O/T (slightly) Tell me about shiny new luxo cars

[tonedepear]

Afternoon all. Scuse the none-shite tone of this one, but I'm just wondering if I can leech some knowledge.

 

Following FAVVA TONE's pelvis-braking bike crash*, and MUVVA being pretty much stuck in the arse of France with nothing but a camper van or bike to visit him 20 miles away in hospital, FAVVA has spent his enforced lying down time deciding they should sack off the motor home, and get a new car and caravan instead, so next year when he ends up in hospital, MUVVA can bring him stuff more efficiently.

 

The motorhome is only 18 months old, so should yield a fair old sum, and I gather they'll be looking at large-family sized estates in the Merc C class sort of arena. Now, they had a new golf a few years back, and they've not really forgiven me for not warning them off it. Current motah is a 5 year old SAAB 9-3 TiD sport wagon thing.

 

I know ten years ago, modern mercs rusted and weren't very well built, but nowadays I'm clueless on new stuff. I'd steer away from anything VAg on principal, but there's plenty of folk on here who seem to have actual first hand experience of new cars, and I'm wondering -

 

What's put together properly?

What's reliable?

What's not shit.

 

Don't worry, he wouldn't buy anything french or owt so no need to tell me about Lagunas or anything. I worked in a main Renner dealership not that long ago anyway, so they're well off the radar.

 

Any advice/horror stories/anything welcome.

 

Ta in advance.

 

*incidentally he's still in l'hopital. They tried to sit him up this morning, but it ain't happening, so he'll be in there a few more days yet. Bless him. I managed to speak to him on the phone yesterday too. Reckon I've had my fill of catheter / "what they do when you're bosting for a poo and you're stuck lying down" stories for a while.

 

So yeah. Exectutive class tow cars, please.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Are Shitroens really anywhere near as bad as Renaults?? I'd love a C6 or even a C5 with the hydro suspension...

 

My #1 choice, however, would be a Sonata. Alright, it will lose 99.8% of its value within 3 minutes, but that won't matter unless your dad's planning to trade it in next year.

 

The C-Class is too uncomfortable for a car of its size, especially so for a Merc.

[tonedepear]

Yeah, no chance of him buying a Hyundai. Ever. And I'm pretty sure he'll be after an estate. And yes, in my experience post-multiplex Citroens are every bit as bad, if not worse.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

In that case, Legacy Outback with added AWD for OMG SNOW KAHOS.

[tonedepear]

I suspect that won't be the kind of thing he's after. Saabs, Mercs, NOT BMWS COS ONLY CUNTS DRIVE THEM (his words, paraphrased), possibly a Volvo, that sort of thing. I'm not after obscure alternatives, cos he won't even glance at them, I'm just after real world experience of what's put together properly nowadays, cos if he's on the path to Merc-hood, I don't want him stuck with a £30k shitter.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

While the C-Class doesn't seem to be quite as shit as the previous generation of Mercs, it definitely doesn't feel luxurious, comfy or well-built enough to justify its pricetag.

 

I haven't driven anything else that's recentish and comes from the brands you mentioned...I'm not sure whether he'd consider a Pisshat (or perhaps A4?), but IMO it is better than the C-Class.

[Rocket88]

As you've ruled out French and VAG [though my choice would be a Skoda Superb estate] you're left with Mercs, Beemers and high end Jap stuff. To be honest most modern chod of that ilk is going to be pretty good, although epically expensive if it goes wrong. I wouldn't rule out a Mondeo. Their current Saab is a Vectra, so anything will be an improvement

[trigger]

How about a decent spec Skoda Octavia? The diesel ones drive really nice and I'm sure they would tow a shed with ease.

[Cavcraft]

*In before the Astra/Focus/Horsey Horseless/Insignia comments.

 

Volvo V70 (or whatever the latest models are called) wouldn't be a bad bet. Nicvely screwed together, pleasant to drive and that big, safe, waftyness that Volvo build in.

[tonedepear]

I can't see him wearing a Skoda, audi / vw might not be ruled out, but are they not quite fally-apart nowadays? Car before the Saab was a brand new (yes) Golwf TDi and it was shocking and they hated it.

 

V70 would be my first vote tbh, but again, I've no idea if they're any good nowadays.

 

Horsey horeless is unsuited to the rams on/off the ferry, else it'd already be a done deal.

 

*I probably should have specified at the start, as well as being a bit broken, he's massively picky about what he spends many thousands of his hard earned retirement pounds on.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Basically, I think you should try your best to convert him into a shitist and convince him of the merits of a beige 505 Familiale, coincidentally increasing your own inheritance in the process.

