greg_r

LMAO! :D :D btw - thanks for the thought on the C class, but I think the E class is more 'me'. (Yes, I'm getting old lol). I share your view on SUVs though - not only are they unnecessary, but most of 'em handle like a wardrobe on a skateboard. If I wanted a truck, I'd buy a Mack Anyhoo - will be out a good part of today giving the AMG a trial. I think I might just be going a little too far OTT , but at least I've finally decided on a Benz - whether this or something a little more sensible..

he's got it already. Here

That would be you.

Me too. Good IWC

Yes, I did want a 2-3 litre. I got carried away. So sue me... No intention of racing it - far too big and heavy for a track car, but a whole lot of fun on country roads. Great car though. Comfortable, quiet, supremely relaxing to drive and goes like stink. A jet-propelled gentleman's club on wheels. Love it. I'll see how the fuel consumption goes over this weekend, but I'm in love...

For John and Oscar:

So this is the winkie thread?

Gen MMD. Schweeeeeeeeet Nicest watch I've seen all week.

Sometimes it's better not to know, Doc

Lucky sod.

You would know this how? I agree btw

you forgot the mayo and the rubber chicken

Thanks, Shundi Nope, Infiniti isn't available over here. Other than the 350Z and the new GTR (which is out of my price range, otherwise we'd not be having this conversation as I wouldn't be looking at anything else) there's not much upmarket available from Nissan over here. I've driven the RX8 - very nice car and a real bargain, but if I'm going to be sensible, I should go for a proper 4-seater (the RX is more of a 2+2). I'm 99.9% decided on acting my age and buying a Benz Speaking of which, before I start drinking, I think I need to go have a quick blat around the local lanes in the AMG.... back in a while

fixed

Yup - Benz lost the plot for a couple of years, but they seem to have gotten their mojo back post 2004 - this thing just oozes quality. Hopefully quality is back where you could put 250k miles on a Merc without worrying about it (I did close to that in my first - an '80s 230TD estate). It'll be interesting to see what the economy is like on this AMG, though - I'm told I should expect to be pleasantly surprised provided I don't drive it with a lead foot. I'll confess I looked at an 'S' class on the forecourt. Gorgeous thing, but I think it's going just a little too far for me - it would be easily the most upmarket car in the parking lot at work and I don't like to be quite that conspicuous (especially given that we are a charity). The AMG, however, just looks like another E-class and would fit in with the BMWs & Audis driven by some of my colleagues.

I have a confession to make. My current car (the one with added tree) is a 2.5l Vectra. It started off as a company car. After about a year of running it, the company decided they weren't going to do company cars any more (which was fine by me - the tax penalties are painful) so offered the car to me at a ridiculously good price. It wasn't my sort of car, but the price was too good - I bought it and have been running it ever since (it's now 4 years old - unusual for me as I normally replace my cars every 2-3 years). Yes, whilst it's fairly quick (quicker than you might expect) it isn't exactly dynamic to drive, but it's well screwed together (better than the Saab 9-3 Aero I had before it), 100% reliable and has been a good workhorse - it hasn't given a day's trouble in the 80,000-odd miles I've done in it so far. It's probably the least flashy, fun or interesting car I've owned in 25 years, but although it bores me to death, respect is due - they're a LOT better than their reputation suggests. However, boredom gets... err.... boring - and I'll admit that I'm also a car snob - hence sensible is going out the window and I'm returning to my penchant for slightly more interesting machinery =]

Absolutely. :D

fixed

no. next question?

LOL. What 4-door car don't they use as taxis these days? I've seen Beemers, Audis, Jags, Mercs, you name it. Anyhow, as you might gather, that was a quick test drive. The dealer and I got in the E280 diesel. I turned the key. We both listened to the agricultural clatter for a minute, looked at each other and shook our heads. Didn't even bother to drive it. Been a loooong time since I drove a diesel Merc, and I'd hoped they'd gotten a lot better. They're certainly quieter than they were, but it still sounded like a tractor... The AMG E55 is a blast, though I've got it for the weekend and I'll see how I get on with it. He's had it in stock for a while, so I could probably get a good discount. Given that I don't have the decision from the insurance company, despite their promises to do something about it today, I guess final decisions will have to wait but at least I've got something nice to drive for the weekend. The car dealer says he thinks he's got a regular petrol E-class coming in fairly soon, so I might hold off and try that too.

John was just kidding around, but amen! Even without taking the manufacturing process into account, the Prius is little more than a marketing exercise. A friend is into electric vehicles and owned a Prius for a while. Dreadful thing to drive. Anyhow, she did one of these 'local rally' type things for charity a while back - a whole day following clues around the local winding (and hilly) country lanes. She got 20mpg! A friend and I also did the same rally in his VW Passat. We got 26mpg.

Death first. Not even that economical - if I really _had_ to get 60mpg (which actually, the Prius only does under ideal conditions), there are cheaper, better ways of doing it. VW Polo, small Fiat, whatever. My mother drives a Fiat Seicento - gets 70mpg without really trying and it's a riot to drive - much like the original mini.

ROFLMAO!!!!!!! At least that'd stop 'em bugging me for a while.....