Opinions Please

darragh o meara

OK im looking at getting a nice used high(ish) powered diesel. The current list I have in mind is:

Audi A6 3.0 tdi Quattro (Avant) 2004-2006
Audi A6 Allroad 2.5 Tdi 2002-2004
Bmw 530d touring New shape 2004-2006
Merc E320 cdi estate 2003-2006
All automatic

Can anybody who has experience of these cars offer any advice? In particular Im looking for bad points and things to look out for when buying them etc. Also if anyone has any of the above what kind of MPG are you getting from them? I know none of them are going to be 55mpg like im currently getting from the Passat but just to get a rough idea.

Cheers for any info Oh and before its mentioned I have driven the Skoda Octavia and the Octavia Scout and they are fine cars but the preference in that range is the scout which is outside my price range unfortunately.

Padraig Mor

I'd say the A6 3.0 Quattro and BMW 530d would be the pick of the bunch. The 2.5 TDI is pretty low powered IIRC (and the earlier generation?). Mercs of that vintage aren't exactly famed for their reliability.....

Tea 1000

I'd go with the 530d. The A6 of that era has a poor auto box, very lazy and also tends to eat itself at high mileage.
That era Merc has a mixed bag of reports on reliability, not sure if it applies to electronics or engines though, more research would be needed. They'd be more comfortable, but a bit wallowey.

listermint

Id got with 530 Also. Friend had an A6 and believe me the expense when the turbo went bust would bring tears.

I dont believe that model has the reliability of the 530 equivalent years. imo.

Tea 1000

listermint wrote: »

Id got with 530 Also. Friend had an A6 and believe me the expense when the turbo went bust would bring tears.

I dont believe that model has the reliability of the 530 equivalent years. imo.

They don't, most Audi's don't to be fair. But you're not allowed to admit that in VAG Ireland!

Leonard Hofstadter

Another vote for the 530d! What a car, it even sounds good for a diesel! Apparently they can top 50 mpg if you're very careful! Try and get one with a bit of spec though, leather (the real stuff not the fake "fusion" stuff), dual zone climate control, xenon lights, lumbar support, comfort or sports seats etc should be on the list. In fairness they're pretty well equipped apart from the lack of leather, but still go for the best spec you can find:)! M Sports look so much better than SEs but are uncomfortable unless you get rid of the run flat tyres.

darragh o meara

Looking like the 530 is gonna be the weapon of choice. As regards 50 mpg .. If I got near 40 I'd be a happy bunny

Did they all come with runflat tyres? Or is it just the sport model?

Padraig Mor

All E60 come with runflats IIRC, except M5 and M Sports running on 19" spiders. 40 mpg would be doubtful unless you're rarely off the motorway. More mid 30s I'd say.

darragh o meara

Padraig Mor wrote: »

All E60 come with runflats IIRC, except M5 and M Sports running on 19" spiders. 40 mpg would be doubtful unless you're rarely off the motorway. More mid 30s I'd say.

Even mid 30s would suit me fine. The last yoke I had with similar power only did 220kms to a full tank

él statutorio

darragh o meara wrote: »

Even mid 30s would suit me fine. The last yoke I had with similar power only did 220kms to a full tank

I can't speak for the touring but my dad has an 04 530D and on Motorway driving (I've taken it on a few Dublin to Cork runs) it'll do well over 40mpg.

That said, the mother has been driving it for the last year or so (up and down to Tesco) and the mpg around town is fairly crap.