E350 Avantgarde Saloon

Fantastic car. Almost automotive perfection.

Bought in August 2013, sold in April 2018.

Pros:
Very comfortable.
Very easy to drive despite the big powerful engine.
Excellent turning circle.
Great driving position and visibility.
Surprisingly cheap parts, even from main dealer.
Quiet and refined.
Excellent interior with soft touch surfaces.
Practical for a saloon (with rear seats folded down it would take 2 metre lengths easily).
Reliable, and any little fixes were very easy DIY.
Smooth V6 engine.

Cons:
Not cheap to run. Average 22mpg and £500+ VED.
Regular servicing expensive (new wishbones every 50k, new control arms every 70k, etc. Yes, this meant the ride was impeccable as a result, but an expensive undertaking).
Worst problem by a mile... the 7G automatic gearbox. Slow witted. Wants to use as higher gear as possible and doesn't like changing down. That meant that sometimes going uphill I'd have to really put the accelerator all the way to the floor before it changed down gears and got a move on. Meanwhile, the Toyota Aygo in front has zoomed off into the distance and the Ford Fiesta behind is sitting up the boot, willing me to get a move on. By far the worst part of the car, especially if you live in a hilly area (I lived in Devon, so lots of hills).

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