Bmw 5 estate or E-Class estate or Audi

mattyg

mattyg

mattyg

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Joined
17 Jun 2007
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Ok Folks

I'm getting on a bit and am a fair bit out of touch with todays in car tech.

My 57 plate civic has recently been written off (keep an eye out for a "I hate Gap Insurance" thead unless they see sense

I'm after 2 new vehicles one for the Mrs and one for myself

Been looking at the Hyundai ix35 or the Kia sportage AWD models

But onto myself I need a large comfortable cruiser and spotted a really nice E-Class estate Which obviously opened up my eyes to a BMW But not knowing much about spec/tech levels I thought you guys could help.



TL;DR
Due to my job I need access to a 4wd
But due to it not snowing 9 months of the year the mrs can use that while i drive a cruiser

EDIT: To add a budget £22-25k ish

The bigger the monthly payment on my car the smaller the budget on the MRS's's car which may be dangerous
 
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We need to know budget as budget will change the answer. If you have £5k don't go near the E Class. If you have £10k buy the Audi. If you have £25k buy whichever one you like best as they are all awesome, but be aware that Mercedes aftercare costs are borderline ridiculous.
 
Damn I knew I forgot something

Budget somewhere around £22-25k the more I spend on mine the less I can spend on her's

Is the real world economy of the BMW worlds better than the Merc.
 
My personal choice at this level would be a BMW 5 Series. The F11 5 Series is a fantastic car and your budget should net you a sub 60k mile 520d. It probably isn't sufficient to get a 530d, sadly. I don't like the engine but if you are the sort that isn't that bothered its not THAT bad for a 2 litre diesel.

The cars themselves - E Class v F11 - are both so very good that the 'best' one is simply the one you like best. But from everything I've seen the ownership costs of the E Class do not compare favourably to the 5 Series. Servicing is cheaper on the 5 Series - and infact many of the 520d's will have the remainder of a 5 year service inclusive pack and more important the warranty is sensibly priced, whereas the warranty on Mercs is so expensive you cannot help but fall about laughing.

A cast iron warranty is essential to enjoyable ownership of cars as complex as these.

As a curveball if you don't do big miles the 523i and the 528i - both 6 cylinder petrol engines - are both reasonaby frugal AND universally hated on the used market. You might get a good deal on one. They are better engines than the 520d by far.
 
I bet my big miles and everyone elses are a universe apart

I did 175k last year.

Wont be that this year though. But it could be 40k it could also be only 20k so diesel is preferred.

If my budget was £26-27k would that open up any more avenues.

Sorry to use you as Google. but with so many options I forget what I was looking for in the 1st place and I'll end up with an Accord
 
mattyg said:
I bet my big miles and everyone elses are a universe apart

I did 175k last year.
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:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Wont be that this year though. But it could be 40k it could also be only 20k so diesel is preferred.

If my budget was £26-27k would that open up any more avenues.
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It might get you into an an early 530d and it would certainly give you newer 520d's to choose from, too. There is a 525d as well - the same engine as the 530d but lower power.

If you purchase a BMW monthly warranty before the car hits 60k miles, you keep the lower price. Handy if you plan on putting big miles on it because the warranty cost is more expensive after 60k miles.

If you go for a 520d, whatever you do, make it an automatic. The 7 speed auto is excellent and really goes a long way to making the 2 litre engine work reasonably well in the car. With a manual box its just a frustrating chore of box-stirring every 3 seconds just to keep it in the power band. Not very luxo-barge.
 
[TW]Fox;23745439 said:
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:



It might get you into an an early 530d and it would certainly give you newer 520d's to choose from, too. There is a 525d as well - the same engine as the 530d but lower power.

If you purchase a BMW monthly warranty before the car hits 60k miles, you keep the lower price. Handy if you plan on putting big miles on it because the warranty cost is more expensive after 60k miles.

If you go for a 520d, whatever you do, make it an automatic. The 7 speed auto is excellent and really goes a long way to making the 2 litre engine work reasonably well in the car. With a manual box its just a frustrating chore of box-stirring every 3 seconds just to keep it in the power band. Not very luxo-barge.
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Six6siX said:
175k miles in a year?! :eek:
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Yeah going on for 700 miles a day

Doing my bit for the economy and global warming:D

An auto was only ever in my mind. Manuals are for driving I want to float around as easily as I can.

Am I correct i thinking the 530 are 8 speed?

I tested an Accord coming from a civic it was all familiar but with the added bonus of ADAS and rear camera.
But It didn't feel special and I'm not THAT old yet 38 isnt old right;)
 
TheVoice said:
Jesus, it took me about 13 hours to do 550 miles when I drove up to Scotland. Are you ever not driving? :p
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You get used to it. But its easier with a car with toys. I couldn't do it in a van.

Takes just under 11 hours without any hold ups, its the having to fill up the civic twice a day that really used to pee me off.
 
Audi A4 or A6, have driven a couple of our work company cars, both are incredibly comfortable, although avoid the 2.7TDI - either go 2.0TDI 170 for economy or 3.0TDI for more fun (The 2.7 is almost as bad for economy as the 3.0litre, and not noticably quicker than the 2.0TDI)
 
[TW]Fox;23745972 said:
Incredibly comfortable? An a4? Eh?
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Obviously I have very low standards then... but seemed more comfortable than any of the cars I have owned...

A4 certainly seemed more comfortable than my A3...
 
175k miles p/a?!?

**** me! I thought I did some miles, and I'm a long distance HGV driver!!!

I'd far rather do a big distance in my Scania than in any car mind you (not that this is of any use to the OP!!)

Being sat up high makes such a difference to the journey......
 
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