[tonedepear]

I'll struggle to argue the merits of trading his current 20k mile Saab (albeit a vectra one) in for a me-style £500 shitter. Not helped by the fact he's seen some of the shit I've owned over the years and even if he could have been tempted before, he wouldn't now. In fairness, he's 66 with a broken pelvis. He's not over-keen to be getting oily straight away.

[Rocket88]

I can't see him wearing a Skoda

 

I can't believe such epically uninformed badge snobbery still exists...no offence meant, but they are probably the best value for money "decent" cars you can buy.

 

.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Tell me about it. My own dad traded his 2.5 year old Honda Jazz for ...a new Honda Jazz. 'That'll be 7k Euros on top of your old car, sir'... ...and the new semi-auto gearbox is much worse than the previous one!

[Justin Case]

Last year, when I was seeking a reasonable barge-estate, I looked at a newish Mercedes C-Class. It was very well screwed together (even Mrs A was impressed with the interior ) and they seem to have a better reputation then the earlier generations. Best of all it had lost value in a way that I thought was impossible for a Merc (35% in 18 months ) It was a C180k SE (smallest engine, cheapest spec) but that meant it didn't have the big wheels and sports suspension of its posher brothers, so it was actually quite comfortable. Whether that engine would be powerful enough to lug a caravan I don't know (other engines are also available ) but I only ruled it out because the sloping rear meant that it was'nt a serious load-lugger, you have to go to Volvo (horrifyngly expensive new or secondhand) or one of the usual mass-market suspects for that.

 

PS The Seat Exeo is a good buy but again small in the boot, and it is a recycled Audi A4 if that is a factor.

[tonedepear]

I can't believe such epically uninformed badge snobbery still exists...no offence meant, but they are probably the best value for money "decent" cars you can buy.

 

I'd get what you're saying, but it definitely does exist - and in part the "it's a Skoda, it's cheap, nasty and will break" has been replaced with "it's a Skoda, the driver's a wanker and about to cut me up".

 

Also, value for money ISN'T the #1 priority here. If it was, he wouldn't have bought brand new SAABs for near enough 20 years (excluding the golf), and he certainly wouldn't have bought an expensive vectra with saab badges on last time round.

[tonedepear]

Last year, when I was seeking a reasonable barge-estate, I looked at a newish Mercedes C-Class.

 

Sounds encouraging. What did you end up with?

[Rocket88]

If he's worried about space, Superb would be the weapon of choice, and highly rated by caravanists.

[tonedepear]

If he's worried about space, Superb would be the weapon of choice, and highly rated by caravanists.

 

I love the superb, specially the first one. Brilliant thing. They don't do an estate do they?

 

(I'm still sure he'll never own a Skoda in his life, but...)

[Rocket88]

Available in estate version, nicely specced one about £22k new. As far as reliability is concerned, just check out what taxi drivers are buying..........these and Octavias. Without wishing to get all "William Woollard", if I was a sensibilst with that kind of wedge to spend they'd be top of my list by a mile

[Volksy]

I hired a Octavia TSi 4x4 Wagon for a week, really nice car, seemed very well screwed together, better than my New VW Minibus anyway.

 

The 4x4 system did ruin it a little, same with the bus, as you could feel it trying to sort itself out after a tight bend. So a 2wd one should be even better..

[tonedepear]

Likewise. (Although I'd probly want something a bit shitter, tbh)

 

I think anything Vag is going to remind him of the golf too much (which he bought brand new and hated so much he didn't even keep it 12 months - ££££££££ ouch). We'll see though. I've posted him a what car and a couple of caravan mags. I was going to stick a CCW in there, but thought better of it. £15 fucking quid postage. Bloody France.

[gtd2000]

Yeah, no chance of him buying a Hyundai. Ever. And I'm pretty sure he'll be after an estate. And yes, in my experience post-multiplex Citroens are every bit as bad, if not worse.

 

That's bit like I'll never buy a Toyota/Honda/Lexus...back in 1994 or so...

 

What does pops not like about Hyundai?

 

I'm curious, as I've owned 3 of them to date (an '86, & 2 x '01's) - all have been decent (affordable) transport and the new generations just keep improving in every way.

 

Even my mate "Dave" up in Orlando (from Glasgow) who in recent years has owned a BMW 740i, Porsche Boxster, Audi A6 and currently drives a 2 year old Audi A6 (which he considers is crap compared to his late 90's model) thinks his GF's Hyundai Santa Fe is the dogs bollocks and would have one any day over the A6 funnily enough

[Justin Case]

Last year, when I was seeking a reasonable barge-estate, I looked at a newish Mercedes C-Class.

