advice on car: A6 or E class?

cojomo2

Hi,

My dad is getting a new(2nd hand) car. He's looking at an Audi A6 and and E200 Merc. He's looking for something 06-08, needs a big boot for golf clubs and he wants something classy, full leather, auto etc.

I prefer the Audi, but was interested to hear other opinions. I'm not mad on either, and was suggesting an A5 but it's a bit out side the budget (circa 15k). Also suggested a Volvo but he's not convinced and I didn't bother suggesting a high spec Accord as I know he wouldn't go for it.

Engine size no bigger than 2.0 and petrol rather than diesel as he only does about 8-10k miles a year.

Any opinions?

EPM

Personally I think the interior quality on the A6 is quite poor. My boss bought one of the last of the old models a few months ago and apart from the big squidgy top of the dash the quality of a lot of the materials used is better in my bloody Octavia. He's already broken an air vent and an air con dial has come off.

But in saying that the 2.0 TFSi engine is a great unit, and they can look really well in the right spec. Not an E-Class fan tbh but I have been in an E220 CDI W211 with over 400k miles up on it and it seemed to be holding up quite well.

swhyte027

To be honest the e class would Serve him a lot beter then the a6 would.the eclass has a it's own problem but are simple enough fix compared to the a6.the a6 is a lovely driver but its just to expensive for parts.the give trouble with the electronic park brake I had to change the loom on it at one stage and also had to get the control module for the handbrake it was 300 odd euro then I priced the caliper same again.now I'm sure others will have other oppions but that's just mine.as I've worked on both

WestWing

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-5/2.0-A%23T-/201111201673068/advert?channel=CARS

si_guru

Can you get Skoda Superb for that money - although I don't think I've ever seen a petrol one here.

cojomo2

EPM wrote: »

Personally I think the interior quality on the A6 is quite poor. My boss bought one of the last of the old models a few months ago and apart from the big squidgy top of the dash the quality of a lot of the materials used is better in my bloody Octavia. He's already broken an air vent and an air con dial has come off.

But in saying that the 2.0 TFSi engine is a great unit, and they can look really well in the right spec. Not an E-Class fan tbh but I have been in an E220 CDI W211 with over 400k miles up on it and it seemed to be holding up quite well.

yeah he did notice that most of the A6 on the market have crappy cloth interior, but he is only considering ones with full leather interior etc.

The dealer told him the A6 2.0TFSi engine is the same as the mkv GTi engine..is this the case, or does the A6 have a smaller turbo, as it puts out 30bhp less?

Any other suggestions? He's had a 5series BMW also and isn't looking to go back to one...can't really think of anything else..

cojomo2

WestWing wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-5/2.0-A%23T-/201111201673068/advert?channel=CARS

thanks for the suggestion, but I/we both think that is on hell of an ugly car! Don't think the Saab does well in the styling department at all, apart from the 93 which looks good IMO

keithclancy

cojomo2 wrote: »

thanks for the suggestion, but I/we both think that is on hell of an ugly car! Don't think the Saab does well in the styling department at all, apart from the 93 which looks good IMO

SAABs are a bit like Marmite


I'd say the Merc, its a floating armchair with a sh*tload of boot space.

Nothing worse than a felt spec Merc though

EPM

What about a Lexus GS? If he's doing small miles about town there won't be a huge economy difference, and at the price you can pick one up for motor tax isn't much of an issue.

WestWing

cojomo2 wrote: »

thanks for the suggestion, but I/we both think that is on hell of an ugly car! Don't think the Saab does well in the styling department at all, apart from the 93 which looks good IMO

I couldn't agree more, but some people like it. :eek:

BrensBenz

Good information above. They’re both similar and excellent cars – preference is a very personal thing, especially in that price / spec range where emotional reactions to almost imperceptible details sway us in different ways. Also, I’m surprised that a B M Troubleyou or Lexus is not on the list! Some questions and my opinions below:
Does your Dad have a toolbox? My E-Class is quite easy to work on but it’s an old, poverty spec model. The newer models have a lot more tamper-proof design features. My son’s A3 and daughter’s M3 are almost total no-go areas.
Neither car are immune from failure – if your Dad does not enjoy paying unscheduled or NCT-induced repair bills, he might glance at a Lexus instead! Also, I have to warn you that the worst aspect of owning an MB is having to visit MB dealers for those jobs too big for your Dad’s toolbox. Audi dealers have their moments but I hear a lot of good comments about Lexus (Toyota) dealers. (Stands back and awaits specific and contradictory tales.) Web forums, especially from UK, will give you a good idea of actual problems and their frequency.
The E-Class boot is a little disappointing – space goes to rear-seat passengers. You’ll hear an echo in the A6’s boot;
The A6 is slightly more of a driver’s car (“what do you want me to do now, Boss?”) while the E-Class is an unashamed cruiser (“I know you’re listening to our CD player so I’ll just take care of everything for you.”). Lexus 200 was the nicest car I ever drove but rear space was too limited for me to purchase.
I‘ve never seen an ugly Audi; MB have that unmistakable, aristocratic family resemblance; BMWs age well but Lexus look like engineering rather than aesthetic achievements.
So, final choice depends a lot on your Dad’s personality and, since a generation gap is a good thing, you should not agree with his choice!
Safe driving to you both.

Leonard Hofstadter

swhyte027 wrote: »

To be honest the e class would Serve him a lot beter then the a6 would.the eclass has a it's own problem but are simple enough fix compared to the a6.

