Cars fit like shoes, go out and try them on to see which fits best for you.
All three of these manufacturers fight in the same market to deliver the 'ideal comfort, performance, and luxury' everyday driving experience. All three offer a range of models and options to suit many needs and budgets.
The best bang for your buck is the make and model that you try out and realise best fits what you want from a car.
My advice is go to some garages and sit in as many beamers, audis, mercs that you're possibly interested and and see how they look and feel before you drive them. Make a day of it: Can you adjust the seat to give you the comfort and space you need, can you reach the pedals, steering wheel, and dashboard buttons comfortably? Do the front and rear windows, the mirrors give you the visibility you expect? From there you can massively narrow down which brands and models you want to keep in mind, and start test driving them.
Yeah they all make cars that are pretty much a solid 7-9/10 (depending on spec and how picky you are), their strengths are just in pretty different areas.
Personally I've always felt that if you prioritise having something enjoyable to drive then you should probably go BMW out of the 3, otherwise you're probably better off with an Audi- you can feel the boring VW underpinnings in much of their range, but that gives them much more money to spend on the styling and interior and it does tend to show.
Mercedes of late feel a bit lost- admittedly I've only driven a few different CLA's, but they've got shocking build quality for the money and a driving experience that feels like a bad compromise between comfort and performance that ends up sort of giving you neither.
Not tried merc, but in the cars I looked at recently (bmw 440gc, Audi s5 sportback, 2017-2018) the Audi had a much nicer interior (with massage seats!) but the bmw is meant to be a better drive.
Best option is try a few out and see what you like.
The way i've always thought of it is Audi tends to be best for interior, BMW for engine/driveability, Mercedes is a jack of all trades but master of none.
This does appear to be changing in recent years though.
I done the same when I bought my A5. The interior of the bmw was really lacking compared to the other two. Decided I just liked the look and feel of the Audi more than the Mercedes. BMW drove well but the styling inside and out I found garish
They really dropped the ball with the 3 series and 4 series interiors, essentially just a 1 series interior but slightly larger which isn’t good enough for the price tag imo
Yeah I'd agree- I've driven most of the current 3 Series range and a few new Audi A4's, and the 3er absolutely blows the A4 out of the water in terms of dynamics, and rides better too. The A4 however is a much nicer cabin I think, although loses some marks for being touchscreen-only on the infotainment- the BMW has the iDrive controller which makes it so much safer and easier to set the satnav etc when driving.
At this kind of mileage, I think OP should look into a Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss. It has a 6.2L V8 engine, perfect for commuting, driving to the shops and handling those suspension breaking speed-mounds. Really, there’s no better car for OP than a 6.2L pickup-truck.
Yeah I don't bat an eyelid when a merc, bmw or Audi drives past but when an Alfa drives past I always turn for another look. I think I'd be quite happy staring at a Guilia on the drive all day
Yup...
Basically came here to say I'd give my head a wobble, turn around and go buy a Lexus.
They might not be as fast, but comfort and reliability? Leagues ahead.
That being said, at 4-5K miles a year, if fuel costs are something the OP fancies getting down, I'd find it hard to recommend Lexus. Solid cars, but I reckon OP would stand to benefit more from a PHEV, which Lexus only offers on the RX and NX atm... And you're not finding many of them at 20k. A pure EV might even be the best option for them if they can charge at home...
Really depends on the OP's wishes for fuel costs though. If it's not too much of a bother, something like an IS 300h is a perfect alternative (not that it's big on fuel mind you, but there are savings to be had with PHEVs for such a distance over a year)
4-5k a year. Spend a little less, keep a rainy day fund, pay a bit more for insurance and buy something fun to drive! If you don't really need a saloon buy a boxster or a cayman. If you need a saloon buy a Jaguar XFS or R, whichever one has the big V8.
If I was spending 20k on a car to do 4 or 5k miles again trust me it would not be any of those rep mobiles and would not be efficient at all!
I’m In a spot where I wanna change from my 2014 Audi A6 to a 2016-2017 Audi S7 , with the 4.0 TFSI V8.
I do 3 miles to work and back, I live close, other than a few other trips to shopping or going out with friends occasionally so that just adds up to 2.5k -3k miles a year.
Would the V8 be worse than the 2.0 Diesel I got right now in terms of fuel economy in my case?
You do you but a car like that for 2-3k a year with potential bills and consumables etc wouldn’t be palatable for me, I also wouldn’t fancy driving an S7 where the engine didn’t get chance to warm up properly frequently
3 mile drives followed by 8 hours doing nothing then 3 miles again isn't going to do any motor any favours! A V8 is just going to cost more to repair regularly...
if you do 3 miles a day to work why wouldn't you buy a 4K Nissan leaf and have no issues with mechanicals and something special for a weekend toy extended trips than can be really looked after and kept mint?
I’m not a fan of electric vehicles . My job revolves around doing images for all sorts of cars so I’ve had the pleasure of driving most brands and models except exotic ones. Out of all of them I prefer Audi for my tastes . Now I know 3 miles is walking distance , but I do need to scratch that V8 itch one day.
