Hi Guys,
I'm new to posting here, but occasionally read.. and I'm wondering if you can help on a 'general' car question.
Recently I won a new car, (a SEAT Ibiza 1.4 16v Sport), which I'll be selling, and I'm thinking about spending the money on a replacement for my fully optioned 75,000 mile 1986 Mercedes 190E.
It must be useable on a daily basis, and must be at least somewhat special. My 190E is very special in its peerless build quality, and super-smooth ride combined with nimble handling.
I have a list of cars I've thought about, can you give any input on them?
Thanks!
1990-1994 Mercedes 500E or E500 - Very very tempting. V8, Pace, grace, classic looks, almost everything I could want from a car.
E34 BMW M5 - Space, nice straight six, but almost certainly doesn't ride as smoothly, and being an 'M' probably more expensive to run.. I think it looks more dated than the Mercedes too, and wouldn't have quite the 'bulletproof' reliability of a V8 Mercedes saloon.
Jaguar XJR - The later (1996), 4.0 Supercharged 370bhp V8 model just falls into my price range. Not a sports car to drive, but still feels very special to drive. Quality worse than BMW and Mercedes, ditto the patchy reliability.
S500 Mercedes mid-90s (now replaced) model.. Nice, but expensive if they go wrong, and they do so more than the older Mercedes. Plus I'd look like a drug dealer.
Porsche 928 - Just totally inappropriate.
Porshce 968 - 4 cylinders, 'only' 230 odd bhp, but unbeatable chassis. Probably expensive to buy parts for, and a very stiff ride. Not a great daily driver.
Of all the BMWs I've driven, I thought the 3-series (very latest facelift model, 320d) was the worst and the 7-series (1990 750i model) by far the best (the opposite to the generally accepted opinion) despite its spectacularly disappointing V12. But one of those could be a money-pit to run. Later 7-series better, but doesn't look or feel 'special' to me.
Audi A8 - much preferred to S-class or 7-series. Drives great in my experience, but still a big car.
E36 M3 is tempting, but I hear these ride stiffly - is that true?
Oh, and a Toyota Supra turbo.
Yes, OK so it doesn't really fit in with the rest of these, but massive pace, toyota reliability, stand-out looks (rare for the Japanese), and makes a good cruiser too I believe. No quality to speak of, but let's hope it drives well..
I prefer it to all the other rice cars.
What experience do you have of these, and what other cars can you recommend?
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