 

Sounds encouraging. What did you end up with?

 

As this is Autoshite, an 07 Mazda 6 petrol estate which was large enough to take the dog's cage lengthwise still leaving room for other stuff (a big box to be ticked) in the end it was a close call between that and a Subaru Legacy, but this one came along at the right price (ie possibly leaving enough over for a shite purchase in the future )

[tonedepear]

Yeah, no chance of him buying a Hyundai. Ever. And I'm pretty sure he'll be after an estate. And yes, in my experience post-multiplex Citroens are every bit as bad, if not worse.

What does pops not like about Hyundai?

 

He's long retired and I guess if he's thinking about a Merc it's cos he fancies treating himself to something "a bit special". However good a hyundai is, it may well not have the desired "bit special"-ness. And he's 66, and not THAT enlightened tbf. I'm not saying he's a massive racist, or intentionally kicks drivers of inferior brands in the street, but I just don't think he'd buy one. As an example, his last motorhome was a Merc, and he was dead giddy when he first got it cos it was his first ,mercedes. He'd jokingly toss his keys on the table and say, "move over, I'm a Mercedes driver now". His most recent one is Transit based, and after eventually being convinced it'd be a really good van "100000000000 plumbers can't be wrong, etc", it's already let him down twice and it was brand new last year. Which doesn't help.

 

Last year, when I was seeking a reasonable barge-estate, I looked at a newish Mercedes C-Class.

 

Sounds encouraging. What did you end up with?

 

As this is Autoshite, an 07 Mazda 6 petrol estate which was large enough to take the dog's cage lengthwise still leaving room for other stuff (a big box to be ticked) in the end it was a close call between that and a Subaru Legacy, but this one came along at the right price (ie possibly leaving enough over for a shite purchase in the future )

 

Blimey! I had a Mazda 6 and the back arches were going already.

[gtd2000]

He's long retired and I guess if he's thinking about a Merc it's cos he fancies treating himself to something "a bit special". However good a hyundai is, it may well not have the desired "bit special"-ness. And he's 66, and not THAT enlightened tbf. I'm not saying he's a massive racist, or intentially kicks drivers of inferior brands in the street, but I just don't think he'd buy one. As an example, his last motorhome was a Merc, and he was dead giddy when he first got it cos it was his first ,mercedes. He'd jokingly toss his keys on the table and say, "move over, I'm a Mercedes driver now".

 

I certainly hear ya.

 

My dad was the same about Asian cars, he put them down constantly - until he actually owned one

 

Fortunately, I have the mentality that if I like the look of something, it's good enough for me, however, the first priority is always reliability.

 

Perhaps sending him some updated info might help get a better perspective on the current market?

 

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/most-reliable-cars

 

Warranty Direct most reliable (Jan 2010):

 

1 Suzuki

2 Honda

3 Mazda

4 Toyota

5 Skoda

6 Smart

7 Citroen

8 Hyundai

9 Nissan

10 Ford

 

Warranty Direct least reliable (Jan 2010)

 

1 Jeep

2 Porsche

3 Landrover

4 Alfa Romeo

5 Chrysler

6 Jaguar

7 Audi

8 MG

9 Mercedes

10 Saab

 

Skoda looks like the best option... if he wants a European car built by Europeans of course

[tonedepear]

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/most-reliable-cars

 

Warranty Direct most reliable (Jan 2010):

 

7 Citroen

 

Warranty Direct least reliable (Jan 2010):

 

Not Renault

 

How the actual fuck!?

[gtd2000]

 

Warranty Direct most reliable (Jan 2010):

 

7 Citroen

How the actual fuck!?

 

I suspect sales of the Citroen version of the Toyota Aygo might help boost the figures - but that's just me

[pompei]

Mrs P's dad had an auto 3 litre P reg Camry until a couple of years ago. He replaced it with a 3 or 4 year old X type Jag auto but neither he nor MiL liked it as much as the old Camry ... He's now in an 3 y/o E Class, (the main chunk of depreciation gone) 3 point something auto diesel with a Brabus chip. He loves it but has been right royally shafted by the dealership particularly when the "services" seem to involve a bloke with a laptop fiddling with his settings.

[hairnet]

jag xtype est

 

avensis estate

 

as the taxi comments octavia and avensis all they use round here so they must be ok - taxi fellas are the tighest evah!