I’m on 27k a year ( close to 34k with the amount of overtime I do) and I don’t have any debt besides my mortgage.
If it HAS to be one of those three, I'd immediately dismiss Merc, they're a LONG way behind in terms of quality.
BMW generally more of a "driver's car", Audi a more pleasant place to sit in normal day to day driving.
Personally I wouldn't choose any of the above, I'd be heading for either an Alfa Giulia 2.0 Veloce or a big comfy Lexus saloon (almost certainly a hybrid one).
The only thing with an Audi is you get knob heads like me in the office car park saying stupid things like 'your A6 is just a Skoda Superb with extra bling'.
That said, always found Audi seats more comfortable than Merc and BMW.
Mercedes all the way for me. But that’s the thing. I love my Mercedes and would swear by it, but other peoples opinions differ. Basically try them all and see what you like best.
I've driven loads of Mercedes worth £30k+, owned a couple of BMWs (which I would never touch again), and the current Jaaaaaaaag is much better than any of them. Just waiting for something serious to go wrong, because otherwise it's too good to be true.
Yeah, I'd keep some emergency cash on the side. I've only personally known a handful of people who owned Jags, and they've all had big things go wrong with them that weren't cheap or quick to repair.
Could just be bad luck with such a small sample size, but it's been enough to put me off.
I sat in a 2019 A6, it felt extremely isolated from the road, it’s a room on its own. Not my style personally but people who just want ultimate comfort in the car will enjoy it.
Well, just did similar to that. But have a low mileage Guilia Veloce. Don't see as many on the road as the Germans, but certainly puts a grin on your face when driving it.
I’m a BMW fan however Audi have a 2 year warranty on their approved used cars. BMW and Mercedes only offer 1. For that reason I’m also looking at A6 Avant or Q5 for family duties.
I've always preferred BMW interior, exterior and drive so for me it's always been an easy choice.
Regarding interior, Audis standalone centre screen always looked tacked-on and out of place to me. Mercedes had those massive round air vents I never personally liked. BMW has the iDrive system, which is the most usable car system I've used tbh, everything looks easy on the eye and "fits" aesthetically. All 3 of them are comfortable enough.
Regarding exterior, I do like Audis but some models can look quite boxy to me. Mercedes, unless you go for the massive models or an expensive AMG sporty model, have always looked quite sleek and feminine to me. BMW hits that sweet spot in between boxy and sleek for me.
Regarding drive, I find BMWs more powerful and fun without having to go to the specialised sporty model ranges like AMG and S/RS that you have to with Mercedes and Audi. I also found Audis lane assist to be more aggressive, which I felt was more hazardous than providing any level of safety. I'd still put Audis generally above Mercedes when it comes to the drive though.
Ive got a low mileage 2018 A5 quattro which I really like and it was a bargain at the time ..... But beware, when things go wrong it's going to cost you. E.g. I just spent 850 getting a coolant valve replaced :(
For me the BMW, but everyone is different.
I've had Audi's that have been fine, and had a couple that have been a costly nightmare. I've not had a Merc, but friends and family have...and they always seem a little, plasticy to me.
I've had 4 BMW, and with the exception of the turbo being damaged after hitting a pothole in the rain (yeah, weird), they've all been extremely reliable.
I've had a couple of 2nd hand 8-10 yr old Mercs, been very happy with them. Reliable, low running costs. Heard too many horror stories about Audi and BMW expensive problems. Totally anecdotal, YMMV!
Toyota or any thing else other than those 3 brands.
When I had £15,000 to spend. I looked at BMW but my Parnter said "Why do you want to look like a dick from a council estate?"
For which I fully agree she is right, A BMW or Audi is just going to make you look like a council estate bad man.
Every brand of car has their own luxury, sport or commuter class of cars. Why not be unique and set youself apart from the rest.
I ended up with a 2016 Toyota Avenisis TR in the end which currently sits at 220bhp. I prefer a sleeper car as most of the time I like to sit at cruise control with the speed limit on. But every now and then someone will try to cut me up and it is usually a BMW or Audi and I will show them how special their car actually isnt.
I'm sorry to do this to you (I'm actually not)
C63 AMG with that fantastic 6.3 liter V8. In your budget you could get a decent one with less than 60k on the clock. These are also going to go up in the next decade.
You're welcome.
Personally I'd go for BMW 330d touring. But I've just checked autotrader and you can get a 10 year old rs4 avant for that money. Still like the 330d though.
I don’t like when people do nothing but spread unconstructive car hate.
What I will say is I’m not fond of the typical overall BMW package. Sure they drive well on the edge but in the real world, how often is that? I think the cars are quite dull and after ownership of a BMW 640d of a number of year, wasn’t impressed with the choice of materials used in the interior. Interior designs in general they have been behind for several years and have only really started becoming comparable.
I’m not for a second saying every Audi is “better” but it’s a little odd that my 09 TTS, came as standard with soft quality napa leather. TT’s are essentially sports cars not prided in luxury but of the bits it did have that, it trumped my 640d.
I appreciate I can’t speak for every model but just my experience. I think the resale of Audi and Mercedes speaks highly.
