What to replace a Jag STR with...
Discussion
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm contemplating selling my Jaguar S-Type R!
I do really enjoy owning and driving the car, and having spent quite a bit of dosh on paintwork and sill repair last year, the next step was a mega detail [paintwork correction, ceramic correction etc] and show it off at a few shows this summer.
However, I'm now having second thoughts! The problem is my commute to work. Being A and B roads, I don't really get the chance to stretch the cars legs. 21mpg and the recently increased near £700 a year tax is starting to become a little tiresome, especially when I'm only using a small amount of the cars available performance. Can't help but feel it's a bit of a waste.
So I'm starting to think about what I could replace her with. The brief being reduced tax and hopefully 30mpg [or better]. Automatic. I do need a car with 4/5 doors and a boot big enough for a pushchair and a bunch of bags. Don't want a car with big big miles, under 100k would be great]. I'd like a bit of performance, for every now and then! Budget would be whatever I could sell my STR for.
Current list...
- W219 Merc CLS 350d [the late Grand Edition's have 272bhp and they seem to be awesome value right now. Cheaper than an E-Class with the same engine as far as I can see].
- Chrysler 300C CRD estate [it would have to be the estate. I love a cult car and the 300 is definitely this].
- Lexus GS450h [like the fact this isn't a diesel but should I be worried about a 10+ years hybrid system? CVT too].
- E87 BMW 130i [I could probably get away with a smaller car than the above. Finding a good 130i may be tough though].
Not sure what I'll do yet as I'd certainly miss the STR, especially the sound of the supercharged V8 and aftermarket exhaust. Love to hear any more options? Or if you have experience with the above list?
Ta.
I do really enjoy owning and driving the car, and having spent quite a bit of dosh on paintwork and sill repair last year, the next step was a mega detail [paintwork correction, ceramic correction etc] and show it off at a few shows this summer.
However, I'm now having second thoughts! The problem is my commute to work. Being A and B roads, I don't really get the chance to stretch the cars legs. 21mpg and the recently increased near £700 a year tax is starting to become a little tiresome, especially when I'm only using a small amount of the cars available performance. Can't help but feel it's a bit of a waste.
So I'm starting to think about what I could replace her with. The brief being reduced tax and hopefully 30mpg [or better]. Automatic. I do need a car with 4/5 doors and a boot big enough for a pushchair and a bunch of bags. Don't want a car with big big miles, under 100k would be great]. I'd like a bit of performance, for every now and then! Budget would be whatever I could sell my STR for.
Current list...
- W219 Merc CLS 350d [the late Grand Edition's have 272bhp and they seem to be awesome value right now. Cheaper than an E-Class with the same engine as far as I can see].
- Chrysler 300C CRD estate [it would have to be the estate. I love a cult car and the 300 is definitely this].
- Lexus GS450h [like the fact this isn't a diesel but should I be worried about a 10+ years hybrid system? CVT too].
- E87 BMW 130i [I could probably get away with a smaller car than the above. Finding a good 130i may be tough though].
Not sure what I'll do yet as I'd certainly miss the STR, especially the sound of the supercharged V8 and aftermarket exhaust. Love to hear any more options? Or if you have experience with the above list?
Ta.
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Thursday 1st June 16:58
ZX10R NIN said:
The Grand Edition is a good choice but I'd stick with what you have.
Yes, I more than likely will stick with my STR, as it'll be a shame not to finish what I started. 31mpg would save me a grand a year though, which could be put into more fun things than fuel!The ideal car would be a small hot-hatch, due to the kinds of roads I drive down. That's a few years away though, when the kids don't have as many things to carry around.
pb8g09 said:
I think you'll regret letting the Jag go for a long, long time.
But from your list, I'd take the Merc all day long.
Yeah I know what you mean. I'd be more gutted that I didn't finish my plan. I've refurbed the alloys; 'upgraded' the exhaust; sorted paint, body and sill issues...the detail was the last thing on the to do list.But from your list, I'd take the Merc all day long.
I think I'd cope fine with the reduced driving dynamics and performance my list would offer [compared to the STR], as like I said, I rarely get to give it the beans! A comfy cruiser would tick a lot of boxes.
