Which car to do anything and everything?

[Mactech]

Would that be a Coodle called Pollie?

Mrs Me reckons a Great Dane crossed with a **** a Spaniel would be good.

She is now 2 year old Pollie called ….err….Polly

 

[BTB 500]

Nurse ! Smelling salts, please !

And I thought having two children was more than enough.

We have three children as well (although the oldest two have left home now)

And two horses, eight chickens, a cat and a budgie. We don't tend to drive those around though.

 

[m80]

We have a 16 month cross between an earth mover and a wrecking ball.
We call her, often.

I used to have a very multi purpose Viano.
It's hers now.

 

[Doodle]

but if you had to pick just one…?

Probably the E39.

 

[Doodle]

Mrs Me reckons a Great Dane crossed with a **** a Spaniel would be good.

M-I-L's friend has a King Charles/Shitzu cross. I believe the aficionados would have you call it a Cavazu but as far as they're concerned it's a King Shit.

 

[MD5]

I have six cars with a few overlaps, ranging from a smart fortwo to an R320L cdi, so I guess I'm in the wrong thread! However, my S211 E500 is probably the one to cover all bases. I bought it as an everyday hack 13 years ago, and if it had a sunroof it would be a perfect allrounder. Silky smooth 7G tronic, full air suspension, the iconic V8 m113 engine and 7 seats. I do mostly motorway miles and it is a delight to drive. Mind you, so are the others, although the smart is a bit skittish!

 

[Londonscottish]

CLS55. It might be a bit Marmite but I happen to think it's one of the most striking cars of the past 30 years. It's got the feel of the original XJ6, huge on the outside fighter cockpit on the inside. Not sensible, but makes you feel special. It pootles around in silence most of the time and then when you need to gun it accelerates savagely and makes me giddy like a kid. The ride is very comfortable and yet it handles brilliantly. The air suspension can be raised, which I thought was a gimmick until I've come across flash floods. The fuel economy is acceptable at a running average of 21.4 imperial mpg mixed driving and climbs to 25 on a very long fast run. And about 12 around bust town. Can do very comfortable slow speed wafting, it feels like a sports car on a roads in manual mode, and it feels like a bullet train on the motorway. The heated ventilated massaging seats are great when I've got back ache. The frameless windows are pretty pointless but again feel very cool when you open the door in summer with the windows down. It really is a four door coupe. The general air of quality in the cabin is a step up for me compared to my previous two c-class cars which I wasn't expecting but is very welcome. Rust is much reduced on this model and this year of car (2005) but does need to be kept on top of to stop minor blemishes expanding. The engine is a little noisy, with all the whiring and squeaking of various belts and machinery of the AMG upgrade. And the exhaust is a tad too quiet. But apart from that, getting into this car even to go shopping, feels like an event. According to the price list it was with options 79k new which according to the bank of England inflation calculator is 133 k in today's money. Most of these models with fairly modest mileage cost less than 1/10 of that, which is amazing.

The CLS55 is one of my bucket list cars.

But, as I still need the space, an E Class estate is my favourite all rounder.

I have six cars with a few overlaps, ranging from a smart fortwo to an R320L cdi, so I guess I'm in the wrong thread! However, my S211 E500 is probably the one to cover all bases. I bought it as an everyday hack 13 years ago, and if it had a sunroof it would be a perfect allrounder. Silky smooth 7G tronic, full air suspension, the iconic V8 m113 engine and 7 seats. I do mostly motorway miles and it is a delight to drive. Mind you, so are the others, although the smart is a bit skittish!

I had one of them and liked it so much I replaced it with an S212 with the 5.5. The latter is now the oldest daily I have ever run as I can't think of a suitable replacement. I had a look at E43s but it seems that MB have ruined one the E Class's greatest strengths; ride quality. And they'e fitted it with red seatbelts. That's just so wrong.

I decided to stick with what I've got and use the money I've saved to upgrade the ICE, do a suspension refresh and sort a couple of other niggles. It's serene round town, effortless on the motorway and is a perfect people/bike/luggage/uni move junk lugger.

 

[MD5]

I had one of them and liked it so much I replaced it with an S212 with the 5.5

I remember, and I was going to go a similar route with the facelifted 5.5 S211 (not a fan of the 212, sorry), but then the rear airbags went on mine, so I had them replaced along with all that that entailed, eg subframe bushes etc, so decided to get my money's worth! Mine gets used mostly for a seasonal business, and still serves its purpose well. I have the later m273 5.5 engine and 7G+ in my SL, and if I'm honest, I think I prefer the E500 combo for smoothness, with the 7G+ box being a bit gappy.