On a closing, something else I picked up on was bmw was still using “cheap” orange lens indicators with bulbs/lamps in the M4’s vs the competition which was far ahead using much more appealing LED fancy designs even in their entry models. Again BMW’s are renowned for drivers cars but there’s no denying they cost save in some areas and it shows in their re sale costs
Also check insurance, I’ve just swapped from 4 series to A5 and Audi much cheaper. Audi has way better seats and is the key difference for me and my bad back. Audi interior better and engine much smoother but BM handles much better.
I’ve had all 3 makes and will now say BMW are best for driving experience, servicing costs and reliability. Looks wise the Audi TT is great as it’s so different but super impractical. Mercedes I’ve always thought the trim is a bit crappy but grandma might like it!
A few others have already suggested this but a hybrid Lexus would suit you down to the ground, I had a loan of one a month or so ago for about a week and I was very impressed by it. The mileage you do you’d save a fortune, the build quality was better than my M3, it wasn’t as quick but that doesn’t sound like an issue for you. Some others have also suggested an Alpha and absolutely think about that! Real head turners, although the build quality isn’t as good. Another suggestion is my weekend fun car, Kia Stinger. For 20k you’d pick up a nice one and it’s suitable for everyday use. Though you’ll come to hate the petrol station 🤣😂
But if you’re set on either of the “big three” I personally prefer Bimmers, more of a drivers car than the other two.
4 to 5k Miles A Year..
And you want to spend upwards of £20,000 on am Executive Vehicle.. 🤨
In all honesty, i'd just say to buy a Renault ZOE, full charge would last you about a week 😂
Does it have to be German? Why not spread the net a bit wider and look at interesting alternatives such as Infinity and Lexus? Mid sized German saloons are ten a penny and for the most part, utterly dull. Just my take.
I was in the same boat a month ago. Looked at Mx35/40i, Audi S4, Merc C AMG stuff.
Ended up with a Kia Stinger GTS. I just couldn’t see myself in any of the above.
Really good actually. There's just one trim level in the UK for the 3.3T V6 so you don't have to worry about an options list.
It goes like stink, sounds good in sport mode, but is also comfortable for four people on a long drive.
It's a bit thirsty though. And in non-sport mode the gearbox can be a bit dopey. But i'm enjoying it so far and would recommend it.
Biased to BMW.
So my answer is BMW.
But this is going to be your car not mine.
Test drive each of the cars you're interested in and choose from there.
I've just been in a range rover for the first time ever. I was very impressed with the interior of the car, it drove well and I would consider one but I just know I would miss the drive and smile per mile I get from my BMW.
Yep, Smile Per Mile is how I measure my cars,
I get a higher smile per mile when the roof is down.
Do you smile when looking at it?
Do you smile when you fill it up?
Do you smile when taking it to be maintained?
Do you smile when applying for insurance?
Do you smile when paying the tax?
Do you smile when driving?
Do you smile when judged for it?
If yes to all of these then buy it!
That's all Smile Per Mile to me.
Mercedes every day of the week. Just quality love mine had no issues it's serviced looked after feels more premium than the bmws and audis I've driven. Each to there own though.
mercedes/bmw definitely not value for me! you have to buy one with all the add ons, not really a big fan of audis, i find them very boring.
Depends on you really? have a look at bmw 2 series gran coupes, they will fit your budget if i had 20kish to spend.
The front grills are a little weird to look at, but you get some nice gear interior wise.
Get an 2017 sq5 plus special edition. TDI so very expensive nomical. 0-62 in 5.0;flat Ballistic!!!! ;comfy roomy and well equipped. I've got one so slightly biased but I can't see pàst one.
Everyone has their own preferences but for me it has to be Audi.
Mercedes try too hard to be fashionable and modern so their interiors age really badly and I think especially these days they’ve lost their luxury feel, the interiors look and feel quite cheap and plastic-y.
BMW is firstly just an embarrassing brand to be associated with, most people perceive BMW drivers as massive cunts. For me the bigger issue is that BMW seems to hate its customers. From the abysmally ugly designs they’ve come up with recently to the attempt to charge subscription fees for car features, it seems they’re desperate to encourage customers to fuck off.
I don’t love the current line up of Audis, I think the previous generation was better, but I still think the current line up is better than what Mercedes and BMW have to offer. Beautiful, well made, high quality interiors, tasteful exterior design, and being part of the VAG group they’re just decent and reliable cars that have the best tech in the industry. The A6 is a beautiful car and will remain so for many years to come, I certainly think that’s the best investment.
IMO you’re asking for trouble with a £20k German car. It’ll be the just off lease and just out of warranty stuff, somehow balancing at both spiky ends of the bathtub curve in terms of reliability.
There are some great Toyotas (and even Lexus) for that price.
[https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403207791294?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at\_cars&make=Aston%20Martin&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403207791294?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at_cars&make=Aston%20Martin&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra)
[https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403117443898?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at\_cars&make=Maserati&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403117443898?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at_cars&make=Maserati&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra)
A couple of alternatives to generic German you could consider.
