W221 S-Class vs A8 vs ???

[DiG]

For around the £15k mark, what would you choose? Or would it be something lower risk but more modern from the category below, a W212 E-Class for example?

Sorry for the poorly disguised what car thread, just interested to see what other people would be looking at!

 

[DiG]

What sort of engine are you looking for?

I'm coming from the 4.3 V8 in my GS430, so I'd like something more powerful if possible!

 

[DiG]

If you wish for a V8 then by process of elimination you end up (you should just manage it) with a W221 S500L being the best car for £15k, by a mile too.

The A8 will be a D3 for this budget which is just not worth going with, these are available from a few grand now and came out 10 years ago. BMW you will end up with an E65, same story.

Yeah thats pretty much where I have gotten to so far, been to see a few W221's and they are very nice. The command system does feel very dated though, I'll never understand why the systems are not easily updatable, Android style.

Either a Phaeton or an A8 with the 6L W12? Should come in a bit under budget too.

I've heard bad things about the W12 reliability? Same problem for the Phaeton really, I like the anonymity of it but I suspect there are only 2-3 people in the country that know how to service it!

 

[DiG]

I'd seen a few F01's hovering around and just above my budget, your right they do look like a lot newer design! However W221's start at £11-12k, so by £15k your into well looked after examples where as F01s start at 15k so I worry that I'd end up with a neglected example.

I have also wondered about the diesels, I do enjoy having a smooth V8 engine, but really, 90% of the time I'm not using it, its just humming along on the motorway so I do wonder if I'd be just as happy with a diesel.

 

[DiG]

What are the running costs on a W221 S500?

I'd be a few years from one of those, but interested in ball park figures.

Can see insurance is 18-20, tax is £~500year, tyres ~£200 a corner.

What are the big bills - people talk about the suspension being the most expensive part, but I can't see any numbers from a quick google.

The running costs of any cars in this class are going to be high. The W221 appears to be a lot better than the previous generation of S Class but it can still throw up £1000 bills without any problem so thats something you need to be prepared for.

A third party warranty is in the order of £900 a year, so I'm planning an average yearly spend on maintenance (excluding routine servicing) of that amount, in any given year it could be a lot less or a lot more than that but as long as you have a pot of money ready it should be fine.

I wouldn't consider a car like this unless there is a good specialist nearby, as they can be invaluable and usually have far better knowledge than the main dealers.

 

[DiG]

...I'm not sure where you have heard these reliability issues but I've never had a single issue with mine...

Interesting, it seems that I've had a false impression of them in my head, as looking around again i can't see many bad reports! Not convinced by the A8 generally though, are they really as nice as the S-Class inside as they don't look it? Perhaps I need to go have a look around one.

S6 and M5 both have far harder suspension setups than I wan, I'm looking for something soft and comfortable rather than sporty. I've always had a soft spot for the Jaguar XF but interior quality wise they just aren't anywhere near the other cars I'm looking at

 

[DiG]

The W221 wins out by a country mile in my opinion if opting for a V8. It is the diesel F01 models which cloud the issue, though. Personally i am not sure if i could ignore an F01 with cheap BMW warranty for similar money to that of a 2006 unwarranted S500L. The car is so much newer by design, the ownership prospect is quite different. This is coming from somebody who is biased towards Mercedes, too :/...

They are really tempting, when you say cheap warranty, how cheap are you talking? Surely BMW aren't going to put a decent warranty on the kind of F01 £15k buys you, ie higher mileage cars?

Depends on the model but the W12 in short and long wheel base... yes most definitely if not nicer....

That's a very nice car, but to me I'm afraid it looks really dated next to the competition. Certainly it has a lot of toys (something I'm a big fan off, I never want missing options even if its something I'm never going to use!) but non of them are things that the S-Class or 7 series don't also have (or, most of them, my Lexus for that matter)

 

[DiG]

BMW is pretty reasonable yeah and would make owning one quite a relaxing prospect.

I just ran a quote though and it isnt quite as cheap as i imagined it might be actually, a 2010 reg 730d with 85,000 miles is £1850pa with £250XS, or £3100pa with £0xs. Comprehensive. Actually...that would take a lot of issues with the S500L to make that worth it....

That is quite a lot per year, I want to buy this one just because the number plate spells bork, what could possibly go wrong!

 

[DiG]

I wonder what the mileage on that thing is for it to be that price

I know, I never understand why dealers do that. Do they thing people are going to just forget to ask?

 

[DiG]

Considering you've had a Lexus, what about an LS460? You can bag one within your budget and they are extremely refined cars indeed.
I would certainly consider one if I were in the market for a sub £20k executive express.

It's a good suggestion, they are very solid cars but it would be my 4th Lexus if I did and I just want something different. That and despite wanting to defend Lexus, once you have sat in the S-Class they are just no where near as good.