BUG4LIFE said:
The problem is my commute to work. Being A and B roads, I don't really get the chance to stretch the cars legs. 21mpg and the recently increased near £700 a year tax is starting to become a little tiresome, especially when I'm only using a small amount of the cars available performance. Can't help but feel it's a bit of a waste.
So I'm starting to think about what I could replace her with. The brief being reduced tax and hopefully 30mpg [or better]. Automatic. I do need a car with 4/5 doors and a boot big enough for a pushchair and a bunch of bags. Don't want a car with big big miles, under 100k would be great]. I'd like a bit of performance, for every now and then! Budget would be whatever I could sell my STR for.
Not sure what I'll do yet as I'd certainly miss the STR, especially the sound of the supercharged V8 and aftermarket exhaust. Love to hear any more options? Or if you have experience with the above list?
As the owner of a 2007 A6 4.2 V8 FSI and a BMW 130i, I feel like my cars cover both ends of your search. As much as I love the 130i, for commuting and mediocre roads the Audi is probably the more satisfying choice; greater refinement when cruising, total traction when zooming away at low speeds. Milltek exhaust makes the most of the V8 engine, too. Boot is much more pushchair-friendly, too.So I'm starting to think about what I could replace her with. The brief being reduced tax and hopefully 30mpg [or better]. Automatic. I do need a car with 4/5 doors and a boot big enough for a pushchair and a bunch of bags. Don't want a car with big big miles, under 100k would be great]. I'd like a bit of performance, for every now and then! Budget would be whatever I could sell my STR for.
Not sure what I'll do yet as I'd certainly miss the STR, especially the sound of the supercharged V8 and aftermarket exhaust. Love to hear any more options? Or if you have experience with the above list?
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Thursday 1st June 16:58
Might be a good halfway point between what you have currently and going diesel if you think you’ll miss the V8. If you can avoid loads of heavy town stuff, 25mpg is easy enough with 30mpg+ when cruising and Quattro means every driving at low speeds can be satisfying and you still get to enjoy the V8…
RoVoFob said:
As the owner of a 2007 A6 4.2 V8 FSI and a BMW 130i, I feel like my cars cover both ends of your search. As much as I love the 130i, for commuting and mediocre roads the Audi is probably the more satisfying choice; greater refinement when cruising, total traction when zooming away at low speeds. Milltek exhaust makes the most of the V8 engine, too. Boot is much more pushchair-friendly, too.
Might be a good halfway point between what you have currently and going diesel if you think you’ll miss the V8. If you can avoid loads of heavy town stuff, 25mpg is easy enough with 30mpg+ when cruising and Quattro means every driving at low speeds can be satisfying and you still get to enjoy the V8…
If I was to sell the STR, the replacement would have to reduce running costs. I wouldn’t buy something else that would only be capable of low 20mpg and sit in the highest tax group. I feel for the money, the STR is pretty unbeatable for what it offers (sporting saloon, relaxing cruiser, looks great IMO), but obviously you get the associated costs to running such a car as a daily. The replacement would have do 30mpg+ etc to entice me away for my Jag Might be a good halfway point between what you have currently and going diesel if you think you’ll miss the V8. If you can avoid loads of heavy town stuff, 25mpg is easy enough with 30mpg+ when cruising and Quattro means every driving at low speeds can be satisfying and you still get to enjoy the V8…
Got another one to add to the list. Mk5 Golf GTi (or maybe a good mk6 can be had for £8k(ish)). Pretty capable allrounder. Not sure about reliability of a DSG from 2008/09?
BUG4LIFE said:
If I was to sell the STR, the replacement would have to reduce running costs. I wouldn’t buy something else that would only be capable of low 20mpg and sit in the highest tax group. I feel for the money, the STR is pretty unbeatable for what it offers (sporting saloon, relaxing cruiser, looks great IMO), but obviously you get the associated costs to running such a car as a daily. The replacement would have do 30mpg+ etc to entice me away for my Jag
Got another one to add to the list. Mk5 Golf GTi (or maybe a good mk6 can be had for £8k(ish)). Pretty capable allrounder. Not sure about reliability of a DSG from 2008/09?
Completely get your logic. Just not sure I could personally handle going from a V8 petrol to a four-pot turbo or diesel! Got another one to add to the list. Mk5 Golf GTi (or maybe a good mk6 can be had for £8k(ish)). Pretty capable allrounder. Not sure about reliability of a DSG from 2008/09?
