New job - 335 miles away. Nice car for weekly commute?

[TorqueDirty]

Interesting car challenge.

I have just accepted a new job a mere 335 miles away from home. It is a senior level (C suite) role for an interesting company with great potential.

The plan is to travel down for work during the week and come back home for the weekends.

Flying is the fastest option and I'll probably do this a fair bit but it ain't cheap and this time around I'm footing the bill for flights, airport parking etc.

This being the case I am beginning to wonder if driving might be an option on occasion.

Currently I have three cars, none of which are suitable. An old Land Cruiser, an L200 pickup (nearly new) and a very lightly used Meganne RS 275 Cup-S.

Don't fancy spending 5-6 hrs on the motorway in any of those so idly considering getting a nice luxurious continent basher for the job.

Budget say 20k to 25k tops.

For the first time in my life mpg will be of some genuine importance - something in the mid 30s would be nice, but I also want something with a bit of poke, luxury and poise. I think a diesel makes sense.

My initial thought would be a BMW 535d or a 640d.

If I'm going to do this I want to be in a really nice place and in something at least mildly special / interesting.

Any suggestions?

[colin79666]

Lexus GS.

[Boringvolvodriver]

You will want good seats for that kind of drive I would say.

Unsurprisingly as a Volvo driver I am going to suggest a Volvo diesel! S90 or v90 I would say

[anonymous-user]

Comfort would be my top priority. I learned that the hard way with a 90 mile daily commute in a car with unsupportive seats, wasn't fun.

[WonkeyDonkey]

I'd lean towards a Lexus as well. Seat comfort should be number one priority.

[bolidemichael]

I would add that in addition to seat comfort (Volvo, volvo and volvo), the sound system should be great and a good level of insulation with quiet tyres. Consider air suspension for a velvety ride.

Distronic for fuss free crawling in motorway traffic?

Perhaps ventilated seats too, in addition to heated, for all year comfort. A bonus could be a heated steering wheel too.

This may all point to a diesel S Class or perhaps an LS.

[Thebaggers]

Something with lane asisst and adaptive cruise would be useful. Lexus or 5 series all winners and a good shout on the big volvos, I have had s90s as airport cars many a time and they are quiet and comfortable.

Go for options over engine size, even a 520d se is no slouch and let's face it you will be doing 55mph on average on the journey through countless average speed areas and works and it may bag you high 50 mpgs on a run which can be quite lucrative at 45p per mile.

[bolidemichael]

Mileage can't be claimed on commuting costs, so the 45p/mile isn't relevant, unless I have misunderstood it.

Additionally, what on earth is a 'C Suite' role?

[ahas]

What a commute!
Good sound system, preferably factory upgraded.
Good seating position and comfort
Adaptive cruise. Something you can set to just follow the car in front.
Something whisper quiet doing 70 (ahem) MPH

Lexus and German would be where I'd be looking too.
E class?

[FourGears]

E class
220 d
Se spec for comfort

[ZX10R NIN]

If you did drive every week you'll be putting 30+k a year on whatever you buy, I'd want something nice that's already suffered the worst of the depreciation so I'd be looking for a highly spec'd ULEZ compliant 3.0d with low miles & a low price, with this in mind:

Maserati Ghibli

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101047...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103170...

:
XJ Portfolio

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103120...

CLS 350d AMG Line Premium Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006220...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103190...

A8 SE Executive

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103039...

A7 Black Edition 220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012066...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102269...

[mybrainhurts]

FourGears said:

E class
220 d
Se spec for comfort

I've had 56mpg out of mine.

[mybrainhurts]

bolidemichael said:

Additionally, what on earth is a 'C Suite' role?

It's the one below the D Suite role, don't you know anything?

[Thebaggers]

bolidemichael said:

Mileage can't be claimed on commuting costs, so the 45p/mile isn't relevant, unless I have misunderstood it.

Additionally, what on earth is a 'C Suite' role?

Everything is negotiable for a powerfully build IT director, base could be set as home.

[TorqueDirty]

Thanks guys,

All good suggestions.

Have to say that my enthusiasm for such frequent long car journeys might wane but it might be good to have the option. I might do this once a month or so.

The route will be Scotland central belt to Cambridge - so for the first bit on the way down not too bad for traffic.

Work from home? Sadly not. Need to be there and actively engaged in leading the business through a critical growth phase.

Will look at the cars suggested and report back.

I think audio books may become a new thing for me!

[SpanishTony]

mybrainhurts said:

bolidemichael said:

Additionally, what on earth is a 'C Suite' role?

It's the one below the D Suite role, don't you know anything?

Love this forum!

[anonymous-user]

For a 'C Suiter', why not push the boat out and get a Bentley Flying spur. Easy had in budget,

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 24th March 07:23

[Summit_Detailing]

Comfort must be top priority so avoid anything with an S-line, M-sport, AMG-line, R-design badge.

E-class
S/V90
5-series
XF
Lexus for refinement, but not for economy.

If you were doing this mileage more frequently then you'd benefit from the next level of everything in a 7-series, A8, XJ, S-class, LS.

Cheers,

Chris

[Roger Irrelevant]

I may shortly be in a similar situation, albeit with a mere 200 mile each way journey a few times a month. At the moment I'm thinking of using it as a flimsy excuse to get an X3, the latest 35d one I can find with a pano roof that isn't white. For fans of numerology an X335d would he perfect for a 335 mile commute!

[Welshbeef]

335 miles EACH way.

So reality is
you’ll be driving down just after lunchtime on a Sunday that’s 7-9hours traffic /rest brakes and food stops. EACH WAY.
Then on the way back if you left Friday 5pm assuming Friday night traffic isn’t heavy (which it is) you might be home 1-2am.

Sat will be a long sleep so you’ll have Sat afternoon for chilling / gardening / actually seeing your family you’ve not seen for the last week. Then washing clothes etc and packing ready for the trip back down on Sunday.


Seriously OP doing that commute week in week out + a stressful job where you will be working on weekend too at home it will break you (& your lower back).