What car based on interior and quality of finish

frankyman

At an age now where car priorities have changed. Annual mileage about 10k, with space only required for herself and myself. Not too fussed with badge, age, look from the outside, tax, transmission or engine under the bonnet (only reliability).

However, limited to cost of up to 14k (but could be much lower, not that bothered) but importantly, a real nice cabin/interior. Leather a must, preferably, light colored, with a quality finish. Seem to find it hard to find this without going to the premium larger cars, pity, but that's okay, but don't really want anything too flash.

I looked at a Volvo S80 on a 08 plate today and thought it was nice.

Would appreciate some help not necessary only on above car, but interiors generally, what impresses you. What do you guys reckon I should consider ?

bmwguy

Audi generally considered to have the best interiors. It's subjective but since you said age not important there are any number of them available to you.

It's probably what sets the premium brands apart from the others to be honest. That and refinement.

Squeaksoutloud

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-v40-v40-d2-1-6l-115hp-se-5dr/15642383

Bit over budget but nice light coloured interior if that what you looking for. Not many cars that size with light leather.

drunkmonkey

Kids finally out of your hair? Sure why not www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2009-983571983515-dublin-fpa-8716850496664563497

frankyman

frankyman wrote: »

............. Annual mileage about 10k, with space only required for herself and myself. Not too fussed with badge, age, look from the outside, tax, transmission or engine under the bonnet (only reliability).

However, limited to cost of up to 14k (but could be much lower, not that bothered) but importantly, a real nice cabin/interior. Leather a must, preferably, light colored, with a quality finish. Seem to find it hard to find this without going to the premium larger cars, pity, but that's okay, but don't really want anything too flash.

I looked at a Volvo S80 on a 08 plate today and thought it was nice..............

If you are considering an S80 than surely a Lexus wouldn't be a stretch? .......... an S80 is a large enough bus.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-250-executive-auto/15553581






Or........

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-rx-400-hybrid-auto/15594009

Nuw

for interior quality feel and reliability it's hard to beat a lexus (any model really).

frankyman

After a day of scouring.....leaning towards a lexus IS.

But then come evening keep coming back to something like this :

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2010-bmw-3-series-318-se-aut-dublin-fpa-7294138537947805476

On the IS model Augeo posted above, I'm looking at €810 tax per year more on the IS versus the BMW. But BMW €3K more in price, and probably will depreciate much less over a few years. After mentioning in my opening post, tax etc, doesn't matter. All these factors are now playing on my mind.

How do you guys balance out these factors, assuming both these choices are indeed similiar in terms of comfort and reliability ?

ShadowHearth

frankyman wrote: »

After a day of scouring.....leaning towards a lexus IS.

But then come evening keep coming back to something like this :

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2010-bmw-3-series-318-se-aut-dublin-fpa-7294138537947805476

On the IS model Augeo posted above, I'm looking at €810 tax per year more on the IS versus the BMW. But BMW €3K more in price, and probably will depreciate much less over a few years. After mentioning in my opening post, tax etc, doesn't matter. All these factors are now playing on my mind.

How do you guys balance out these factors, assuming both these choices are indeed similiar in terms of comfort and reliability ?

You said you not fussed about tax and stuff? Yiu sure?

My advice would be get older lexus gs300 or gs450h, 06-07 year. It will cost you only 3-5k eu and the left over money will be enough for you to tax it a few years, take misses to a nice holiday, buy yourself a nice big tv etc.
Gs class lexus will out class those other cars by a mile. Deprication on it is tiny as,those cars are pretty much at the bottom.

In fairness, you should be perfect candidate for luxobarge. Check the thread here. Do maths and checl what you could actually drive for a lot less and a lot more luxurious.

Nuw

Between the bmw and the lex, the lex will be miles ahead in terms of reliability, the beamer will be better to drive... the best you can do is test drive both and see how you feel.

drunkmonkey

I think the BMW you've linked to is a nice clean one but it's still nearly 8yrs old so will require parts over the next few years regardless of mileage. Will you get 5k for it in 3yrs, you could stuggle. I'd be offering 11/12k it's not that quick a seller I'd say. A good car though with 12mt warranty, you couldn't go very wrong, offer 2k less and leave your phone number he might bite.
You can buy a 12mt warranty for that car for about €400 so don't let him convince you it's worth a fortune.

biko

Nuw wrote: »

the best you can do is test drive both and see how you feel.

This is it.

Take your time and go test drive several brands.
Make sure to test the cars on rough surfaces too so you can hear any creaks and squeaks.
Also look at Merc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lSeHspA_lY
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-c-class-executive-low-mileage-petrol/15831850

frankyman

Appreciate the comments and advice. Now have more to work with. Invaluable resource here thanks.

I bought my car almost exclusively based on the interior.

(well, that's not true, one drive by me, and I liked it a lot, so i went for a test drive, and that was when the interior stood out to me, and, for me personally, not a single other car I looked at could rival it and I think the same to this day, actually.. though its not often im in other cars anymore, so..).


I drive a 2009 Citroen C5. I adore the dashboard in it. Lack of cup holders is the downside. Upsides are the premium feel finish, all the buttons (I love a load of buttons, rather than the twisty dials for fans, etc. that look a bit fisher-price, in my opinion), digital display for speed, all the lighting around the rev gauge/speedo looks really crisp and clean, the nav (if you can get one with it) looks fantastic and the matte black kinda finish is really nice against the chrome and silver detailing.

Dashboard alone makes me want to keep the car forever.



(Google image, not my own car)



And my own actual car:

https://s9.postimg.org/eob7k3rxb/IMG_3503_2_small.jpg


I also think they're quite a sexy car on the outside, too. Everyone's different though.

I actually was in Citroen's showroom last year doing a few photos, and I took a mooch around a lot of their cars. Seems the C5 is the only one they went in that direction with. Everything else seemed back in fisher-price territory. Which was a pity.

kifi

The new Peugeot 3008

bren2002

kifi wrote: »

The new Peugeot 3008

No way. Had a hire one recently. Muck interior.

gyppo

Citroen DS5 with the watchstrap leather upgrade