k all.
Some people are obsessed by MPG in a way that they think is totally rational but in fact isn't at all.
Spreadsheets work for me and I've been able to easily go the "wrong way" from a 4.3 to a 5.0 to a 5.5.
Seriously, though, if you knock up a spreadsheet with various running costs inc fuel, mtce, tax, insurance and depreciation when you do low miles the relative difference of between one car doing 25mpg and another doing 35 is f
k all. Some people are obsessed by MPG in a way that they think is totally rational but in fact isn't at all.
Spreadsheets work for me and I've been able to easily go the "wrong way" from a 4.3 to a 5.0 to a 5.5.
AC43 said:
Plate spinner said:
Trustmeimadoctor said:
Re the mpg the Mrs is tight and to her mpg is a sticking point she thinks all 'normal' cars can do 50+mpg
Well I guess a 520d or Passat bluemotion or similar is heading your way!But just think of all those lovely empeegeeeeees!
AC43 said:
Well she's wrong. I think all normal cars do 25mpg or less :-).
Seriously, though, if you knock up a spreadsheet with various running costs inc fuel, mtce, tax, insurance and depreciation when you do low miles the relative difference of between one car doing 25mpg and another doing 35 is fk all.
Some people are obsessed by MPG in a way that they think is totally rational but in fact isn't at all.
Spreadsheets work for me and I've been able to easily go the "wrong way" from a 4.3 to a 5.0 to a 5.5.
Agreed. Seriously, though, if you knock up a spreadsheet with various running costs inc fuel, mtce, tax, insurance and depreciation when you do low miles the relative difference of between one car doing 25mpg and another doing 35 is f
k all. Some people are obsessed by MPG in a way that they think is totally rational but in fact isn't at all.
Spreadsheets work for me and I've been able to easily go the "wrong way" from a 4.3 to a 5.0 to a 5.5.
I’ve kept detailed logs for most cars I’ve had in recent times to make sure my method of opting out is financially & emotionally more satisfying m than the company car alternative.
Rough average, but come sale time when all costs turn from forecast to actuals, fuel has never once been more than 35% of the overall running costs on any car I’ve ever run. And that’s doing 20k+ miles per year. With lesser miles like the OP, the % may be as low as 20-25%. And the difference between 20/25/30 mpg will be verging on insignificant.
But ssshhh, don’t tell everyone otherwise the lovely barges go up in price! Much better that most people think like the OPs wife, makes it cheaper for the rest of us.
Edited by Plate spinner on Sunday 29th December 11:16
Plate spinner said:
AC43 said:
Well she's wrong. I think all normal cars do 25mpg or less :-).
Seriously, though, if you knock up a spreadsheet with various running costs inc fuel, mtce, tax, insurance and depreciation when you do low miles the relative difference of between one car doing 25mpg and another doing 35 is fk all.
Some people are obsessed by MPG in a way that they think is totally rational but in fact isn't at all.
Spreadsheets work for me and I've been able to easily go the "wrong way" from a 4.3 to a 5.0 to a 5.5.
Agreed. Seriously, though, if you knock up a spreadsheet with various running costs inc fuel, mtce, tax, insurance and depreciation when you do low miles the relative difference of between one car doing 25mpg and another doing 35 is f
k all. Some people are obsessed by MPG in a way that they think is totally rational but in fact isn't at all.
Spreadsheets work for me and I've been able to easily go the "wrong way" from a 4.3 to a 5.0 to a 5.5.
I’ve kept detailed logs for most cars I’ve had in recent times to make sure my method of opting out is financially & emotionally more satisfying m than the company car alternative.
Rough average, but come sale time when all costs turn from forecast to actuals, fuel has never once been more than 35% of the overall running costs on any car I’ve ever run. And that’s doing 20k+ miles per year. With lesser miles like the OP, the % may be as low as 20-25%. And the difference between 20/25/30 mpg will be verging on insignificant.
But ssshhh, don’t tell everyone otherwise the lively barges go up in price! Much better that most people think like the OPs wife, makes it cheaper for the rest of us.
I can't find the last spreadsheet I did but I'm sure fuel was way less than 20% of total costs for me. But that's based on 3,000 - 3,500 UK miles and an additional 1,000 - 1,500 for a French driving holiday (which doesn't always happen).
Emotional satisfaction; that's an interesting concept that I haven't heard but you're right. Cars have always been something of a hobby for me and I'd much rather have something I bond with that something that irritates me every time I fire it up, hear the rattle and feel the fizz and vibrations through the pedals and wheel. Drives me nuts, that does.
Anyway, MPG!! MPG!! MPG!!
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