So the warranty on my Jaguar XFS is about to run out later in the year, and I'm getting solid part exchange quotes so depreciation is very respectable. Thinking it's time I start looking at options for something different in the coming months whilst the value proposition still works in my favour.
What I'm after.
Given I'll probably go electric or hybrid in future (Tesla etc), I want this next vehicle to be a bit more noisy, quick and fairly fun, so I can enjoy combustion engines for a little while longer.
Thing is, I still need something comfortable, luxurious, practical, but quick. I do a lot of long distance driving, and often do airport runs with a stacked boot, have a car full of family or guests etc, so I can't go for a coupe/2 door or something too thirsty. Fuel efficiency still sort of matters, as does boot space and rear legroom.
Here's what I've shortlisted, what do you guys think out of the options? All cars would be the newer models.
The shortlist.
1.) BMW 540i with M Performance (not M Sport) body kit and M Performance Power and Sound Kit, possibly even a remap.
Pros: Incredible interior, infotainment, technology and comfort. Crap loads of legroom and great boot space. Quick 0-60 and still a fuel efficient engine. Sounds great with the aftermarket exhaust.
Cons: Not the torqueiest engine, so doesn't necessarily feel as quick as it is, especially at common rev ranges. Still a bit big and bulky, so not the most sharp and agile to drive.
2.) BMW 530D with M Performance (not M Sport) body kit.
Pros: Incredible interior, infotainment, technology and comfort. Crap loads of legroom and great boot space. Very torquey engine, so it feels much quicker than it is, plus fuel efficiency is incredibly good.
Cons: The acceleration isn't quite as fast as some of the other cars, plus the engine is pretty quiet, dull and boring compared to the more theatrical petrol motors, and no aftermarket exhaust system is going to change that. Still a bit big and bulky, so not the most sharp and agile to drive.
3.) Mercedes C43 AMG
Pros: Fantastic sounding with the AMG performance exhaust, lots of pops, bangs and gargles and a surprisingly sweet exhaust note given the cylinder count. Very fun and direct handling and feeling. Smaller in size too so can be thrown about a bit more. Very torquey engine, solid acceleration and still somewhat fuel efficient.
Cons: I really dislike the interior and infotainment system, and think the rear of the car looks ugly. Plus I dislike that it basically looks the same as most other C class models, to where the engine note is really the main thing distinguishing it. Boot space is a bit small too.
4.) Mercedes C63 AMG
Pros: Fantastic sounding, lots of pops, bangs and gargles and an addictive exhaust note. Very fun and direct handling and feeling. Smaller in size too so can be thrown about a bit more. Very torquey engine, great acceleration.
Cons: A fair bit more expensive than the C43 for very little difference in overall acceleration (just 0.5s 0-60 improvement), plus worse fuel efficiency. I really dislike the interior and infotainment system, and think the rear of the car looks ugly. Plus I dislike that it basically looks the same as most other C class models, to where the engine note is really the main thing distinguishing it. Boot space is a bit small too.
5.) Mercedes E43 AMG
Pros: Beautiful interior, with a very luxurious overall look, far more premium inside than a C43/C63. Very torquey engine, with good acceleration. Very practical with solid legroom and boot space.
Cons: More muted than the C43 in both engine notes and sound (less loud, far fewer pops and crackles etc). Less nimble, direct and agile than the C43/63 in terms of handling too. Also a fair bit more expensive than the C43 for very little difference in overall acceleration. I dislike that it basically looks the same as most other C/E class models, to where the engine note is really the main thing distinguishing it.
The ones that didn't make it.
Also looked into other cars that just missed out on being shortlisted, eg the M2 Competition (a bit small and too impractical on passenger comfort and boot space), the M3 (a bit pricey compared to the C43, plus super thirsty engine with poor fuel efficiency) and several Audis (not as keen on their designs).
Ideally I'd have loved a 2019 BMW 340i with an M Performance carbon package, but they're not out in the UK till later in the year, which means I'd have to wait another 6 months to a year after that before depreciation brought the value down to something more reasonable and less depreciating.
