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Post by Humph on Sept 3, 2016 10:59:09 GMT
Just clocked up 10,000 miles in my "new" car at three months old. Most of you know what it is but for those who don't it's a Mercedes E 220 estate.
It replaced a 2011 similar model but that had the "250" tune engine. I loved the old one and it achieved 180,000 miles with no significant issues. The brakes were only replaced twice and all major components were original when it went. I expect it's doing sterling service now as an airport shuttle or something.
At first I missed the extra shove from the 250 engine but either the new one has loosened up or I've simply got used to it because it feels fine now with plenty of grunt for overtaking etc. Fuel consumption has improved too recently and I'm getting regular readings of 48 mpg ( still nowhere near the manufacturers claims of high 50s but not bad for a big automatic car )
I've mentioned before elsewhere that it has an "AdBlue" system which was a slight worry in so far as how often it would need topping up but so far it hasn't.
The gearbox has 7 gears as opposed to the 5 in the old car and is seamless in operation with the handy option of a "sport" or "manual" setting if required. Both have been tried but rarely used. The sport setting though is quite good for really twisty winding hilly areas like the Cat and Fiddle road for example.
As a run out model it has had all the toys thrown at it, sunroof, memory seats, sat nav, Bluetooth, privacy glass, fancy wheels, dab radio, sports seats, sports suspension, LED lights, reversing camera, blah de blah de blah...
I need a huge load carrier for work and it fulfills that need admirably but it just seems to shrink around you when you drive it, never feeling too big on the road and with RWD it has a great steering lock and is a doddle to park.
It is of course a company car and come the day I need to fund my own cars again it will be hard to think of anything I would enjoy as much at a price or more accurately, cost of maintaining and running that I could imagine liking as much. In fact if I was to have the choice, I'd never want anything else, it really is my perfect car.
I suspect that when I do need to provide my own again, that I'll just buy an old one like others here have and hang the risk/cost.
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Post by tyrednexited on Sept 3, 2016 11:01:47 GMT
...is the sunroof a panoramic one by any chance...........
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Post by Humph on Sept 3, 2016 11:03:09 GMT
It is, sorry if I failed to make that clear...
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Post by Humph on Sept 3, 2016 11:18:23 GMT
Has anyone else had ( or indeed has ) a car that just ticks all their boxes? Everything I've had before, and I've been lucky enough to have had some nice ones, has had a little something about it I'd want to change but this one just suits my needs perfectly. If it could be made to never wear out I'd keep it forever.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 3, 2016 17:17:37 GMT
Has anyone else had ( or indeed has ) a car that just ticks all their boxes? I felt much that way about my blue 1998 Saab 9-3. Not the quickest but quick enough (and seemed quick relative to most other cars of the time), good space and seats for me and three others (it spanned our change from being two to being three) and a big, square and usable boot that once swallowed a sideboard. Lovely two-tone velour (remember that?) upholstery from the days before fabric became the black-only punishment option, and a superbly human-centred control layout - except for the bit that required the wiper switch to go back through the Off position between intermittent and continuous. Even MrsB1 loved it, and took some persuading that the S60 would be an adequate successor once its four years were up. I always missed the Saab's hatch and wipable rear window until we got the E nearly ten years later. |
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Post by Hofmeister on Sept 3, 2016 20:02:21 GMT
In my life with the Lancer, I am constantly thinking to myself, "Wouldn't it be nice to have X, or own a Y, I wish i had this and that" "doesn't xyz look smart wish I had that"
After driving hire hire cars, or friends cars, or test driving other cars I get back in the Lancer and I suddenly appreciate what it is and what is does. Its quiet, far quieter than many of its modern compatriots, It has visibility thats unrivalled by all modern cars, the door mirrors are large, give great rear side vision, and are heated by ferocious furnaces that clear ice and water in seconds, are infinitely electrically adjustable, yet are not so big they have ever been clonked or knocked. The lights, powered by old H4 tech halogens are the best I have ever had, and better than any non HID or LED lights in any car on the road. The seats are 5 hour non bum ache comfortable. The wipers have never juddered or smeared and have perfect speed choices. The ride is now a bit 135k+ jiggly but still ok. Ok it wallows a bit and lacks steering feel, but driven hard, very hard Its never understeered or oversteered on me, The old tech manual mechanical Aircon is still powerful and chilly, far more powerful and instant than modern cars. The heating is ferocious but controllable, the fan powerful but quiet, the vents on perfect places and perfectly adjustable. The electric windows have one touch on all four windows, a feature you never knew you needed till you don't have it. The (fitted by me) sound system sounds 100% better than most standard ICE installs and as good as the upmarket options. Ok it needs more horsepower, but then I think "really? does it" I will still cruise comfortably at 100 mph if you want it too, it will romp up the M40 Stokenchurch hill at 90 mph in the fast lane (ok you need to drop it down a cog).
I want a new car, I need a new car, but I leap into this thing at a moments notice, with little planning or preparation (an oil and water check - both norma -l have never been anything but) drive a 900 mile trip to holland and back in perfect comfort, and I think "This car deserves some respect - I can't justify, financially, or lifestyle, changing it" In 6 years nothing about it has annoyed me. You can't say that about many cars.
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Post by Humph on Sept 3, 2016 20:25:19 GMT
I felt that way about my Mondeo estate(s). Utterly brilliant cars for the money. No one actually 'needs' anything better. Want, wish and desire are different criteria.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 20:51:42 GMT
Phaeton.
The only thing that was slightly inconvenient was its load carrying ability. In the world of saloon cars it had a huge boot. But still a boot, not a furniture etc. mover. Not a big point in the scheme of things.
If you ever have the opportunity to borrow or drive one then do so. But there is no price small enough to own one without said warranty. I would have kept mine forever were it not for that.
To give you a clue, mine once needed a small pipe on the power steering replaced. It was done without quibble under warranty. The pipe was £14.00 - The labour charge was around £2,000
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Post by tyrednexited on Sept 3, 2016 21:08:03 GMT
The labour charge was around £2,000 When the warranty runs out, that's where DIY comes in........ ....though the £6000's worth of "special tools" might well be a disincentive  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 21:09:31 GMT
Not a chance. Unbelievably complex.
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Post by Humph on Sept 3, 2016 21:11:24 GMT
Phaetons are more or less Bentley Continentals for socialists aren't they? So I've heard anyway.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 21:21:26 GMT
That's me, socialist. It shines through.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 22:26:34 GMT
Whilst I enjoy my E350CDi it's a 2011 model and in some respects is lacking features which are now standard on much more basic cars. But the that did everything I wanted at the time my S-Max was hard to beat. I bought the S-Max for a reason (I needed an MPV), and the Merc fulfils it's designated role beatifully, but I don't think I'm in love with it as much as I was with the Ford.
What I do enjoy though is the shove you get when burying the pedal in the carpet. Never driven a car with so much torque.....
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Avant
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Post by Avant on Sept 3, 2016 22:57:44 GMT
Yes, that sums up exactly how I feel about the current V60 compared with the previous, much-loved Octavia vRS. I comfort myself with the thought that I might not have loved the Skoda as much when the warranty expired: 3 years and 60,000 miles would have come up at about the same time.
Why I liked all six VW Group cars that I had was that there was never anything that annoyed me. All controls, major and minor, were intuitive and fell naturally to hand. The V60 is growing on me, particularly as the engine is loosening up nicely after 6,000 miles, but the info-tainment system is counter-intuitive, which can be distracting on the move, which rather contradicts Volvo's reputation for safety. And it has an electronic parking brake, compounding the error by situating it down by the driver's right knee and having push for on and pull for off.
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