£5k Barge

[NordicCrankShaft]

Okay, so the current steed, a 2005 Volvo S60 2.4d is looking and feeling more ropey by the week, the last two years I've owned it it's been pretty decent and enjoyable. I've covered 58k motorway miles those two years and it's not really cost me anything aside from some tyres and fuel. Things keep happening electrically and mechanically recently that is making me think it's time for some fresh meat.

I've got around £5k to play with and I'm doing considerably less mileage right now but still enough to consider keeping the diesel theme going, I've got a few options

2009 Vintage Merc CLS 320cdi
2005ish Audi A8 3.0tdi Quattro
Audi A5 3.0tdi Quattro (just within and out of budget)
Jaguar XF 3.0 TDV6
Jaguar XJ 2.7 TD Sport Premium

Something really drawing me to the Jag as I've always liked the look of them, albeit I'd prefer and XJS but can't have it all, also the Merc seems like a decent option, anything else I should consider?

[Summit_Detailing]

I've owned 3 of those previously (A8, XF, CLS)
I'd happily recommend all of them, not that that helps much.

Given the £5k budget I think I'd find the best example of an A8 I could find.
I'm not sure the XF or CLS wear their miles quite as well.
All are fundamentally reliable as long as you find a car with proper maintenance records - the same with any car of course!

Happy shopping!

Cheers,

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

This would be my bias pick (it's the air cooled seats that win it) the seats are not only cooled nut Orthopedic too which make long journeys a breeze as I can testify to, especially on days like today.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104151...

If you're going to go for a CLS look for the last of the line Grabd Edition models as they have a nice spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106033...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106093...

[andburg]

this should cover it = https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

thread for exactly tjhis kind of purchase

[ScoobyChris]

ZX10R NIN said:

This would be my bias pick (it's the air cooled seats that win it) the seats are not only cooled nut Orthopedic too which make long journeys a breeze as I can testify to, especially on days like today.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104151...

I was surprised it only has 38k miles on it, given age and that it's a diesel, but MOT history seems to check out! Seems to have done half the mileage in the first three year's of ownership and then 1-2k mile each year since!

Chris