chrisp65 Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 13 hours ago, stegzy said: Thinking about getting a 2013 onwards Mercedes E350 estate. Does anyone own one and have any advise on them?. I have been looking for ones with the Harmon Kardon soundsystem (which narrows down the options a lot) as my Mum has a 2007 E class and the standard soundsystem in that is shocking but would be interested to know if the later models are ok. My specialist niche subject has come up! 2007 Mercedes stereos! For a fact, the standard stereo in a 2007 A, B or C class sounds awful when you get to compare it with any of the upgraded Mercedes systems. I suspect they were trying to push people in to buying an option as the difference is so great. I don't know the E class, but it would follow that they did the same. I've driven a couple of newer (2015/16) C class and the standard stereo has been perfectly acceptable, but still not as good as an older car with an upgrade, if that makes any sense. At one point I was driving a new (2015) C class with an AMG stick on upgrade pack at the same time as a standard 2007 C class with an upgraded stereo. The 2007 stereo was a world better. The suspension set up was also a world better on the older car too, but apparently we all want to feel 'sporty' now. Where 'sport' simply means no shock absorbers on shitty british roads. --- Now, if someone can just ask about engine mods to 1971 1300cc VW Beetles I'll have had a great day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenm Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Back onto my Ateca for a minute, the 'best gearbox in the world eva' DSG is crap. Utterly unpredictable when moving forwards or backwards slowly. To the point of dangerous as it can suddenly lurch. The rest of the car is pretty ordinary and just shows that all you need to do to win best car awards is to have hard suspension that allows car journalists to go fast round A rounds. Pleased I only went for a 2 year lease so I can go back to a hybrid or hopefully full EV by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegzy Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 15 hours ago, Tegis said: I had a E-class 2015 with the standard sound-system (or at least it wasn't a HK one) and that was pretty good. Definitely not anywhere near levels of one getting annoyed by it. I guess if you want to play some hiphoppy base intense stuff at ridiculous levels it will show a weakness but thats not for me. Should be an easy test though, just bring your own cassette. What is a Cassette? I do enjoy the hiphoppy baselines myself and the only time I can really enjoy them is in the car so it is quite important for me. How was the car overall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tegis Posted December 21, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted December 21, 2017 Just now, stegzy said: What is a Cassette? I do enjoy the hiphoppy baselines myself and the only time I can really enjoy them is in the car so it is quite important for me. How was the car overall? In that case, don't skimp on it. We all have that thing that makes the car ours. For me it's a wide seat and heated steering-wheel. I loved the car, a big comfy barge, just the way I like em. I'm not very partial to small, hard and sporty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegzy Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 8 hours ago, chrisp65 said: My specialist niche subject has come up! 2007 Mercedes stereos! For a fact, the standard stereo in a 2007 A, B or C class sounds awful when you get to compare it with any of the upgraded Mercedes systems. I suspect they were trying to push people in to buying an option as the difference is so great. I don't know the E class, but it would follow that they did the same. I've driven a couple of newer (2015/16) C class and the standard stereo has been perfectly acceptable, but still not as good as an older car with an upgrade, if that makes any sense. At one point I was driving a new (2015) C class with an AMG stick on upgrade pack at the same time as a standard 2007 C class with an upgraded stereo. The 2007 stereo was a world better. The suspension set up was also a world better on the older car too, but apparently we all want to feel 'sporty' now. Where 'sport' simply means no shock absorbers on shitty british roads. --- Now, if someone can just ask about engine mods to 1971 1300cc VW Beetles I'll have had a great day. Thank you Chrisp. I think my mums might be 2006 actually so maybe they’re better now but I was expecting a lot more from a luxury car as my 2007 Passatt with standard stereo is twice as good and I also have a Discovery with Harman Kardon and it is beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegzy Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 4 minutes ago, Tegis said: In that case, don't skimp on it. We all have that thing that makes the car ours. For me it's a wide seat and heated steering-wheel. I loved the car, a big comfy barge, just the way I like em. I'm not very partial to small, hard and sporty. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Finally get my A3 on Xmas Eve. Looking forward to it. I will miss my BMW though - there is something refreshing about driving an old banger (its 18 years old!) and not being bothered if you ding it. Only today, someone tried to cut in on me and bully me to let him in - sorry professor cockwomble, i'm not moving and will happily drive into you if you don't back off! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 First impressions when driving the A3 - it is rapid! blows the 2.8 BMW out the water. I'm going to have to be careful with it as it is so quick off the line. More importantly got my Spotify connected via Bluetooth! No more cassettes or crackly FM radio for me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mottaloo Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 2 hours ago, Xela said: First impressions when driving the A3 - it is rapid! blows the 2.8 BMW out the water. I'm going to have to be careful with it as it is so quick off the line. More importantly got my Spotify connected via Bluetooth! No more cassettes or crackly FM radio for me! What's it's dogging capabilities like ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 2 minutes ago, mottaloo said: What's it's dogging capabilities like ? Well its not wipe clean leather like the beamer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Suggestions please... In the market for a car. Decided to buy a used