A difficult decision!!!

Mr Magners

My father's just retired and he wants to buy a car, what should he buy from this list or I'm also looking for suggestions if anyone has any other ideas?[/B]

He's driven company cars his whole life so this is his first time buying his own car. I'm working on a list he could pick from and so far I've got...

Audi A4
Mercedes C-Class
Jaguar X-type
Mazda 6
Lexus IS 220d
Saab 9-3

He doesn't want a BMW and he's currently driving a Volvo S40 and wants a change so that's the list I have come up with so far.

I'd love to hear some other suggestions if anyone has some. I think it's obvious from the list the level of car he's aiming at and it would be a diesel.

He'll be buying new or demo, depending on what he can find. I suggested the new Accord to him but it looks a bit too "cockpit like" and complicated (his words). He wants something simple to operate but it needs to have iPod connectivity and the more speakers the better. If he was 50 years younger he'd be a boy racer!!

samsemtex

I would definitely say the Mercedes from that bunch. The A4 is the only other one i would consider. I assume he is buying new?

MetzgerMeister

I would advise the Mazda6 or the Merc.

bazz26

Is he buying new or second hand?

Nothing on that list really sticks out to me so I'd be adding the Honda Accord to it.

L-M

I saw a 10 reg X type the other day and I could only laugh.

Will he buy used? What's the budget?

Mr Magners

Limerick man wrote: »

I saw a 10 reg X type the other day and I could only laugh.

Why laugh at the X-type?

Budget could be up to 35,000 but he's not into speed, more comfort

L-M

Because my neighbour has one the EXACT same, minus the back lights and girll and it's 2001.

bazz26

The X-Type is long in the tooth at this stage, it has been around since 2001 and is based on the Mondeo of the same age, while good in it's day it is superseeded dynamically by it's rivals these days. Same goes for the current Saab 9-3 which has been unsale since 2002.

Mazda 6 is a nice car but not really in the same market as the others on the list though if he is looking at this type of car then maybe he should look at the Opel Insignia too, probably the best car in it's class at the moment.

vectra

Mr Magners wrote: »

If he was 50 years younger he'd be a boy racer!!

Octavia vRS Tdi
Tell him it is now he needs to start enjoying his life

Lurching

If hes into comfort over speed, let someone else take the hit on a new car and get a 3 or 4 year old S320 merc or the like.

robtri

Lurching wrote: »

If hes into comfort over speed, let someone else take the hit on a new car and get a 3 or 4 year old S320 merc or the like.

that would be my thinking as well..... a beautiful comfy S class or an A8

Theanswers

Wouldnt get the C Class anyways.

The E Class is a much better car in my opionion...

mickdw

Would he look at a class higher to E class, 5 series, A6? Good value now.

johnos1984

What about a Lexus??? They're great, nice drive, reliable and a good long term bet

Mr Magners

My father's just retired and he wants to buy a car, what should he buy from this list or I'm also looking for suggestions if anyone has any other ideas?

He's driven company cars his whole life so this is his first time buying his own car. I'm working on a list he could pick from and so far I've got...

Audi A4
Mercedes C-Class
Jaguar X-type
Mazda 6
Lexus IS 220d
Saab 9-3

He doesn't want a BMW and he's currently driving a Volvo S40 and wants a change so that's the list I have come up with so far.

I'd love to hear some other suggestions if anyone has some. I think it's obvious from the list the level of car he's aiming at and it would be a diesel.

He'll be buying new or demo, depending on what he can find. I suggested the new Accord to him but it looks a bit too "cockpit like" and complicated (his words). He wants something simple to operate but it needs to have iPod connectivity and the more speakers the better. If he was 50 years younger he'd be a boy racer!!

[/B]

I'm the OP on this and he's decided he'd like to go back a couple of years and we test drove a '08 A6 and a 09 A6 recently.

My question is the A6 changed in 08/09 slightly.From what I can see it's some external tweaks including LED lights at the rear and the ventilation controls have changed also. Are there any other changes in the two models. There's a big difference in price and if they're the only changes I think he'd take the 08. He's looking at the 2.0TDI and the 08 has the auto box which he loved.

He also tried a '09 520d with rotten interior and a manual box but he's defo leaning towards the A6.

Thanks

bazz26

Along with the facelift the A6 got the new Common Rail 2.0 TDi engine. It is way more refined than the engine it replaced and better on fuel too.

The 2008 A6 will have the old PD 2.0 TDi engine which is a bit course in such a premium car imo.

Mr Magners

That's interesting bazz26 thanks for that, may have to do a bit more research.

