bpsorrel
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
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- UK and Russia
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- '21 C300 Coupe, '20 SLC Final Edition, Peugeot 208 (hers!) and a new Ford Kuga in Russia
Steve, you're just in love with your car - be honest!! 
st4
Banned
Steve, you're just in love with your car - be honest!!
True, its still in the "honeymoon" period despite needing a new windscreen and picking up a puncture. Not had much luck with it but loving the experience.
bpsorrel
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2009
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- 6,027
- Location
- UK and Russia
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- '21 C300 Coupe, '20 SLC Final Edition, Peugeot 208 (hers!) and a new Ford Kuga in Russia
I'm only kidding with you!! It's a lovely car!! Wheels and dark glass really set it off!!! To me, the 211 with a powerful engine is a real Q car, and I love Q cars!
....I LOVE the idea of the E420 cdi....
....I LOVE the idea of the E420 cdi....
andy_k
MB Enthusiast
but not everybody wants or needs a car that carries 4 people and luggage around Europe - so to some people the Porsche is the perfect car.
As a few have said, there is no perfect car for everybody - not even an E Class estate
st4
Banned
Andy_K
We have to also remember that this is a site made up of car enthusiasts. Big powerful fast cars or sports/classic cars will also be deemed to be perfect cars but in essence, they are a pleasure and excessive to requirements.
Most people want a new(ish) reliable car and see them as a device to get from AtoB safely and cheaply.
I am the only car enthusiast at my work, everyone drives snot boxes out of arnold cark and chooses their cars on the basis of monthly payments, ease of parking and fuel consumption. No-one has anything "nice" or "interesting".
I suspect thats how the majority of folk are. So the perfect car for most folk. A 1.6TDi Golf if they're flush or a 1.4 petrol Fiesta.
We have to also remember that this is a site made up of car enthusiasts. Big powerful fast cars or sports/classic cars will also be deemed to be perfect cars but in essence, they are a pleasure and excessive to requirements.
Most people want a new(ish) reliable car and see them as a device to get from AtoB safely and cheaply.
I am the only car enthusiast at my work, everyone drives snot boxes out of arnold cark and chooses their cars on the basis of monthly payments, ease of parking and fuel consumption. No-one has anything "nice" or "interesting".
I suspect thats how the majority of folk are. So the perfect car for most folk. A 1.6TDi Golf if they're flush or a 1.4 petrol Fiesta.
Q vans are even betterI love Q cars!
bpsorrel
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
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- UK and Russia
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- '21 C300 Coupe, '20 SLC Final Edition, Peugeot 208 (hers!) and a new Ford Kuga in Russia
So a 420 cdi Vito would be quite nice then....
corned
MB Enthusiast
I'll add my (not inconsiderable
) weight to the case for the E-Class estate.
The 7-seater E320CDI is as versatile a motor as I could wish to have. 7 seats, huge load area, quick motor (acquitted itself very well around the 'Ring - with all the family aboard), but still remarkably economical (average mpg currently 42.7mpg).
As a business tool it is refined, spacious and elegant without being at all flashy. You get the 'he's doing well' comments rather than the 'flash b@st@rd' ones.
As a family tool it has 7 seats, loads of refinement, entertainment, comfort and safety.
As a performance tool it has a very punchy motor when asked, and in real-life driving conditions it has more performance than you should ever need. Yet the economy is excellent. It is in the same VED bracket as my wife's little Alfa 147 1.6TS.
) weight to the case for the E-Class estate.The 7-seater E320CDI is as versatile a motor as I could wish to have. 7 seats, huge load area, quick motor (acquitted itself very well around the 'Ring - with all the family aboard), but still remarkably economical (average mpg currently 42.7mpg).
As a business tool it is refined, spacious and elegant without being at all flashy. You get the 'he's doing well' comments rather than the 'flash b@st@rd' ones.
As a family tool it has 7 seats, loads of refinement, entertainment, comfort and safety.
