company car - Mercedes C, Jag xf R, Bmw 4

adamau5

adamau5

adamau5

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21 Oct 2002
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Hello

I would appreciate your views on which of these to go for

A fairly basic 420d
C250 amg trim
jag xf R-sport (2 litre diesel)
520 series (base model)

All would be auto.

I do 25,000 a year, mostly on the motorways

Any reasons to rule a car out at this stage?

Views appreciated
 
The XF is now quite old compared to the rest which would put me off, but it's by no means a bad car. I'd expect it and the 5 series to give you the comfiest experience which is what I'd want for a company car doing 25k in.
 
Out of your list I'd go for the XF, the interior on them just feels a class above the others IMO for the bottom end of the ranges. The only area the XF falls down on is that the infotainment system is a bit dated and slow.

If you do get an XF, make sure it has the rear camera (seems to be included in the R-Sport spec now), and I'd want upgraded audio too, and probably keyless entry.
 
I'd rule out the Jag on the basis of it's age. Compared with the others it is really long in the tooth now. Of those remaining I'd probably opt for the C-class followed by the 5 series. C-class does comfort very well and the interior is gorgeous - I'm guessing they're quite important given your mileage. I've read the current gen 3 series is quite a step down in interior quality compared with the 5 series, I'd hazard a guess that it has transferred over to the 4 series and thus wouldn't consider that, either.

Couple of very flattering reviews re: your particular C-class here:
Top Gear
Car Magazine

I think if you go for the C-class or 5 series you'll be happy but I'd definitely lean towards the C-class.


Edit: Had a browse of the price lists. In AMG Line you don't get the COMAND screen, rather the small Beker one with a rather large bezel. If at all possible try and get the COMAND one. On it's own it's a £1,500 option but if you add on the 'Premium Plus' package you'll get it along with the Burmester surround sound, panoramic glass sunroom, ambient lighting and memory seats for £2,795. Perhaps your local Merc dealer will add it for very little - are all the negotiations done by work or can you do some yourself?
 
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Of the 4 I'd go and compare back to back the 2.2 XF and the 520d. The XF comes pretty well spec'd but is in run out now as the new model is due later this year.
 
adamau5 said:
Cheers chaps. Test drives to be booked.


Xf ruled out on the basis it is due to be replaced soon.
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It maybe about to be replaced, but that does mean that they come well spec'd and they still drive well. For the couple of hours it'd take I'd go and drive one, before you discount it out of hand.
 
J1nxy said:
It maybe about to be replaced, but that does mean that they come well spec'd and they still drive well. For the couple of hours it'd take I'd go and drive one, before you discount it out of hand.
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The XF is still the best looking of the bunch too IMHO. Word is that they'll not be replacing the Sportbrake for a few years either, so whatever you got would still be pretty current for as long as you have it.
 
Personally I would have the C class. I think it looks great inside and out, and all the reviews have noted that it's a very comfortable place to be, perfect for the motorway!
 
[TW]Fox;27497300 said:
Only if you don't go for the really good nav :p
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Excellent a £1300 premium to get an extra couple of inches. I know I've said this to you before but the way Mercedes have done the 'add on screen' does make it look fresher and more modern from the drivers seat. And the rest of the interior looks great too. Plus the 5 series looks a bit plain on the outside without the M-Sport pack.
 
[TW]Fox;27497532 said:
There is nothing fresh about making it look like you stuck a PC World android tablet on the dash with a Brodit mount.
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But somehow the F10 feels like it is stuck in the 90's. Actually in the same way as having a automatic gear selector sticking up straight above the transmission tunnel feels older.
 
Stuck in the 90s?!

Coming from a 5 Series that absolutely was 90s I can't really see how that's the case at all.

If anything having modern tech looking like its separately bolted to the dash like an afterthought is more 90s as sticking nav to the dash is what we all used to have to do :D

The gear shifter has no mechanical connection to the box and is totally electronic, having it positioned where it is is simply more intuitive in day to day use.
 
I can see where Trifid is coming from with the F10, the interior is very much more of the same, albeit it very nice it's just a small evolution of what has gone before from everyone for a decade or more. It will appeal to some but I can also see how it would feel a bit 'been there, done that' for others.

I don't see that the answer lies in the Mercedes Hudl dash though, it just looks lazy and cheap and what you would expect to find on a Vauxhall or something that's trying to look more upmarket than it is.

I think more will go the way of the new TT and start putting big screens behind the wheel with adjusting layouts etc.
 
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