SpannerMonkey

Audi A4 = Yes but A6 might be a better choice
Mercedes C-Class = no , E- class much better ( but you have Merc reliability issues)
Jaguar X-type = yes because they are cheap but personally no they look the same for 10 years now very dated
Mazda 6 = yes excellent car
Lexus IS 220d= no crap car no different to a toyota avensis
Saab 9-3= a little different and i like them

maybe
Ford Mondeo = a lot of bang for your buck , great to drive
Skoda Superb = same as above
Volvo S60 = nice very comfy car

GTE

An E or S class. They seem to be going fairly cheap used. Neighbour got one from the North and its a great aul motor. 2004, cant remember the price.

Mr Magners

He's kinda got his heart set on an A6 after test driving at the weekend. A very clean 08 old shape or a new shape 09.

There's €7k in the difference at the advertised prices which is a huge amount of money for 1 year and a fairly similar car?

Any opinions?

Max Power1

bbk wrote: »

An E or S class. They seem to be going fairly cheap used. Neighbour got one from the North and its a great aul motor. 2004, cant remember the price.

S class. Especially 3 or 4 years old after someone else has taken the massive initial depreciation hit. A great barge, one of the best luxury cars ive seen. It would be between an s class and a 7 series BMW if I was buying!

Sean Quagmire

Id personally go for the lexus

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lexus/IS220/EXECUTIV/201026198639410/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lexus/IS220/Diesel-E/201028198827805/advert?channel=CARS

Well below the budget mentioned and fully spec'd.

kuro_man

+1 on the s-class, but it won't be cheap to tax & run.

If he wanted something more economical, I go with a 2.0L diesel Skoda Superb 170 estate, perferably with a DSG box.

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201024198450460

R.O.R

Mr Magners wrote: »

He's kinda got his heart set on an A6 after test driving at the weekend. A very clean 08 old shape or a new shape 09.

There's €7k in the difference at the advertised prices which is a huge amount of money for 1 year and a fairly similar car?

Any opinions?

7K is a huge amount to spend for an extra year. Is the specification and mileage similar apart from that?

The facelift is much better looking, and usually comes with half decent wheels. Pre facelift models had those cr@p wheels that looked like wheel trims.

Check the emissions on both engines. Early 08's could cost €430 a year to tax (manual), 09's are €156 for Manual and €302 for Auto.

Not too much between them apart from the above.
[EDIT] Found the e-mail with the MY08 - MY09 updates. Differences are:
EQUIPMENT:

We have made some additions to the standard equipment compared to the model year 2008 version. Any A6 built from week 38 onwards will gain the following items of standard equipment:

7X1 - Audi parking system - rear
8T1 - Cruise control
PIE - Isofix fittings for front and outer rear seats
[/EDIT]

Alternatively, buy a Skoda Superb as it's a better all round car than an A6.

Tea 1000

davy_b wrote: »

Audi A4 = Yes but A6 might be a better choice
Mercedes C-Class = no , E- class much better ( but you have Merc reliability issues)
Jaguar X-type = yes because they are cheap but personally no they look the same for 10 years now very dated
Mazda 6 = yes excellent car
Lexus IS 220d= no crap car no different to a toyota avensis
Saab 9-3= a little different and i like them

maybe
Ford Mondeo = a lot of bang for your buck , great to drive
Skoda Superb = same as above
Volvo S60 = nice very comfy car

Some rubbish statements there - most notably the Lexus comment. It's a completely different car to the Avensis. In fact, a Skoda Octavia is closer to an A4 than an Avensis is to an IS220.
Merc reliability issues are apparently in the past, time will tell, looks good so far. C-Class is an excellent car.
OP, how long does your old man plan to keep this car?

Stevie Dakota

Are you sure the A6 ticks the comfort box? Even in non S-line spec I've never heard great things about the ride comfort.

Sean Quagmire

Agreed, I would not compare an Audi A6 to the others in terms of ride comfort.

Mr Magners

OP, how long does your old man plan to keep this car?

[/QUOTE]
He keeps saying this car "will see him out". He's only 65 so it's gonna be around for a while (hopefully)

Is the specification and mileage similar apart from that?

The spec seems to be the same, mileage would be similar (54000km on the 08, 33000 on the 09)

The only difference may be in the parking system, the infotainment screen wasn't working for the test drive, (the garage had taken some part from it for another car) so it may be the full colour screen unlike the red/black on the 08.

Also the 08 was an auto, the 09 manual, he'd love the auto

R.O.R

Mr Magners wrote: »

He keeps saying this car "will see him out". He's only 65 so it's gonna be around for a while (hopefully)



The spec seems to be the same, mileage would be similar (54000km on the 08, 33000 on the 09)

The only difference may be in the parking system, the infotainment screen wasn't working for the test drive, (the garage had taken some part from it for another car) so it may be the full colour screen unlike the red/black on the 08.

Also the 08 was an auto, the 09 manual, he'd love the auto

I'd take the 08 Auto at €7k cheaper thank you very much.