BMW 530d a suitable tow-car?

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Phil Davies

You keep your thieving hands off my Prada

And I had you down as a Louis Vuitton man!!

[Phil Davies]

Originally Posted by Richard B

And I had you down as a Louis Vuitton man!!

Who, moi?!

[Richard B]

[Phil Davies]

I wish you'd stop covertly sneaking around in cyberspace, Richard. You're not showing online and it's very disconcerting.

[Richard B]

Always expect the unexpected!

[ozz]

Couldn't help but add a little something as I work for Volvo

XC70 is better priced/spec'd than Audi
Is just as good off road
Is outselling Audi all road

Safety may be boring but forgetting everything else, when you have an accident I know where I would rather be - ask any real world collision investigator (not NCAP). Volvo wipes the floor. If you have kids, this must be the overiding factor.

XC90 is the safest car in the world, by a huge margin - Fact

[Gazza]

Originally Posted by ozz

Couldn't help but add a little something as I work for Volvo

XC70 is better priced/spec'd than Audi
Is just as good off road
Is outselling Audi all road

Safety may be boring but forgetting everything else, when you have an accident I know where I would rather be - ask any real world collision investigator (not NCAP). Volvo wipes the floor. If you have kids, this must be the overiding factor.

XC90 is the safest car in the world, by a huge margin - Fact

I'm not old enough for a Volvo yet... I'm only 72

Gazza

[ozz]

[Gazza]

Originally Posted by Phil Davies

You may be interested to read what 'Car' magazine has to say about the Audi Allroad:

For: Good off-road
Against: Otherwise pointless
Sum up: Gymkhana car park


Audis are well built, I agree, but overpriced for what they are - would you pay 3K more for a VW Golf badged as an Audi A3? Unfortunately in the brand-obsessed culture we live in, there are enough sad people who will and who enable Audi to charge premium prices for their products. Having said that, the same philosophy ensures Audi will always lag behind BMW and Mercedes in the corporate car park.

ps. I drive a new Range Rover V8, Gazza.

I thought as much !!!!!!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by ozz

Couldn't help but add a little something as I work for Volvo


Safety may be boring but forgetting everything else, when you have an accident I know where I would rather be - ask any real world collision investigator (not NCAP). Volvo wipes the floor. If you have kids, this must be the overiding factor.

XC90 is the safest car in the world, by a huge margin - Fact

How can you make such sweeping statements?

I wonder how such a vehicle would fare being rammed by a Land Rover or a Hummer?

Into a concrete block yes you would be better off in the Volvo but not against one of these monsters! I have seen the results of a series III land rover with NO driver protection - not even seat belts - get rammed by a large Merc - the Merc had airbags the lot - the Land Rover driver drove home = the Merc driver had to go to hospital and the car was totally mangled.

You quite rightly mention NCAP type tests as not being real world - totally agree there - they only test vehicles in similar catagories.

Here are some crash tests of similar cat cars - they show the Volvo as being no better than several other vehicles in it's class


http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/2004SUVs.html

[codprawn]

Oh and as an after thought I remember watching quite a bit of banger racing - they always liked the old Jags to keep going long after the Volvo Tank Wagons had given up!

[ozz]

How can I make such sweeping statements?
Because as you say NCAP is one thing but I work closely with the independent experts in this field and the real life "Killed or seriously injured" stats now compiled by the police paint an amazing picture in favour of Volvo.

Obviously if a huge huge tank like a hummer hits a far smaller car then the laws of physics cannot be beaten. However, on a like for like basis Volvo will keep its occupants in better shape.

The reason for this is simple - Safety is Volvos prime mission, everything else is secondary. Hence the 90Million safety center and the fact that they crash test every car 36 times, other manufactures crash them 4 times except for Merc at 6.

Unfortunately safety does not sell otherwise we would all be in them.

I was just pointing out that it is a factor to consider in making a purchase.

[Alan]

So since the new V50 shares a platform with the Focus replacement. Are Ford's now engineered to Volvo standards or vice versa ?

What car is even more contentious than what RIB isn't it!

