class_A

The old man is looking at either a new Merc S Class or the Jag XJ. He won't be doing a huge amount of miles but will be looking to keep it for the next 6 years. Comfort and reliability are more important than driver involvement.

Any input or suggestions as to what engines, options, colours?

TopBanana

Merc S definately

WISHING

No Question XJ

workshy_fopp

Merc - but don't buy new if you're going to keep it for 6 years.
There's a buyers guide for the Merc in today's Sunday Times.

medders

I almost bought an S320 but plumped for an Audi S8. I have not been disappointed

Paul

what would scooby do

S class anytime

289

S-class rather than the Jag.

But for heaven's sake, don't buy new! Even a year-old car with nominal mileage will show a huge saving, and you've got the balance of the warranty.

Skittles

S calss holds its value much much better. Looks (in and out) a little dated compared to the jag.

If he was buying second hand, then I would say the opposite...

As someone pointed out, what about a A/S8, very underrated car. Depreciates like a stone though, so second hand may be better?

Going off topic slightly... Being a BM driver, I should say "what about the 7er"... but can't get myself to say it! awful looking motor, about to be subject to a emergency face lift (sound familar? what happened to buy eye residuals?)

GTI

New A8 seems to be doing very well in mags and in sales. Also v. nice (much nicer than merc and jag) inside and out!


mmmmm 4.2 V8!

TopBanana

The ride certainly isn't nicer than either the jag or the merc

Mmmmm

Got to be the Merc S class

I'm not a merc maniac and always consider all the cars on offer for the purpose I wish.

I'm on my 2nd bought a 99 S430 earlier this year 42k miles, very good car and now have an S55 which is excellent.

In April Autocar tested the XJ8 4.2, S430, A8 4.2, Lexus LS430 and 745i. Despite being most expensive and oldest design the S430 was still comsidered the best overall package, other mags also still place the Merc at the top after all this time.

Very important is residuals the Mercs are streets ahead
The S430 I bought was £28k, BMW 7 Series of the same age and of a similar cost when new were now around £20K, a really low mileage Jag I looked at was £18 ! I had discounted the previous A8 as I had a ride in friends 2.8 a few years ago and its ride was pretty poor very jiggly after a large lunch made me feel car sick they were really chaep as well though worse than the BMWs.

All cars like this lose quite a bit, but the merc is best by miles particularly if you buy the 320 diesel, fairly quick and very civilised.

The mercs have amazing ride, great seats, lots of room, fairly good handling (even better if you get ABC body control, amazing in the AMG), steering is light and easy, but lacks a bit of weight and feel unless you go to an AMG car, very good auto box and the v8 engines are so smooth. Nothing better for high speed cruising, cruising through town and adjustable suspension still allows some fun on twisties (lots in amg). Makes you feel special to drive it.

Test drove the new 7 series (730d, 745Li dynamic drive), great steering, big interior, ride too hard even on comfort in the dynamic drive car (it gets annoying), good handling, really good auto box, good engines (diesels amazingly smooth), silly interior with bits that look metal but are cheap plastic, very complex minor controls and even driving controls are more complex than needed.Looks are unusual. Despite the great steering, the bad ride and interior detail put it behind the merc, abit more fun than a non amg merc on a twisty road perhaps but not by that much. The Residuals are already terrible.

Go Merc

All Talk

Might be worth looking at the latest e-Class as it's actually got at least as much space inside and will be a much better long term proposition. Get a 320CDI and you'll do very well over 6 years.

All Talk

Might be worth looking at the latest e-Class as it's actually got at least as much space inside and will be a much better long term proposition. Get a 320CDI and you'll do very well over 6 years.