As a performance tool it has a very punchy motor when asked, and in real-life driving conditions it has more performance than you should ever need. Yet the economy is excellent. It is in the same VED bracket as my wife's little Alfa 147 1.6TS.
- Joined
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- Cheshire, UK
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- C270CDi Estate (late 2004 facelift model) - Bought 2005, Sold 2022.
In the same vein, I've long thought the BMW X5 3.0d is a great all purpose vehicle.
I suppose on a Mercedes forum some would favour M Class (or is it ML, I'm never sure?) but they're just not rated as highly to drive.
st4
Banned
X5 and ML are compartively thirsty for the performance on offer. An estate is probably the best option.
I don't think there is any such thing made nowadays - hence the popularity of niche vehicles for every occasion.
Back in the good old days,, the SAAB 99 Turbo was perfect:
Truly accomodated four big six-footers, flat six foot long loading bay and exceptional performance.
Check out the back of Autocar to see 50 - 70 times equal to or better than some Porsche 911s and Ferraris. (Around 5-6 secs IIRC) All this back in 1978 when the price was just shy of £8k. Sierra Cosworths were still six years away.
Thrashed 3 litre BMWs, big Capris and Scimitars whilst carrying a full-sized fridge-freezer.
Nothing in the MB range even came close.
OK, it couldn't go off-road, but not a lot of people know that the parking brake operated the front wheels. With a little deft practice you could make it work like a LSD - enough to get you out of a muddy field.
22-26mpg was pretty competitive 32 years ago.
'Scuse me whilst I wipe a tear from my eyes...
Back in the good old days,
, the SAAB 99 Turbo was perfect:Truly accomodated four big six-footers, flat six foot long loading bay and exceptional performance.
Check out the back of Autocar to see 50 - 70 times equal to or better than some Porsche 911s and Ferraris. (Around 5-6 secs IIRC) All this back in 1978 when the price was just shy of £8k. Sierra Cosworths were still six years away.
Thrashed 3 litre BMWs, big Capris and Scimitars whilst carrying a full-sized fridge-freezer.
Nothing in the MB range even came close.OK, it couldn't go off-road, but not a lot of people know that the parking brake operated the front wheels. With a little deft practice you could make it work like a LSD - enough to get you out of a muddy field.
22-26mpg was pretty competitive 32 years ago.
'Scuse me whilst I wipe a tear from my eyes...
Last edited:
andy_k
MB Enthusiast
this isn't a question aimed at car enthusiasts thoughis it?
It is asking if there is a perfect car for all - as you pointed out, at work, you are in a minority group of 1
so why are the choices other people make (based on different criteria) any less relevent than yours?If we were to judge by blandness and fitting the criteria in the first question. The best all round car we have owned was an old Pug diesel estate - it was roomy, economical, plenty of space for 4 people, 2 dogs and luggage. It did about 60 mpg, cost pennies to service and maintain yet would cruise all day at 75mph (ish). It didn't have a spot of rust anywhere on it, was as reliable as a swiss watch apart from some interesting electrical glitches and never failed an MoT.
Was it the 'perfect car' - to some people, yes it probably was to me it was the most boring car we've ever owned but at the time I was doing 1k miles a week with work so it made a lot of sense.
There is no perfect 'one size fits all' car. If I were really pushed to make the call, I suspect that a diesel Golf estate would be high up the list
A-AvantGarde
MB Enthusiast
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- 2023 Mercedes EQC400, 2015 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2019 BMW X5 40i
And the fact that as individuals, we all have different requirements / needs.
grober
MB Master
If memory serves correctly according to the Top Gear team the last generation 3 litre Subaru Legacy Outback was the closest fit of car which was all things to all men[women] in road conditions anywhere in the world.
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A perfect car for me would different depending upon the day you asked me!!
An ML63/R63 would be ideal for us as it would be able to do everything we need/want of a car although it wouldn't be the 'best' at any one thing.
It would be very fast in a straight line. Good for me.
It would be fun to hustle along A and B roads. Good for me.
