New Car, struggling to find anything

Sone

Sone

Sone

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Had a E39 525i sport auto for the past 2 years or so, apart from the fact i should have gone for a 530i it's perfect. Fast enough to overtake, autobox is smooth and changes fine still. Do about 18k private miles and averaging 24mpg.

Other costs are minimal, tax is 270 costs me on average 500pa for tyres servicing etc and insurance is about 500.

Keep looking at something newer but can't find anything that fits the bill; going to a diesel i reckon will save me about 125pcm but nothing in my price range excites me. After something bit newer as well as the fuel saving aspect.

The only car that seems to tick these boxes is an F10 but way over my 8k budget. The only other thing I can think of is getting a mint E39 champagne 2 but thinking better the devil I know plus it's a couple of k for a car that is about 10% better imho.

Any ideas, was looking at Volvo S60's but when it's years to break even point just thinking stick with the E39 :(
 
The only other car I was looking at was an XJ6/8 but running costs were putting me off abit. Will poke around a six but more of a salon / estate man.
 
You're never going to save money if you want a newer car, but if you're buying a newer car anyway then by all means try and find the best compromise for you.

How much are you looking to spend ( edit just seen the 8k)? I'd want a proper warranty if going diesel which might even bust a good portion of the potential fuel savings unless your buying direct from BMW etc and getting it thrown in.

The volvos are quite nice actually but they don't drive half as well as the e39, not sure what you could really get in the price bracket that would compare to your current 5.

If you're willing to drop in quality and drive to have a lower monthly fuel bill then sure there are options but there isn't anything I can think of for the cash that would keep you most of the benefits of the e39 whilst being a bit newer. The e60 really doesn't feel like as good a product ( and isn't evidently), the e class in that budget range are cheap inside, I personally hate jags and everything else is much more run of the mill, though not sure what you'd get in the way of a6 for the cash
 
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Sone said:
The only other car I was looking at was an XJ6/8 but running costs were putting me off abit. Will poke around a six but more of a salon / estate man.
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I've found running costs nowhere near as bad as people have said. Sure, if you take it to the main dealer for everything you'll end up with regular 4 figure bills, but do a bit of research and you'll be fine. I've put 11k miles on mine so far and it's needed brake pads (£28), heater resistor (£45), shock absorber bushes (£30) and lower rear wishbone bushes (£60).

A lot of those are easy to fit yourself, and the things that aren't don't cost a fortune as long as you know an honest mechanic.

All in all, I can't see the running costs being much worse than an E39, but whether or not it's enough of an upgrade only you can decide.
 
I didn't even notice his budget was £8k. At £8k there is just nothing IMHO that is a credible upgrade. Even if the E60 was really good £8k doesn't buy the nice ones it buys tatty prefacelift M Sport's and 4 cylinder cheapo versions.
 
There are loads of credible upgrades at £8k, the problem is that all of them will cost a small fortune to keep going over that mileage.

Its the rule of 3 at play. Purchase Price/Running Costs/Age
 
At 18k a year, a diesel would be worth considering, but with your budget you're stuck in no mans land. Not enough to get something really decent with warranty that you wouldn't feel disappointed with coming from the most excellent E39, yet too much to buy a cheap run around diesel and pray nothing goes wrong with it. Better the devil you know...
 
You may need to spend a bit more to get a decent one, but the only credible alternative to the e39 that I've found <£10k with decent running costs is the facelifted W211 Mercedes, which appears to be pretty reliable and back in the direction Mercedes standards of old, including build quality inside.

Just an example:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309228907480

Quite a different drive/experience to the e39 (I haven't driven a facelifted version yet though), but so are most of the alternatives. For what it's worth, I'd hang on to the e39 unless you're bored.
 
commited said:
You may need to spend a bit more to get a decent one, but the only credible alternative to the e39 that I've found <£10k with decent running costs is the facelifted W211 Mercedes, which appears to be pretty reliable and back in the direction Mercedes standards of old, including build quality inside.

Just an example:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309228907480

Quite a different drive/experience to the e39 (I haven't driven a facelifted version yet though), but so are most of the alternatives. For what it's worth, I'd hang on to the e39 unless you're bored.
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A friend has that car but in estate guise. Cracking car by all accounts and very quick. It's very heavy though, you can definitely feel it under braking and when pressing on down a country road.
 
MilanoChris said:
A friend has that car but in estate guise. Cracking car by all accounts and very quick. It's very heavy though, you can definitely feel it under braking and when pressing on down a country road.
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Yeah, it's not surprising considering that even the Avantgarde is designed to be more comfort over sporting handling. The thing I find staggering is the amount of them that seem to be able to hoover up miles and still look fresh, for example
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-Mercedes-Benz-E220-CDI-Classic-Saloon-Auto-Facelift-/321218082325
475,000 miles and apart from a tiny bit of wear on the inside edge of the seat base, the interior still looks in fantastic condition. This seems fairly consistent with the high miler cars that I've seen selling and is a bit reminiscent of the W124.
At this stage it's becoming increasingly hard to find an e39 in decent condition, to me the W211 seems like a decent replacement.
 
commited said:
475,000 miles and apart from a tiny bit of wear on the inside edge of the seat base, the interior still looks in fantastic condition.
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Isn't that to be expected though, seeing as that mileage and age combo would suggest long journeys, and people getting in and out of the car less often? The mileage would also suggest typically motorway jaunts, thus the not particulary worn wheel?
 
[TW]Fox;25029048 said:
I dont think the W211 is really new enough to be a proper replacement. The best replacement is an F10.
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I agree that the F10 is the best replacement, but you still need 15-20k to get a nice, well specced one with a decent engine. Last of the line W211's are 4 years old now, same age as my last of the line e39 was when I bought it, and it's still possible to buy them with 1 owner in fantastic condition.
 
Something Else said:
why not spend some money upgrading your current car? Won't cost 8k to make some improvements if thats what you are into.
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Thats the thought behind the champagne 2 or similar.

current car is getting a bit "tatty". The boot is rusting and general paint work is rough. Got 160k on it so probably worth 1500max (more like 1000-1250 imho).

Willl have a look at the Merc. Driven a few newer ones as hire cars for work and generally pleasing.

Uping the budget not really an option.. Bought own house last year so any extra money goes on that.
 
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