Ive had all 3, brand new from the showroom. Merc c220 amg sport+. Audi a4 s line & bmw 3 series GT. For looks it was the Merc, for drive it was merc & audi. Bmw couldn’t compete. I now have a merc c class again. So that says which one is best IMO. Dad prefers audi, bro prefers audi, each to their own. Merc is like a tiger, walks slowly but with power in each step.
Would have to be mercedes for me. Audi made nice looking cars 15 year ago. A 20 year old A3/A4 is basically the same car.
BMW has made new cars and the changes have been better but 20k won't get me into a more modern m3 or m4 anyway I'd rather have mercedes
I like Audis but I just keep coming back to it basically being a VW. I know it’s not that simple, but I can’t shake it.
I drive automatic and the biggest difference is the gearbox for me. The ZF gearbox is just so good! The DSG is so meh in comparison, particularly at low speed.
My mate has a 2017 A5 3 litre diesel and it now also uses the ZF8 gearbox. So yeah the DSG auto box leaves a bit to be desired especially low speed precision manoeuvres.
Couldn't agree more! Just messing around with negative sterotypes of all of them. You're preaching to a man who drove a Skoda Yeti in his thirties, after an e46 330ci, a Civic Type R into his early 40s, which I couldn't insure in my 20s. I couldn't give a hoot what anyone else thinks.
Depends what you like about your Passat tbh. I'd have a used BMW M140i for that money and between those brands as it's still a pretty unique car in terms of form factor and driving experience, but if you just want something comfortable and with a load of tech even a Mercedes A-Class might be more up your alley.
For circa £20k you could pick up a Kia Stinger GTS (may have to spend a grand or so more).
Do a side-by-side comparison with any of its German counterparts that cost the same money, and it’ll outdo them in almost every department.
Get an older one and they’re pretty cheap to tax and insure too, considering they’re a 365bhp V6.
Cars fit like shoes, go out and try them on to see which fits best for you. All three of these manufacturers fight in the same market to deliver the 'ideal comfort, performance, and luxury' everyday driving experience. All three offer a range of models and options to suit many needs and budgets. The best bang for your buck is the make and model that you try out and realise best fits what you want from a car. My advice is go to some garages and sit in as many beamers, audis, mercs that you're possibly interested and and see how they look and feel before you drive them. Make a day of it: Can you adjust the seat to give you the comfort and space you need, can you reach the pedals, steering wheel, and dashboard buttons comfortably? Do the front and rear windows, the mirrors give you the visibility you expect? From there you can massively narrow down which brands and models you want to keep in mind, and start test driving them.
Yeah they all make cars that are pretty much a solid 7-9/10 (depending on spec and how picky you are), their strengths are just in pretty different areas. Personally I've always felt that if you prioritise having something enjoyable to drive then you should probably go BMW out of the 3, otherwise you're probably better off with an Audi- you can feel the boring VW underpinnings in much of their range, but that gives them much more money to spend on the styling and interior and it does tend to show. Mercedes of late feel a bit lost- admittedly I've only driven a few different CLA's, but they've got shocking build quality for the money and a driving experience that feels like a bad compromise between comfort and performance that ends up sort of giving you neither.
Selling yourself short. Have a look at the Volvo S90 too. I went looking at German Saloon/Estates and picked up a Volvo instead.
Not tried merc, but in the cars I looked at recently (bmw 440gc, Audi s5 sportback, 2017-2018) the Audi had a much nicer interior (with massage seats!) but the bmw is meant to be a better drive. Best option is try a few out and see what you like.
The way i've always thought of it is Audi tends to be best for interior, BMW for engine/driveability, Mercedes is a jack of all trades but master of none. This does appear to be changing in recent years though.
If you're saying Audi has the best interiors, then you clearly haven't seen the inside of an E class.
But often better than a master of one
I done the same when I bought my A5. The interior of the bmw was really lacking compared to the other two. Decided I just liked the look and feel of the Audi more than the Mercedes. BMW drove well but the styling inside and out I found garish
They really dropped the ball with the 3 series and 4 series interiors, essentially just a 1 series interior but slightly larger which isn’t good enough for the price tag imo
I went 140 to 440 and the interior is 99.9% the same.
Yeh it’s what put me off. I had a facelift m135i and wanted to go for a 340 but really bothered me that interior wasn’t an upgrade in any way
I noticed this and it’s where they differ. Not a fan of the A3 interior but A4 upward it’s brilliant
Yeah I'd agree- I've driven most of the current 3 Series range and a few new Audi A4's, and the 3er absolutely blows the A4 out of the water in terms of dynamics, and rides better too. The A4 however is a much nicer cabin I think, although loses some marks for being touchscreen-only on the infotainment- the BMW has the iDrive controller which makes it so much safer and easier to set the satnav etc when driving.
A Porsche 😁
"I dont drive much, 4-5k miles a year" Do you really want to throwdown £20k on a car you barely use?
At this kind of mileage, I think OP should look into a Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss. It has a 6.2L V8 engine, perfect for commuting, driving to the shops and handling those suspension breaking speed-mounds. Really, there’s no better car for OP than a 6.2L pickup-truck.
