Fast, luxurious family car
Fast, luxurious family car
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Discussion

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
We’d like a new family car.

We’re fortunate to be have a little city car, some fast, fun cars and a good hot hatch, so the family car doesn’t have to do many jobs.

For the last five years it’s been a Range Rover Sport, bought used, with the V8 engine which I had some work done on to take it up to about 650bhp.

I really like it, my wife is happy in it, the children love it and it’s served us well for the big trips loaded up with luggage.

It’s done 90,000 miles now and is looking a bit tired, so I’m wondering about changing it and would appreciate some thoughts on my choices for a replacement and ideas for what I might have missed.

Top of the list at the moment is a like-for-like replacement, getting a 2022 RR Sport SVR for about £52,000. It’s an obvious choice, and will do all ai need it to.

What’s turning my head a bit is having looked through the fast Audis and BMW estates and then not really tempting me is that I thought about an RS7 then took a sideways move to think about an Emeya. I see that low mileage ones are available for £60-70k. The reduced range is a bit of an issue, but they do charge fast and I’m quite keen on trying something electric.

Also on the list is the Maserati Levante Trofeo, Bentley Bentayga or a RR Vejar (again with the 5L engine.)

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
I should have added, not just put it in the title, that I’d like the car to be fast and luxurious.

I do 300 mile trips loaded up up and down the country most months and also want to do big trips down to the South of France in as pleasant a way as possible.

chrisman

89 posts

86 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
The Porsche Panamera or Cayenne would seem to fit the bill.

BlackTails

3,737 posts

83 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
A full fat Range Rover is the obvious choice. It looks like you’ve already ruled it out though. Why?

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
Here’s where I apologise for not including all I should have…

I like the back to have the ability to see out well, so low window lines (relative to seat height), a panoramic roof and the front seat backs not being too close to the rear seats or too big. It makes a really big difference for cars sickness and I think (but will check again) that the Panamera’s not good in this respect. I think the back was very claustrophobic.

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
BlackTails said:
A full fat Range Rover is the obvious choice. It looks like you ve already ruled it out though. Why?
Not ruled it out, but I think I slightly prefer the Sport for how it drives. I should have a try of a similar vintage / cost RR to compare.

BlackTails

3,737 posts

83 months

Friday 19th June
quotequote all
SchillingTwo said:
Not ruled it out, but I think I slightly prefer the Sport for how it drives. I should have a try of a similar vintage / cost RR to compare.
Understood.

I’ve found FFRR encourage a serene driving style with the odd squirt forwards. If you’re hustling a FFRR through corners, it can be done but it’s not really getting the best from it. As a family car, I think it’s hard to beat. IMO.

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Saturday 20th June
quotequote all
As I’ve just posted on an Emeya thread, I tried one today, and have come away unsure now about whether to go in that direction.

It was impressive, but of course very different to the feel of a supercharged V8.

It did, I think, do luxury at least as well as a Range Rover, which is quite new for Lotus, although my Emira impressed me on that front too.

Pickle_Rick

808 posts

88 months

Sunday 21st June
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I like leftfield choices.

Lexus rz 550e if you're considering EV. 10 year warranty too

plfrench

4,741 posts

296 months

Sunday 21st June
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What about the Lotus Eletre rather than the Emeya if you’re considering EV? Being an SUV it’s closer to the RR Sport.

andy43

13,075 posts

282 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
Pickle_Rick said:
I like leftfield choices.

Lexus rz 550e if you're considering EV. 10 year warranty too
This or the RX are super comfy but do test drive properly - the binging and bonging on the RX killed the idea for me.
Luxury wise with decent visibility it has to be a Bentayga. Cooled seats, massage, pan roof, lane keep etc - my X5 ticks those boxes but the Bentley is a whole different level and I’d guess it might be more sprightly than a FFRR.

fflump

3,452 posts

66 months

Sunday 21st June
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Bentayga for me looking at your brief. We have a Flying Spur as the family barge and would recommend that first if you can abide a saloon.

Out of the alternatives a Levante Trofeo if only to open the bonnet and see the engine.

andy43

13,075 posts

282 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
fflump said:
Bentayga for me looking at your brief. We have a Flying Spur as the family barge and would recommend that first if you can abide a saloon.

Out of the alternatives a Levante Trofeo if only to open the bonnet and see the engine.
If that’s the Maser Mr Metcalfe has, it looks an awesome bit of kit.

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
The Levante Trofeo does look good, getting to have a test drive in one might be a bit of an issue.

Wheel Turned Out

2,347 posts

66 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
I hated the Bentayga when they first came out, but I have to confess now depreciation is biting into them a 4.0 V8 is looking increasingly tempting...

darreni

4,502 posts

298 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
Newer SQ7?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127894981794?mkcid=16&a...

Edited by darreni on Sunday 21st June 13:30

fflump

3,452 posts

66 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
Definitely compare the Trofeo to the V8 Bentayga.
A V8 Bentayga is around £65k for a sub 50k miler, 7 years old.
For similar money the Trofeo will be nearer 3 yrs old and lower mileage. Considering what they cost new it is pretty good value-but they are rare because being so expensive. Whether the interior is luxury enough is a different matter-I like Mazza interiors but the switch gear and general ambience is obviously not on Bentley or FFRR level.

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
I did look at Bentaygas a couple of years ago, and decided that the face-lift version was enough nicer that I’d not be happy buying the older one. The newer one though was too expensive.

I’ve seen a couple of V8 Range Rover Velars, and might see if I’m able to try one of those to compare to the Sport.

SchillingTwo

Original Poster:

612 posts

2 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
fflump said:
Bentayga for me looking at your brief. We have a Flying Spur as the family barge and would recommend that first if you can abide a saloon.

Out of the alternatives a Levante Trofeo if only to open the bonnet and see the engine.
I like saloons. My favourite ever car was my B7 RS7 and I really like S8s too.

I’ll go and at least have a sit in a Spur for a look.

I was tempted a few years back by one of the more silly GTC Supersports convertibles but never got as far as driving one.

BlackTails

3,737 posts

83 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
SchillingTwo said:
I like saloons. My favourite ever car was my B7 RS7 and I really like S8s too.
We’ve had a D2 and D3 S8 fulfil this role over the years. Very good choices.

Tried a Panamera briefly. Less good choice. Kept it for less than a year.