After dropping a wodge on the Outback for a new battery only for the tailgate issues to immediately recur and funnily enough for a internet search to suddenly (wasn't before) flag that there is a persistent and long standing Subaru issue with a parasitic battery drain via the telematics module. Basically the car continually tries to phone home and drains the battery, the tailgate control module is acutely sensitive to voltage meaning that if the car has sat for more than a day (sometime less) the boot won't open without doing a full control module manual range reset (unlock by hand, open by hand, close by hand and jump up and down on it until the door engages fully). There is a fix and it's not hugely expensive (apparently) but I was going to move the car on anyway

None of us love the car either so I stuck it on Motorway while it needs nothing major done. It's v low mileage and pretty much mint other than this known issue.

But what next. I've no idea what to get even if money was no object.
I'd like another estate.
I'd like to it to be fast and decent to drive but also reasonably comfortable.

If I had no kids I'd get a used M5
If Volvo did a decent non-hybrid motor I'd get a V90
M3 estate is a bit dear and I hate the interior (no likey flat panels much).

I drove an E63s estate a while back and I think it was maybe too fast to enjoy.
The ID3 has put us off VAG group

I don't do many miles to fuel costs are not really an issue. Coupes are no use with the kids.
I'm tempted by another RR as they were a great place to be and super practical but made from terror + Temu parts and tbh not the best to drive as it's a 3T 4x4 after all.

I think I need a restomod Jenson Interceptor.

XC70 T6?

I confess to being totally enamoured with my V70. If I wanted a quick-ish one, it'd be a T6 for me.

Gaz

Edited 15 June15 Jun by Gaz
removed an odd link

47 minutes ago, Gaz said:

XC70 T6?

I confess to being totally enamoured with my V70. If I wanted a quick-ish one, it'd be a T6 for me.

Gaz

I keep longingly looking at the T8 Volvos then seeing it's just a 2.0 or less + hybrid motor.
Even then the faster ones are like rocking horse poop.
Other than the motor lineup they do tick the majority of boxes.

Aiming for petrol only tbh. I would have said a big derv having been a happy 335d owner but I'm doing under 4k a year now. Most of our mileage is in the lease ev.

Edited 15 June15 Jun by Aspman

16 minutes ago, Aspman said:

Aiming for petrol only tbh.

3.0 300+BHP petrol 👍👍:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606153304813?sort=relevance&twcs=true&searchId=eb75de66-844e-4574-9693-26d774d79b1e&keywords=t6&make=Volvo&model=XC70&page=1&postcode=bn21%203uu&advertising-location=at_cars&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=channel%3Dcars%26flrfc%3D1%26keywords%3Dt6%26make%3DVolvo%26model%3DXC70%26postcode%3Dbn21%25203uu%26sort%3Drelevance

G'wan.... 😁

G

Lol that's hardly turned a wheel. But £16k for a 14yr old volvo c'mon low mileage or not.

Someone is selling a Bentley GT near me for 8k, what could go wrong?

That's the Subaru sold. Again with motorway that was £2-3k over any trade in offer. Seems a bit mad.
Why offer such rubbish trade ins then bid higher on Motorway?
It's been main dealers every time for me on motorway as well.

Having a dig around thinking maybe something like a 540i Estate would be ideal but again like rocking horse poo
There is an older E320 estate not too far away, I'm just not sure I'm old enough for a merc.

Edited 16 June16 Jun by Aspman

Thought we were headed back to JLR for a bit then I did an insurance quote. £2000. For a comparison the Subaru was £250.

I’ll keep looking i think.

£2000, yikes!! 😳

That's 1/8 of the way there to a nice XC70 🤣

With JLRs recall problems over thier DC to DC converters and other electrical issues that insurance quote is probably a blessing in disguise

2 hours ago, skomaz said:

With JLRs recall problems over thier DC to DC converters and other electrical issues that insurance quote is probably a blessing in disguise

And timing chain and cam bearing issues.
Just out of interest I could insure an AM Rapide S for £900.
They really don't want any LR on their books do they

Think I might have ID the next motor.
Merc C43 AMG Estate
Fast without being pointlessly fast plus cheaper in every way than the C63.

Deal done, pick up a C43 estate next week.

8 hours ago, Aspman said:

Deal done, pick up a C43 estate next week.

