Thinking of defecting-I value your views

[reflexboy]

To be honest, I feel a bit strange posting this, but to put it simply, I feel like a need to change car. The SL500 has been a terrific car and I have had some great times with it, summer and winter. I bought the car 4 years ago at 15K miles and it has now just hit 35K miles. I have been all over the place including a trip all round southern Cornwall and two tours of Scotland and the Highlands and she has never missed a beat or pinged up a dash warning of any kind. I had an ABC leak due to a faulty valve block that was replaced by Olly@PCS a couple of years ago, and so has all the servicing been done at PCS too. Other than that I have had fours years of trouble free motoring. I must be mad wanting to change car as I have also just fitted genuine brake discs at the front and genuine pads all round about six weeks ago.

Anyway, enough of my waffling-I think I have narrowed down the reason why I want to change cars. The SL is low and I no longer get that 'King of the Road' feeling I get when driving in a higher up car. Admittedly I do have the seat set low as I am tall and so when the roof is down I hardly feel any wind. I really wanted to stay with MB, but I have the following dilemma: I dislike the E Class (2010/11), I love the S class but it won't fit in my garage, nor will an ML, I'm not overly keen on a W204, I love the W205 but financially it's a bit out of my reach. I have narrowed my search down to two cars, both of which I am yet to drive. I will know instantly which one I prefer once I drive them. Firstly I do like the CLS350 CDi Sport, but I am starting to wonder if I will get that 'low down' feeling again being a coupe. My other idea (this going to upset people) is a BMW 530d M Sport saloon. I'm not overly worried about MPG as the SL (and a new car) is only really a weekend/holiday car, but the BMW doubles the MPG against the SL500 and gets to 60mph in the same time. The 6 cylinder oil burner gets rave reviews and it's starting to look appealing and affordable in MY2010-MY2012. I just fancy a higher up, powerful, comfortable saloon car and the BMW seems to tick many boxes.
What is the panel's view? Any experience with BMWs, especially the model I like or am I bonkers to even consider the above?

 

[Mercland]

I dont think the 530d will feel or look very special... loads of them out there..

The CLS will in the same way as the SL does now.

Im not sure many modern cars give that king of the road feeling... maybe only S Class retains that feature nowadays.

 

[wemorgan]

IMHO as nice as the 5 series and CLS are, they are normal everyday cars, not a weekend/holiday car. The SL is much more special. I think you'll regret changing.

I'm warming to the Porsche Panamera. Is that car any good to you?

 

[reflexboy]

IMHO as nice as the 5 series and CLS are, they are normal everyday cars, not a weekend/holiday car. The SL is much more special. I think you'll regret changing.

I'm warming to the Porsche Panamera. Is that car any good to you?

Never really had a soft spot for Porsches, so not really my thing. The reason I mentioned the car being only a weekend/holiday car is that MPG is not important to me, although a nice bonus if it comes into the equation.
I just fancy something, big, higher up and comfy. Never really been into really sporty sports cars hence I bough the SL as its more of a grand tourer.

 

[reflexboy]

I dont think the 530d will feel or look very special... loads of them out there..

The CLS will in the same way as the SL does now.

Im not sure many modern cars give that king of the road feeling... maybe only S Class retains that feature nowadays.

I'd love an 'S' but that would mean spending a chunk of my budget building a bigger garage, worrying about the air suspension and the other half complaining that I can only get an S Class when I'm 70 years old. (currently 43)

 

[gIzzE]

Never really had a soft spot for Porsches, so not really my thing. The reason I mentioned the car being only a weekend/holiday car is that MPG is not important to me, although a nice bonus if it comes into the equation.
I just fancy something, big, higher up and comfy. Never really been into really sporty sports cars hence I bough the SL as its more of a grand tourer.

Take out a 550i, that does feel very special, and can be had on a 10 plate for the same as a 530d.

The guy down the road swapped his 535d for a 550i and is averaging 29mpg in it, and it is very, very rapid, forgot the official 0-60 times it feels much faster and is relentless.

He got 36mpg over a full tank going from Norfolk to the NEC, then down to Chippenham and back to Norfolk again. He reckons his diesel only got a couple of MPG more than that.

It is also incredibly refined and comes with all the toys. Also, that engine is regarded as bullet proof.

Probmlem is, they are seriously rare, only one for sale at the moment....


BMW 5 SERIES 550i SE 4dr Step Auto MASSIVE SPEC 4.4

Big Motoring World also have a couple but I would rather burn £25k than buy a car from those sharks.

 

[blue gnome123]

I guess that they are about the same size as an S-class but what about a CL?