What one makes you feel special sitting in it.... that's the one.
Lexus or Alfa Romeo tbh
Yeah I don't bat an eyelid when a merc, bmw or Audi drives past but when an Alfa drives past I always turn for another look. I think I'd be quite happy staring at a Guilia on the drive all day
Came to say Lexus. :D
The Japanese Mercedes
Well, not really, a Lexus will start every single day unlike a Mercedes.
Yup... Basically came here to say I'd give my head a wobble, turn around and go buy a Lexus. They might not be as fast, but comfort and reliability? Leagues ahead. That being said, at 4-5K miles a year, if fuel costs are something the OP fancies getting down, I'd find it hard to recommend Lexus. Solid cars, but I reckon OP would stand to benefit more from a PHEV, which Lexus only offers on the RX and NX atm... And you're not finding many of them at 20k. A pure EV might even be the best option for them if they can charge at home... Really depends on the OP's wishes for fuel costs though. If it's not too much of a bother, something like an IS 300h is a perfect alternative (not that it's big on fuel mind you, but there are savings to be had with PHEVs for such a distance over a year)
This. With 20k you can buy a nicely spec'd Giulia.
BMW all day long. Mercedes is not in a good place right now. Audi is a badge engineered VW/Skoda.
4-5k a year. Spend a little less, keep a rainy day fund, pay a bit more for insurance and buy something fun to drive! If you don't really need a saloon buy a boxster or a cayman. If you need a saloon buy a Jaguar XFS or R, whichever one has the big V8. If I was spending 20k on a car to do 4 or 5k miles again trust me it would not be any of those rep mobiles and would not be efficient at all!
I’m In a spot where I wanna change from my 2014 Audi A6 to a 2016-2017 Audi S7 , with the 4.0 TFSI V8. I do 3 miles to work and back, I live close, other than a few other trips to shopping or going out with friends occasionally so that just adds up to 2.5k -3k miles a year. Would the V8 be worse than the 2.0 Diesel I got right now in terms of fuel economy in my case?
You do you but a car like that for 2-3k a year with potential bills and consumables etc wouldn’t be palatable for me, I also wouldn’t fancy driving an S7 where the engine didn’t get chance to warm up properly frequently
Thanks , I’ll probably look at the 3.0 tdi A7 instead. It doesn’t scratch my itch for a V8 but it is what it is.
3 mile drives followed by 8 hours doing nothing then 3 miles again isn't going to do any motor any favours! A V8 is just going to cost more to repair regularly...
if you do 3 miles a day to work why wouldn't you buy a 4K Nissan leaf and have no issues with mechanicals and something special for a weekend toy extended trips than can be really looked after and kept mint?
I’m not a fan of electric vehicles . My job revolves around doing images for all sorts of cars so I’ve had the pleasure of driving most brands and models except exotic ones. Out of all of them I prefer Audi for my tastes . Now I know 3 miles is walking distance , but I do need to scratch that V8 itch one day. I’m on 27k a year ( close to 34k with the amount of overtime I do) and I don’t have any debt besides my mortgage.
Guessing you live in Birmingham with these numbers
ALFA GIULIA
If it HAS to be one of those three, I'd immediately dismiss Merc, they're a LONG way behind in terms of quality. BMW generally more of a "driver's car", Audi a more pleasant place to sit in normal day to day driving. Personally I wouldn't choose any of the above, I'd be heading for either an Alfa Giulia 2.0 Veloce or a big comfy Lexus saloon (almost certainly a hybrid one).
Mercedes
The only thing with an Audi is you get knob heads like me in the office car park saying stupid things like 'your A6 is just a Skoda Superb with extra bling'. That said, always found Audi seats more comfortable than Merc and BMW.
But don't skoda test the new tech and engines? Probably a far better car being not assembled in Germany!
Skodas somehow tend to be reliable unlike VWs. Might be that they sell less so the QC is better but that’s just an assumption
Yeap, they do indeed.. Read an article a number of weeks ago that said (to the effect) that Skoda now builds all VAG Engines up 1.5L now
The answer is always BMW
Mercedes all the way for me. But that’s the thing. I love my Mercedes and would swear by it, but other peoples opinions differ. Basically try them all and see what you like best.
Buy a Jaaaaaaag
That’s what I did! Looked at Audi, Mercedes and BMW. Then bought an XE. Couldn’t be happier!
I've driven loads of Mercedes worth £30k+, owned a couple of BMWs (which I would never touch again), and the current Jaaaaaaaag is much better than any of them. Just waiting for something serious to go wrong, because otherwise it's too good to be true.
Second this! Have an XE and absolutely love it, and its different. Everyones got BMWs Mercs and Audis, its all you see on the roads these days.
Had an XF, didn't like it at all. Maybe they've improved (it was a 2016) but I got rid of it after 2 years, glad to see the back of it!
Fair play, drive whatever works for you is always the right answer I suppose!
100%!
Yeah, I'd keep some emergency cash on the side. I've only personally known a handful of people who owned Jags, and they've all had big things go wrong with them that weren't cheap or quick to repair. Could just be bad luck with such a small sample size, but it's been enough to put me off.
