40k motorway cruiser - anything to beat an S Class?

[sealtt]

I have started travelling up to London for overnight stays 1-2 times a week for work - it’s a 2 hour drive each way, I try to drive in the evenings (9pm - 10pm) to avoid traffic.

Very busy time for work, so just want a vehicle to get me there / back as painlessly as possible. Night driving means superb lights are a must-have.

Have thought a 40k budget is about the right balance of getting something very good, but still I’d feel comfortable leaving it unattended for a few days on London streets.

My initial thoughts are it should be a used LWB 350d 2018 S Class, facelift model - of the now old shape - for around 40k from a main dealer. Yes I will look like a chauffeur as soon as I get inside the M25 but I really don’t care. Just want the best quality vehicle for the job, looks / brand mostly irrelevant though I do think the S class is a lovely looking vehicle.

Any thoughts on a better option / better value (less money spent is always great!) option worth considering?

Edited by sealtt on Wednesday 15th September 18:25

[Yodafone]

That's is pretty much the perfect car for the task, it's worth looking at the S class coupe but only problem is it will cost you 3 times the amount in fuel as I don't think the coupe comes as the black juice.

[Regbuser]

S class, good for the job.
Also consider older CL, older Bentley Continental, Audi A8

[ZX10R NIN]

For your requirements I'd also look at the XJ Autobiography great ride comfort & you'll get a very low mileage example which you can keep on extending the Warranty.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107104...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...

[Wilmslowboy]

From the driver's seat would a mid size exec car not be better BMW 5, Audi A6, Merc E class, Volvo v90 etc


A6 all-road - supposedly one of the most comfortable cars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jUMNbTuKZQ

[anonymous-user]

S or E would make a perfect waftomatic. S more so, like driving a cloud.

640d if you prefer something sportier.
A6 in 3.0 Bi-TDi is also nice.

I am going to go with the S though. Plush.

[georgeyboy12345]

Possible alternatives to the S350d

How about an E300de? Use the diesel on the motorways and electric motor in London. If you can plug it in at home and at work, it should be a very cost effective mile muncher. They have decent poke and the hybrid nature of it is supposed to make it really smooth and quiet too. All of those available seem to be "AMG Line" versions though, so you might want to take one for a test drive to make sure the ride isn't too sporty
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108146...


Audi A8 50 3.0 TDI V6 Quattro
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107245...


BMW 730d Exclusive (not an M Sport, so is hopefully more softly sprung)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109117...

[sealtt]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions, some interesting ideas, I will take a look at them all.

Electric is interesting - as I am a company director I could in particular get a Porsche Taycan with tax savings for a bit of a steal (essentially half price!) but I am still not convinced on it for my purposes (recharging at 11pm on the M3! … huge options bill to get a proper spec).

One other interesting consideration is the smaller car route as alluded to with the E class, my flat in London is on street parking only and our current cars (Range Rover Vogue and Ford Ranger) miss out on a lot of spots due to length!

I wonder how good the slightly smaller models - 3/5 series and C/E class are now? I’ve not driven any of these models for at least 10 years. With the right spec (non-M / AMG line!) will they still be worth a look or just not that great as mileage crunchers compared to the big ones?

[BlueJ]

Another vote for the S class - superbly refined and a lot of quality car for the money.

Taycan is an excellent car and quiet motors + instant torque make for relaxed driving, but it's not a 'waftmobile' in the same manner as the Merc. Plus who wants range anxiety when driving at night!

[BlueJ]

Sorry, didn't fully read you last post OP.

The current E class is very refined and with air suspension also a good motorway wafter. With a torquey diesel such as the 400d I don't think you'll be disappointed (best to avoid the smaller engines with your criteria).

Have you considered a Lexus? RX450h very quiet & well built, CVT gearbox not to everyone's taste though.

[Deerfoot]

BlueJ said:

Have you considered a Lexus? RX450h very quiet & well built, CVT gearbox not to everyone's taste though.

A Lexus LS500h is also in budget.

In fact scrap that, they’re too expensive..

Edited by Deerfoot on Thursday 16th September 07:01

[cerb4.5lee]

Have a GLC350d and it is really good at doing the comfort and relaxing bit, and it covers long distances really well too. So I'd imagine the S350d to be absolutely wonderful at it for sure. The other cars I've had to cover long distances in were a 330d and a 640d, and the GLC is better at it than both of those for me.

[Summit_Detailing]

S-class 100%!

I used to have one, sold it for a Range Rover, currently in an XJ but actively looking for another S-class...says it all really!

RR was nice but didn't see the point in hauling all the 4x4 gubbins about and disliked the pitch/roll compared to normal cars.
Glad to have owned one and can see why people rate them but just not for me.

Current XJ feels 'fragile', even compared to the RR!.... and it is nowhere near as refined as an S-class!
I like the way it looks and the fact it is a rare.

Comfort and Refinement are my top priorities and there is nothing better than an S-class for that this side of a Ghost or Phantom!

Funny you mention headlamps as exterior lighting engineers typically use Mercedes, Porsche and Bentley for benchmarking such is their level of tech and performance over other brands.

Cheers,

Chris

[MC Bodge]

Wilmslowboy said:

From the driver's seat would a mid size exec car not be better BMW 5, Audi A6, Merc E class, Volvo v90 etc

....or a Passat, Superb, Mondeo...

None would be a hardship or uncomfortable in any real sense, unless on huge rims and overly-stiff suspension.

[Mouse Rat]

The new shape VW Touareg is excellent and very refined. More so than an E class or 5 series in my option. £40K will get you a 2018 R Line 286bhp tdi

Still S or E class a good call. Make sure is the 3.0 tdi

[RichardAP]

It’s you seem to like Mercedes and would consider electric then it’s worth test driving an EQC. When we got ours the deal meant it was about half the cost of a taycan.

I’ve not driven an s class but the eqc seems pretty comparable to an e class from a comfort point of view.

Ours will get from Bournemouth to London without charge but you will need to top it up for the return in winter and if you drive quickly then you will probably need a small top up in summer to get back.

[Royal Jelly]

Nothing will do the job quite like the S. My father has one after having a 7, and while that was excellent, I don’t think it was quite as refined/relaxing as the S.

I obviously don’t know how cost-sensitive you are, but as you’ll know, these things depreciate like lead balloons. If you look a year older, then you can knock 10k off the price.

Granted, they are the pre-facelift model but that shouldn’t matter. You won’t get the dealership warranty, but 10 covers a lot of repairs and running.

[Nurburgsingh]

c'mon... this is PH.. what's with all the sensible "yes get an S class" answers...

this...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12035460

and a £10k slush/petrol fund...

[georgeyboy12345]

sealtt said:

Electric is interesting - as I am a company director I could in particular get a Porsche Taycan with tax savings for a bit of a steal (essentially half price!) but I am still not convinced on it for my purposes (recharging at 11pm on the M3! … huge options bill to get a proper spec).

Would you have to recharge on the M3? The base model supposedly has a 300 mile range, let's say it could be as low as 200 miles in wet winter weather with heating on, etc. Could you not charge at home and, as you are a company director, direct your company to install a charger at work, so you can charge it there too? Won't be as wafty as an S-class I'm sure, but the electric drive should make it smooth and silent, the torque and instant response gives a feeling of comfort too.

[Lee540]

Fleet Services has plenty of chargers.