Car Advice

[inliner311]

Anyone have a Mercedes E63?

At this point the e63 and alot of the amg cars are overkill. Alot of the non-amg mercedes are real fast cars. Alot of the AMG cars are just stupidly fast at this point.

Also I knew someone with a 6-series and they are nice looking cars but they don't feel special in any way.

 

[Sebastian]

At this point the e63 and alot of the amg cars are overkill. Alot of the non-amg mercedes are real fast cars. Alot of the AMG cars are just stupidly fast at this point.

Also I knew someone with a 6-series and they are nice looking cars but they don't feel special in any way.

To your last statement, I feel that way about BMW in general. They are so ubiquitous here. Every third car is a BMW.

And to your point on the E63 and other super-HP heavy vehicles (420+). I wish there were more of a middle ground.

A 500 HP car is perhaps a but much. But a 340 HP V6 is so common that there is nothing interesting about it.

A 440 HP vehicle seems to be a nice compromise in performance and sanity.

But it seems the V8s are gone for climate change reasons and the V6s are never going to top 400 HP. The new Jaguar V6 in the XFS is 380 HP and that seems the limit.

 

[Kouki]

I can tell you owning a modern BMW without a warranty is about the worst financial decision you could make when it comes to buying a car.

That's not really true depending on your definition of modern. There are certain models you want to avoid if you are interested in reliability, yes. But the N52 is a really reliable engine...unfortunately phased out by the turbo 4 cylinder that objectively might be better, but I don't like it nearly as much. Didn't have the water pump issues that plagued early/mid 2000's BMWs.

This can be found in entry level 1, 3, and 5 series from roughly 2008-2015. Of course now the values of those cars range from maybe 5-20k tops.

Also regarding technology stuff breaking...again depends on the model, the entry-level stuff is pretty sparse in terms of features.

Obviously this is anecdotal but my 1-series required exactly 0 dollars in repairs from 22k to 103k miles. Didn't even need brake pads or rotors changed that whole time. Just regular maintenance and I was even bad about that. I think I changed the oil once a year.

 

[inliner311]

To your last statement, I feel that way about BMW in general. They are so ubiquitous here. Every third car is a BMW.

And to your point on the E63 and other super-HP heavy vehicles (420+). I wish there were more of a middle ground.

A 500 HP car is perhaps a but much. But a 340 HP V6 is so common that there is nothing interesting about it.

A 440 HP vehicle seems to be a nice compromise in performance and sanity.

But it seems the V8s are gone for climate change reasons and the V6s are never going to top 400 HP. The new Jaguar V6 in the XFS is 380 HP and that seems the limit.

Alot of the V6's now are supercharged or turbo charged. If you are getting a car without a warranty, you can buy a chip and gain some of that power.

Do you have your own garage or a driveway? Some of the cost of ownership can be decreased by alot if you start working on it yourself. Just start with oil changes, which most time is quicker than the time to dealer. After that you can add stuff you are comfortable doing, alot of little things are sometime real easy to change but the cost of dealer parts and labor just drives up cost of ownership. Finding tutorials and the right suppliers to get parts makes alot cheaper.

While I have never been in one, I've heard good things about the CL550 and the S-class coupes, which they decided to change the name to. They are fast but not too fast, plus a luxurious interior and a real comfortable ride.

 

[Kouki]

Also @Sebastian, I haven't dug through all your recent posts here but have you considered the T8 trim level of the Volvo S60? Seems to be right up your alley since you dig the Volvo design (STRONGLY agree, I think the new S60 is maybe the best looking sedan out there...) and the powertrain is super unique - turbo and supercharged 4 cyl with electric motor for around 400hp and closer to 500 ft lb torques.

 

[Sebastian]

This is kind of the reason why I dig the XFR so much: Few people know about its capabilities. Which are only matched by much flashier cars.

This area has people that love to race. And just once, I would like to put some schmuck in a Charger down without him ever seeing it coming.

 

[Sebastian]

Alot of the V6's now are supercharged or turbo charged. If you are getting a car without a warranty, you can buy a chip and gain some of that power.

Do you have your own garage or a driveway? Some of the cost of ownership can be decreased by alot if you start working on it yourself. Just start with oil changes, which most time is quicker than the time to dealer. After that you can add stuff you are comfortable doing, alot of little things are sometime real easy to change but the cost of dealer parts and labor just drives up cost of ownership. Finding tutorials and the right suppliers to get parts makes alot cheaper.

While I have never been in one, I've heard good things about the CL550 and the S-class coupes, which they decided to change the name to. They are fast but not too fast, plus a luxurious interior and a real comfortable ride.

This is true, but like I said, the post-2016 Jaguar XFS V6 is supercharged with 380 HP and gains 40 HP over the lower trim level. But there simply isn't much more you can pull out it.

The 2013-2015 XFR gets 510 HP. The XFS 550. Even the more staid 2013-2015 XF Base Supercharged 5.0 V8 gets 470 HP. No amount of supercharging a V6 will bring you up near that level.

Same story with the 6-Series now, upper limit of the V6 may approach 400 HP but it won't top it. When they got rid of the V8s they got rid of the super performance.

So that is why the EU restrictions suck. I understand why they did it but they killed the Performance race between Jaguar, Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

===============

Yeah, those new Mercedes are nice. But I am not sure they are my thing. I feel like they are for an older demo.

