Spec me something comfortable, spacious and reliable for £5K

[BigT]

At the turn of the year my circumstances will be changing and I'll have the need at the weekends to do round trips of several hundred miles on the motorway. The car will have four people in it, two of them elderly and I'd like something quiet at 70mph, really comfortable, easy to get in and out of at the back and be able to carry a fair bit in the back. My Z4M is not really the car for doing that.

So as a second car, I'd like something that fits the above. I'm not too familiar with non-prestige marques and so I'm wondering what £5K might get me? I seem to recall reading Citroens have a wonderful ride, but how is their reliability. Despite the long journeys I'll do in the car I'm not overly fussed on fuel consumption, but could do without the car dropping a mega bill. It is for this reason I have probably discounted something like a 10 year old S-Class. My old CL500 in saloon form would be perfect, but if something went wrong with it - ouch. Perhaps even something older and American? Wallowy ride, auto box, engines that will go on for miles and easy/cheap to work on (not for me I hasten to add) seem to fit the bill.

The car will also have a secondary role possible of possibly doing a commute, but I'm not sure on that yet. Depends where I move to.

All suggestions gratefully received.

 

[DM]

S type Jag or a Saab 9-5. I would have said an XJ but getting in and out is a bit hard work because they are low.

 

[LiE]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2193940.htm

 

[Jez]

Get the S-Class, stomach the running costs, nothing is anything like as good for 3-4 times this budget, let alone what they are available for now. Just like your old CL, but more spacious. Get the limo version, no more expensive to run, and tons of space in the back for the passengers without compromising the people in the front. You'll get one for this budget now, just make sure it has had its airmatic system overhauled and it will be fine.

 

[stulid]

EK9?

 

[Siliconslave]

out of interest how much of an ouch for CL breakages? are we talking 00s or 000s?

 

[BigT]

S type Jag or a Saab 9-5. I would have said an XJ but getting in and out is a bit hard work because they are low.

Certainly if the XJ is like anything the '90 vintage one my Dad had years ago then getting in or out would be a problem. Like the idea of both those though.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2193940.htm

Are Volvos of this vintage as good as the ones of the late 80's and early 90's. the ones I went inback then were superb for just running and running and running with little fuss, but I thought I'd read that they're not quite up to the same standards these days.

Get the S-Class, stomach the running costs, nothing is anything like as good for 3-4 times this budget, let alone what they are available for now. Just like your old CL, but more spacious. Get the limo version, no more expensive to run, and tons of space in the back for the passengers without compromising the people in the front. You'll get one for this budget now, just make sure it has had its airmatic system overhauled and it will be fine.

You really think I should stomach the costs? Airmatic aside, I had problems with the key and COMMAND system and had to replace the exhaust cats on mine. Both of those are 4 figure jobs. I'm not sure that even one with an overhauled air suspension system would not cost me its purchase price in a couple of years of ownership.


And I am loving the EK9 suggestion. If you can find me one in yellow with red seats that is just a tad over budget at say, £6K that would be perfect.

 

[BigT]

out of interest how much of an ouch for CL breakages? are we talking 00s or 000s?

Stuff that costs £00s on a 'regular' car is £000s, however there is much that you just wouldn't find an a 'regular' car that can induce eye watering bills. And it is difficult to find patent parts often for such a car and some high street mechanics won't touch them because they are too complicated. A guy I trusted and worked on my cars for 20 years had to admit defeat cometimes with the CL which meant a costly trip to the main dealer.

 

[Jez]

You really think I should stomach the costs? Airmatic aside, I had problems with the key and COMMAND system and had to replace the exhaust cats on mine. Both of those are 4 figure jobs. I'm not sure that even one with an overhauled air suspension system would not cost me its purchase price in a couple of years of ownership.

Stuff that costs £00s on a 'regular' car is £000s, however there is much that you just wouldn't find an a 'regular' car that can induce eye watering bills. And it is difficult to find patent parts often for such a car and some high street mechanics won't touch them because they are too complicated. A guy I trusted and worked on my cars for 20 years had to admit defeat cometimes with the CL which meant a costly trip to the main dealer.

Sounds like you need to find a good mercedes specialist The one i use (Star Motor Services in Reading) diagnoses most faults on sight - they have seen everything that goes on these before. No diag charges, just turn up and they go "yeah that always happens mate it'll be this", and always a proper fix straight to the point with no pointless part swapouts. Sub £200 minor services too.

Never heard of things going wrong with the key system, get one with a key though rather than keyless as its a pointless problematic system. Cats are just unlucky, they corrode as with any car. Mine are fine and are 90k old, but that 90k has happened in only 3 years usage. Just inspect everything upon purchase.

Having owned one, and now knowing what i do about them, i'd buy another in a shot. This time though i would keep it out of the dealer network entirely. They are not cheap cars to run, but neither do they have to be ultra expensive. Yes you will pay more to keep one going than most things, but then what do you expect, its an S-Class mercedes. There isnt much better than that, i think on the whole they are astonishingly good value for money even with the running costs.

 

[BigT]

I'm sure a good specialist would help for sure. And as for keyless go, you're right. Guess what I had - and yes it was problematic. Mercedes Benz World themselves in Weybridge couldn't actually get me a new key (or keyless card) without ripping out replacing the COMMAND unit as it was falsely reporting that there were no more available "slots" to programme a new one. 5 times they tried to do something with the electronic wizadry to clear the slots and failed. I do love the S Class though

 

[Jez]

Ha, yeah. Avoid that system then TBH most of the stuff which fails will just be down to age, and will be bearing based. I have had to replace most of the harder worked motors (fans etc) and bearing type stuff in mine. Same on any car though. The only real added complexity is the airmatic system which is not great on the early models such as the ones you will look at. I'd be angling for one which has at least a replacement compressor.

Other thing is rust, if it doesnt have any then great, but dont buy one with any rust at all as once it has started it will get worse very quickly. Its the rust which is going to be the end of mine.

 

[mjt]

S60 doesn't have an awful amount of room in the back. It suffers from both poor leg- and headroom, I wouldn't bother.
A V70 could be worth a look though.

Either way, the S Class is in another league, as you well know.
E39 iL could be worth a punt..

 

[Jez]

E39 iL could be worth a punt..

If you mean E38, IMO £5000 is way too much money to spend on one of those. They are ok as a disposable luxury for a grand or two, but any more than this is too much. The budget wont stretch to an E65.

That said, £5000 would get a stonking E38, you'd get a total minter if one still exists.

 

[mattyfez]

I picked up my V70 AWD turbo for £3800, its fully loaded and I love it

Had 80k on the clock with the cam belt already done. Shame about the naff wheels, but it drives superb and is soo comfy.

 

[mjt]

If you mean E38, IMO £5000 is way too much money to spend on one of those. They are ok as a disposable luxury for a grand or two, but any more than this is too much. The budget wont stretch to an E65.

That said, £5000 would get a stonking E38, you'd get a total minter if one still exists.

Aye, E38 sorry.

That's the thing though. If BigT wants a good car, why not spend that much on an E38? Sure, it's a lot for an E38 but as you said it'll be in fantastic condition.
No obscenely expensive suspension, either.

I wasn't going to go and post the first thing I saw on PH, but..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1856366.htm