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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 1, 2019 7:28:30 GMT
They may have ruled out the BMW because of her inability to get comfortable but we know that's nonsense - it's more to do with her inability to get to grips with BMW's rather idiosyncratic seat height adjustment, and by ruling out the 3 series Touring she is massively reducing their options as everything they are looking for is available on a 320i Touring auto.
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Post by bryan on May 1, 2019 8:48:19 GMT
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Post by Tim on May 1, 2019 8:59:47 GMT
They may have ruled out the BMW because of her inability to get comfortable but we know that's nonsense - it's more to do with her inability to get to grips with BMW's rather idiosyncratic seat height adjustment, and by ruling out the 3 series Touring she is massively reducing their options as everything they are looking for is available on a 320i Touring auto. Mrs Tim is only 5 feet tall and she isn't overly happy with the 3 series seats. I wonder if non-M Sport seats are better for shorties though. I think part of her issue is the long press on the clutch, an auto would fix this, although she does complain the seat doesn't go high enough either. Anyway, what about a late model Ford Kuga? They're quite nimble for an SUV and £20k will get one with all the toys you could ever imagine plus leather seats. |
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Post by PetrolEd on May 1, 2019 9:04:23 GMT
They may have ruled out the BMW because of her inability to get comfortable but we know that's nonsense - it's more to do with her inability to get to grips with BMW's rather idiosyncratic seat height adjustment, and by ruling out the 3 series Touring she is massively reducing their options as everything they are looking for is available on a 320i Touring auto. She’s not alone. With a seat that points towards the a pillar and a steering wheel and pedals out of alignment it canes my lower back and right hand. |
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Post by ChrisM on May 1, 2019 9:17:02 GMT
Anyway, what about a late model Ford Kuga? They're quite nimble for an SUV and £20k will get one with all the toys you could ever imagine plus leather seats. SUV's were a "no-no" |
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Post by Tim on May 1, 2019 9:51:25 GMT
Anyway, what about a late model Ford Kuga? They're quite nimble for an SUV and £20k will get one with all the toys you could ever imagine plus leather seats. SUV's were a "no-no" Yeah but SUVs come in all shapes and sizes and a Kuga is only as big as a Focus and as far as I can tell drives like one. According to a friend who has had both it even has similar fuel economy. It's not the same as an X5/Q7, etc. |
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Post by racingteatray on May 1, 2019 12:31:16 GMT
They may have ruled out the BMW because of her inability to get comfortable but we know that's nonsense - it's more to do with her inability to get to grips with BMW's rather idiosyncratic seat height adjustment, and by ruling out the 3 series Touring she is massively reducing their options as everything they are looking for is available on a 320i Touring auto. I know. I was tempted to go around with my car (electric seats) and see if that resolved the matter. Although then they'd need to find one with electric seats...
She is very short. 5ft nothing I'd guess.
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Post by racingteatray on May 1, 2019 12:48:35 GMT
What about a Merc C Class Estate - could go for hybrid like mine to future proof ULEZ and rapid in Sport+ but good for pootling (you don't need to charge it up)should get a 16 or 17 plate for around 20k and has all the toys I suggested this. But apparently the boot is smaller than an Octavia or A4 and he's read that the C200 engine that is in budget isn't great. And hybrids of all sorts are still pretty pricey.
He seems to have devoured a lot of reviews and is getting slightly hung up on them. I told him to look at the reviews with a more relaxed eye (apart from anything on reliability) - he and I aren't going to notice half the performance/driving differences the journalists get hung up on. No substitute for going and trying them and working out which one you like and works for you.
Living in London, you tend to fall into one of two camps as regards SUVs - either you love them or loathe them, and they seem to be in the latter camp. That's because there are an awful lot of people in black full-size SUVs that roar around the narrow streets of our part of west London with little regard for other road-users. We have an especial culprit around us - a sour-faced blonde girl who absolutely bellows past the house several times a day in a particularly noisy matt-black pimped-up G63. Just this morning I met her head-on going somewhere in the 500 - the road isn't wide enough for two cars to pass between the parked cars and she made very clear that she didn't appreciate having to stop and pull side for another road user, especially some loser in a tiny car worth less than her handbag. I got a look that would frozen the Thames.