 

[BIGDOG]

We had one of the last first gen XC90s. Got it just before the all new one came out and kept it 4 years which is a long time for me. It coincided with us having three kids that all needed some sort of child seat and short of an MPV was just about the only car that fitted the bill. Massively helped by the integrated middle child seat that they all come with. It was a little agricultural (2.4l 5 cylinder turbo diesel) but was very safe, well equipped, roomy, felt like it was hewn from granite and would go pretty much anywhere. Most importantly, my wife liked it too. Had some great family adventures in that car.

View attachment 148397

I have the current model, it’s a lovely thing.

 

[davymead]

A great question and given how many vehicles I’ve owned and a lot of thought, VAG seems to be the choice. I’ve owned numerous Golf GTI’s and this particular car was my favourite and comes in second …..

 

[Londonscottish]

I remember, and I was going to go a similar route with the facelifted 5.5 S211 (not a fan of the 212, sorry), but then the rear airbags went on mine, so I had them replaced along with all that that entailed, eg subframe bushes etc, so decided to get my money's worth! Mine gets used mostly for a seasonal business, and still serves its purpose well. I have the later m273 5.5 engine and 7G+ in my SL, and if I'm honest, I think I prefer the E500 combo for smoothness, with the 7G+ box being a bit gappy.

I'm also a fan of the 5.5 211. Great cars.

I've also done the air bags on mine. It wants for nothing apart from from minor paint here and there. Must book it in soon.

If I could find someone to do it, I'd also like to get a borescope inside the rear subframe and/or get it rust proofed as they do fail.

I find the 7g fine in mine and like the extra grunt from the 5.5. Not that there's anything wrong with the 5.0.

 

[davymead]

For versatility beyond question and immense all round ability it has to be this Caravelle.

 

[MD5]

I find the 7g fine in mine and like the extra grunt from the 5.5

That's something I've often wondered is whether the 211 5.5s were fitted with the 7G or the 7G+? The 7G+ has three switchable settings, one for manual. There's quite a difference in the ratios, and the 5.5 with a 7G would be brilliant with extra 80 odd bhp. Sorry, going OT here!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

For versatility beyond question and immense all round ability it has to be this Caravelle.View attachment 148431

Nice! Lovely colour. You seem to have the monopoly on VW registration numbers!

 

[ToeKnee]

I've never owned a single car that could do "anything and everything"! My current two cars do everything I want though, Mondeo for four seats, huge boot for tip runs etc and the SL for everything else.

 

[philnewmerc]

The CLS55 is one of my bucket list cars.

But, as I still need the space, an E Class estate is my favourite all rounder.


I had one of them and liked it so much I replaced it with an S212 with the 5.5. The latter is now the oldest daily I have ever run as I can't think of a suitable replacement. I had a look at E43s but it seems that MB have ruined one the E Class's greatest strengths; ride quality. And they'e fitted it with red seatbelts. That's just so wrong.

I decided to stick with what I've got and use the money I've saved to upgrade the ICE, do a suspension refresh and sort a couple of other niggles. It's serene round town, effortless on the motorway and is a perfect people/bike/luggage/uni move junk lugger.

I think a w219 CLS55 shooting brake would be ideal, but they never made one, and I'm not so keen on the later CLS shapes (besides which I have a violent aversion to depreciation). But I would say an E55k estate is pretty much perfect.

 

[D2028]

2004 landrover discovery 2 td5, I have it in my ownership over 10 years now, very comfortable, massive interior, easy to DIY mechanically, tows effortlessly, great for the winter especially, obviously some day it will lie down and die but that will be a very sad day for me.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That's something I've often wondered is whether the 211 5.5s were fitted with the 7G or the 7G+? The 7G+ has three switchable settings, one for manual. There's quite a difference in the ratios, and the 5.5 with a 7G would be brilliant with extra 80 odd bhp. Sorry, going OT here!

Might well be wrong, this is beyond my pay grade, but doesn’t the 7G+ need stop start circuitry, so only started in 2010 with the W212 ?

Not to be confused with the flappy paddle controls on 5.5’s which I think I had on my w221 from 2007, W211 from 2008, and an R230 from 2007, but which I don’t have on my current 2008 5.5 S211. (All of which were just options, I thought)

But could well be wrong. I only lift the bonnet to check levels and wipe everything down these days.

 

[ToeKnee]

My 2006 facelift R230 had flappy paddles.....

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Finally parted with my C250d 4matic ,after 5 years, and pushed the boat out as far as I could. It's extremely comfortable (air suspension and only 20" wheels) it's very quiet (insulated glass) corners as if it's on rails and packs 380bhp. Will probably never go the tip, dogs not allowed (grandchildren only) and will never tow anything although it has an electronically deployable towbar.