Down to 3 choices...
Discussion
I've been agonising over a new daily for months, and I've narrowed down to 3, and annoyingly, they're all diesel. Hear me out though!!
When I began this journey, I was looking at diesel, but then decided it wasn't necessary for the miles I do, but, this has changed, and I'll need to do more miles over the next 12 months (12k plus), with a lot of that being regular trips up to Hull to see my mum.
So that being said, these are the 3 choices.
1) Audi A6 C7 3.0 TDI Quattro Saloon.
2) Mercedes Benz E350 BlueTEC W212.
3) BMW 640d Gran Coupe.
There are pros and cons for each.
Audi:
Pros:
Plenty around.
Good spec.
Quattro.
Good size.
Good options.
Euro6.
LED Headlights available.
Cons:
Doesn't look as premium inside compared with the 6GC.
A bit dull.
Mercedes Benz:
Pros:
Plenty around.
Good spec.
Good size.
Good options.
Euro6.
LED Headlights available.
Cons:
Looks like a taxi.
Doesn't look premium at all inside.
Rear subframe rot.
AdBlue.
It'll be dull.
BMW 6GC.
Pros:
Good spec.
Good size.
Good options.
Euro6.
LED Headlights available.
Less dull than the others.
Cons:
N57 can be suspect.
More expensive.
Less around.
The Merc is probably the cheapest, and the 3.0 V6 seems to be reliable, then the Audi, which I think is also quite reliable. The 640d, the most expensive, best looking, but probably the least reliable.
The 640d is the one I want, but I am open to the other 2.
Anyone experience and thoughts on the above cars please will be most welcome.
Thanks.
When I began this journey, I was looking at diesel, but then decided it wasn't necessary for the miles I do, but, this has changed, and I'll need to do more miles over the next 12 months (12k plus), with a lot of that being regular trips up to Hull to see my mum.
So that being said, these are the 3 choices.
1) Audi A6 C7 3.0 TDI Quattro Saloon.
2) Mercedes Benz E350 BlueTEC W212.
3) BMW 640d Gran Coupe.
There are pros and cons for each.
Audi:
Pros:
Plenty around.
Good spec.
Quattro.
Good size.
Good options.
Euro6.
LED Headlights available.
Cons:
Doesn't look as premium inside compared with the 6GC.
A bit dull.
Mercedes Benz:
Pros:
Plenty around.
Good spec.
Good size.
Good options.
Euro6.
LED Headlights available.
Cons:
Looks like a taxi.
Doesn't look premium at all inside.
Rear subframe rot.
AdBlue.
It'll be dull.
BMW 6GC.
Pros:
Good spec.
Good size.
Good options.
Euro6.
LED Headlights available.
Less dull than the others.
Cons:
N57 can be suspect.
More expensive.
Less around.
The Merc is probably the cheapest, and the 3.0 V6 seems to be reliable, then the Audi, which I think is also quite reliable. The 640d, the most expensive, best looking, but probably the least reliable.
The 640d is the one I want, but I am open to the other 2.
Anyone experience and thoughts on the above cars please will be most welcome.
Thanks.
I've owned loads of more 'exciting' cars but a few years back I had a W212 E350 CDI - actually an estate so an S212.
It was, on the face of it, quite 'boring' as you say, and it was a bit of a leap of faith having never previously had a Mercedes. It turned out to be one of my favourite ever cars, and one I kept longer than any other.
The qualities that make it great are not immediately obvious, but grew with ownership. My overall experience is that they dont 'try' to be sporty like a BMW - which for a big motorway cruiser actually makes much more sense. And unlike an Audi which has a veneer of 'quality', particularly the fact that the interiors are generally seen to be more premium, it really is a veneer, and the actual engineering is much cheaper and flimsier. Perhaps its the mechanical design engineer in me but the Mercedes seemed to have much more actual quality engineering, even if this manifests itself as being a bit dull.
There is also a marked, very clear difference between an E-Class and a C or other smaller/cheaper models.
As for subframes - I've had 3 cars now at risk - none have had any issues. If you do - Merc fix it for free anyway. Wouldnt put me off in the slightest.
It was an incredibly safe, cosseting, 'homely' feeling car if that makes sense. If I had to do a long journey in poor weather, traffic, dark nights sat in horrid conditions on the M62, it was brilliant.
As you've noticed, possibly becuase they are seen as a bit of an old-mans choice, I think like for like at a set budget you'll get a really nice and highly specced one compared to an equivalent A6 Avant or 5 series tourer too.
Saloons are even cheaper too which works in your favour.
FWIW also very easy and not expensive to upgrade to modern Android/Carplay etc.
It was, on the face of it, quite 'boring' as you say, and it was a bit of a leap of faith having never previously had a Mercedes. It turned out to be one of my favourite ever cars, and one I kept longer than any other.
The qualities that make it great are not immediately obvious, but grew with ownership. My overall experience is that they dont 'try' to be sporty like a BMW - which for a big motorway cruiser actually makes much more sense. And unlike an Audi which has a veneer of 'quality', particularly the fact that the interiors are generally seen to be more premium, it really is a veneer, and the actual engineering is much cheaper and flimsier. Perhaps its the mechanical design engineer in me but the Mercedes seemed to have much more actual quality engineering, even if this manifests itself as being a bit dull.
There is also a marked, very clear difference between an E-Class and a C or other smaller/cheaper models.
As for subframes - I've had 3 cars now at risk - none have had any issues. If you do - Merc fix it for free anyway. Wouldnt put me off in the slightest.
It was an incredibly safe, cosseting, 'homely' feeling car if that makes sense. If I had to do a long journey in poor weather, traffic, dark nights sat in horrid conditions on the M62, it was brilliant.
As you've noticed, possibly becuase they are seen as a bit of an old-mans choice, I think like for like at a set budget you'll get a really nice and highly specced one compared to an equivalent A6 Avant or 5 series tourer too.
Saloons are even cheaper too which works in your favour.
FWIW also very easy and not expensive to upgrade to modern Android/Carplay etc.
Edited by snotrag on Tuesday 28th October 10:53
If its the same drivetrain as the A4 Allroad (I had the 3l diesel/tiptronic) I hated it, I think its probably because I'm use to BMW zf gearboxes. I found the Audi slow to get off from standstill, really annoying if I had to do a 3point turn and just not very dynamic compared to say a 330d. I wouldn't for instance trust it like a 330d if overtaking on an A road.
Once its sitting on a motorway, it really doesn't matter what your in but knocking around on other roads it does.
BMW all day long
Once its sitting on a motorway, it really doesn't matter what your in but knocking around on other roads it does.
BMW all day long
Edited by AndrewO on Wednesday 29th October 11:56
Went to look at an S350 CDI yesterday. Looked lovely outside, but inside was very grubby, audio didn't work, took an age to start, sounded rough and absolutely stank. This was a euro 6 car as well.
Shame really.
I've been advised to avoid any Merc with adblue as it's app6a poor system, so if I go Merc it'll need to be Euro 4 or euro 6.
Shame really.
I've been advised to avoid any Merc with adblue as it's app6a poor system, so if I go Merc it'll need to be Euro 4 or euro 6.
my dad had a 640d GC as company car when they were new. I liked it so much I considered buying an M6 GC for a while. I think he had no issues during the c. 140k km / 3ish years he owned it. I would definitely get that, the interior looks and feels quite nice / premium imo. The engine felt quite punchy too.
Edit to add: I also think it looks much better than the 840d that he replaced it with.
Edit to add: I also think it looks much better than the 840d that he replaced it with.
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