ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

As I think we might just buy one

I'm after a comfy mile muncher for driving between the UK and Spain with decent comfy rear seats and a usable boot.

Audis+VWs; just not comfy in the back
Skoda Superb (don't know why); Better but not convinced in the prices (£25K new, £22K for a 12month old Elegance).
3 series; not comfy, too cramped, poor spec vs value
5 series; much better, but still not comfy enough in the back
X5 too expensive and thirsty and no better than the 5 in the back seats.

Then a 12month old 530dGT popped up for £27K. Much less than a 12month old 520d F10 (F11?) estate with alot more toys which are currently buzzing around £29K for a basic SE.

Just come back from taking one for a spin. Its nice. Sure its not as pointy or direct as a 5 series, but then neither is the F10 either compared to the older models. But rides the bumps well and super smooth to drive even if it somewhat devoid of feedback (find me a car that isn't these days ) MPG was showing 38mpg when I jumped in which is a promising hope that it may eek above 40mpg on the autoroutes/autovias. Very comfy and all the toys, most as standard....a £42K car when it was new, owch that must have hurt someone's wallet.

Barring it being an ugly son of a female dog from certain angles and badge snobbery, what else is there not to like about it? Or am I missing something?

The only flaw is its RWD, even if its looks a bit SUV'ish.

The final thing was the saleswomen mentioning she was single; is this sales patter flirtation or a hint that shes interested.

TH3_5T1G

iTrader: (15)

You're mad!

Brun

Are you 8 foot tall and sit in the rear seat to drive? Does a normal 5 not have the same rear seats?

Brun

.........and you're mad

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Selling is a transfer of emotion.

You seem to be feeling like you are on a promise.

After she has ink you will feel used.

Buyer's remorse guaranteed!

Dingdongler

Must say I really hate the way they look. Are there really no other options for what you need?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Its not all about the leg room; Although there is more than a normal 5 series (albeit with a smaller boot), its the actual design/support of the rear seats. And its alot more car for less money than a same year lower-spec 520d estate. I can't even sniff a 12month old 530d estate for under £30K

It seem very few cars these days have decent lumbar and adjustment on the rears. Well, not unless you look at the 7 series and Merc S-class. Which is even less practical (saloon).



But would a **** to seal the deal make it worth it though?

Brun

What i was getting at was - how much time do you spend in the rear seat?

Trout

iTrader: (1)

She will tell you the **** will come after the ink...









...and a promise is all you will get!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

On the average 1000mile trip; about 7 hours each way (21 hour journey). The bonus is I probably could sleep overnight in it to save on hotel bills.

I'm walking like the hunchback of Notre Dame when I get out the rear of the Altea after 3 hours! I'll be crippled if I have a kip in it.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

In that case, I'll demand a test drive before signing

Brun

Now it makes sense

lozgti1

For me it's the same feeling I get with a CLS Merc.

Just one of those cars in the range I just don't like

I like the superb!

Any used Phaetons out there???

dpb

Sorry - it would be a hotel room for me , toute suite

drb5

iTrader: (4)

Ali, i don't think your mad at all!

I'd have one even though they ARE pig ugly, but i think that's what attracts me to it. It makes it stand out for the norm and yet oozes quality. Will continue to depreciate, but there's a lot worse cars you could still buy imo.

Jamz3k

Just reading over on Pistonheads, Is this car actually a 7series that looks a bit like a 5series?

Geordie_Aaron

iTrader: (3)

Being a BMW nut (until I drove my brothers jap car and decided to come to the white flag side)
Your money would be wisely spent with a 730 with/without LPG you'd be bloody suprised how cheap these go for....

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Saloon though; I need the folding rear seats.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Hard to say; the Current f10 5 series carries lot over from the 7 series, such as the suspension.

Just like the current 3 series uses the old e60/e39/e28 front suspension.

God knows what the 1 series uses...probably the E46 3 series suspension I guess.


Edit: Just checked - the one series also uses the e60/e39/e28 front suspension design! (50mph-wheel-wobble-tastic ).

Jamz3k

Was the 1series not just a rebadged Rover design.

Dave Thornton

This bit doesn't make sense - a £27k car and then skipping on a good night's sleep. A 3 year old £40k car for £20k would save you masses in depreciation. My dad once refused to give our neighbours a Little Chef map because they had a new Jag!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I'm already chopping in a e39 530 saloon for it that was orginally a £37K car, and that is now worth £1K (well, actually we'll probably scrap it instead as its worth more in parts), so where do you stop with the depreciation slide? Its only an issue when you come to sell on at a later date, and no car is depreciation proof until it hits rock bottom - like our current old beamer. On that premise I should be buying somthing that is 10 years old at the very least to save on depreciation costs.


But we know why we don't buy ten year old cars; its because of the risk of them being a lemon is significantly greater. Its not a case of they are prone to going wrong, I just know personally that they are right pain in the **** if and when they do. And in respect to Beamers it has to be one thats not been serviced on its variable engine-killing longlife service intervals, and the only to avoid that with either is to buy one that is less than three years old (Same with VAGs, Mercs etc).

Plus I'm sick and tired of hunting round private sellers who lie more than a non-franchise dealers who can be even worse than main dealers. Some people maybe willing to make a 100mile round trip to somebone's house to view a lemon that was descibed in an advert as a golden chalace, but I have had enough of that rigmarole nowadays.

As for the hotel; Ever been in a situation in a foriegn country where its 1:00am and the only nearest open hotel with a free room is a Formule 1 Inn (god forbid)?.....I'd rather sleep in the car than check into one of those places again.

Dave Thornton

I agree with you about Formule 1 'hotels' - the world's thinnest mattress and has more in common with self storage.

Depreciation isn't something you only experience when you sell something - that's only when you realise it. The most important thing is pence per mile (including depreciation) over the entire ownership time period. I wouldn't advocate buying the cheapest car you can find to save on it as repair costs etc will outweigh the benefits but there is a sweet spot in the lifetime of a car (varies by model) where there is a good balance. This is mainly determined by the number of new registrations and their increasing / decreasing desirability as they get older.

There's a lot to be said for buying a 2 year old car at auction and selling it via the auction every year, but I prefer buying a car when it has reached half its original value then running it for about 3 years.