Comfy daily… suggestions please

[CarltonF]

Considering buying a new daily and a bit stuck as to what to go for.

It doesn’t need to be particularly quick, but I don’t want a massive barge. Up to mid size I guess. It’ll do a lot of urban/suburban driving, with a weekly motorway foray, and a few longer trips a year. I do about 5-7k miles a year in it. Mostly two seat use, occasional four. Here are my priorities…

- ride comfort, especially on awful town roads
- low cabin noise esp. tyre noise
- utterly dependable & reliable
- will actually fit in a public car parking space
- smaller wheels available (I.e some sidewall please)
- stylish without being outlandish… as little bling as possible.

Have to admit I’m struggling to find much out there I like.

Budget is 25k… ish. Prefer nearly new. Not bothered about technology. Ambivalent about powertrain & gearbox. Would prefer something a bit left field. I have one brand in mind already, but don’t want to preempt anyone ;-).

[Wow, reading this back I sound old, but hey…]

[RS Grant]

Volvo S90 are understated but look great (to me), have plenty of kit, waft nicely and are definitely a bit left field compared to the usual 7er, A8, S-Class, XJ etc.

Also for your budget you should be able to get an approved used car so the warranty and a bit more peace of mind would be attractive to me.

[georgeyboy12345]

Have you thought about buying a hybrid? They are usually set up with comfort in mind and of course can be extremely quiet. Some suggestions from Toyota group, meaning these should also be utterly dependable:


Lexus IS300h with the comfort pack
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...


Or something a bit smaller - Lexus CT200h with only 95 miles on the clock
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104061...


Brand new Toyota Corolla VVT-h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...



More conventional non-hybrid stuff

Audi A4 2.0 TFSI in SE spec, which has the smaller wheels and softer ride than Sport or S-line models
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...


BMW 320i SE - again SE version has smaller wheels, etc. so is more comfortable. 2017 model so has the more reliable B48 motor
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106123...


Honda Civic 1.5 VTEC Turbo Prestige (as opposed to Sport model)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106173...


Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 Super
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106033...


Jaguar XE P200 Prestige
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106244...


Mercedes C200 SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107144...


Brand new Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

[biggbn]

Default choice, Lexus of some flavour.

[SlowV6]

Rx450H

[ZX10R NIN]

CarltonF said:

Considering buying a new daily and a bit stuck as to what to go for.

It doesn’t need to be particularly quick, but I don’t want a massive barge. Up to mid size I guess. It’ll do a lot of urban/suburban driving, with a weekly motorway foray, and a few longer trips a year. I do about 5-7k miles a year in it. Mostly two seat use, occasional four. Here are my priorities…

- ride comfort, especially on awful town roads
- low cabin noise esp. tyre noise
- utterly dependable & reliable
- will actually fit in a public car parking space
- smaller wheels available (I.e some sidewall please)
- stylish without being outlandish… as little bling as possible.

Have to admit I’m struggling to find much out there I like.

Budget is 25k… ish. Prefer nearly new. Not bothered about technology. Ambivalent about powertrain & gearbox. Would prefer something a bit left field. I have one brand in mind already, but don’t want to preempt anyone ;-).

[Wow, reading this back I sound old, but hey…]

Mercedes E350 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107144...

Leftfield

Model S now the reliability bit may be a push but they're not the worst but they do have a borkage potential:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122...

[PH User]

ZX10R NIN said:

CarltonF said:

Considering buying a new daily and a bit stuck as to what to go for.

It doesn’t need to be particularly quick, but I don’t want a massive barge. Up to mid size I guess. It’ll do a lot of urban/suburban driving, with a weekly motorway foray, and a few longer trips a year. I do about 5-7k miles a year in it. Mostly two seat use, occasional four. Here are my priorities…

- ride comfort, especially on awful town roads
- low cabin noise esp. tyre noise
- utterly dependable & reliable
- will actually fit in a public car parking space
- smaller wheels available (I.e some sidewall please)
- stylish without being outlandish… as little bling as possible.

Have to admit I’m struggling to find much out there I like.

Budget is 25k… ish. Prefer nearly new. Not bothered about technology. Ambivalent about powertrain & gearbox. Would prefer something a bit left field. I have one brand in mind already, but don’t want to preempt anyone ;-).

[Wow, reading this back I sound old, but hey…]

Mercedes E350 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107144...

Leftfield

Model S now the reliability bit may be a push but they're not the worst but they do have a borkage potential:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122...

He doesn't want a massive barge.

[Roger Irrelevant]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Have you thought about buying a hybrid? They are usually set up with comfort in mind and of course can be extremely quiet. Some suggestions from Toyota group, meaning these should also be utterly dependable:

The thing that came to mind as I read thd requirements was a Prius (ok - until I came to the style bit). They're anathema to a lot of PHers but they are very comfy, quiet, and about as reliable a car as has ever been made. Suggestions of second hand German barges when somebody says they want a mid-size car with utter dependability are mad really.

[CarltonF]

These are all good suggestions… it was Lexus I was thinking of to start with. Think I will go look at an IS again, and also some Volvos - I hadn’t considered Volvo.

Prius is interesting idea… the latest PHEV model I quite like the idea of. I drove early hybrids and hated them, but the latest are very good I have to admit. Toyota has the HSD thing nailed, and they are bulletproof. Hence my Lexus leanings. Not sure I could put up with people getting in the back at traffic lights and asking me to take them to Gatwick though.

Thanks everyone so far some great ideas in here and food for thought. I don’t mind any suggestions btw. Model S is interesting idea… far too big - showstoppingly so - but like the thinking.

[Canon_Fodder]

DS4?

Perhaps the 'utterly reliable' bit might be a challenge...

[Roger Irrelevant]

CarltonF said:

Prius is interesting idea… Not sure I could put up with people getting in the back at traffic lights and asking me to take them to Gatwick though.

I know exactly what you mean! I guess the problem is that if you want a car that is relatively inexpensive, will not go wrong and is good at trudging round town without wrecking alloys or your back on a regular basis, then 'whatever taxi drivers use' is likely to be the answer.

[KomodoWagon]

Biased because I've got one but some kind of Infiniti might be worth considering. Mine's an SUV (QX70) but you could look at the saloons -- Q50 and Q70 -- or the Q60 coupe if you don't want to do the SUV thing.

Some people are put off because Infiniti doesn't operate in the UK any more but I've never had any problems finding independent garages/workshops to service or do maintenance on mine. It's basically a giant Nissan in a going-out dress.

(Nissan dealers will take them too, although they will charge Infiniti prices.)

[RS Grant]

PH User said:

He doesn't want a massive barge.

I’d misread that bit.. so my S90 suggestion probably doesn’t work as well now.

Hmmm… how about an S60?

[CarltonF]

I’m not keen on modern Nissans, but Infiniti I hadn’t thought of.

I’m going to check out a Prius plug in, plus visit Volvo & Lexus dealers.

Thanks everyone for your help & suggestions - appreciate it!