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Post by ChrisM on May 1, 2019 12:53:02 GMT
Yeah but SUVs come in all shapes and sizes and a Kuga is only as big as a Focus and as far as I can tell drives like one. According to a friend who has had both it even has similar fuel economy. It's not the same as an X5/Q7, etc. X5. Q7 are like a small barn on wheels. The Kuga isn't quite that bad. As for economy, I'm not sure what that says about your friend's driving style...... I got back last night from a 2-day trek to Yorkshire and back from Surrey-Hants. I filled up on Monday morning just short of where I work, and set off after lunch. The on-board computer recons I got almost exactly 49mpg over almost exactly 400 miles, and that was keeping my speed down to generally 65 to 67mph as per GPS readout on my satnav. For a 2 litre manual AWD I suppose that's not too bad but I would expect a Focus to do somewhat better. BTW I had to wash the front of the car (and the door mirror caps, and the windscreen for the third time on the trip) when I got home, it was like an insects' graveyard. Never seen so many dead insects on the front of a car before |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 1, 2019 12:54:37 GMT
In my opinion they should just bite the bullet, buy a Prius and get on with it. ULEZ worries over and those things run for 10 years faultlessly.
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Post by bryan on May 1, 2019 13:01:50 GMT
I was surprised at the depreciation on the C350e Phev - 20k is a lot to lose in 3 years (near £20k depeciation)
He could get one for under £20k but the boot is even smaller than standard C Class
Are you near Car Giant? When I have had friends who are undecided I generally take them to Available Car - where all the cars are unlocked and you could have a look around. Magazine reviews are all bot size is xxx litres but it can still be an odd shape.
It surprised me and my Sister in law when looking for a runabout post baby that her pram wouldn't fit in an Ibiza boot, barely squeezed into a Polo and was swallowed easily by the Fabia (despite all being the 'same' car/platform). Her choice boiled to down an 11 plate A Class (old shape) which she got and the Fabia 1.2tsi
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Post by racingteatray on May 1, 2019 13:23:20 GMT
In my opinion they should just bite the bullet, buy a Prius and get on with it. ULEZ worries over and those things run for 10 years faultlessly. Problem is that you then apparently get masses of people frantically waving at you, smartphone in hand, thinking you are Jozef who has just arrived to pick them up. Or even occasionally just simply trying to get in. Or so a Prius-driving colleague informs me. |
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Post by racingteatray on May 1, 2019 13:24:13 GMT
Are you near Car Giant? When I have had friends who are undecided I generally take them to Available Car - where all the cars are unlocked and you could have a look around. Magazine reviews are all bot size is xxx litres but it can still be an odd shape. Yup, have suggested that. |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 17:44:18 GMT
In my opinion they should just bite the bullet, buy a Prius and get on with it. ULEZ worries over and those things run for 10 years faultlessly. Problem is that you then apparently get masses of people frantically waving at you, smartphone in hand, thinking you are Jozef who has just arrived to pick them up. Or even occasionally just simply trying to get in. Or so a Prius-driving colleague informs me. I one pulled up outside a local shop and two girls started to get in the car thinking I was the taxi they'd ordered. I was driving a 3 door hatchback. Thick twats! |
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Post by racingteatray on May 2, 2019 11:03:43 GMT
They may have ruled out the BMW because of her inability to get comfortable but we know that's nonsense - it's more to do with her inability to get to grips with BMW's rather idiosyncratic seat height adjustment, and by ruling out the 3 series Touring she is massively reducing their options as everything they are looking for is available on a 320i Touring auto. You may have had a bright suggestion.
It turns out that they didn't try an automatic one with electric seats, so as we're seeing them at the weekend, it's been agreed that we'll bring my car around and she can then see if she can get the seat and wheel adjusted to a comfortable level, on the basis that there will be precious little difference between a 4GC and 3 series Touring.
I thought this 320i xDrive looked good (dripping with FG including electric seats):
bit.ly/2ItdzG7 |
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Post by PetrolEd on May 2, 2019 11:18:31 GMT
Silver trim and beige is a bit of a no no but otherwise spot on. Can you change the inlays on a 3 series or is it expensive?
If they have a baby see how they get on with getting the child in and out of the car as everytime I get little Ed in and out of the 3 series I hit his head on the roof trying to contort him through the small gap. Hence we know want an SUV
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Post by racingteatray on May 2, 2019 11:32:51 GMT
Silver trim and beige is a bit of a no no but otherwise spot on. Can you change the inlays on a 3 series or is it expensive? If they have a baby see how they get on with getting the child in and out of the car as everytime I get little Ed in and out of the 3 series I hit his head on the roof trying to contort him through the small gap. Hence we know want an SUV Silver and beige isn't my choice either, but it's not for me!
I have made the point about an SUV being easier with kids. It fell on deaf ears. Still lunch might be the occasion to re-make the point.
If we had children, I do think something like an X3 M40i would be above a 340/540 estate on my list, although my wife is normally a committed SUV-hater.
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Post by Tim on May 2, 2019 12:11:06 GMT
Isn't that quite steep for a 4 year old, even though it has fallen the full length of the option tree?
