New Wheels and Towbar

[Glync]

Originally Posted by kiforrest

Thanks GlynC. Your comments echoed my concerns. I do circa 19-23k miles per year and one think I hate is odd problems, rattles and general poor build/reliability.

I had a standard XF from the lease company whilst the current BMW was in for electrical issues for 3 weeks and liked it - but it felt more Mondeo than exec inside. The Nav was awful! The drive and engine were great. Economy was poor. 45mpg in the BMW - 31mpg in the Jag. Do you find the D4 more economical with the XFS?

I am leaving the company car scheme (was doing 35-40k per annum) but as now based from home - having my own wheels is advantageous - hence the 2-3 year old car with all the toys rather than me paying tax on them (plus i get my co car allowance back). Like the look of a 3.0TDi A8 Exec SE with comfort seats, BOSE, Adaptive cruise, Sports Diff and whatever other options I can find on the right car. ACC is the one option that is not popular but keeping my eyes peeled until late Feb 2015 when I have to buy.

4.2 TDi I have not completely discounted but fear it will be too thirsty

Cheers

I have found the D4 very good on the Juice for such a large car, and whilst it can go very quickly you tend to drive it smoothly and enjoy the wafting along if that makes sense. I have averaged 41 over the last 1500 miles or so. I have seen well over 50 on one run from the midlands to the south coast which amazed me, even using the orbital carpark
Around town you will see it in the 30's but once on the open road it drops in to top gear 8 and at 70 it's ticking over so lovely quiet and economical.
Pop it into sport and she really can lift her skirt and make for the horizon for such a big car and as fiirepit says the traction is head and shoulders above anything else. I could never get my Merc E350 to pull away quickly without shredding the offside rear tyre always annoyed me. Brakes are superb and the options are there to be able to set up suspension throttle response and gearbox to suit your self in the mmi. The Eco mode also works ok and often on a long run I'll click into that for the long stretches of motorway but normally I use my own settings as I prefer the car to have a sporty ride and more weight to the steering etc.
I went for the sport exec as it comes with more kit although slightly harder to find and I wanted the comfort seats and Bose as a must have. I did have an option of another one with HUD night vision and a some other bits but couldn't justify the extra five grand they wanted for it. I had active cruise on the Three cars my E55 the XK and the XF and I wouldn't bother if I was ticking boxes and paying for it from new. Every time some knob drops across your bonnet it was hitting the brakes. I found it annoying, great in the 50 mph roadworks mind.
I nearly bought an A7 with a big spec, then looked at the bmw 6 series, but came back to the 8 as I really missed the d3 I have a few years back and once I drove the D4 I was hooked again. It's one of those cars that's just highly competent and not sold on the back of a marketing idea IMHO even my wife and kids love it and they normally just think I am OCD with my cars after a 300 mile journey a few weeks ago my wife said she really enjoyed the car as a passenger and felt comfortable and safe even at speed it just inspires confidence.
As with most big saloons they offer great value second hand. Mind you it doesn't surprise me BMW were offering me 20k straight off the top of a new 640 but they all shove these pcp deals and I buy my cars outright which they don't like.
I don't think you will be disappointed
Cheers
Glyn