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Post by Humph on Aug 31, 2016 13:03:23 GMT
It's ok, you're sort of foreign. Exceptions can be made. You can't really be expected to understand the subtleties. It's not your fault. Don't worry about it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 21:20:37 GMT
...and, saloons are for accountants and masons and 4x4s are for footballer's wives unless they're real ones and the owner is a farmer. Estates are in truth, the only sensible choice. Not really worth discussing in any more depth to be honest. It'd just be repeating the obvious. 😋 Quite right. All the cars I have driven since 2004 have been either estates or an MPV bigger than most estates. If anything else the tailgate protects you from rain when it is open.
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Avant
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Post by Avant on Aug 31, 2016 21:49:40 GMT
WDB, have you considered the X1 or X3? If the junior gnus grow to your height, headroom might be a problem in the 3-series GT. I liked the X1 when I tried it, and might have gone for it if there gad been better discounts. TnE above seems happy with his.
Alternatively, the Superb as of this year can be had with the same excellent 220 bhp GTI engine that I had in my last Octavia, and there's a more powerful 280 bhp version. A lovely car, although I wouldn't want to keep any DSG-equipped car for longer than 3 years.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 31, 2016 21:51:59 GMT
I'm not sure it's based on the current 5 series platform which is in turn shared with the previous 7 series. But the 3GT has a wheelbase which is much longer than the regular 3 series. In fact I understand it has legroom in the back similar to a 7 series.
I'm not sure of the styling myself. I'd check out the new Skoda Kodiaq. I'd hope the 3rd row of seats are optional and not want those.
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Post by Hofmeister on Aug 31, 2016 22:18:52 GMT
So why would I choose a 3 GT over the much nicer looking and cheaper 3 touring?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Sept 1, 2016 0:25:50 GMT
Exactly. It's a niche car.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 1, 2016 5:43:20 GMT
So why would I choose a 3 GT over the much nicer looking and cheaper 3 touring? If you and those you carry have stubby little legs and can fit in a toy estate car, you probably wouldn't. People who find an E marginal for legroom - and who already have one 3 - won't find a solution in a 3 estate. I see plenty of GTs on the roads, so they clearly appeal to someone, and probably not just the hire companies.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 1, 2016 5:59:40 GMT
WDB, have you considered the X1 or X3? If the junior gnus grow to your height, headroom might be a problem in the 3-series GT. Yes, headroom in the back is my main reservation about the GT. They're both around 1.83m at the moment and fit OK, but they're heading for more like 1.92 and 2.02 (either side of my 1.97, although Bmin is mostly legs and doesn't have my long torso) so it may become a problem. I really don't want an SUV or anything that looks like one. The X1 is too small for us anyway (if the 220i Gran Tourer loaner is any guide) and an X3 would send all the wrong messages and might still be too small. We've sat in a Volvo XC60 and found that too small, without much of a boot. SUVs are big but they waste a lot of space. We might fit in an XC90 but I really, really don't want one. I forgot to ask whether I could have a GT with self-levelling, which is part of what makes the E such a great load carrier, especially for bikes.
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Post by tyrednexited on Sept 1, 2016 8:54:35 GMT
....I liked the X1 when I tried it, and might have gone for it if there gad been better discounts. TnE above seems happy with his.... ...I think a month is a bit soon to make a lasting judgement on a car; I do like it, but ask me again in a year.... It was, however, bought because I didn't want anything over-big (I have a motorcaravan motorhome campervan that can be used for most of the occasions where space is an issue), and, because of the platform used, despite smaller external dimensions, it has more usable space inside than an X3. I'm 6ft 1in, and my lad is taller, and can sit comfortably behind me driving (though now he's inherited the other car, that ain't going to be happening much, now). The taller SUV shape delivers ample headroom, and the boot, whilst hardly in E-Class territory, is more than competitive in its class. It isn't perfect, (never had a car that is) but at the moment, it seems a good fit against requirements, and an enjoyable drive. There is a new X3 due, but it won't change the basic platform type, and the rumours are that the internal space issues it currently exhibits against the X1 are not likely to be (fully) resolved. The downside is that it would appear that I now have to decide whether to dress as usual (I could be easily mistaken for an impoverished farmer, complete with string holding my trousers up), or in my footballer's-wife outfit (currently reserved for Friday-night-only use).