car, after considering leasing a new car (decided not to in the end though). Not after anything too flash, and have a budget of £4k, pushing to £6k if it's worth paying a bit extra. Looking for something which is mostly going to be a run around in a town, with occasional motorway use. Needs to be roomy, and ideally no bigger than a 1.6ltr engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenm Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 36 minutes ago, dAVe80 said: Suggestions please... In the market for a car. Decided to buy a used car, after considering leasing a new car (decided not to in the end though). Not after anything too flash, and have a budget of £4k, pushing to £6k if it's worth paying a bit extra. Looking for something which is mostly going to be a run around in a town, with occasional motorway use. Needs to be roomy, and ideally no bigger than a 1.6ltr engine. Auris hybrid https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712242261311?advertising-location=at_cars&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=wr49sr&model=AURIS&sort=price-asc&page=2&make=TOYOTA&fuel-type=Hybrid&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 0 tax, comfy, will never break, easy to drive, economical, quiet, smooth, nippy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 3 hours ago, darrenm said: Auris hybrid https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712242261311?advertising-location=at_cars&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=wr49sr&model=AURIS&sort=price-asc&page=2&make=TOYOTA&fuel-type=Hybrid&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 0 tax, comfy, will never break, easy to drive, economical, quiet, smooth, nippy. Something like that is certainly worth considering, although at the top of my range price wise. Ideally I wanting to have enough left over in my budget to pay my insurance off in one go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Avoid anything that you haven't heard of, there's a reason nobody has an Aixam or a Proton or a SsangYong. Avoid the French. Avoid Fiat. Avoid Alpha. After that you should be fine. If you like driving like a complete tube because you're actually an as yet undiscovered nascar hero, consider an Audi. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenm Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 21 minutes ago, dAVe80 said: Something like that is certainly worth considering, although at the top of my range price wise. Ideally I wanting to have enough left over in my budget to pay my insurance off in one go. I'm sure you can find them a bit cheaper. Private should be a fair bit lower just make sure you get one with a hybrid health check in date. Batteries degrade over use rather than time but those Panasonic ni-mh batteries are very well protected by the system and Prius's do 2 or 300k on them as taxis. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 7 hours ago, dAVe80 said: Suggestions please... In the market for a car. Decided to buy a used car, after considering leasing a new car (decided not to in the end though). Not after anything too flash, and have a budget of £4k, pushing to £6k if it's worth paying a bit extra. Looking for something which is mostly going to be a run around in a town, with occasional motorway use. Needs to be roomy, and ideally no bigger than a 1.6ltr engine. Audi A3 - you should be able to get a 2008 or 2009 for £5k. Wide range of engines and while not a huge car, it certainly is very roomy inside and boot is a good size. I've never been bothered about having a new car - i'd rather have good quality used one, even if its 5-10 years old. Just today said goodbye to my 18 year old BMW 328 coupe - a great servant! I've had my A3 a week and very impressed. It is extremely well built. Plenty of other options available in the VAG range (Seat, VW, Skoda) - I don't think you can go wrong there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted January 2, 2018 Moderator Share Posted January 2, 2018 What Alex and Darren said, really - Toyota or VAG car - they're all well made, and meet your requirements on price and size etc. In the price range you've said, I'd probably go for a Toyota, though maybe not the 1.8 hybrid model, but that's purely personal preference. You could also do a lot worse than something like a Ford Focus - nice to drive, loads of dealers and parts are readily available..etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 3 minutes ago, Xela said: Audi A3 - you should be able to get a 2008 or 2009 for £5k. Wide range of engines and while not a huge car, it certainly is very roomy inside and boot is a good size. I've never been bothered about having a new car - i'd rather have good quality used one, even if its 5-10 years old. Just today said goodbye to my 18 year old BMW 328 coupe - a great servant! I've had my A3 a week and very impressed. It is extremely well built. Plenty of other options available in the VAG range (Seat, VW, Skoda) - I don't think you can go wrong there. My mate said I should look at A6s. Seen a fairly decent one already. A little older than I wanted, and had 128k on the clock, but it'd had parts replaced recently, and reckons it'd be good for another 60k miles, before it needed much doing to it. At the bottom end of my price range too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 5 minutes ago, blandy said: What Alex and Darren said, really - Toyota or VAG car - they're all well made, and meet your requirements on price and size etc. In the price range you've said, I'd probably go for a Toyota, though maybe not the 1.8 hybrid model, but that's purely personal preference. You could also do a lot worse than something like a Ford Focus - nice to drive, loads of dealers and parts are readily available..etc. I've had a Mark 1 Focus before, and agree they're decent motors. Nowt wrong with them, but wouldn't mind something different. I'll defo have a look at Toyotas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 2 minutes ago, dAVe80 said: My mate said I should look at A6s. Seen a fairly decent one already. A little older than I wanted, and had 128k on the clock, but it'd had parts replaced recently, and reckons it'd be good for another 60k miles, before it needed much doing to it. At the bottom end of my price range too. A6? That's a lot of car for a town run around! I used to have a Merc C-Class and that is a lot of car for not a lot of money now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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