Roygarth

'Er indoors needs an estate - daughter number 3 has arrived!

I've decided on a low mileage 1 year old secondhand diesal estate, either Audi A6 2.5TDi, BMW 525D, or Merc diesel.

My own view is that Audi are tops on build quality these days and should hold value better.

I realise this is off topic but does anyone have any views on this?

Thanks in advance!
Piers
PS Yes I know i should buy her a 15 year old Volvo and upgrade my 964 to a Turbo but.......!

eion

Not 1 year old, but what about an Audi RS/2? A P-reg can be had for under £20k, they shouldn't depreciate terribly, they're very comfortable inside (proper estate), and they're quick. Not as quick as the newer RSs, but it's a lot cheaper, and it's still got a lot of Porsche in there.

Roygarth

[quote]Originally posted by eion:
<strong>Not 1 year old, but what about an Audi RS/2? A P-reg can be had for under £20k, they shouldn't depreciate terribly, they're very comfortable inside (proper estate), and they're quick. Not as quick as the newer RSs, but it's a lot cheaper, and it's still got a lot of Porsche in there.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Eion
What are you doing up at this time - 3am!! But the RS/2 is not as big as an A6?
BR
Piers

George Stevens

Piers

All are good competent cars, my choice would be a E320 CDI in Avantguard trim.

They look lovely in silver with 17" AMG alloys

I have just changed my three year old C240 sport estate and it was a great comfortable workhorse, no other car eats up miles like a merc.

Adrian

Dear Eion,
An Audi RS2 is a high performance very family unfriendly auto. 315HP, terrible ride comfort. 2.1 litre highly tuned turbocharged engine. A long way from a TDi. I have never heard anyone say a RS2 is comfortable. In fact the latest RS6 got heavily marked down for ride comfort as did the RS4 before it.
The RS2 is so rare (only between 2000 and 25000 were built) spares are hard to find an expensive and I bet the insurance rates are very high as well. They are here in Switzerland for such a vehicle.
I guess all this says that I would never recommend such a sports vehicle to the family man.
The RS2 also has a couple of problems with handling as well but they come from a purely personal point of view of course.
For the record the Audi A6 would be my choice.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

eion

I've never *driven* an RS/2 (I was far too young to drive when they came out), but I've been in one for several hundred miles. It certainly compared favourably with, say, my parents Camry (my 964 is the only car I've ever had). Leather seats, quiet inside, a nice stereo, roomy boot (not compared to other bigger estates like a Volvo, but it isn't a Volvo, either :¬). Like I say, I've never driven it, so I can't comment on handling, but as a passenger it certainly felt nice.

Obviously if I were you I'd listen to Adrian's advice, but if I needed an estate I'd get some kind of Audi RS.

(Up at this time of night talking to friends in the UK).

Roygarth

[quote]Originally posted by George Stevens:
<strong>Piers

All are good competent cars, my choice would be a E320 CDI in Avantguard trim.

They look lovely in silver with 17" AMG alloys

I have just changed my three year old C240 sport estate and it was a great comfortable workhorse, no other car eats up miles like a merc.</strong><hr></blockquote>

George
If looks were the only criteria I'd go for the E320 CDi, I agree it looks the part - esp. with the AMG alloys! But what's your view on Merc build quality? My wifes N reg C200 saloon is very badly built. We've got a bag of black plastic interior bits, they occasionally appear on the floor of the car!

Thanks
Piers

GaryN

Hi Piers,
I would go with the BM. in my opinion they have the best build quality out of the 3. The Merc is for pensioners!!

Cheers

Gary <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" />

Adrian

Dear Eion,
I am afraid that 315 to 450HP bolted into what is just an Audi 80 Avant or A4 Avant is not my idea of a family car. Now I have had RS4s go past me at very high speed on the autobahn with three kids in the back. This is not what I call responsible family driving. However that is just me.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

George Stevens

[quote] what's your view on Merc build quality? My wifes N reg C200 saloon is very badly built. We've got a bag of black plastic interior bits, they occasionally appear on the floor of the car!
<hr></blockquote>

Piers

I think they are all now very similar, my Merc was pretty good although I had some suprising niggly little problems over three years of ownership, my previous BMW 325 tds touring was perfect, not a thing broke or went wrong in three years and 100,000 miles.

Mecs seem to be like all other cars now, built to a price, so they can include lots of fancy gadgets. great for the new car buyer, but I would prefer a three year old car with real build integrity rather than dampened cup holders!!!!

I have just taken delivery of a new BMW 330 Ci convertible today and I am very impressed with the build quality, however the acid test will be the condition in 4 years time!!

I like the 5 series touring but as a credible load lugger like the 3 series touring it lacks real space.

The A6 has a crap FWD chassis and lifeless steering and dubious bumperless styling.

So really the E class is probably the best bet, or as a wild card, how about a C43 AMG estate, they are now suffering some terminal depreciation so are available 3 years old for about 35% of the new cost.

joey bagadonuts

What the hell's an estate?

George Stevens

[quote] What the hell's an estate? <hr></blockquote>

1. A country house with 200 acres

2, A station-wagon

3, A development of houses built just after the war by the local council where some residents don't buy their own cars, they just take other peoples!

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by George Stevens:
<strong>

1. A country house with 200 acres

2, A station-wagon

3, A development of houses built just after the war by the local council where some residents don't buy their own cars, they just take other peoples!</strong><hr></blockquote>

LOL <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by GaryN:
<strong>Hi Piers,
I would go with the BM. in my opinion they have the best build quality out of the 3. The Merc is for pensioners!!

Cheers

Gary </strong><hr></blockquote>

No offence but - based on my experiences - I don't agree.

I sold my 3 series cab in 2001 and while I liked the car (and remember this is a $45-50k car), the build quality was nothing to write home about. Lots of warranty and service work took the edge off a good drivers car.

Even my brother-in-laws $30k Passat station wagon seems better built and he has had better reliability.

<img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" />

Roygarth

I had an German Volkswagen engineer (retired last year) in my office last week. FWIW His view on the 'German Build Quality League' was as follows:

1st Porsche
2nd Audi
3rd VW (models vary, some come 4th with BMW/Merc)
4th Merc & BMW

I realise the above is simplistic but it was his quick summing up.

George, with ref. to the A6, it's the 2.5 TDi Quattro (180BHP)SE with Sportpack. Agree FWD only would be lame!

BR
Piers