Where would you go next...

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120009635#Comment_120009635

Looks better in motion than in pics, I think with the right spec it could be a nice car, merc need to do something about those big black plastic grills they have on all their evs though.

carsfan2

Was browsing through carzone this morning and once again amazed at the rise in price of new cars.

new phev version of Mercedes glc is 96k and c180 easily in the 60k plus range.

In my head a glc/x3/Q5 should be a 60k car and a c class merc 45 to50k. seems nuts to me and prices are rising much faster than inflation. I sound like a complete old fogey I know.

how are people funding new cars these days at these prices?

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120037594#Comment_120037594

I think this is part of the problem now, new cars are so ridiculously expensive that there are less being bought so less trade ins to be bought. Another issue coming in January will be the increased BIK rates. I know plenty of people with company cars who will be getting out of the as soon as they can as the tax is just too high.

Spark Plug

The plug in hybrid CLA (250e) increased from €52k to €65k at the beginning of October. The pricing of the C-Class is nuts compared to the 3-series with C180 in the mid-60s.

carsfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039085#Comment_120039085

Yeah I was amazed at the price of the Mercedes in general from what I remembered, although I have a BMW 330e that has gone up 13k since I bought it in 2021 albeit 5k of that is the elimination of the grant.

I just wonder where it’s going to end?

Wailin

Have the 540i up for sale. I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing but I think now is the time before the market dives for these cars. Absolutely love the car, best I've ever owned by a mile.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-540i-xdrive/33216810

bazz26

Looks great with those wheels. What are you thinking of replacing it with Wailin? It will be a challenge bettering it with what's available out there now I'd imagine.

Wailin

Thanks Bazz. I won't better it that's for sure. I'll be going back a few years to an estate with standard engine, more than likely. I've moved on from having this type of car and basically want something that I'm not too picky about if it gets scratched etc. The hobbies I have mean the car will just get manky, inside and out. So time to move it on.

digiman

Class car Wailin, I always wanted one of those, got very close to buying one in the North in 2019.

carsfan2

Best of luck with the sale Wailin, a beatiful car. One I always admired. I’d say you’re going to have no trouble selling it.

carsfan2

Did you take the 231 i4 you ordered Digiman?

CrowdedHouse

@Wailin That's a beauty almost unicorn level of rarity GLWS

digiman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239038#Comment_120239038

Yes, picked it up this week. While it’s really weird to me getting a new car that is exactly same shape as my own I do love all the extra bits I’m getting with it. So far glad I changed as crazy and non sensible that it was.

I’ve loved Tanzanite blue and have always wanted that colour, think it looks stunning and can’t wait to see it on sunny days!

It’s a disgrace really that comfort access is standard but I’m delighted to have that and the heated steering wheel back. Digital key is also really kinda handy and will save me bringing keys with me when running. One of the things I really missed from the Tesla.

I think the laser lights make a huge difference to the look of the car and love the blue accents of them against the tanzanite blue. Really sets it off. Having the auto lights and adaptive lights is also super handy and really love that when driving at night.

The sunroof is a nice to have, makes the cabin a lot brighter. Also when it’s tilted up gives the car a little bit more of an aggressive look.

I did miss the 360 cameras and the driving assistant was really really good while crawling along the m50 yesterday afternoon. Super glad to have these back in a car again.

All in all I’m delighted to finally get the car I ordered 17 months later!

carsfan2

17 months!

crazy timeline. Spec sounds amazing. Do you have 20” wheels on it too?

digiman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120257699#Comment_120257699

Yes, I like the look of the 20s and the extra width on the rear wheel arches. Happy to lose a little bit of efficiency for that.

Looking at a G42 220i M Sport with Metallic Paint at €53494.70 on the BMW configurator. Adding the M Sport Pro pack (listed at €3748.50) jumps the list by over 6k - anyone have any insight as to why this is? I had thought it was a VRT band jump due to to the wheels, but according to the configurator, the CO2 change is 144 -> 148 which is the same WLTP band.

carsfan2

https://www.completecar.ie/how_much_vrt_paid_ireland

It is the VRT. Band changes from 15 to 16.

