New Estate car

[Boddie]

I am up for a new estate car and have a choice of

BMW 3 series
Audi A4 Avant
Merc - very unlikely again
Volvo V70

All of my colleagues that drive the Volvo reckon that its by far the best.

Whilst a nice motor, I have found that Mercedes service to be shocking and definitely would not get another.

I know little about the Audi, and my girlfriend has the beemer.

Anybody got any advice? Fuel costs etc are irrelavant. Really looking for comfort and performance

[Za]

His`n`hers Beemers would be nice!
You could have BODDIE BIRD and BIRD BODDIE it would look soooooo cool on the windscreens!!
Za

[matt_xyz]

the advantage of the Volvo would be that people think it's an unmarked police car and get out of your way in the fast lane of the motorway I know I always get out of their way anyway, I've seen several unmarked Volvos around the midlands.

I think I'd go for the Audi, but that's the only one of the 3 that I've driven. Very nice it was.

Matt

[almostnormal]

Originally Posted by Boddie

I am up for a new estate car and have a choice of

BMW 3 series
Audi A4 Avant
Merc - very unlikely again
Volvo V70

All of my colleagues that drive the Volvo reckon that its by far the best.

Whilst a nice motor, I have found that Mercedes service to be shocking and definitely would not get another.

I know little about the Audi, and my girlfriend has the beemer.

Anybody got any advice? Fuel costs etc are irrelavant. Really looking for comfort and performance

ok, drawing on my very in depth knowledge of cars...

if you want the car to last forever, get good service and be comfy, i'd go with the audi, although i'd also suggest going with a diesel version if they do one (which i can't remeber of the top of my head) as audi diesel engines have been known to go 3 or 4 times round the clock.

if you want to get good safety and service go with the volvo, although i'd say they were less reliable and much less comfy.

avoid the merc - over priced and over rated.

beamer....hmm...the 3 series is ok, but its not all that comfy on long journeys and they are not as reliable.

so on the whole i'd go with the audi personally...but test drive the three that aren't the merc, see which one feels best to you.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by almostnormal

ok, drawing on my very in depth knowledge of cars...

if you want the car to last forever, get good service and be comfy, i'd go with the audi, although i'd also suggest going with a diesel version if they do one (which i can't remeber of the top of my head) as audi diesel engines have been known to go 3 or 4 times round the clock.

if you want to get good safety and service go with the volvo, although i'd say they were less reliable and much less comfy.

avoid the merc - over priced and over rated.

beamer....hmm...the 3 series is ok, but its not all that comfy on long journeys and they are not as reliable.

so on the whole i'd go with the audi personally...but test drive the three that aren't the merc, see which one feels best to you.

I dont think price is a factor for bods

ive driven all of these except the merc and personally I'd go for the audi as first choice with the volvo second - there is nothing in herently wrong with the boomer - but make sure is the 320 or higher as the 316 and 318 are distinctly lacking in poke

tho that said if i had a free choice given your hobbies i'd go for a posh 4x4 instead like a X5 or freelander/disco

[almostnormal]

Originally Posted by eeyore

tho that said if i had a free choice given your hobbies i'd go for a posh 4x4 instead like a X5 or freelander/disco

nooo.....they have terrible reliability problems...if you're gonna get a 4x4 it has to be for off roading and therefore a defender, otherwise you get all sorts of issues. for example, tyre wear on the outsides of the tyres on x5's and x3's is horrific, and means that you have to change your tyres more often than you should. if you want all wheel drive though boddie, have a look at the suburu estates and saab estates (zero street cred and not as good as the audi) both have reasonable drivability and the saab has fantastic seats.

[Fourwings]

I'd go for the A4 personally pal, its the only one on the list that I have driven and it handled like a dream.
Poise, prescision, comfort, power etc... its pretty much got the whole package

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by almostnormal

nooo.....they have terrible reliability problems...if you're gonna get a 4x4 it has to be for off roading and therefore a defender, otherwise you get all sorts of issues. for example, tyre wear on the outsides of the tyres on x5's and x3's is horrific, and means that you have to change your tyres more often than you should. if you want all wheel drive though boddie, have a look at the suburu estates and saab estates (zero street cred and not as good as the audi) both have reasonable drivability and the saab has fantastic seats.

Personally money no object I'd go with a G wagon or a mitsu L200 animal or warrior - but I guess bods needs are different to mine

back to the original choices, one "advantage" of the volvo is ( I think) its seating capacity is a bit higher - handy for wab meets

[Boddie]

This is interesting as none of my colleagues said take the Audi and all those who have had one have converted.