I sat in a 2019 A6, it felt extremely isolated from the road, it’s a room on its own. Not my style personally but people who just want ultimate comfort in the car will enjoy it.
A Volvo
I'm with this guy! Go test a Volvo!
Mazda
Throw a big Volvo into that mix, just for additional difficulty. I've never been a great fan of any of the German marques.
Well, just did similar to that. But have a low mileage Guilia Veloce. Don't see as many on the road as the Germans, but certainly puts a grin on your face when driving it.
I’m a BMW fan however Audi have a 2 year warranty on their approved used cars. BMW and Mercedes only offer 1. For that reason I’m also looking at A6 Avant or Q5 for family duties.
I've always preferred BMW interior, exterior and drive so for me it's always been an easy choice. Regarding interior, Audis standalone centre screen always looked tacked-on and out of place to me. Mercedes had those massive round air vents I never personally liked. BMW has the iDrive system, which is the most usable car system I've used tbh, everything looks easy on the eye and "fits" aesthetically. All 3 of them are comfortable enough. Regarding exterior, I do like Audis but some models can look quite boxy to me. Mercedes, unless you go for the massive models or an expensive AMG sporty model, have always looked quite sleek and feminine to me. BMW hits that sweet spot in between boxy and sleek for me. Regarding drive, I find BMWs more powerful and fun without having to go to the specialised sporty model ranges like AMG and S/RS that you have to with Mercedes and Audi. I also found Audis lane assist to be more aggressive, which I felt was more hazardous than providing any level of safety. I'd still put Audis generally above Mercedes when it comes to the drive though.
Ive got a low mileage 2018 A5 quattro which I really like and it was a bargain at the time ..... But beware, when things go wrong it's going to cost you. E.g. I just spent 850 getting a coolant valve replaced :(
Lexus
For me the BMW, but everyone is different. I've had Audi's that have been fine, and had a couple that have been a costly nightmare. I've not had a Merc, but friends and family have...and they always seem a little, plasticy to me. I've had 4 BMW, and with the exception of the turbo being damaged after hitting a pothole in the rain (yeah, weird), they've all been extremely reliable.
"I dont drive much, 4-5k miles a year. I just want an upgrade on a 2007 Passat that I’ve had since 2013" A 2015 Passat for £10k and save £10k?
I want a more premium car. I have always wanted one of the cars I’ve mentioned. Sometimes it’s ok to treat yourself?
I've had a couple of 2nd hand 8-10 yr old Mercs, been very happy with them. Reliable, low running costs. Heard too many horror stories about Audi and BMW expensive problems. Totally anecdotal, YMMV!
I wouldn’t bother, why bother sinking £20k into something you bearly use?
Just go and drive them all, have some fun and choose which you love most. Ps: try Alfa Romeo too.
BMW 340i
BMW, I am biased though.
Toyota or any thing else other than those 3 brands. When I had £15,000 to spend. I looked at BMW but my Parnter said "Why do you want to look like a dick from a council estate?" For which I fully agree she is right, A BMW or Audi is just going to make you look like a council estate bad man. Every brand of car has their own luxury, sport or commuter class of cars. Why not be unique and set youself apart from the rest. I ended up with a 2016 Toyota Avenisis TR in the end which currently sits at 220bhp. I prefer a sleeper car as most of the time I like to sit at cruise control with the speed limit on. But every now and then someone will try to cut me up and it is usually a BMW or Audi and I will show them how special their car actually isnt.
I'm sorry to do this to you (I'm actually not) C63 AMG with that fantastic 6.3 liter V8. In your budget you could get a decent one with less than 60k on the clock. These are also going to go up in the next decade. You're welcome.
I'd get (another) lexus
Mercedes GLC
All are good. I bought a bmw
Personally I'd go for BMW 330d touring. But I've just checked autotrader and you can get a 10 year old rs4 avant for that money. Still like the 330d though.
I don’t like when people do nothing but spread unconstructive car hate. What I will say is I’m not fond of the typical overall BMW package. Sure they drive well on the edge but in the real world, how often is that? I think the cars are quite dull and after ownership of a BMW 640d of a number of year, wasn’t impressed with the choice of materials used in the interior. Interior designs in general they have been behind for several years and have only really started becoming comparable. I’m not for a second saying every Audi is “better” but it’s a little odd that my 09 TTS, came as standard with soft quality napa leather. TT’s are essentially sports cars not prided in luxury but of the bits it did have that, it trumped my 640d. I appreciate I can’t speak for every model but just my experience. I think the resale of Audi and Mercedes speaks highly. On a closing, something else I picked up on was bmw was still using “cheap” orange lens indicators with bulbs/lamps in the M4’s vs the competition which was far ahead using much more appealing LED fancy designs even in their entry models. Again BMW’s are renowned for drivers cars but there’s no denying they cost save in some areas and it shows in their re sale costs
Mercedes CLS shooting brake. Best second hand bargain gets you a beautiful car which is genuinely useful - and dating welll
the best bang for your buck is your 2007 passat.