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 2, 2019 14:39:54 GMT
Isn't that quite steep for a 4 year old, even though it has fallen the full length of the option tree? It does seem a bit steep but I found the equivalent petrol 320s seem to be more expensive than the diesels at the moment - up to £2k - probably due to diesel demand being suppressed at the moment. The interior is Oyster Leather, which is nice with the Mineral grey. Although it's an M-Sport it won't have the M-Sport suspension as that is deleted for x-drive cars meaning it will be a bit more comfortable on our shite roads. The only options I can see are the electric seats. |
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Post by racingteatray on May 2, 2019 15:07:37 GMT
It has what I should think was £6-7k's worth back in 2015:
MSport Plus Package
The nicer 19" alloys (not the standard MPP ones)
Media Package - Professional
Electric seats with driver memory
Panoramic glass sunroof
Electric folding wing-mirrors
Electric folding tow-bar
Reversing camera
Xenons
High-beam assist
Only significant spec omission in my view is heated seats. And obviously the aluminium trim.
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Post by Tim on May 2, 2019 15:46:00 GMT
I didn't know x-Drive cars had the M-Sport suspension deleted.
Makes me wonder how uncomfortable it would be with it fitted!
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Post by johnc on May 2, 2019 17:05:42 GMT
I didn't know x-Drive cars had the M-Sport suspension deleted. Makes me wonder how uncomfortable it would be with it fitted! XDrive cars have the standard suspension and ride about 1/2 an inch higher due to making room for the extra set of driveshafts - that's why I had adaptive suspension on mine because it stiffens it up again when pushing on. |
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Post by racingteatray on May 7, 2019 10:29:14 GMT
Well the test-sit in my 4GC with the electric seat and steering column adjusted properly did the trick. We found her a driving position she was comfortable with and where she could see over the steering wheel clearly without a cushion. They also like the memory function which allows you to programme each key with a different driver profile to avoid needing to adjust the seats each time. It's invaluable - I'm 5'10 and my wife is barely 5'3 (and I think they might be 5'11 and 5'1) - I'm always amused to unlock the car after my wife has used it and see the seats motoring around by itself.
So 3-series Tourings are back on the list.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 7, 2019 11:52:49 GMT
Well the test-sit in my 4GC with the electric seat and steering column adjusted properly did the trick. We found her a driving position she was comfortable with and where she could see over the steering wheel clearly without a cushion. They also like the memory function which allows you to programme each key with a different driver profile to avoid needing to adjust the seats each time. It's invaluable - I'm 5'10 and my wife is barely 5'3 (and I think they might be 5'11 and 5'1) - I'm always amused to unlock the car after my wife has used it and see the seats motoring around by itself. So 3-series Tourings are back on the list. I better stop posting as I'll probably have a nose bleed if I have more than one bright idea a year. They're like Halley's Comet. |
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Post by johnc on May 7, 2019 16:19:43 GMT
Does the 4 series GC have electric memory seats as standard across the range or will they need to consider a 3 litre or well specced 2 litre?
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Post by racingteatray on May 7, 2019 17:44:07 GMT
Does the 4 series GC have electric memory seats as standard across the range or will they need to consider a 3 litre or well specced 2 litre? I do not know to be honest.
But they need a 3-series Touring as they have a two year old and another baby on the way, which is why they need to size up from the A3.
I only took my car around so she could try out an F30-series BMW with electric seats because we took the view that the seating position in a 4GC and a 3-series Touring will be materially identical (or if anything it would be lower in the 4 compared to the 3).
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Post by Big Blue on May 7, 2019 22:17:36 GMT
Countryman Cooper must be in with a shout.
The GC will be plenty spacious and more suave.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 8, 2019 7:28:50 GMT
Countryman Cooper must be in with a shout. The GC will be plenty spacious and more suave. Actually, the 3 Series GT would be even more spacious, slightly higher seating position for a short arse, and AWD. Less suave though. |
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Post by Tim on May 8, 2019 7:59:43 GMT
MUCH less suave!
There appear to suddenly be a lot of them in grey with basic sized alloys and no privacy glass though.
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Post by racingteatray on May 8, 2019 8:55:03 GMT
Countryman Cooper must be in with a shout. The GC will be plenty spacious and more suave. I suggested a Countryman as my very first idea. However, they've already been to see one and decided that it isn't spacious enough.
And having poked around my GC, they've said the same - I think the boot's broadly the same size in terms or width and length but you completely lose the height and it's not particularly deep. Plus the back of a 4GC might be fairly comfortable once you're in there (provided you are of medium stature), but it's not that easy to get in and out of - the trick is to drop the frameless glass so that you have more room for manoeuvre. I can imagine that getting a small child in and out via a child seat would be less easy than it could be.
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