Go for biggest and best if you can afford it. S-class may be rated as best car in the world, but way too common on the streets. Get something that most folks don't have.
I would say Lexus LS430, only because the refinement is sublime and it pampers it's occupants. You can get it serviced at an independent Lexus specialist, a few here and there now.
However, right now, my advice would be to test drive an S8. If you thought the standard A8 was nice, the S8 will blow your mind. Think 4 door Porsche with a nice interior. It's so smooth and quiet too (double glazed windows). When driving it, it handles so well, it feels like you are driving a 3 series. The S8 is discreet too, with no flashy badges either.
My friend had a meeting with Audi marketing recently, and the guy who used to be in charge of marketing for A8s told him a story about how solid the cars were. A8 in traffic got hit by a lorry on Regent Street from behind, threw the A8 forward into a Jaguar XK8. Lorry and XK8 both had significant damage, A8 had minor damage only. The aluminum bodyshell is far stronger than steel when it comes to absorbing impact.
I only didn't buy one because at my budget of 10k, there were mostly dodgy cars available.
Let us know what you end up with, and whether our collective ramblings helped you!
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>>Please don't suggest a Mondeo/Renault/Vauxhall, been there, done that!
>>
So why oh why oh why consider a Primera of all things?
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I'd go for the A8 - your budget should stretch to a newer car than a 99/00 though - they are not easy cars to sell. Friend of mine gave away his X reg A8 3.7 Quattro for 9.5k - it has about 65k on the clock, silver, full spec inc. satnav, was in mint condition and had full Audi history. Advertised it everywhere for 2 months and that was the only offer he had.
The 3.7 seemed to have more than enough grunt and was surprisingly economical - did about 24mpg which isn't half bad for a V8 - do you really need the 4.2 if you find a 3.7 in the right spec?
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Steady on guys. A Primera may not be in the same class as an A8 or S class but to say it has no class is not exactly objective.
As always its horses for courses and all I would say is don't knock it till you've tried it.
Through a broker £14K will see a brand new Primera T Spec with all the toys and reliability you could ever want.
As it happens, although I own one (albeit SVE spec) I agree that its neither the best looking car orthe one with the most class but it is a hell of a lot of car for the money (and safe (ish)).
I do hoever quite enjoy pointing at BMW & MB owners and laughing at how much they've paid for the badge!
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Am I allowed to suggest a nearly new 156GTA at that price, or will I get hounded out of the thread?
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Ah, such nice guys you all are. *grin*
Well.
Primera. RF, you're right - it doesn't stand shoulder to shoulder with the others. But my way of thinking was exactly as tyre tread said - LOTS of toys for your money. As it happens, Mrs Dipstick and I went looking this morning, and we both quickly dismissed the Primera when we saw it, sat in it, prodded at it. It just wasn't IT for us. Shame, but there we go.
We then went to the Honda showroom and LIKED the look of the Accord, LIKED the equipment, LIKED the build - and hated the ride. Talk about jolts! We swapped teeth three times before the traffic lights. No. I asked the salesguy afterwards whether this one had sports suspension - no, standard, was his reply. (I thought him an excellent saleman btw - I said the ride was rough as old boots on the A14, to which without missing a beat he said "Ah yes, sir, but which way along it did you go?". I *think* he was implying it was my fault for picking a lumpy bit of road...hmmm. Made me smile anyway).
Reps' kind Volvo S80 suggestion was off the wall, and unthought of, and in fact we saw one this morning next to the Nissan, which was lucky. Had a sit, little play, stalked around it - Mrs D liked it, I wasn't taken. Perfectly...nice. Next!
Roger's little essay on Mercs was MOST useful, and the S class has to be tried.
Lots of you say yes, go for the Lexus LS, and lots say the A8 (or S8!) is a goer. Nobody is saying Jag, and I think that really it's not quite right for us, don't know why.
So - I'm going to find an S-class to try this week, and then pick one of those three - Lex, Merc, Audi. I'll report back to a assembled throng when progress is made...
As young Mr Grace always said "You've all done very well".
Thank you all immensely for letting me think out loud in this way.
Hurrah, almost a decision! What? An ALFA? Here we go again...*logs on to eBay...*
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Dipstick,
that wouldn't be the Kettering Honda dealer would it by any chance (as you mentioned the A14)? If so, where are you as we may be quite close - Geographically I mean and I may know of an S class for sale by a private owner who has looked after it!
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tyre tread, that sounds very interesting! Perhaps if one of the mods would be good enough to give you my email address we could continue that line of thought and not bother other folks with it?
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'My friend had a meeting with Audi marketing recently, and the guy who used to be in charge of marketing for A8s told him a story about how solid the cars were. A8 in traffic got hit by a lorry on Regent Street from behind, threw the A8 forward into a Jaguar XK8. Lorry and XK8 both had significant damage, A8 had minor damage only. The aluminum bodyshell is far stronger than steel when it comes to absorbing impact.'
/Cynic mode on
Audi A8 Marketing manager, singing praise in a story of A8 - against rival manufacturer Jaguar and a truck.
/Cynic mode off
Sorry - couldn't help it, marketing types always set of the bull detector in me...
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Early current shape Mercedes S320.
Best luxury car in the world? Almost certainly.
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