Vehicle contract hire / personal contract purchase, etc...

Mondeo ST TDCi, 155bhp, cracking drive and bargain prices. Sod the badge, its a great car. I do 30k a year and have an Alfa 156 on the company but Im nearly certain I'll drop out come April when its due for a change.

 

The Skoda is vast. I've sat in several, and there is so much room in the back you could get agoraphobia. TBH the seats look further forward in the Merc. Look where the seats are compared to the B-pillars

 

greg - ignore the reports and test drive one.

I read the reports too.

As a driving experience, and in terms of interior design (and outside looks for that appeal) the IS220d is in my view leagues ahead of the competition.

Factor in MPG of about 48, and the fact that they 'just don't go wrong' and things look good.

It is true that space in the back isn't as good as the biggest out there - so if you have older kids it may not be the 1st choice, perhaps the 5 series beemer.

 

Until we have been in both cars, I guess we are just speculating! I know what car i'd rather be in though!

 

Not arguing over the S-class being a better car than the Skoda... Just that size-wise, the skoda is in between the 5 series/e/GS/A6/passat/mondeo group and the S/7/A8 ubersaloon group, closer to SWB versions of the latter. Significantly bigger than the 3/c/IS/A4 group, whilst undercutting all of the above on price.

 

Certainly the more basic Merc's have suffered from quality issues, though their handling has improved.

It's horses for courses I think. Mercs tend to glide, Audi's tend to sit somewhere between, Lexi (my dad's choice) tend to be cocoon like, Citroen's are arguably the most comfortable. BM's are probably the drivers choice in most cases, but are not necessarily the passenger's choice.

I was interested to read through the tech spec for the 520d. On paper underpowered, but of course great fuel economy, yet 50 - 70 in 4th 7 secs vs the 525i which is 7.9 secs. The 520d is a lot of car for the money. Shame about the hard wall tyres though.

 

Interesting you should say that, I love driving my beemer (320D old shape) but the missus hates being a passenger (she does like to drive it though).
I get a new car in Feb - cant decide between a Lexus IS220D and a new shape 320D. Sat in the Lexus (with Leather) and just felt supremely comfortable in a great looking car. Sat in a BMW 320D-M and just felt really well held in the great sports seats, but the car is no looker imho. Choices choices. Maybe I should hold on for the FreeLander2 as a leftfield choice?

 

A couple of mates have got 530 Sport's (one an i and the other a d).

As a passenger I've often ended up feeling car sick - something I hadn't experienced since I was a little kid. The M suspension option doesn't tend to be passenger friendly IME.

The new shape 3 series has grown on me (slowly), but I hate the rear light cluster with a passion.

 

Last time I felt car sick was in a BMW actually... E38 740iL on very twisty roads in the south of france. Other journeys (including 12 hour drive to/from south of france) in it are fine, but just on those twisting roads it got to me after a while.

Another car suggestion, of a much more left-field nature but I love them...

Chrysler 300C. £370pcm or so can get you the 3.0 CRD engined model, which is the same engine as the merc E320CDI. Chassis and gearbox are also derived from the E-class.

 

If it's any consolation, you won't see it while you are driving.

If you are thinking about the 3 series, I strongly recommend you test drive one before making up your mind, particularly if you are thinking of specifying sports suspension. The combination of sports suspension and run flat tyres (standard on all 3 series) causes a tremendous amount of tramlining. I understand that BMW have made a number of changes minimise this, but I'd still test drive first.

Otherwise I can recommend BMW whole-heartedly. You knew I would.

 

Sorry for my ignorance, what is tramlining?

I have sports susp on my current 3 series and yes it is hard, but I prefer it that way.

 

Tends to follow tramlines, cambers or other road surface irregularities.

Hard (though I'd say firm) is not the problem, being deflected off a set course is IMO. Perhaps yours has the latest mods. Mine was amongst the first few in the UK (a mistake I know).

 

Come to think of it I have had a few scary moments on 'well worn' motorways!

My only problem with my car (2004 bmw) is the drivers seat is crap. Thats why I'm looking at the M version this time around.

 

Test drive it first on a worn out motorway with grooves carved out by lorries.