£15k estate for long distance

[AlpineWhite]

Good morning all
Need a new car to cover some long distance driving. Circa 25k per year with regular trips between 3-5 hours. Comfort is the main priority here with reasonable running costs. Ideally this should be an estate so that I can fit a bike in the back. EURO 6 compliant is important here as I do drive into ULEZ / CAZ cities.

A 2015-2016 Mercedes E-class S212 220 diesel looks like a good option, along with similar age 5-series F11 520d or A6...

Thoughts? Any warning items on these cars?

[Bonefish Blues]

Late XC70?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404048...

(although not that one above, this one is better and from our local Indy)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176044270973?itmmeta=01...

Edited by Bonefish Blues on Sunday 5th May 11:33

[Scrump]

I have a s212 E350 estate, Bought 7 years ago as a stop gap but it is so good on a long journey that I have kept it. Mine has the multi contour massage seats and I highly recommend them.

[AlpineWhite]

Scrump said:

I have a s212 E350 estate, Bought 7 years ago as a stop gap but it is so good on a long journey that I have kept it. Mine has the multi contour massage seats and I highly recommend them.

Thanks, are these the memory seats with the extra adjustment button on the side of the seat base?

Also, if you don't mind, what's the fuel economy like on a run?

[AlpineWhite]

Bonefish Blues said:

Late XC70?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404048...

(although not that one above, this one is better and from our local Indy)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176044270973?itmmeta=01...

Edited by Bonefish Blues on Sunday 5th May 11:33

Hadn't considered these at all, will take a look, thanks.

[Bonefish Blues]

AlpineWhite said:

Bonefish Blues said:

Late XC70?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404048...

(although not that one above, this one is better and from our local Indy)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176044270973?itmmeta=01...

Edited by Bonefish Blues on Sunday 5th May 11:33

Hadn't considered these at all, will take a look, thanks.

Short of taking the sofa, they're about as relaxing as it gets

[Scrump]

AlpineWhite said:

Thanks, are these the memory seats with the extra adjustment button on the side of the seat base?

Also, if you don't mind, what's the fuel economy like on a run?

No, I don’t think it was possible to have memory seats and multi contour seats together. The electric adjustment of the seats is via ‘seat’ shaped buttons on the outside edge of each seat base, whilst the massage and dynamic features are done via the Comand system on the screen.

Economy on a run is around 40mpg, economy around town is dire though!

[AlpineWhite]

Scrump said:

No, I don’t think it was possible to have memory seats and multi contour seats together. The electric adjustment of the seats is via ‘seat’ shaped buttons on the outside edge of each seat base, whilst the massage and dynamic features are done via the Comand system on the screen.

Economy on a run is around 40mpg, economy around town is dire though!

Thanks, I'll keep an eye for these. 40mpg might be a bit more thirsty than I'd like so it might have to be the 220

[Bonefish Blues]

AlpineWhite said:

Scrump said:

No, I don’t think it was possible to have memory seats and multi contour seats together. The electric adjustment of the seats is via ‘seat’ shaped buttons on the outside edge of each seat base, whilst the massage and dynamic features are done via the Comand system on the screen.

Economy on a run is around 40mpg, economy around town is dire though!

Thanks, I'll keep an eye for these. 40mpg might be a bit more thirsty than I'd like so it might have to be the 220

Similar numbers for the XC70, so cross that off as well.

[SWoll]

Your budget puts you on the cusp of all of the updates models of each from around 2018 so would give that some though as all significant improvements IME.

The F10 5 and C7 A6 feel rather dated at this point, as does the pre-facelift E-Class interior.

[junglie]

Have you thought about a cheaper car if you are doing loads of miles?

I have an S212 E350 as well as a previous poster.

Great car but you won’t see 40 mpg unless you are doing 60 mph.

Has an F11 535d before which was more economical / powerful but had its faults.

I bought a sub £3000 Lexus GS300 as a 20k a year motorway hack and it was brilliant. 40 mpg, all the toys, comfortable and quiet. It is not an estate, granted, but you get the idea.

Sold it for what I paid for it and nothing went wrong.

E220 a good sized car but a rather sub-optimal engine.

[Mammasaid]

15k will get you into a Volvo V90 D4 with Pilot Assist which takes the stress from long motorway drives.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...

[SWoll]

junglie said:

Have you thought about a cheaper car if you are doing loads of miles?

I have an S212 E350 as well as a previous poster.

E220 a good sized car but a rather sub-optimal engine.

What's sub-optimal about it for the intended purpose of long distance cruising and fuel usage?

That's basically the only time a 4-cylinder diesel makes ay sense IMHO.

[ZX10R NIN]

Have to say with your budget I'd be looking at these options all will see mid to high 50's on a run all are well equipped & good comfortable places to be on a run.

Insignia:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404158...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405039...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401245...

Mazda6 Sportnav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088...

New gen 508 GT Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405039...

Prev gen GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404128...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403288...

Passat BiTDI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

R Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404048...

V90:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404279...

E220:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404299...

[AlpineWhite]

Thanks, a V90 looks appealing. Any view on how well these diesels hold up at higher mileage?

[popegregory]

Mammasaid said:

15k will get you into a Volvo V90 D4 with Pilot Assist which takes the stress from long motorway drives.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...

I have to second this

[Silvanus]

Other than the Volvo V60/90, XC if possible, I think I'd be looking at an L&K spec Skoda Superb 2.0tdi.

[AlpineWhite]

popegregory said:

I have to second this

Adaptive cruise is very appealing I have to say

[119]

Mammasaid said:

15k will get you into a Volvo V90 D4 with Pilot Assist which takes the stress from long motorway drives.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...

I would love a V90 but they are bigger on the outside and smaller on the inside incl boot space than the V70.


Dont make sense!

Edited by 119 on Sunday 5th May 17:55

[popegregory]

AlpineWhite said:

popegregory said:

I have to second this

Adaptive cruise is very appealing I have to say

It’s not adaptive cruise, it’s adaptive cruise plus automatic lane positioning. It’s the most “how did I live without this and now I can never drive anything else” thing I have ever encountered