Best auto?

[dema]

Hi,
I’ll be looking for a new (to me) car in January. Nowadays, everything seem to be an automatic!
Nothing against it per se, just never owned one and, some seem better than other.
The only experienced I had, have been in my father’s RAV4 (awful!) and a Ford Kuga which I found to be ok.

For what I’ve read so far:
VW autos seems slow to respond from a standstill start. The same for Audis even with a ZF8. The better ones seem to be BMW and Alfa.
Jags seem to be getting mixed reviews while no one talks much about the Mercs.

Are auto the only way forward? For a newbie, which model would be with the most responsive and closer to a manual?

Currently driving a Volvo V60 diesel. Does everything well, just a bit boring to drive.
Looking for an estate or a large hatch (A7 type). Diesel. Doesn’t have to be a sports car but, looking for something with a bit of spirit. 40/50k miles, diesel, AWD a bonus.
Not too bothered about the age as long as it has some basic comforts (and can retro fit apple car play…).

Am I looking for the impossible?

[Pica-Pica]

Sounds like a 6 cylinder diesel BMW with ZF8. My 335d with ZF8 has the auto-trans installation to a T. Plus you have manual operation if you want it. Maybe a 5 series is a better size for you?

[cerb4.5lee]

As mentioned the ZF8 auto mated to the BMW 35d/40d engine is a decent combo. The Merc 3.0 6 cylinder diesel engines mated to the 9 speed auto aren't a bad combo either I reckon.

[Snubs]

I own a 2013 BMW 530d and it would seem to tick a lot of your boxes. The gearbox is just fantastastic in my opinion. Butter smooth and when you went to push on just switch from comfort to sport at the push of a button. The electronic parking break and auto hold are a great combination too. A friend of mine has a 140i with the same gearbox but a standard handbreak and i really don't see the point. One thing i will say is that i've tried using the paddles for fast driving but with 8 gears, 400lb ft of torque and not much engine noise, it's hard to know which gear to select as there's typically at least 4 that'll do the job just fine.

[scot_aln]

Snubs said:

i've tried using the paddles for fast driving but with 8 gears, 400lb ft of torque and not much engine noise, it's hard to know which gear to select as there's typically at least 4 that'll do the job just fine.

F31 330d with same box. I very much agree. I initially went through a use manual mode then realised it just did it better all by itself

[dema]

Thanks guys.
BMW seems to lead the market.
I looked at 3 series, like them but too small to carry bikes in the boot
5 series would be ideal but nothing available with the 3.0d on the mileage and price I’m looking at. Are the 2.0d any good or would feel underpowered?
I’ve come across a couple of 6GT on a 18 plate and X5 on a 15 plate which just about on budget.

The 3.0 V6 on the Merc, only seem to be fitted to the huge SUV like the ML

[Snubs]

dema said:

Are the 2.0d any good or would feel underpowered?

I couldn't say for sure as I've not driven one and how fast something feels is quite subjective. But assuming you're looking at an F11 5 series, I would start with the bad news which is the drop in torque is quite a big step down from 400 lb-ft to 280 lb-ft, and the 0-60 rises from 6.1 secs for the 530d to 8.3 secs for the 520d (based on a pre-LCI 2012 estate; see https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/bmw/62785/...

On the other hand, they were made during the diesel boom years and there're 1,649 diesels on Autotrader versus 118 petrol. Of the diesels , 1,217 are the 520d and 428 are the 530d (or possibly 535d). So about 74% of the 5 series diesels are the 520d, which suggests to me that the performance / fuel economy balance for the 520d was pretty good!

[cerb4.5lee]

dema said:

5 series would be ideal but nothing available with the 3.0d on the mileage and price I’m looking at. Are the 2.0d any good or would feel underpowered?

I had a 2009 E61 520d Touring and I wasn't all that impressed with the performance of it(especially when loaded up with us and our stuff when going on holiday for example). However mine was a manual though, and I don't think that gearbox got the best from the engine for me. The auto will be better I reckon.

So personally I'd go in the direction of the 530d or 535d if I was going for another 5 series again.

[Pica-Pica]

scot_aln said:

Snubs said:

i've tried using the paddles for fast driving but with 8 gears, 400lb ft of torque and not much engine noise, it's hard to know which gear to select as there's typically at least 4 that'll do the job just fine.

F31 330d with same box. I very much agree. I initially went through a use manual mode then realised it just did it better all by itself

Mostly agree, but in twisty hilly sections, using manual on the paddles or the stick is fun.
Also in creeping traffic, manual gives you that extra engine braking needed, and if the traffic picks up temporarily, the paddles can be used. A bit of a niche use for the manual use on the ZF8, but broadens its scope.

[Royal Jelly]

If you’d consider a crossover - the Macan is a superb do-it-all car, and they drive brilliantly. PDK is up there with the best in the business.

[demic]

Ex F31 335d owner, yes the engine and gearbox are superb but aside from the performance don’t expect a fun and entertaining drive. You can get a Road/gravel bike in the back with the seats down without removing a wheel but as with a lot of cars these days a modern, long 29” MTB will require a wheel removing.

[ZX10R NIN]

dema said:

Thanks guys.
BMW seems to lead the market.
I looked at 3 series, like them but too small to carry bikes in the boot
5 series would be ideal but nothing available with the 3.0d on the mileage and price I’m looking at. Are the 2.0d any good or would feel underpowered?
I’ve come across a couple of 6GT on a 18 plate and X5 on a 15 plate which just about on budget.

The 3.0 V6 on the Merc, only seem to be fitted to the huge SUV like the ML

Nope the E Class comes with the 3.0d:

E350d Estate AMG Line Premium Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308050...

If you want AWD then you can go for the All Terrain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=price...

Saloon AMG Line Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309232...

AWD:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308020...

[dema]

Thanks all.
Will look at BMW in a bit more details. 15 plate X5 seems good value for what you get. AWD 5 series x-drive estate are the most handsome will keep an eye on the market, s as t the moment that are 5 cars all white…

Merc All-Terrain, never heard nor seen one in my life! Thanks for the links on the RWD E class! I must have been looking at AWD options only.

Macan… Porche and Maserati are on my bucket list but, the boot in the Macan might be a tad too small.. few more years and should be a great fit.

Any thought on the 3.0d F-type?

[ninjag]

dema said:

Hi,
For what I’ve read so far:
VW autos seems slow to respond from a standstill start. The same for Audis even with a ZF8. The better ones seem to be BMW and Alfa.
Jags seem to be getting mixed reviews while no one talks much about the Mercs.

Looking for an estate or a large hatch (A7 type). Diesel. Doesn’t have to be a sports car but, looking for something with a bit of spirit. 40/50k miles, diesel, AWD a bonus.
Am I looking for the impossible?

BMW 330d with the ZF8 transmission and it's an excellent combination, I really enjoyed this car but it is a little small (saloon).
Jaguar XF 3.0d Sportbrake with the same ZF8 transmission and it was also excellent, but the BMW had the transmission tuned a little better.
Audi S4 Avant with the 7 speed DSG is excellent, but you do need to understand how it works and it needs 40k fluid changes.

I had a BMW 530d X-drive courtesy car with the ZF8 and whilst the steering was less engaging than the 330d, the interior is definitely a step or two up from the 3 series and it was very quiet and refined inside. The x-drive system is very good as well.

530d xdrive estate would ideal.