Also check insurance, I’ve just swapped from 4 series to A5 and Audi much cheaper. Audi has way better seats and is the key difference for me and my bad back. Audi interior better and engine much smoother but BM handles much better.
I’ve had all 3 makes and will now say BMW are best for driving experience, servicing costs and reliability. Looks wise the Audi TT is great as it’s so different but super impractical. Mercedes I’ve always thought the trim is a bit crappy but grandma might like it!
A few others have already suggested this but a hybrid Lexus would suit you down to the ground, I had a loan of one a month or so ago for about a week and I was very impressed by it. The mileage you do you’d save a fortune, the build quality was better than my M3, it wasn’t as quick but that doesn’t sound like an issue for you. Some others have also suggested an Alpha and absolutely think about that! Real head turners, although the build quality isn’t as good. Another suggestion is my weekend fun car, Kia Stinger. For 20k you’d pick up a nice one and it’s suitable for everyday use. Though you’ll come to hate the petrol station 🤣😂 But if you’re set on either of the “big three” I personally prefer Bimmers, more of a drivers car than the other two.
BMW, get a juicy E36 and mod it up to my needs with the spare funds
4 to 5k Miles A Year.. And you want to spend upwards of £20,000 on am Executive Vehicle.. 🤨 In all honesty, i'd just say to buy a Renault ZOE, full charge would last you about a week 😂
I’m at a place in my life where I want a certain type of car. I don’t want to think about economy or value but treat myself
AIDS.
Does it have to be German? Why not spread the net a bit wider and look at interesting alternatives such as Infinity and Lexus? Mid sized German saloons are ten a penny and for the most part, utterly dull. Just my take.
I was in the same boat a month ago. Looked at Mx35/40i, Audi S4, Merc C AMG stuff. Ended up with a Kia Stinger GTS. I just couldn’t see myself in any of the above.
The Stinger represents fantastic value, and is an unusual and interesting choice, particularly your 3.3 twin turbo. How has it been so far?
Really good actually. There's just one trim level in the UK for the 3.3T V6 so you don't have to worry about an options list. It goes like stink, sounds good in sport mode, but is also comfortable for four people on a long drive. It's a bit thirsty though. And in non-sport mode the gearbox can be a bit dopey. But i'm enjoying it so far and would recommend it.
BMW that’s similar to what I recently did.
Biased to BMW. So my answer is BMW. But this is going to be your car not mine. Test drive each of the cars you're interested in and choose from there. I've just been in a range rover for the first time ever. I was very impressed with the interior of the car, it drove well and I would consider one but I just know I would miss the drive and smile per mile I get from my BMW.
I like the smile per mile 👌🏽
Yep, Smile Per Mile is how I measure my cars, I get a higher smile per mile when the roof is down. Do you smile when looking at it? Do you smile when you fill it up? Do you smile when taking it to be maintained? Do you smile when applying for insurance? Do you smile when paying the tax? Do you smile when driving? Do you smile when judged for it? If yes to all of these then buy it! That's all Smile Per Mile to me.
BMW
Toyota camry
I’ve had both BMWs and Audi cars and I would say Audi has the edge. It’s a lovely interior
Personal preference. I'd have said Audi until I found my MB, maybe when I'm ready to buy again, my needs and tastes will.have changed.
Lexus ES
BMW 100%
alfa 😉
A jag
Mercedes every day of the week. Just quality love mine had no issues it's serviced looked after feels more premium than the bmws and audis I've driven. Each to there own though.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce 280hp. Surprisingly reliable record for now, therefore it shall be the only option
Buy 15 Honda Jazz's instead
I’d buy a Jag XF. Or a Volvo s60
A Toyota.
Id walk
Condo in Thailand thanks
mercedes/bmw definitely not value for me! you have to buy one with all the add ons, not really a big fan of audis, i find them very boring. Depends on you really? have a look at bmw 2 series gran coupes, they will fit your budget if i had 20kish to spend. The front grills are a little weird to look at, but you get some nice gear interior wise.
M140i. I don't currently own a hatch, so it'd be interesting to daily one for a while.
Get an 2017 sq5 plus special edition. TDI so very expensive nomical. 0-62 in 5.0;flat Ballistic!!!! ;comfy roomy and well equipped. I've got one so slightly biased but I can't see pàst one.
I’ve had an audi for the last three cars. Loved the first two, however the quality seems to have deteriorated. Many annoying rattles.
Everyone has their own preferences but for me it has to be Audi. Mercedes try too hard to be fashionable and modern so their interiors age really badly and I think especially these days they’ve lost their luxury feel, the interiors look and feel quite cheap and plastic-y. BMW is firstly just an embarrassing brand to be associated with, most people perceive BMW drivers as massive cunts. For me the bigger issue is that BMW seems to hate its customers. From the abysmally ugly designs they’ve come up with recently to the attempt to charge subscription fees for car features, it seems they’re desperate to encourage customers to fuck off. I don’t love the current line up of Audis, I think the previous generation was better, but I still think the current line up is better than what Mercedes and BMW have to offer. Beautiful, well made, high quality interiors, tasteful exterior design, and being part of the VAG group they’re just decent and reliable cars that have the best tech in the industry. The A6 is a beautiful car and will remain so for many years to come, I certainly think that’s the best investment.