I am to take the advantage of Volvos unaccompanied test drive and take the D5 for a spin at the weekend. My colleague has the beemer, so I will take that off him for a week as G, who had the Audi, dropped it for the beamer.

Another colleague who has the beamer said he wished he had stayed with the Volvo, and the Volvo drivers would not entertain anything else.

I cant fault the Merc but the service is shocking with poor loan cars. The ride is good and it handles superbly.

That said however, a cabbie once told me that drivers never let beamer drivers out of junctions and he recommended the Audi, but then he was driving a Toyota.

I know what you mean about Volvos Matt

[eeyore]

one disadvantage of the boomer 3 series is that it is a real typical "rep made good" car - its like having a badge thats says "I used to drive a mondeo but I met my targets this year"

this is particularly true of the lowered powered versions.

my experience of the volvo was that it the steering was heavier than the audi and (as an auto) not quite as responsive unless driven with a lead foot - also it suffered a bit from turbo lag on hills - tho this was a few years back so they may have fixed the glitches by now.

[Mr Mag00]

i drive an A4, 176000 on the clock, costs very little to run parts wise so far and getting 50mpg.

[Gytrash]

I can only tell you what my wealthy customers have said, 'cos I'm a gardener and could never afford any of these models...

None of them ever complained about their Beemer.
Audi are what a lot of my customers are driving after becoming dissatisfied with recent Mercs build quality, and their crumby customer service.
Volvos just seem to be having too many complicated electrical problems.

So there you have it!
Get the Audi!




Cheers
Dave

[nightshade]

I have driven the 2.5 automatic Audi (diesel)and was very impressed
Look at the estates rear door see what sticks out in the way, if anything,
fit a towbar to increase its versatility

[Gill Catton]

Get the volvo if/ when you have kids, its a bit of a dad's car if you know what I mean....

[AnnMercia]

ello - i have a bmw 3 series, and have never had any problems. the service at the garages are brilliant - you even get free coffee and biccies! also you get a choice of really good insurance and breakdown cover for the first year or so if you buy new, and lots of money off things/offers etc

plus the balance on a bmw and the drive is fab - although be warned it is rear wheel drive so might not be good on those muddy tracks in the rain - or infact on hills in the ice etc

[mrs fish]

I vote for a metallic green Audi

[nightshade]

Audi, British Racing Green (white stripe optional) don't forget the tow bar

[nightshade]

Sooo,what did you get then?

[Boddie]

Am having to wait as a possible promotion means I can upgrade to 5 series, E class etc. Should find out tomorrow so will make a decision based on that

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by Boddie

This is interesting as none of my colleagues said take the Audi and all those who have had one have converted.

I am to take the advantage of Volvos unaccompanied test drive and take the D5 for a spin at the weekend. My colleague has the beemer, so I will take that off him for a week as G, who had the Audi, dropped it for the beamer.

Another colleague who has the beamer said he wished he had stayed with the Volvo, and the Volvo drivers would not entertain anything else.

I cant fault the Merc but the service is shocking with poor loan cars. The ride is good and it handles superbly.

That said however, a cabbie once told me that drivers never let beamer drivers out of junctions and he recommended the Audi, but then he was driving a Toyota.

I know what you mean about Volvos Matt

Hey Andrew Jackie and I met you in her old Volvo I find it very comfie and Jackie says its reliable and a good workhorse.If anyone dares to bump into one they come of the worse
make sure its got heating in the seats warms your btm up no end on a cold wet day out.We should know after meeting you on Dartmoor that time

[Interpreter]

If you have kids to take to skool it has to be the 4wd.

Try to find a bigger one, if you can, and forget about what comes out of the back. Let's face it, it is only other people's cars that have the B I G carbon footprint. Have you considered on of the new Australian Vauxhalls? Six litre. 18.5 mpg around town. 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds for the six speed manual. A real city car.

[Boddie]

I quite fancy the Monaro actually. They are very fast indeed. I find the 135 mph my Merc gives me a tad pedestrian.

But I can see myself getting the 5 series if it is a possibility. 155 should do it.

Cant have my girlfriend in a faster car than me and she got the top of the range Golf on Friday and is giving it a good seeing to on the M74 as we speak.

[Jez]

Venison and plush cars!. I'm living in a ses pitt and if i'm lucky once a biennal i'd get chips after my father cuts me and my 600 brothers into quarters with a butter knife for being good. Times are hard

[Boddie]

I haven't had venison for at least a week now.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Boddie

I haven't had venison for at least a week now.

Ses pitt talk my 365 brother tells me he must be stagnent hey?