Persuade me not to replace our C5 3.0hdi X7 tourer with a CLS 350D shooting brake

[Bamboozled]

Having had a couple of E-class estates (on which CLS is of course based) I would say the grass is not always greener although I totally understand your itch for a change. I would say try and get a drive in a CLS to see what you think of it? A few points:
1. Merc is of course rwd which changes the steering feel, making it lighter/less corrupted.
2. Merc suspension not as good despite the air.
3. Servicing costs higher.
4. Reliability poorer.
5. Transmission tunnel and higher boot floor means less room inside.

[Jay-Bruce]

Those are some very good points, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me

1. RWD - my daily is a 635d, so the RWD steering feel is something I really miss when I drive the C5, but the X7 is primarily my wife's car, and drives too mumsily to appreciate the difference.

2. Suspension - I'm aware I might be losing a bit of comfort with the CLS, but there's four suspension options available for the CLS, which in ascending order of comfort I think they are:
Front steel + Rear air sport tuned
Front air + Rear air sport tuned
Front steel + Rear air comfort tuned
Front air + rear air comfort tuned

I'd be aiming for a model with full airmatic ideally comfort tuned, so I'd hope that would be as comfy, or possibly even more so than the C5?

3. Service costs - These aren't as much of an issue for me, as I've got a fully equipped workshop with both a 2 & 4 poster ramp etc, so I'd only be going to the dealer once every two years to keep the 30 year body corrosion warranty alive.

4. Reliability - Our C5 is on ~180,000 miles, I'd be looking for a low mileage CLS, so I'd reckon the two would balance out factoring distance travelled vs latent reliability?

5. Trans. Tunnel - The cabin intrusion of the transmission tunnel on the estate isn't much if any worse than that of the XJR that I used to run.

For all I seem to have my heart set on the CLS, it's still very much an if and maybe, I mean it's recently crossed my mind that our eldest will be driving in about 18 months time (where does the time go?) which changes the calculus for car purchases, as maybe it's best to wait a couple of years to change her car? Another factor in the car calculus that is being refactored is that for all she's aye said she needs a big boot for all the shopping, yet half of the C5's boot capacity is permanently taken up with shopping bags stuffed full of more shopping bags. Even that remaining half-a-boot manages to get a full-to-the-gunnels supermarket trolley load into it (~240L vs the boot's 533L), so we're both wondering does she really need such a big car? One of my best mates is an Audi guy, particularly their quattro AWD models, and swears by A6 Avants, he was recommending an A4 or A6 Avant, but given the size comments above, we're contemplating an A3 sportback. And given the eldest will be doing the school run for a couple of years, does the A3 need to be a diesel, or could it be an S3? Another thing that's changing the calculus is I've had my BMW in my workshop for a couple of months, which should have been a few weeks of work were it not punctuated by a couple of offshore trips, and during that time I've been cutting about in the C5, and it's gotten under my skin again, so I'm less motivated to change it now.

So, yeah; a CLS still an option, but one that is under consideration and not necessarily a pressing priority...

[Jay-Bruce]

OK, sorry to necro an old thread, but its just an update, of all things, we're going to replace the C5 with...

...actually let's have a little French Car Forum fun, GUESS - let's run a sweepstake, y'all can chime in and guess what car we're replacing the C5 with, if anyone nails it I'll pay their £10 forum fee

[Sloppysod]

........

• I'd be aiming for a model with full airmatic ideally comfort tuned, so I'd hope that would be as comfy, or possibly even more so than the C5?.....

..

• Our C5 is on ~180,000 miles,....

• that time I've been cutting about in the C5, and it's gotten under my skin again, so I'm less motivated to change it now.

Not sure how the game will play out, and what your finances are but Dacia Sandero.....for the eldest

No really another Citroën, either a C5-X for you or just a C4 for the daughter and her shopping

[Jay-Bruce]

Sorry Stu, but none of your three guesses are right. No it's not a Dacia Sandero, undoubtedly much to the disappointment of James May, it's also not a no C5-X nor a C4...

[Rp0thejester]

That's simple, you'll be a Burk in a Merc

[Rp0thejester]

Please tell me your getting an Ami!!!!

[MattBLancs]

Now you've got the pipe connectors sorted would seem daft to step away from hydropneumatics so seems only logical to jump up to a C6, no? and additionally a C1 for the young driver?

I remember you talked of swapping around sphere pressures to get a "super comfort" C5, but sounds an equally joyful challenge to try to do the same improvements for its bigger brother. Plus it has extra capabilities to it's suspension, so would give even more parameters to play with! (Variable damping I think - darvan or whatever it's called!)

[MattBLancs]

That's simple, you'll be a Burk in a Merc

[Hell Razor5543]

The Citroen GT? If you are, you will need ear protection when it starts up.

[mickthemaverick]

Or even:

BFTW

[bobins]

I'm going a bit leftfield - I reckon he's getting a 1930s Delahaye just because he can

[mickthemaverick]

Taking into account the new driver requirement I'll go for a Peugeot 2008 GT-Line

Something like this:

BFTW

Details here

[Rp0thejester]

Taking into account the new driver requirement I'll go for a Peugeot 2008 GT-Line

Something like this:



Details here

Nah, no way he'd go from a Citroen to a PUG, that's like going from Tottenham to Arsenal!! Actually that would be an upgrade. It's like going from Arsenal to Tottenham!!

[Jay-Bruce]

@Rp0thejester - negative merc, so not a berk, well at least not for driving a merc, I drive a BMW 635d - take out that what you will... and MOST DEFINITELY NOT an Ami

Now you've got the pipe connectors sorted would seem daft to step away from hydropneumatics so seems only logical to jump up to a C6, no? and additionally a C1 for the young driver?

I remember you talked of swapping around sphere pressures to get a "super comfort" C5, but sounds an equally joyful challenge to try to do the same improvements for its bigger brother. Plus it has extra capabilities to it's suspension, so would give even more parameters to play with! (Variable damping I think - darvan or whatever it's called!)

By the time the dust settles, I'll have been at home for two weeks in 12, and I've spent a significant amount of that time on the C5; oh yeah, new shinies...

2x new rear wheelbearing hub assemblies, which were absolutely gunnelled with grease before installation:

New drilled and grooved discs, mintex pads and the previous black caliper paint (black car) sanded back, and recoated to "refresh" the finish:

I only finishd fitting the brakes literally half an hour ago, will be back at it tomorrow when the caliper paint has dried to fit the wheels and do battle with that undertray. Or I mightmug off the undertray and go out with my mate for a few beers earlier... Beers? Untertray? The Citroen's probably not going to like the way this is debate in my head is going

The Citroen GT? If you are, you will need ear protection when it starts up.

Now... THAT!!! is something I would get rid of my beemer to accommodate. Sadly, even if they were available to buy, it would be somewhere in the region of half my projected lifetime earnings.

I'm going a bit leftfield - I reckon he's getting a 1930s Delahaye just because he can

Dagnamit - why did you have to mention one of the few cars that's more lefty than what Missus Jay is getting to replace her Citroen C5...?

I've aye thought the 3008's were sharp-looking motors, but her next motor isn't one of "ours", or our pugly cousins creations.

I'm glad we've got a few playing this game now, it's fun... I did something like this in another car forum where I kept the forum guessing which original, official, long out of production accessories I'd bought this time. Sunroof roller blinds caused absolute chaos