Very nice. Any reason you didn’t consider an M340i? I think they’re pretty similar in terms of power and price. The C43 is a nicer package though, and a bit more grown up than the CLA45.

I think you chose well though. If we move up from the R/Cupra Estate size of cars into something a bit bigger, and remember that any decent S4 is diesel, you’re pretty much left with those two cars for fast estates.

Not sure about a 540i but a friend has a 640i. It shifts, but it’s not really geared up for anything aside from motorway driving. It’s got the power, but it’s a big car, and everything is just a little soggy. It’s like comparing a 330i to an Octavia vRS. They have the same performance on paper (drivetrain aside) but in reality they couldn’t be more different.

21 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Very nice. Any reason you didn’t consider an M340i? I think they’re pretty similar in terms of power and price. The C43 is a nicer package though, and a bit more grown up than the CLA45.

I think you chose well though. If we move up from the R/Cupra Estate size of cars into something a bit bigger, and remember that any decent S4 is diesel, you’re pretty much left with those two cars for fast estates.

Not sure about a 540i but a friend has a 640i. It shifts, but it’s not really geared up for anything aside from motorway driving. It’s got the power, but it’s a big car, and everything is just a little soggy. It’s like comparing a 330i to an Octavia vRS. They have the same performance on paper (drivetrain aside) but in reality they couldn’t be more different.

Availability really. I've looked for 340i and 540i estates but they are very rare on the market. Conversely warm and hot Merc estates are relatively easy to find.
The Mercs are also coming with 2yr warranty inclusive as approved used.

If it existed an M550i xdrive estate would be just the perfect car but it doesn't exist.
My former in-laws consider themselves 'Audi people' and I can't bear the idea of being in 'their' brand. Petty, maybe but it is what it is.

If I was doing more miles I think the decision would be easier tbh. I like big dervs having very much liked the 335d I had and a 540d would be sweet. But I'm only doing 3-4k a year now and we have the ID3 to commute in.
The kids rule out coupes really. The 850i is fast but seems like a bit of a midlife-crisis car. Just a bit sadder than an M5 or M550i.
TBh I was looking rather longingly at a Lexus LC500 as well but my son is 3" taller than me and still growing.

Edited 20 June20 Jun by Aspman

5 hours ago, Aspman said:

Availability really. I've looked for 340i and 540i estates but they are very rare on the market. Conversely warm and hot Merc estates are relatively easy to find.
The Mercs are also coming with 2yr warranty inclusive as approved used.

If it existed an M550i xdrive estate would be just the perfect car but it doesn't exist.
My former in-laws consider themselves 'Audi people' and I can't bear the idea of being in 'their' brand. Petty, maybe but it is what it is.

If I was doing more miles I think the decision would be easier tbh. I like big dervs having very much liked the 335d I had and a 540d would be sweet. But I'm only doing 3-4k a year now and we have the ID3 to commute in.
The kids rule out coupes really. The 850i is fast but seems like a bit of a midlife-crisis car. Just a bit sadder than an M5 or M550i.
TBh I was looking rather longingly at a Lexus LC500 as well but my son is 3" taller than me and still growing.

Plenty of time to pick one up once they’re gone - my dad traded his R32 and S3 for a 325i Touring when I was born. It was a good car, but never had the same poke - or so I’m told.

I do know that the M340i/d are pretty expensive for what they are - indeed, bar the hybrid 330e, most of the 1/2/3 series are quite overpriced. IIRC dad paid just under £30k for his 1 Series, and it’s not even a hot one.

My next car, if possible, would be an S4 - but they’re just impossible to find in TFSI guise. It’s the same for all the hot Volvo estates - I think it was a V60 or something - big dad wagon with 450bhp or similar.

Going approved used is always nice. I was sold an approved car that had been in an accident, so a dealer isn’t gospel, but at least it gives you someone to shout at when things go wrong.

I hope you enjoy it - they’re very well put together cars, and I personally think the 43 is a sweet spot… the 63 is just too much!

On 21/06/2026 at 01:50, OccyVRS said:

Plenty of time to pick one up once they’re gone - my dad traded his R32 and S3 for a 325i Touring when I was born. It was a good car, but never had the same poke - or so I’m told.

