Worst Car Year I’ve had! (Car buying advice)

[Ian3320]

Evening everyone,

I’m looking for some ideas on a car that might work for me.

I drive 20,000 miles a year. Main priority is a super quiet cabin and to be comfortable, close second priority is Chuck able and fun. I know... the two don’t go together very well! But I guess the best compromise is what I’m after. Needs to be able to return pretty decent fuel economy. Max budget £30k. Needs to be new ish and reliable.

My current m240i fits the Bill in terms of fuel economy and power for a guide.

Since August last year I’ve had:

F31 340i - got rid as road noise too loud despite trying quiet tyres

G20 M340i - got rid as seats have me sciatica

Current m240i - as stock was quiet enough but chassis was frustrating so fitted birds suspension and diff. Road noise increased dramatically and leaves me with raging tinnitus and banging head aches so the birds is being taken off and stock chassis spoils the car so it will have to go.

I find the seats in anything VAG uncomfortable so they’re out.

I know, doesn’t leave much.

I quite fancy the new focus ST but imagine it will be fairly loud on road noise?

The thing I’m finding most frustrating is I need a minimum of 24 hours I’m a car to see if makes me unwell (ears) but even in pre covid times, getting more than half an hour seems almost impossible.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys and girls:-)

[RUSTILLDOWN]

You may not like it, but diesels are by far the best for long motorway journeys as they’re nice and quiet due to low revs... ever tried a torquey diesel?

[Baked_bean]

Do you have space for two cars? If so it sounds like you need to split your money between something fun and something sensible to take some of the mileage..

You sound sensitive to car seats, so I think you would need to sit in a variety of cars as it’s such a personal thing (I am find in most cars, but Vauxhall seats give me pain whenever i passenger in them.)

[J1990]

Give that you're likely incurring some painful costs with these short term ownerships, once you've narrowed down your list here is it worth renting one of whatever is suggested for a week and seeing if you can gel with that? Sure it's a guaranteed cost but it should be a fraction of what you'd lose on the car unless you're hunting and buying/selling privately every time whilst getting lucky with the market.

[Driver101]

If the F31 cabin was too noisy that's set the bar high for cabin noise levels.

[Chestrockwell]

G30 530d/540i on adaptive dampers.

[sherman]

Range rover velar? Have fun anywhere.

[fflump]

Sounds like a wish list that is impossible to achieve in a single car, your heart obviously likes nimble sporty petrol cars, while your head quite literally does not.

My advice is to give yourself a break. Have a car for a while that you don't EXPECT to be chuckable or handle like a go-kart and you won't be disappointed that it doesn't. BMW (especially on run flats) and Audi tend to prize handling over ride slightly more than Mercedes which tend to be a little more refined in non AMG guise. I'd try something like a E300de hybrid with Air Body Control.


Great idea above to rent though.

[toon10]

My 540i seems to tick a lot of boxes. You like BMW's and know the B58 engine already. The cabin is comfortable, luxurious, refined and quiet too. It's not as chuckable as what you have but it's still setup with drivers in mind. I came from an M135i so a similar move from where you are and I was worried it wouldn't be fun to drive. It's more grown up but once in Sport mode it still feels good to hustle.

[fflump]

toon10 said:

My 540i seems to tick a lot of boxes. You like BMW's and know the B58 engine already. The cabin is comfortable, luxurious, refined and quiet too. It's not as chuckable as what you have but it's still setup with drivers in mind. I came from an M135i so a similar move from where you are and I was worried it wouldn't be fun to drive. It's more grown up but once in Sport mode it still feels good to hustle.

Likes them so much he keeps selling them. I suppose he could go for 40i bingo and own the full set...

[Skyrocket21]

I found this list here: http://www.auto-decibel-db.com/Top10_Quietest.html Bigger list here too: http://www.auto-decibel-db.com/

The Lexus LS is best on their measure: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

[Pegscratch]

I'm afraid you're not going to win this one. "Chuckable" cars generate road noise and comfortable cars don't chuck well. Pick two

[Pistonheader101]

Driver101 said:

If the F31 cabin was too noisy that's set the bar high for cabin noise levels.

Common problem and easily fixed by replacing seals.

[raspy]

Super quiet cabin and comfortable as your top priority?

Any luxury saloon with double glazed windows, air suspension and top spec massage seats. You won't have a problem.

[Wheel_Turned_Out]

Kia Stinger? I'm not sure how chuckable they are but they're well made and reliable, and a big car so reasonably refined.

Maybe a Jag XF? People eyeroll about Jags, but they don't seem to have any major vices reliability wise.

This is presuming you're willing to compromise more in the direction of comfort than driving dynamics, though.

[Ian3320]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Some good suggestions. I think you’re all right in that the two things don’t go together so maybe two cars is the way to go. Just been out in the 2 with a boot load of duvets and cushions and it did seem to make the noise less offensive so current thinking sound proof the 2 and keep as a weekend hack and get something big and comfy for the commute.
The budget will reduce thus for the second car. Considering F10 520d. Anyone got any experience of what they’re like noise wise?

Will also look at Merc Es and Jag XF.. good suggestions

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want something for silent wafting I'd suggest taking a look at these:

Genesis these are S Class quiet & bulletproof

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101087...

Lexus GS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...

GS450h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

Infiniti M 35h GT Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...

[Ratae]

G30 540i gotta be worth a go based on the others. Or an E43 AMG?

[Ian3320]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want something for silent wafting I'd suggest taking a look at these:

Genesis these are S Class quiet & bulletproof

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101087...

Lexus GS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...

GS450h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

Infiniti M 35h GT Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...

Some really good ideas there thanks mate. I didn’t even know the Genesis existed. I will do some research👍🏻

[occasionalranter]

Hi,

I have had a couple of F10 535d's, a G30 530d and an M240i and many other cars. I am also obsessed with road noise, seat comfort and general how-will-i-feel-after-5-hours-on-the-motorway-ness.

If you want BMW, you can't beat a G30 for refinement, even better if you keep the wheels sensible and ditch the runflats. MSport passive suspension is absolutely fine on these cars as the basics (chassis stiffness and the spring and damper rates) are properly sorted, unlike F10. It's "chuckable for a big car", I suppose. The steering is numb but accurate. What it definitely is is planted and unruffled.

I know you say you don't get on with VW seats, but have you tried the comfort seats in a recent Tiguan ? SEL models have them as standard. They have a separately tiltable and extendable seat base as well as being generally well designed. I'm not a fan of VW driving position generally - pedals seem too close when the steering wheel is at the right distance - but the adjustments on that seat help overcome the issue. Tiguans are also very quiet on the motorway.

HTH