It would have a lofty driving position. Good for Mrs D.
It is high, making it easier to strap Baby D in. Good for me and Mrs D.
It has a tall luggage area. Good for Doggy D.
It can tow a twin axle caravan. Good for us all.
It can get to our house in the snow. Good for us all.
It is still an MB. Mrs D and I like MBs.
It can be serviced by the same people as our current cars. Good for my pocket.
A C63 and a GL420 would be better in every respect, but of course neither can do both extremes like an ML63/R63.
Sadly an ML63/R63 or C63 and G420 would cost more than I'd want to spend, so maybe not perfect afterall...
An ML63/R63 would be ideal for us as it would be able to do everything we need/want of a car although it wouldn't be the 'best' at any one thing.
It would be very fast in a straight line. Good for me.
It would be fun to hustle along A and B roads. Good for me.
It would have a lofty driving position. Good for Mrs D.
It is high, making it easier to strap Baby D in. Good for me and Mrs D.
It has a tall luggage area. Good for Doggy D.
It can tow a twin axle caravan. Good for us all.
It can get to our house in the snow. Good for us all.
It is still an MB. Mrs D and I like MBs.
It can be serviced by the same people as our current cars. Good for my pocket.
A C63 and a GL420 would be better in every respect, but of course neither can do both extremes like an ML63/R63.
Sadly an ML63/R63 or C63 and G420 would cost more than I'd want to spend, so maybe not perfect afterall...
robertc43
Active Member
I can think of 2 candidates - although I've not driven either.
- Alpina D3 Bi-turbo estate
Reasonably quick, plenty of space, and frugal. The original D3 got a 4.5 star review in Evo - I don't think they've reviewed the Bi-turbo model yet.
- BMW 535d estate
Very quick (especially remapped), even more space, but not quite as frugal. Got a 4 star Evo review.
Rayny
Active Member
My old Honda Concerto only lacked two things - power at low revs and the three pointed star.
Otherwise it was perfect -
Plenty of room for four, or the rear seats could be put down to give a good load area.
Short enough to park in town with a good turning circle, yet comfortable for cruising on motorways.
Totally non-descript so it was never a target for vandals, but admired by people who had previously owned one.
Totally reliable - I bought it at 12 years old and about 100K miles - In two years I took it to about 130k miles and through two MOTs. Apart from petrol and VED the only costs were the MOTs, a service, a top radiator hose and a replacement battery.
Otherwise it was perfect -
Plenty of room for four, or the rear seats could be put down to give a good load area.
Short enough to park in town with a good turning circle, yet comfortable for cruising on motorways.
Totally non-descript so it was never a target for vandals, but admired by people who had previously owned one.
Totally reliable - I bought it at 12 years old and about 100K miles - In two years I took it to about 130k miles and through two MOTs. Apart from petrol and VED the only costs were the MOTs, a service, a top radiator hose and a replacement battery.
tali
MB Enthusiast
I don't think there is any such thing made nowadays - hence the popularity of niche vehicles for every occasion.
Back in the good old days,
View attachment 19348
Truly accomodated four big six-footers, flat six foot long loading bay and exceptional performance.
Check out the back of Autocar to see 50 - 70 times equal to or better than some Porsche 911s and Ferraris. (Around 5-6 secs IIRC) All this back in 1978 when the price was just shy of £8k. Sierra Cosworths were still six years away.
Thrashed 3 litre BMWs, big Capris and Scimitars whilst carrying a full-sized fridge-freezer.
OK, it couldn't go off-road, but not a lot of people know that the parking brake operated the front wheels. With a little deft practice you could make it work like a LSD - enough to get you out of a muddy field.
22-26mpg was pretty competitive 32 years ago.
'Scuse me whilst I wipe a tear from my eyes...
No Cosworths at the time -but there was the Audi Quattro- which offered similar to Saab - plus 4WD
Or how about the 9000 Turbo - tons more performance, limousine space , luxury. 2 extra doors - all in a package just over a 1inch bigger in lenght than 99