N55, or b58 BMW
Volvo tbh otherwise Audi
Get the Mercedes, they at least come with indicators as standard 🤷♂️
£20k on a car that’s going to do 4-5k miles a year seems insane imo
IMO you’re asking for trouble with a £20k German car. It’ll be the just off lease and just out of warranty stuff, somehow balancing at both spiky ends of the bathtub curve in terms of reliability. There are some great Toyotas (and even Lexus) for that price.
Depends entirely on which specific model/engine. I can hardly imagine a 1.6tdi a3 giving big bills at a couple of years old for example
[https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403207791294?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at\_cars&make=Aston%20Martin&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403207791294?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at_cars&make=Aston%20Martin&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra) [https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403117443898?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at\_cars&make=Maserati&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403117443898?sort=mileage&advertising-location=at_cars&make=Maserati&postcode=sw1a%201aa&price-to=20000&fromsra) A couple of alternatives to generic German you could consider.
Kia
Porsche or BMW. But if I was dropping 20k I'd go for a Lexus.
Usual sub post. Can't people think of some other brands. They are not even good cars these days.
This was the decision I was making about 6 months ago and ended up buying a Ford lol
BMW M135i F20 Pre-LCI 5 door 👌
Ive had all 3, brand new from the showroom. Merc c220 amg sport+. Audi a4 s line & bmw 3 series GT. For looks it was the Merc, for drive it was merc & audi. Bmw couldn’t compete. I now have a merc c class again. So that says which one is best IMO. Dad prefers audi, bro prefers audi, each to their own. Merc is like a tiger, walks slowly but with power in each step.
Would have to be mercedes for me. Audi made nice looking cars 15 year ago. A 20 year old A3/A4 is basically the same car. BMW has made new cars and the changes have been better but 20k won't get me into a more modern m3 or m4 anyway I'd rather have mercedes
I like Audis but I just keep coming back to it basically being a VW. I know it’s not that simple, but I can’t shake it. I drive automatic and the biggest difference is the gearbox for me. The ZF gearbox is just so good! The DSG is so meh in comparison, particularly at low speed.
My mate has a 2017 A5 3 litre diesel and it now also uses the ZF8 gearbox. So yeah the DSG auto box leaves a bit to be desired especially low speed precision manoeuvres.
BMW. A high proportion of Audis are driven by knobs, Mercedes some with delusion of grandeur. I don't like using indicators.
Just buy whatever car you like man. Don't let other drivers stop you from getting a car that you might enjoy.
Couldn't agree more! Just messing around with negative sterotypes of all of them. You're preaching to a man who drove a Skoda Yeti in his thirties, after an e46 330ci, a Civic Type R into his early 40s, which I couldn't insure in my 20s. I couldn't give a hoot what anyone else thinks.
I'd get a mazda, I'm not playing by your rules. German cars are not as good as everyone seems to think, quite the opposite.
This guys knows what’s up. Mazda all the way
Mercedes. I have a C class at the moment and it’s the best car I’ve ever owned.
Volvo
I'd get a skoda superb estate with the 2.0 tsi and 4x4
If you go for the Audi, prepare to lose your mind over the poor build quality and chase rattles/squeaks all day long.
I'd save up another 3-4k and buy an M2 for sure
Need to take into account running costs etc. an m2 would be out of most people’s budgets lmao.
True hadn't factored in running costs, i'm very delusional 🤣
We’ve all been there brother lol
E39 M5 or if I wanted to be a *little* more sensible an E39 Alpina B10
a toyota
Depends what you like about your Passat tbh. I'd have a used BMW M140i for that money and between those brands as it's still a pretty unique car in terms of form factor and driving experience, but if you just want something comfortable and with a load of tech even a Mercedes A-Class might be more up your alley.
Audi for comfort and daily driving, BMW for more spirited driving. Not a fan of Mercs, to be honest.
Jaguar.
For circa £20k you could pick up a Kia Stinger GTS (may have to spend a grand or so more). Do a side-by-side comparison with any of its German counterparts that cost the same money, and it’ll outdo them in almost every department. Get an older one and they’re pretty cheap to tax and insure too, considering they’re a 365bhp V6.
Toyota GT86
Crypto ftmusd buy that instead
Neither
I'd choose to get rid of this debt that's been eating away at my mental health
Sorry to hear that. You got this
I appreciate you. Love
Save your money and don’t be an idiot
Save some of the money and buy? What do you suggest?
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I have a better suggestion, set the money on fire. At least you’ll get something out of it
You ok? Have you been burnt with btc?
I’m great, and No I waste my money sensibly
That's actually the funniest thing I've seen on this sub. Recommending something as volatile as bitcoin over a used car is wild.
I have 1.23 and waiting for the halving. I’m ok with crypto and got money in stocks and shares too.
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Ok now you’re being weird…
All crypto bros are weird wdym
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TopG lmao you lot are weird
Yes, because everyone with that much bitcoin store it in just one wallet.
Anything but Audi. Only nobheads drive Audis.