Audi's do seem overpriced. When looking for a previously enjoyed car last year to replace the Trooper I came to the conclusion that I wasn't prepared to pay the premium for an A4 or A6. (Although a 3 year old A6 Quattro 2.7V6 was very very tempting!). Volvo's by comparison dont hold their value particularly well so make better second hand buys. Hence my current Volvo S60!

Frankly buying any car brand new is a mugs game IMHO. (Except if you work for the manufacturer and get a discount.) To declare my "trade" interest I worked at Ford / Land Rover for 11 years. You'll notice that I have never owned a Disco!

[jlanng]

Hi Guys. Thanks for the great response

Don't fancy a soft-roader as I don't need the ground clearance or off-road ability, other than on slipways of course. I would have considered the regular Audi A6 Quattro, but I wasn't too impressed with the 2.5l diesel engine when I tried one. I couldn't take the ribbing (sic) from my mates if I got a Jag at the ripe old age of 25, so it looks like I'll still be going for the Beamer. I expect the ribbing to be more merciful, but only slightly

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by jlanng

Hi Guys. Thanks for the great response

Don't fancy a soft-roader as I don't need the ground clearance or off-road ability, other than on slipways of course. I would have considered the regular Audi A6 Quattro, but I wasn't too impressed with the 2.5l diesel engine when I tried one. I couldn't take the ribbing (sic) from my mates if I got a Jag at the ripe old age of 25, so it looks like I'll still be going for the Beamer. I expect the ribbing to be more merciful, but only slightly

Why is the Jag seen as an old mans car? If anyone make old men's cars its Merc - as for BMW apart from something like an M3 the rest aren't as sporty as people think - the 5 series I drove really WAS an old man's car!!!

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Why is the Jag seen as an old mans car? If anyone make old men's cars its Merc - as for BMW apart from something like an M3 the rest aren't as sporty as people think - the 5 series I drove really WAS an old man's car!!!

Who you calling a old man? I'm a Meir boy!
Nick

[Alan]

Sitting behind a New Beemer 530 at the petrol station this evening I was reminded of how f*****g ugly it is

[Rannsachair]

I went for a 2.5 year old A6 Quattro sport 2.5TDI with 16K miles on it and one elderly owner, more than does the job, and was a massive saving over a new car.

Did you try the full 180 hp version? I normally ride an 1100 cc motorbike, so although the car is not that quick it almost matches my old Saab 9-3 turbo for overtaking capabilities.

Previously I had a TD5 disco - nice to drive but very slow, and not very well finished.

The A6 manages fine on slipways - but I do not take it onto the beach.

[Gazza]

Originally Posted by jlanng

Hi Guys. Thanks for the great response

Don't fancy a soft-roader as I don't need the ground clearance or off-road ability, other than on slipways of course. I would have considered the regular Audi A6 Quattro, but I wasn't too impressed with the 2.5l diesel engine when I tried one. I couldn't take the ribbing (sic) from my mates if I got a Jag at the ripe old age of 25, so it looks like I'll still be going for the Beamer. I expect the ribbing to be more merciful, but only slightly

Have you tried the new 3.0 tdi diesel on the new A6......

Gazza

[jlanng]

Why is the Jag seen as an old mans car?

The average age of a Jag owner fell, IIRC, from 50 to 45 with the release of the X-type. From where I'm sitting, that's way out of spring chicken territory

If anyone make old men's cars its Merc - as for BMW apart from something like an M3 the rest aren't as sporty as people think - the 5 series I drove really WAS an old man's car!!!

I've got a slightly fettled Subaru for the weekends... I'm not looking for sporty!

Sitting behind a New Beemer 530 at the petrol station this evening I was reminded of how f*****g ugly it is

I quite agree! I've never bought a new car, as I pay for them myself. It'll be a year or two old, so before Bangle hit them with his ugly stick.

I went for a 2.5 year old A6 Quattro sport 2.5TDI with 16K miles on it and one elderly owner, more than does the job, and was a massive saving over a new car. Did you try the full 180 hp version?

Not sure to be honest. Sounds like you're happy with it. I might give one another go, as the 4wd would be very useful.