 

[gunning]

I've had a few BMWs from 4.6 x5's to 530d tourings and can say they are a cracking car, I had an 07 330d manual tourer which i must say is easily quicker than any Mercedes diesel. However, the difference I felt when owning and driving a cls or any Merc is a big jump as it's much classier in my personal opinion, as a general motorway stormer id personally prefer to be in a cls but if it was between a 5 & e class it'd be the 5 series

 

[reflexboy]

I guess that they are about the same size as an S-class but what about a CL?

I do like the CL, but want to avoid anything with hydraulic or air suspension

 

[steve333]

To be honest, I feel a bit strange posting this, but to put it simply, I feel like a need to change car. The SL500 has been a terrific car and I have had some great times with it, summer and winter. I bought the car 4 years ago at 15K miles and it has now just hit 35K miles. I have been all over the place including a trip all round southern Cornwall and two tours of Scotland and the Highlands and she has never missed a beat or pinged up a dash warning of any kind. I had an ABC leak due to a faulty valve block that was replaced by Olly@PCS a couple of years ago, and so has all the servicing been done at PCS too. Other than that I have had fours years of trouble free motoring. I must be mad wanting to change car as I have also just fitted genuine brake discs at the front and genuine pads all round about six weeks ago.

Anyway, enough of my waffling-I think I have narrowed down the reason why I want to change cars. The SL is low and I no longer get that 'King of the Road' feeling I get when driving in a higher up car. Admittedly I do have the seat set low as I am tall and so when the roof is down I hardly feel any wind. I really wanted to stay with MB, but I have the following dilemma: I dislike the E Class (2010/11), I love the S class but it won't fit in my garage, nor will an ML, I'm not overly keen on a W204, I love the W205 but financially it's a bit out of my reach. I have narrowed my search down to two cars, both of which I am yet to drive. I will know instantly which one I prefer once I drive them. Firstly I do like the CLS350 CDi Sport, but I am starting to wonder if I will get that 'low down' feeling again being a coupe. My other idea (this going to upset people) is a BMW 530d M Sport saloon. I'm not overly worried about MPG as the SL (and a new car) is only really a weekend/holiday car, but the BMW doubles the MPG against the SL500 and gets to 60mph in the same time. The 6 cylinder oil burner gets rave reviews and it's starting to look appealing and affordable in MY2010-MY2012. I just fancy a higher up, powerful, comfortable saloon car and the BMW seems to tick many boxes.
What is the panel's view? Any experience with BMWs, especially the model I like or am I bonkers to even consider the above?

Why would you want to downgrade to a BMW!

 

[roastbeef]

How about a 635/640 diesel or 650/or other petrol variant comes in convertible as well and a few less of them on the road

 

[reflexboy]

How about a 635/640 diesel or 650/or other petrol variant comes in convertible as well and a few less of them on the road

Too low I'm afraid. The 640d is rather pretty, but as I say, too low down

 

[C36fan]

A S class is the real deal none of the others mentioned above come close to it !

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[s88]

see a psychiatrist and get the "king of the road " feeling back.


I get the impression that everyone is looking at me because the SL is a beauty!

 

[KennyN]

but want to avoid anything with hydraulic or air suspension

Doesn't the CLS (218) have airmatic on the rear ?

Kenny

 

[steve333]

I had a w219 cls500 with airmatic,lovely car and ride.

 

[reflexboy]

Doesn't the CLS (218) have airmatic on the rear ? Kenny

Not really sure....anyone confirm this? Wasn't it an option?

 

[Giantvanman]

You are looking for "king of the road" feel but can't be as big as an ML or S and you want it to feel special, being a replacement for the SL. That's quite a brief.
I would say, however, there isn't anything special (as in SL special) about a 530d……reasonable economy with a turn of speed and laws of physics defying reverse Tardis feel (huge car, little interior space) but not special and definitely not king of the road. More like a boring game of snap.

 

[Charles Morgan]

What's your budget?

 

[reflexboy]

You are looking for "king of the road" feel but can't be as big as an ML or S and you want it to feel special, being a replacement for the SL. That's quite a brief. I would say, however, there isn't anything special (as in SL special) about a 530d……reasonable economy with a turn of speed and laws of physics defying reverse Tardis feel (huge car, little interior space) but not special and definitely not king of the road. More like a boring game of snap.

I understand your thinking, however maybe I have got this wrong. To me it's more of a case of feeling good and feeling comfortable driving a car rather than sheer size. I found my W202 wonderful to drive, as did my 1984 Chavalier SRi when I was 19. Maybe I am trying to recreate that great feeling I once had in the first few years after passing my test as a youngster. Maybe it's not the car I am bored with but with driving itself. Shall I see a shrink? Ha ha ha