Great country Ireland for buying cars

Ah, that explains it. I was looking at the motor tax bands... It's presumably the wheels that are jacking it up, wonder if you could spec them out?

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120262193#Comment_120262193

Jaysus, mad how a larger wheel can cause more emissions.

carsfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120262193#Comment_120262193

I doubt it. The packages are not put together for the small number of Irish buyers. I reckon you would need to spec the bits you want and it is possible to spec individually. It’s a pity. The 2 series coupe is a cracker of a car and the pro pack looks great.

bbari

Where would you go next....... IX or X5 50e.

I'm currently driving 2014 BMW F10 which I bought new and I still love it. Looking to upgrade and I'm torn between IX and the X5 50e which is due to be available in July.

My daily work commute is 30KM round trip (home to Dublin City Centre) and once a month I can have a round trip of 200KM. I drive about 12,000KM per year. Haven't been on a long family trip for the past 3/4 years but it can change. I don't have a heavy foot.

IX has an advertised range of 410KM. Perhaps it does about 300KM in winter and 380KM-400KM in summer. It is full of technology (HK audio, drive assist, parking assist etc...). I feel its not a lot of mileage for a c.€100K car.

X5 50e has an advertised range of 110KM and perhaps it can do my 3 days of commute when I'm travelling to Dublin office and once a month, on my 200KM trip, it will cover 1 way trip on battery and the return trip on ICE which is 3L 6 cylinder engine. Perhaps it does 10L/100KM when its on ICE only. I watched Harry's Garage video where he'd driven 10K miles on 45e. His dislikes were slow charging speed of 3.8 (this is now fixed on 50E) and thirsty 3L ICE.

Running cost differential isn't huge. I'll save €500-€600 per year if I've an IX and perhaps X5 fuel bill will be same as F10 if I do 50% on EV and 50% on ICE.

IX will cost about €95K and X5 will cost another €10K if I spec it up a bit to bring on par (partially) with IX. it will be my 1st Hybrid/PHEV/BEV and 1st SUV.

i5 and A6 eTron are to be released at the end of this year also but I guess those will be around €90K.

My head tells my one thing (IX) and heart tells me other (X5)....

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120315411#Comment_120315411

They are both massive heavy SUV’s but if you buy the X5 at least you won’t have to look at the IX every day.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120315411#Comment_120315411

I'd check real world range on the x5 battery,

To be honest i would normally recommend a full eV over a hybrid but the ix has not grown on me at all and the x5 is a handsome suv.

What about a q8 Etron?

bbari

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120315684#Comment_120315684

X5 isn't out yet that's why you can't check the real world range figures but based on the 45e figures, it will do 80km to 90km.

I'm kind of familiar with BMWs and didn't consider Audi at all.

carsfan2

Assuming you can plug in every night at home, you would never use the engine on the x5 on your daily commute. You’d never suffer range anxiety on longer trips either and if you like combustion engines, the 3.0 unit in the x5 is a peach.

on the other hand the iX is cheaper and more avant- garde looking. You’ll have no bother day to day but range on longer trips may be an issue for you.

looks are subjective but the x5 is a better looking car to me.

the x5 is a face lift so probably will be replaced in three years whereas the iX will be around a lot longer. If you’re planning to keep this car as long as your last that may be irrelevant.

have you thought of the new polestar 3 at all? Much better range than iX and fully loaded for 100k.

Theboinkmaster

Easy - x5 to me. Much much better car

bbari

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120316526#Comment_120316526

Yes, I can charge at home every night. Even if I charge every 2nd/3rd night, i can still manage to use X5 as an EV.

If IX had a longer range or if the X5 current model was going to last for another 4/5 year, it would have been easier to decide. X5 is certainly a better looking. I make up and change my mind every day :(

User1998

It becomes quite the chore having to charge your car everyday. I would go with the iX. Looks are subjective but I think it makes the X5 look quite dated.

bbari

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120319179#Comment_120319179

Yes, X5 would be a 2023 model of an old shape when the IX would be an avant garde, as carsfan2 said it above.

carsfan2

Have you driven the iX or current model x5? If not I would suggest you do and see what you think.