An impossible dream-car ?

verydeeppockets

Depends how often you change cars.
If you've had a Vauxhall the biggest cost will have been depreciation! Look at WhatCar or similar residual values to get an idea of which costs what in terms of loss of value. Anything french will ruin you, for example. If you're keeping it for ten years then depreciation is irrelevant I suppose, but a Saab or Jag could be a tricky one for spares and service in the future.
Small + luxury = Mini. You can get heated seats, auto, all the spec you'd need, a diesel, and they do hold their value. Ride not too good, and not a full 4 seater though.
A bit bigger? Try a Lexus IS. Ridiculous reliability, all the kit, and hold their value fairly well. Not sure on how good the newer diesels are though? Or maybe a Prius. I wouldn't be seen dead in one personally, but they're cheap to run and have good spec.
Older and bigger? Audi autos can be multitronic nightmares, Merc still suffer quality issues, so that leaves BMW 5 series at the top of the tree - SE not Sport if you value your spine, or if you're keeping it for a while and can stomach more depreciation you could get an older 7 series diesel in budget. Now that ticks all the boxes. Luxury, economy, comfort and it'll have done most of it's initial depreciating in the first few months of ownership.
I'd be looking at specifically pre 2006 cars as well - cheaper tax on most of the bigger stuff.

gord115

Brand new Skoda Octavia diesel elegance with no Vat?????????????????

jaydeeuk1

Thought OP wanted a 'showy' car. The Octaiva isn't at all bad, but I wouldn't be bragging to my mates I just bought a skoda.

TrickyWicky

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Thought OP wanted a 'showy' car. The Octaiva isn't at all bad, but I wouldn't be bragging to my mates I just bought a skoda.

No? - You've not seen some of their models then have you. My mate once had a jet black TWIN TURBO Octavia. Stunning motor with incredible power.

@Op: Go have yourself a look at a Citroen C5. Very tooled up.

jaydeeuk1

It can have QUAD TURBO JET PROPULSION, and printed in big size 50 font silver letters along the side of the car too, but its still not a Ferrari.

LandyAndy

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

It can have QUAD TURBO JET PROPULSION, and printed in big size 50 font silver letters along the side of the car too, but its still not a Ferrari.

Indeed. Even that wouldn't make it quite as vulgar as a Ferrari.:)

TrickyWicky

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

It can have QUAD TURBO JET PROPULSION, and printed in big size 50 font silver letters along the side of the car too, but its still not a Ferrari.

Who cares about a Ferrari?

The op wanted a tooled up car with lots of toys etc and you're talking about brand snobbery?

gord115

TrickyWicky wrote: »

No? - You've not seen some of their models then have you. My mate once had a jet black TWIN TURBO Octavia. Stunning motor with incredible power.

@Op: Go have yourself a look at a Citroen C5. Very tooled up.

They don't make a twin turbo Octavia,I think you're mate was taking the mick....

Jaydee was right about Octavia not been a showy car though.
What about a chrysler 300c,all the trimmings and look like a gangster.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201204444265575/sort/priceasc/usedcars/model/300c/make/chrysler/postcode/s124hg/radius/1500/page/6?logcode=p

TrickyWicky

Maybe not an Octavia.. I'm not good with the models, all I remember was it was black, sleek, fast as **** and expensive. I'm certain it was twin turbo too.

TrickyWicky

gord115 wrote: »

What about a chrysler 300c,all the trimmings and look like a gangster.

Cadillac CTS would do nicely then:


Thought about buying one of these myself a while back but the weakpoint on these turns out to be the waterpump. Now I ain't afraid to haul out an engine but a V6 is probably pushing me to the limits.

I also didn't fancy the paranoia over breaking the pump every time I floored it so I left it alone. Still, if you can live without pushing it everytime you're on the open road then it's a very nice car, tooled up, pimped with gadgets and you'll definitely get some attention with it.

In hindsight, I wish I'd actually bought it now..