Many petrol six-pots are barely less economical than four-pot turbos and could be a good compromise. Would recommend GS450h, but boot is tiny due to hybrid gubbins, so not pushchair-friendly, which is personally putting me off one. How about an E350 petrol? Newer W211s are £395 to tax.
RoVoFob said:
Completely get your logic. Just not sure I could personally handle going from a V8 petrol to a four-pot turbo or diesel!
Many petrol six-pots are barely less economical than four-pot turbos and could be a good compromise. Would recommend GS450h, but boot is tiny due to hybrid gubbins, so not pushchair-friendly, which is personally putting me off one. How about an E350 petrol? Newer W211s are £395 to tax.
I decided to go a slightly different route to work this morning, which includes a few more interesting A roads than my normal route. It did make me wonder how much I'd miss the sound and unflustered pace Many petrol six-pots are barely less economical than four-pot turbos and could be a good compromise. Would recommend GS450h, but boot is tiny due to hybrid gubbins, so not pushchair-friendly, which is personally putting me off one. How about an E350 petrol? Newer W211s are £395 to tax.
Yeah a petrol 6 would be great, if I could achieve close to 30mpg. I think I could easily get that out of a 130i and not so sure a heavy petrol E/CLS would get near?!
I think the GS boot is big enough for the pushchair I carry around [I'd have to do some measuring]. Just not sure if the 10+ year old hybrid system/battery is something to be concerned about?
BUG4LIFE said:
I decided to go a slightly different route to work this morning, which includes a few more interesting A roads than my normal route. It did make me wonder how much I'd miss the sound and unflustered pace
Yeah a petrol 6 would be great, if I could achieve close to 30mpg. I think I could easily get that out of a 130i and not so sure a heavy petrol E/CLS would get near?!
I think the GS boot is big enough for the pushchair I carry around [I'd have to do some measuring]. Just not sure if the 10+ year old hybrid system/battery is something to be concerned about?
The 130i is reasonably frugal for the performance, though not sure how much the auto gearbox affects economy. Look for a facelift 2007-on model for maximum economy, as these ditch hydraulic steering and have EfficientDynamics eco kit, which boosts claimed economy by about 10%.Yeah a petrol 6 would be great, if I could achieve close to 30mpg. I think I could easily get that out of a 130i and not so sure a heavy petrol E/CLS would get near?!
I think the GS boot is big enough for the pushchair I carry around [I'd have to do some measuring]. Just not sure if the 10+ year old hybrid system/battery is something to be concerned about?
Unless you have a tiny 90s style pushchair, I’d imagine the GS450h boot may be inconveniently small. Early cars have teeny weeny boots and even later ones are barely bigger than the 130is in a much larger car, with no chance of expanding the boot by removing the parcel shelf or dropping the rear seats. I looked at a petrol GS430 a while back and thought the boot size - and access - didn’t look very practical…
More cars on my maybe list...
- Volvo XC70 D5 [don't really need such a vehicle but it's just a cool thing]!
- Volvo V70 [if I feel the XC70 is a bit OTT].
- Skoda Octavia vRS Mk2 petrol [very sensible but lot a lot for sale].
- Seat Leon FR Mk2 petrol [the FR can be had with a DSG, the Cupra can't. Like the Skoda, doesn't seem to be many for sale].
- Merc C350 estate [would have to be the estate. Petrol or diesel, as long as petrol could do 30mpg[ish]].
- Audi S3 [5-door. Not sure if I could get a good one for £8k[ish] though].
Lots of choice then...still haven't decided if I want to try and sell my STR!!
- Volvo XC70 D5 [don't really need such a vehicle but it's just a cool thing]!
- Volvo V70 [if I feel the XC70 is a bit OTT].
- Skoda Octavia vRS Mk2 petrol [very sensible but lot a lot for sale].
- Seat Leon FR Mk2 petrol [the FR can be had with a DSG, the Cupra can't. Like the Skoda, doesn't seem to be many for sale].
- Merc C350 estate [would have to be the estate. Petrol or diesel, as long as petrol could do 30mpg[ish]].
- Audi S3 [5-door. Not sure if I could get a good one for £8k[ish] though].
Lots of choice then...still haven't decided if I want to try and sell my STR!!
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