So which option would you guys opt for and why?
What I'm after.
Given I'll probably go electric or hybrid in future (Tesla etc), I want this next vehicle to be a bit more noisy, quick and fairly fun, so I can enjoy combustion engines for a little while longer.
Thing is, I still need something comfortable, luxurious, practical, but quick. I do a lot of long distance driving, and often do airport runs with a stacked boot, have a car full of family or guests etc, so I can't go for a coupe/2 door or something too thirsty. Fuel efficiency still sort of matters, as does boot space and rear legroom.
Here's what I've shortlisted, what do you guys think out of the options? All cars would be the newer models.
The shortlist.
1.) BMW 540i with M Performance (not M Sport) body kit and M Performance Power and Sound Kit, possibly even a remap.
Pros: Incredible interior, infotainment, technology and comfort. Crap loads of legroom and great boot space. Quick 0-60 and still a fuel efficient engine. Sounds great with the aftermarket exhaust.
Cons: Not the torqueiest engine, so doesn't necessarily feel as quick as it is, especially at common rev ranges. Still a bit big and bulky, so not the most sharp and agile to drive.
2.) BMW 530D with M Performance (not M Sport) body kit.
Pros: Incredible interior, infotainment, technology and comfort. Crap loads of legroom and great boot space. Very torquey engine, so it feels much quicker than it is, plus fuel efficiency is incredibly good.
Cons: The acceleration isn't quite as fast as some of the other cars, plus the engine is pretty quiet, dull and boring compared to the more theatrical petrol motors, and no aftermarket exhaust system is going to change that. Still a bit big and bulky, so not the most sharp and agile to drive.
3.) Mercedes C43 AMG
Pros: Fantastic sounding with the AMG performance exhaust, lots of pops, bangs and gargles and a surprisingly sweet exhaust note given the cylinder count. Very fun and direct handling and feeling. Smaller in size too so can be thrown about a bit more. Very torquey engine, solid acceleration and still somewhat fuel efficient.
Cons: I really dislike the interior and infotainment system, and think the rear of the car looks ugly. Plus I dislike that it basically looks the same as most other C class models, to where the engine note is really the main thing distinguishing it. Boot space is a bit small too.
4.) Mercedes C63 AMG
Pros: Fantastic sounding, lots of pops, bangs and gargles and an addictive exhaust note. Very fun and direct handling and feeling. Smaller in size too so can be thrown about a bit more. Very torquey engine, great acceleration.
Cons: A fair bit more expensive than the C43 for very little difference in overall acceleration (just 0.5s 0-60 improvement), plus worse fuel efficiency. I really dislike the interior and infotainment system, and think the rear of the car looks ugly. Plus I dislike that it basically looks the same as most other C class models, to where the engine note is really the main thing distinguishing it. Boot space is a bit small too.
5.) Mercedes E43 AMG
Pros: Beautiful interior, with a very luxurious overall look, far more premium inside than a C43/C63. Very torquey engine, with good acceleration. Very practical with solid legroom and boot space.
Cons: More muted than the C43 in both engine notes and sound (less loud, far fewer pops and crackles etc). Less nimble, direct and agile than the C43/63 in terms of handling too. Also a fair bit more expensive than the C43 for very little difference in overall acceleration. I dislike that it basically looks the same as most other C/E class models, to where the engine note is really the main thing distinguishing it.
The ones that didn't make it.
Also looked into other cars that just missed out on being shortlisted, eg the M2 Competition (a bit small and too impractical on passenger comfort and boot space), the M3 (a bit pricey compared to the C43, plus super thirsty engine with poor fuel efficiency) and several Audis (not as keen on their designs).
Ideally I'd have loved a 2019 BMW 340i with an M Performance carbon package, but they're not out in the UK till later in the year, which means I'd have to wait another 6 months to a year after that before depreciation brought the value down to something more reasonable and less depreciating.
So which option would you guys opt for and why?
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