 

[Sebastian]

Also @Sebastian, I haven't dug through all your recent posts here but have you considered the T8 trim level of the Volvo S60? Seems to be right up your alley since you dig the Volvo design (STRONGLY agree, I think the new S60 is maybe the best looking sedan out there...) and the powertrain is super unique - turbo and supercharged 4 cyl with electric motor for around 400hp and closer to 500 ft lb torques.

Thank you for pointing this out. I do love Volvos.

I looked up the T8 S60s and they look up my alley.

If I waited a year or two I would seriously consider it. Right now it is about 20K more than I want to spend.

 

[inliner311]

This is true, but like I said, the post-2016 Jaguar XFS V6 is supercharged with 380 HP and gains 40 HP over the lower trim level. But there simply isn't much more you can pull out it.

The 2013-2015 XFR gets 510 HP. The XFS 550. Even the more staid 2013-2015 XF Base Supercharged 5.0 V8 gets 470 HP. No amount of supercharging a V6 will bring you up near that level.

Same story with the 6-Series now, upper limit of the V6 may approach 400 HP but it won't top it. When they got rid of the V8s they got rid of the super performance.

So that is why the EU restrictions suck. I understand why they did it but they killed the Performance race between Jaguar, Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

===============

Yeah, those new Mercedes are nice. But I am not sure they are my thing. I feel like they are for an older demo.

You would be surprised how much power you can add from a chip and pulleys on some of these supercharged cars now. I have no experience with Jags so I'm pretty clueless which tuning companies to look for the numbers.

I know with Audi's the 3.0t (which is supercharged) will add 100+ hp with a chip, pulleys, and exhaust.

 

[inliner311]

This is kind of the reason why I dig the XFR so much: Few people know about its capabilities. Which are only matched by much flashier cars.

This area has people that love to race. And just once, I would like to put some schmuck in a Charger down without him ever seeing it coming.

We have a street that basically creates people drag racing each other because of how it's layed out. I once was following a SL500 (which had to be pretty new at the time) that was going real slow so I decided at the light I would pass him, he knew that was my intentions so we both took off at the light. I look him pretty easily. He end up stopping right next to me when I was turning left and was so bad that he lost. He tried to lecture me about how it was dangerous, etc. I laughed and drove off.

 

[KI4MVP]

This is kind of the reason why I dig the XFR so much: Few people know about its capabilities. Which are only matched by much flashier cars.

This area has people that love to race. And just once, I would like to put some schmuck in a Charger down without him ever seeing it coming.

my car would smoke those

 

[Kouki]

Thank you for pointing this out. I do love Volvos.

I looked up the T8 S60s and they look up my alley.

If I waited a year or two I would seriously consider it. Right now it is about 20K more than I want to spend.

Yeah I'm kind of in the same boat. Also I'm going to buy a stick shift for as long as I can...though ever since I bought my truck I've barely driven the BMW....partly because it's double parked...and partly because it has leaked all of it's oil onto my driveway (hey, I said it didn't need any repairs until 103k miles, I didn't say anything about after 103k)....and partly because it's covered in snow whilst sporting summer tires.

You may not be interested in it but the BMW X5 xDrive50i was intriguing to me when I needed a better baby hauler than the 1-series. Twin turbo V8, 0-60 in 5s stock but there is aftermarket to drive that number down. Definitely fits the ticket as a sleeper.

 

[Sebastian]

You would be surprised how much power you can add from a chip and pulleys on some of these supercharged cars now. I have no experience with Jags so I'm pretty clueless which tuning companies to look for the numbers.

I know with Audi's the 3.0t (which is supercharged) will add 100+ hp with a chip, pulleys, and exhaust.

I shall investigate this.

It might make the 2016- XFs worth it.

My big hangup on the 2013-2015 is the electronics being older, lack of warranty and the milage.

If I could bring the 2017 XFS up to 450 HP it would be worth it. Though it would void the warranty.

 

[Sebastian]

Yeah I'm kind of in the same boat. Also I'm going to buy a stick shift for as long as I can...though ever since I bought my truck I've barely driven the BMW....partly because it's double parked...and partly because it has leaked all of it's oil onto my driveway (hey, I said it didn't need any repairs until 103k miles, I didn't say anything about after 103k)....and partly because it's covered in snow whilst sporting summer tires.

You may not be interested in it but the BMW X5 xDrive50i was intriguing to me when I needed a better baby hauler than the 1-series. Twin turbo V8, 0-60 in 5s stock but there is aftermarket to drive that number down. Definitely fits the ticket as a sleeper.

We will be looking at a SUV when we move back to Seattle. I have a high off-road capability requirement because of my fishing hobby.

Though I am more or less limited to a Jeep or Land Rover for that reason, probably the 2018- Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid with Heavy Duty Package, I did have the dealership give me a X5 when our former BMW was in the shop. Great ride, very smooth. Very comfortable. Liked it a lot.

If I were rich I would have a number of these SUVs that are, as you say baby haulers, that are perfect for on-road driving in comfort.

 

[Sebastian]

You would be surprised how much power you can add from a chip and pulleys on some of these supercharged cars now. I have no experience with Jags so I'm pretty clueless which tuning companies to look for the numbers.

I know with Audi's the 3.0t (which is supercharged) will add 100+ hp with a chip, pulleys, and exhaust.

So I perused the Jag forums and a proper tuning up and a pulley will bring the 2013-2015 Jaguar XFR from 510 HP to 630 HP.

Which is a considerable and insane upgrade.

What do these things do to your milage?