XF or 5 Series? - Need help please.

Columbo

Columbo

Columbo

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1st time buying a car with my car allowance and have been looking around for a few weeks.

Anyhow having test drove quite a few different cars I settled on a 5 Series 520D M Sport and agreed the deal. However with me not being very 'car savvy' they also had an XF 2.2D R Sport right next to it on the forecourt which I also loved upon testing it and the numbers also stack for that as well.

Now I honestly don't know which one to to bite at, both are around the £18k mark, have similar mileage , only 6 months apart in age and just about mint condition. I've never spent anywhere this much on a car before so just want to be sure before I sign somewhere.

What should I be looking out for good people of OcUK?
 
[TW]Fox said:
The 5 series is a much better car than the old model XF and the current XF is out of budget.
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Thanks Fox.
The XF I've test drove and got quoted up is a 14 plate, the 5 series is a 54 so presume the XF is the older model as you have suggested?

Forgive my ignorance but in what way specifically would you say its better? In terms of driving they both felt lovely, and both seemed very well specified but past that I'm out.

FYI happy to link to them if it helps.
 
Columbo said:
Thanks Fox.
The XF I've test drove and got quoted up is a 14 plate, the 5 series is a 54 so presume the XF is the older model as you have suggested?

Forgive my ignorance but in what way specifically would you say its better? In terms of driving they both felt lovely, and both seemed very well specified but past that I'm out.
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The XF is an older car really, it came out back when the E60 5 Series was around and compared very favourably to it at the time. But things moved on when the F10 came out - it's a more modern car, with a better interior, far better electronics/infotainment and a better range of engines and gearboxes.

grudas said:
54? That'd be 2004.
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Actually that'd make sense if he thought the XF seemed as good :D
 
Another 5 series shout out here. It's better in every single way than subjectively the looks department.
 
Cheers guys. Sat in the dealership now to finalise some numbers with warranty and service package on both vehicles.

Definitely leaning at the BMW now and unless the Jaguar comes with a free 3 year warranty and service package I'll probably be taking the BMW.
 
Don't take the service package on a used 5 series its not worth the money. The car may already have the good 5 year service package on it from new but if this is the case it's coming with the car whatever so no need to make it part of the deal.

Make sure it has the professional navigation.

You can haggle an extra years warranty too though some dealers don't realise this.
 
Another vote for the 5. Had a play in a colleague's 63 plate XF and in isolation it's nice, but starting to show its age and definitely not as nice or modern feeling as the F10 5 series.
 
Columbo said:
Cheers Fox, putting the advice to good use now! Will update.
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Some more info on service packs.

There are two - Service Inclusive and AUC Service Inclusive.

Service Inclusive - on a 64 plate this is 5 years/50,000 miles of servicing and had to be purchased before the cars first service. It was £400ish when new or £800 when bought before the first service. It stays attached to the car no matter who buys it.

AUC Service Inclusive - this is only 2 years and costs quite a lot. It's unlikely you will spend more on servicing than you'll get out of this package. Even if its thrown in for 'free' it's probably better to just get cash discount instead.

Warranty wise some dealers seem unaware of this and will even argue that isn't possible but they can apply a second year of AUC warranty. The benefits of this are that it costs them about half what it would cost you to renew it for year two. So even if you can't get them to throw it in for free, it's worth paying extra to include it - its about £900ish a year to renew the top level package for you. It's much cheaper for them.
 
50k miles or five years is a bit stingy IMO. most people do 12-14k a year, some up to 20k so your five year warranty could only be a 2.5 year warranty.
 
MissChief said:
50k miles or five years is a bit stingy IMO. most people do 12-14k a year, some up to 20k so your five year warranty could only be a 2.5 year warranty.
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It's a service pack not a warranty.

It's even worse now as for cars registered after January 17 it's 3 years 36k.
 
Thanks all especially Fox.
After a long time of me basically being a pain and looking at every detail I decided against a 520D and bought a 14 plate 530D instead that they also had on the forecourt as I was able to push my budget up by avoiding the initial outlay for a service package.

Its a 530D M Sport 4 Door Step Auto, has 39k clocked and I'm picking it up Tuesday, condition wise its basically mint inside and out.
1st BMW and car of this value I've ever owned so can't wait to pick it up.
 
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I paid £19500 which includes 3 years scratch, dent, alloy wheel and tyre cover thrown in along with the 1st years tax and a full tank of diesel.
Seems about the bottom end of the market rate after doing a bit of research.

Windscreen price was £20256 so pretty happy with the £700 reduction and a few hundred pounds of extras included.

Link below
Autotrader
 
Oh, I thought it was an Approved Used you were looking at, hence my comments. It's well priced, but that car only has the basic idrive and Business navigation.
 
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