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Post by Alanović on Sept 1, 2016 9:16:22 GMT
So why would I choose a 3 GT over the much nicer looking and cheaper 3 touring? If you and those you carry have stubby little legs and can fit in a toy estate car, you probably wouldn't. People who find an E marginal for legroom - and who already have one 3 - won't find a solution in a 3 estate. I see plenty of GTs on the roads, so they clearly appeal to someone, and probably not just the hire companies. There are a lot around. I saw a couple yesterday, one even had a badge on it reading "328i". That earned a nod of respect from me.
I quite like the styling, despite any previous comments I may have made I like long, raking 5-door hatchbacks. The Rover SD1 is the original and best of course, but I quite like the 3GT. A chap over the road recently traded a 53 reg 530i saloon for a year old 320d GT. Family of four, but he and the children are short stuff so rear legroom isn't the issue it is with the WDBs - the wife is the tallest of the lot and she's got a Discovery.
If I wasn't so mindlessly and pointlessly biased against the image of the brand I think I'd quite like to have one. Perhaps I'll get over it, I have done with Mercedes after all.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 1, 2016 10:28:53 GMT
I like the styling too, Z. There's a nice form-follows-function to it (sloping rear roofline apart) that reminds me of Saab 900s and 9-3s of old. If you want it sleeker, you can have a 4 Gran Coupé, which isn't as long or as tall but still holds four if they're not all my size. (And even I managed to get into the back seat of one in a showroom.)
Perhaps I should look again at the ugly-duckling (or ugly-ostrichling - it's enormous) 530d GT. No problem with space for four, but the boot is limited by the clever-clever two-way tailgate, and the sheer size, width in particular, of the beast would be a nuisance most of the time. Expensive too, to buy, fuel and tyre, relative to the 3GT. Great for driving to the south of France, though - if a bit awkward once actually in the south of France.
I can feel the Superb calling again. I really liked the old model - far more than its dreary cousin the Passat - but it worked out more expensive for our purposes than a Mercedes, albeit an older one. The new one has a 90kg max nose weight, which outdoes the E220's 85kg. But I'd want self-levelling and - for once - I share the fleeces' misgivings about the DSG as a long-term bet, and I've come to appreciate a good automatic in a big car.
Audi A6? Ridden in plenty, dealers never got back to me. Are they all DSG? Mondeo? Have the interiors been de-cheesed since 2012? S-Max? The only tall car I've ever enjoyed driving.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 1, 2016 10:34:15 GMT
If you're a couple of years from a change, perhaps the new Volvo V90 will be a contender when depreciated.
I love it from what I've seen of it.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 1, 2016 10:42:18 GMT
So do I, if it's big enough. The S213 E looks great too, with the same proviso. Will try both before we decide.
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Post by Hofmeister on Sept 1, 2016 13:49:33 GMT
I currently have a two scenario next car policy, based on circumstances. Circumstance 1 - if Lancer go terminally tits up, I will find 6 - 8£k for a photocopier engineers estate class. Circumstance 2 - If ailing mother pops the cloggs, I shall be in the treat myself to a 20-30£k estate toy, fully loaded, second user 12-24 months old arena
I like the idea of the BMW 2 series active tourer (if the boot is big enough for doggie), a 3 series estate, Jaaaa-aaag XF sportbreak, 5 series estate, MB C220 estate. As auto is a pre req, any VAG product is out the window, mores the pity.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 1, 2016 13:55:28 GMT
Assuming ailing mother's will does not state "Battersea Dogs' Home"? I already know that my step-father's does, but what the dogs are going to do with an MGB and a Wolseley 15/50, I have no idea.
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