I do know that the M340i/d are pretty expensive for what they are - indeed, bar the hybrid 330e, most of the 1/2/3 series are quite overpriced. IIRC dad paid just under £30k for his 1 Series, and it’s not even a hot one.

My next car, if possible, would be an S4 - but they’re just impossible to find in TFSI guise. It’s the same for all the hot Volvo estates - I think it was a V60 or something - big dad wagon with 450bhp or similar.

Going approved used is always nice. I was sold an approved car that had been in an accident, so a dealer isn’t gospel, but at least it gives you someone to shout at when things go wrong.

I hope you enjoy it - they’re very well put together cars, and I personally think the 43 is a sweet spot… the 63 is just too much!

Cheers I hope so.
I'd agree the BMWs seem over priced right now, I'm also not keen on their interiors. They've cut a few corners too many I think.
I was avoiding hybrids as I'm not buying new or even nearly new I really want to avoid a dead hybrid battery or battery issues. Plus I want some old school motoring while it's still an option.

I've had some approved used fun as well when making claims, a mini with battery issues when the warranty ad said literally "everything is included even the battery", then you make a battery claim and "ah well it's not always covered", ditto JLR when a tailgate issue becomes bodywork which isn't warranty covered.

Was checking spec last night on the C43 and it is old enough to have the switchable sport exhaust option. So should burble nicely too.

3 hours ago, Aspman said:

Cheers I hope so.
I'd agree the BMWs seem over priced right now, I'm also not keen on their interiors. They've cut a few corners too many I think.
I was avoiding hybrids as I'm not buying new or even nearly new I really want to avoid a dead hybrid battery or battery issues. Plus I want some old school motoring while it's still an option.

I've had some approved used fun as well when making claims, a mini with battery issues when the warranty ad said literally "everything is included even the battery", then you make a battery claim and "ah well it's not always covered", ditto JLR when a tailgate issue becomes bodywork which isn't warranty covered.

Was checking spec last night on the C43 and it is old enough to have the switchable sport exhaust option. So should burble nicely too.

Yes - my parents have been Audi fans, but after the treatment from the local dealer on the last car, they won’t be going back. Ditto with Porsche - how can a mistake by a Porsche main dealer technician mean the Porsche warranty isn’t valid, and that any issues are now between the dealer and you? Shame, as the 2.0 Macan was quite attractive.

Pre-GPF cars are always nice… much more tuning potential, and way better sound!

Well trip all done C43 in hand.

I think we've been lucky again seems like the car we wished it would be.
Good condition, comfortable, fast, big enough etc etc.
The full antisocial exhaust option is lots of fun as well.

Dealer warned me about mpg on test drive, and indeed on the test it got 14mpg. But on the long motorway run home at moderately sensible speeds I got approx 35mpg which I think is pretty good considering.
Being less sensible giving it the beans with everything on Sport+ and the thing howls. Outright speed feels very similar to the 335d.

It does seem to be a car that triggers middle aged men though.

Look like the picture you put in the above post ^^^^ has gone missing

Must be a software glitch

G

@Aspman E5 Super unleaded? Tesco Momentum?

40 minutes ago, Evolution13 said:

@Aspman E5 Super unleaded? Tesco Momentum?

Aye it's 98RON first with a tolerance for 95

1 hour ago, Gaz said:

Look like the picture you put in the above post ^^^^ has gone missing

Must be a software glitch

G

Needs a wash after the trip up tbh. The dealer was actually closing the site the day after I got the mb they had no valeters on site so the poor sales guy had to do it himself for the handover.
He was a a proper MB petrol head as well, he was genuinely pleased his last sale for MB was going to be an AMG.

MB command system is a dogs dinner though. Drove the whole way without knowing how to skip a track on Spotify.
Still don't know if I have active cruise or not (need to read the spec sheet again).
No touch screen but touchpad/wheel where the gear shift should be and two more little thumb sized touch pads on the steering wheel.
Too easy to flick things by accident and till too hard to do things without taking your eyes off the road.

But the nanny (speed warning bongs) and drunk toddler (lane keeping assistance) are nowhere to be found🥳

It's hard to describe why but the car feels Germanic, I think the actual driving experience is close to the BMW. Same solidity and weight to controls things. Feels familiar even though I've never had a MB before.

Need to find some tunnels now...😈

Edited Monday at 10:461 day by Aspman

Just one pic for now. I've taken the bow off