Which car to do anything and everything?

[Bobby Dazzler]

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. View attachment 148470

Ooooh that’s lovely. Love the silver trim too.

 

[MD5]

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 ?

I'm not sure either, Mike. I have an 08 SL500 with 7G+, complete with paddles/lever and C, S and M modes and no stop/start function. The E500 is 04 with 7G Tronic and only has C and S modes, and the ratios are much tighter. The E will always find the right gear smoothly, whereas the SL goes from "Hurry up" to scalded cat.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

I did look at a GLC but the big chrome trim around the bottom rear put me off, but MB's new selling regime - no discounts - finally put the lid on it. MB sell a "black Edition" type new GLC on the continent but "chrome" only for the UK.
The Macan was ex-demo, so specced by the dealer .

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I'm not sure either, Mike. I have an 08 SL500 with 7G+, complete with paddles/lever and C, S and M modes and no stop/start function. The E500 is 04 with 7G Tronic and only has C and S modes, and the ratios are much tighter. The E will always find the right gear smoothly, whereas the SL goes from "Hurry up" to scalded cat.

Understood. I my first S211 E500 was the same, and the facelift SL500's I've driven - and I've driven a few - all had paddles and went "scalded cat" on the paddle or just on the right foot, but I always put that down to the 30% extra bhp (300 to 385) of the 5.5 (the E500 and SL weigh the same), and the low seating position in the SL, which makes it "feel" faster.

I'm so old now, that I've either not "gone scalded cat" in my current S211 5.5..... or I've forgotten that I did (chuckle)

 

[Scooby_Doo]

On a more realistic note :
My wife had a W169 A180d Avantgarde for about 10 years and 95,000 miles bought back in 2011 ex-demo with 4,000 miles on the clock. Apart from regular maintenance, a new battery after nine years and £50 for fixing a problem with a vacuum valve it went like a watch. It regularly did the tip run , carried my two grandchildren to creche and school, pushchair fitted easily in the boot and enough room to take four and luggage to Belgium and France. Mpg was about 45 around town and could easily get 55-58 on a run. It was built like a brick outhouse and on two occasions my wife came home with the drivers side wing mirror dangling by the wires down the side of the door, a quick clip back into the housing and no damage. If they had still been making them she would have bought a new one back in 2021 when she decided to change it.

 

[Will]

I would say an E55k estate is pretty much perfect.

I’d have to agree.

Not quite ‘peak Benz’ but incredible cars when they were new (20 years ago now!) and still an excellent car today

Space, pace and grace

 

[Ted]

Not my best car, that title is a toss up between my Corrado and the current Lexus, but probably the best all rounder was a Lexus RX300.
Reasonably quick with the 3.0 V6, smooth, handled surprisingly well - I would even say nimble, luxurious with all the toys, brilliant nappa leather, on a long journey Mrs Ted would climb into the back and go to sleep.
Loads of room to carry stuff and with the seats down, more space than I could ever need.
Build quality was amazing - I can still remember wondering what the damping method was for the boot floor cover until I realised that the fit was so good that the last centimetre slowed right down to let the air out.
If it was a car I’ve never owned, it would have to be a Macan. I’d even take a diesel.

 

[RichardF]

The white one, completely anonymous, buttons to run, drives well.

Swallow"s a surprising amount of kit, people and dogs. Bumps up and down forest tracks, carries tools, abused far more than it should be, and it doesn't matter.

Owned for 9yrs, everything works £35 rfl. The best thing is its anonymity do anything (within reason) leave anywhere, a car you don't care about, or even bother locking. I can't see me ever selling it.

 

[JHS]

My 2014 Civic 1.6 d EX estate, with the "magic seats" Bought this online while we lived in Barbados, ready for our return.
Did everything we wanted, including many european trips with 2 dogs and all of our luggage and the kitchen sink! The magic seats were a brilliant feature as was the under boot storage bin.Not the fastest, but I do miss it.
I looked it up last week and found that it has passed all MOT tests with no advisories with a mileage of 104k

https://cartaxcheck.co.uk/free-car-check/mot-history/?vrm=BU64VTP

Traded it in for a Volvo XC60, big mistake!

 

[Bellow]

MLs (and SUVs in general) praised here for versatility especially space and driving position, the V8 estates primarily for their drivetrains. But MB never thought to offer a 2WD (RWD) ML. The Americans give that choice.
Not only is dispensing with 4WD when not required a hefty weight saving (reduced rotational inertia also welcome) along with much less componentry to fail, it also makes maintenance easier by freeing up space.
The driving position of an estate is much too low for my liking, the 4WD of the ML I neither need or want. RWD with a locker in the diff and appropriate tyres is enough for winter.

 

[BTB 500]

My 2014 Civic 1.6 d EX estate, with the "magic seats" Bought this online while we lived in Barbados, ready for our return.

I had an '03 plate Jazz which was a super little car and could carry an amazing amount of stuff. The magic seats were brilliant. Sharan in the background!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I had an '03 plate Jazz which was a super little car and could carry an amazing amount of stuff. The magic seats were brilliant. Sharan in the background!

View attachment 148618

My parents are ballers. They have matching his & hers Jazzes. Silver for him, brown for her, a generation apart. They love Jazzes.

 

[Smart320]

2004 RAV4 3 door automatic 2 Ltr Petrol , had it 5 years costs £500 pa depreciation, spent about an average of £500 pa servicing and repairs and about £330 pa road tax .
it’s comfortable, remarkably nippy , does both the tip and long runs with ease and is big enough for a decent sized dog crate with the rear seats removed or 4 people in remarkable comfort .
Note ignore the SLK

 

[rich1068]

You guys all seem to spend an awful lot of time at the tip.

 

[BTB 500]

You guys all seem to spend an awful lot of time at the tip.

I don't any more ... where we live now the closest one is a 40 mile round trip!

 

[KennyN]

Got to agree with post 80 , the Macan in S / GTS format.

Big enough to be practical for most , fun to hustle around , quick off the mark with the PDK box , enough "badge" to make it feel special every time it is driven , solid build quality.

Only downside is running / servicing costs but they come with the territory.

K

 

[Spider10]

Mine is probably the VOLVO V70 D5

 

[rich1068]

Mine is probably the VOLVO V70 D5

Have to say it was a close run thing between the XC90 I chose and any of the three V70s we've had. Haven't had a P3 like yours but the P2s were all great cars.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

I don't any more ... where we live now the closest one is a 40 mile round trip!

You just dig a hole and bury it.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

You guys all seem to spend an awful lot of time at the tip.

@Bobby Dazzler has his own designated bay at his local.