The build quality of the post-facelift W211s is far superior to the original models. The facelifted W211s are much more like what a Merc should be in terms of build quality and reliability. Of those two I'd chose the Merc any day of the week, but I'd be wanting the facelifted version. Obviously, being a Merc, automatic and leather are essential. Diesel is a very good idea too, the E-class is deliberately not sporty so you might as well get a low revving, high torque diesel engine to go with it. Whatever you do don't buy a manual anyway!

cojomo2

captainspeed wrote: »

The build quality of the post-facelift W211s is far superior to the original models. The facelifted W211s are much more like what a Merc should be in terms of build quality and reliability. Of those two I'd chose the Merc any day of the week, but I'd be wanting the facelifted version. Obviously, being a Merc, automatic and leather are essential. Diesel is a very good idea too, the E-class is deliberately not sporty so you might as well get a low revving, high torque diesel engine to go with it. Whatever you do don't buy a manual anyway!

Didn't think a diesel would be the way to go if only covering 8-10k miles /year?

I rather the A6, but I am young, I would agree with what people here are saying , in that the E class is probably the car for him. When did the facelift model appear? He is looking at 06, 07 and 08's. Thanks

Tea 1000

The problem with the A6 is that it’s neither a great handling car nor a fully accomplished cruiser. The problem with the Merc is their entry level petrols are really nothing to write home about. I know with the low miles that diesel would be a slightly poorer choice, but I think he should test drive the new model S80 with the 2.4 diesel. I’d go with the E class over the A6, I never liked the looks of the A6.
But I’d certainly re-iterate the Lexus option, in particular the GS450h. With that you have a 3.5 litre engine with a hybrid, giving V8 performance, but with economy that actually will match the E class’s thirsty 4 cylinder. Autocar were surprised to report that they matched Lexus’s claimed 35mpg. And if you buy a 08 one, you get the benefit of €630 tax, around the same as a 07 E class. It’ll be more reliable, have more extras, more power and just as comfortable as the others.

Leonard Hofstadter

Tea 1000 wrote: »

The problem with the A6 is that it’s neither a great handling car nor a fully accomplished cruiser. The problem with the Merc is their entry level petrols are really nothing to write home about. I know with the low miles that diesel would be a slightly poorer choice, but I think he should test drive the new model S80 with the 2.4 diesel. I’d go with the E class over the A6, I never liked the looks of the A6.
But I’d certainly re-iterate the Lexus option, in particular the GS450h. With that you have a 3.5 litre engine with a hybrid, giving V8 performance, but with economy that actually will match the E class’s thirsty 4 cylinder. Autocar were surprised to report that they matched Lexus’s claimed 35mpg. And if you buy a 08 one, you get the benefit of €630 tax, around the same as a 07 E class. It’ll be more reliable, have more extras, more power and just as comfortable as the others.

+1 on the Lexus suggestion, I think they're a far better car than the press made them out to be (probably because there wasn't a German badge on the bonnet), plus they will be bulletproof, it is a Lexus after all.

cojomo2

captainspeed wrote: »

+1 on the Lexus suggestion, I think they're a far better car than the press made them out to be (probably because there wasn't a German badge on the bonnet), plus they will be bulletproof, it is a Lexus after all.

I agree but a 08 one is way outside the budget and tha tax on a pre 08 is a non runner..

Tea 1000

cojomo2 wrote: »

I agree but a 08 one is way outside the budget and tha tax on a pre 08 is a non runner..

E-Class then.

bazz26

How about a BMW 5 Series petrol?

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=613250718957000

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201149206020797

I think both cost in or around €660 to tax under the new system. Should be able to negotiate on the asking prices too as there is little or no market for these anymore. Everyone wants a diesel.

Bigcheeze

bazz26 wrote: »

How about a BMW 5 Series petrol?

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=613250718957000

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201149206020797

I think both cost in or around €660 to tax under the new system. Should be able to negotiate on the asking prices too as there is little or no market for these anymore. Everyone wants a diesel.

I think the 523i is under the old system.

That 523i has the same bhp as a 520D and presumably less torque. Would it still be better to drive than the 520D? I guess the 523i would sound nicer.....I love the sound of BMW petrol engines.

coylemj

cojomo2 wrote: »

When did the facelift model appear? He is looking at 06, 07 and 08's. Thanks

There are some late 06 post-facelift models about but most of them are 07 and later though I spotted a pre-facelift 07 in Grange Motors last Sunday.

The rear light cluster is the giveaway, the large clear section in the middle says this is a post-facelift, the pre-facelift cluster has a red band across the middle.

heate

The 450h won't take much in it trunk because is dissproportionally tiny in comparison to the rest of the car!
An E200k is not a bad purchase bit of poke 1.8l tax and there are plenty about buy a late enough model one with a good service history and you're laughing!
I Don't consider the A6 I be any use it's front wheel drive and the majority of Irish ones either have huge milage/no leather or are manual's and that doesn't say golf club to me! And that multitronic gearbox fitted wasn't exactly known for its reliability!
The Saab I would steer clear of until parts issue is nailed down!
A Volvo s80 is a fine car for purpose intended as well I would think. They're comfortable and their is a fine selection of engines available.
A 523i has a solid engine and the right spec with low miles would make a fine machine - prices are on the floor due to higher tax ad the 'desiarablilty' of the 520d