Need a daily cruiser - opinions?

[rd070707]

So I am in need of a daily cruiser to do big miles in but fed up with the lack of comfort in the 306. 

So options I have considered:

307 HDI
407HDI
Merc e220 cdi
bmw 320d e46

Any experiences/ opinions? Not sure about the 1.6 hdi in the 407 tbh

[toseland]

407/bmw/merc all reasonable and comfy mile munchers..

also consider, Skoda Octavia, PAssat, A4/6,

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personally i would recommend the V70 or XC70 in D5 variant, and also the V50 (i owned this one) , in either the 2.0D (Ruan has one) and/or the D5 spec.. the 2.0 is 138bhp and perfect, the D5 is 180(if i remember) and smooth as silk, sounds great, and they are both quite bomb proof.

the V50 is a lovely car, comparable in comfort to any BMW, if you can get the SE spec, with optional xenons, and high spec sound system its lovely.. Trim levels are excellent, they are roomy and comfy.. If you get a "sport" ore more recently the Rdesign ones (with the 18inch wheels, lower profile tyres, etc) the comfort is reduced a little bit, but handling and performance are improved.

the V50 we had was 88k from new, FSH (volvo specialist) absolutely top top SE sport spec and only cost £5000

mum has the 1.6 eco thingy blue/green/red HDi in a 308 SW and its lovely, smooth, pokey, and returns a million mpg almost...

[rd070707]

as far as the 1.6 hdi I hear turbo failure is common? or is this overplayed?

[THE_Liam]

Done 200 miles today in my 406, couldn't complain for comfort...

[adam b]

Saab 9-5, Volvo V70. A world more comfy than a 406 (had 3) and some are even rapid. Better economy in the Saab as a rule even though it's heavier

[Matt]

406 hdi or the 407 IMO

[ConorTRG]

I wouldnt bother with the 1.6hdi.

Octavia's as said are a very comfy car to do big miles in.

[Toms306]

as far as the 1.6 hdi I hear turbo failure is common? or is this overplayed?

The 1.6 looks good on paper... A lot of tech has gone into it for efficiency which is pretty intersting... But it's all been wasted and is irrelevant in real life lol. MPG is pretty poor - you can have a 15 year old PD150 doing the same or better!! Low end torque is good but theres not enough top end for me, which is daft considering it's VNT. So basically what you're left with is loads of potential problems, turbo is one but that's usually down to poor maintenance, but you also have problems with EGR and DPF etc which can't really be avoided. Don't assume motorway miles keeps an eolys DPF clean, it doesn't.

If I was you I'd go for the 2.0 HDi in the Volvo/Focus/407, you'll pay more in tax but I don't see the MPG being any worse and you'll get more power and possibly more gadgets (6 speed box and rear discs on the Focus for example). Or go VAG but of course you have to pay a bit more for equivalent.

[silverzx]

e90 320D. £2,500'ish for a high miler with FSH.

[THE_Liam]

If you want comfort you can't go wrong with a Xantia. Plenty of late HDIs available and hydropneumatic suspension is like nothing else for comfort.

[swampy]

I've just done a three hundred Mile trip in my saab 9 3 soaked up the miles with ease

[ArmzSC6]

I've got a PD150 in my Leon mapped to 190bhp 300ftlb torque and it eats miles does 50mpg and goes like stink.....

[MY95]

407 Coupe 2.7 HDI V6 Auto (Same engine that is used in Jag XF's etc) look beautiful, great cruiser and comfy, efficient and quick.

[Niall]

Depends entirely on your budget? From my own experience, an octavia is a good shout. Basic, not going to tear the world apart but very very comfy and mine was dead reliable considering how i drove it!
Also any older Saabs. Again, nothing particularly special about them but they normally fly, very very comfy (think the seats in my 9-5 were the comfiest I've ever sat in) and reliable. And they are dead cheap for what you get because everyone thinks you can't get parts for Saabs any more (which is completely wrong btw)

[ArmzSC6]

Saabs are a LOT of kit for very little money I just wouldn't trust the Fiat engine they use yuck! Same 150 lump as in the vauxhalls and Alfas. Tonnes of EGR, inlet manifold / flaps, injector, turbo, cam belt, carbon problems and loads of others.... Get quite a few cars in at work with that engine and they don't go as well as even a 130PD engine really. Noisy as hell too.

Ovlovs are a good shout. Ones with the PSA engine especially.

Wouldn't touch a 407 personally their a bit of an electrical nightmare like most newer French cars.

[Niall]

Yeah thats why i say the older ones. Mind, the GM/Saab engines aren't TOO bad. I think its only the very late Saabs where they just plucked a engine out of a vectra and stuck a different badge on top of it

[Poodle]

Sod anything peugeot from the 07 range and above, beemers are a bad idea if you want something comfy too.

Another vote here for a saab or volvo. Nothing wrong with the 1.9 engine besides idiots not maintaining them properly tbf.

[silverzx]

Why you say that Poodle (in regards to BMW comfort), the newer e90's all that bad?

[Ruan]

Yeah thats why i say the older ones. Mind, the GM/Saab engines aren't TOO bad. I think its only the very late Saabs where they just plucked a engine out of a vectra and stuck a different badge on top of it

Were like that from about 1999! Saab never had their own diesel.

From 2002 the GM Ecotec motor replaced the Saab H motor - 2009 was the last Saab H engine in the 9-5 from memory.

Not to say the Ecotec is that bad, it's not at all - it's just not the legendary H engine.

[1616six]

I thought my E90 was a very comfy drive.

Although, my Astra J is comfier than the E90.

Astra ftw.

[Ruan]

E90s IME are fine unless in MSport trim in which case it's seemingly license for them to go "let's totally f*ck the suspension up and sell it for more money!"

But yes, even grandad specs are pretty harsh in comparison to others out there.

[1616six]

E90s IME are fine unless in MSport trim in which case it's seemingly license for them to go "let's totally f*ck the suspension up and sell it for more money!"

But yes, even grandad specs are pretty harsh in comparison to others out there.

I agree with this really.

Mine was an SE spec (pov spec) on RFTs, it was comfy as in the seats were comfy on a long journey, but the suspension/tyre setup wasn't quite as good as some.

My Astra on the other hand is actually decent, nice high seating position, SRI seats hug you, suspension is spot on.

[Toms306]

Sports spec cars are always uncomfortable tbh. Anything with GTi/SRi/Zetec etc I've found pretty rough. Hence going for old lady specs myself lol, Meridian, GT, Design, Titanium ftw.

Comfort is very personal though, I find my Mums Swift SZ4 awfully uncomfortable due to the solid seats and low profile tyres... But she doesn't have any problem with it at all! If you're after comfort you really need to try the cars yourself rather than relying on other peoples perception of comfort. I even find the Focus gets uncomfortable when the fuel's getting low, much nicer with over half a tank.

[powerandtorque]

Sports spec cars are always uncomfortable tbh.  Anything with GTi/SRi/Zetec etc I've found pretty rough.  Hence going for old lady specs myself lol, Meridian, GT, Design, Titanium ftw.

As you say it's somewhat of a personal thing, but I certainly wouldn't universally say anything with "sports" suspension is uncomfortable.

The French for example were typically very good throughout the 80's and 90's of making hot hatches and sports saloons that retained excellent ride quality thanks to a combination of well judging spring/damper combinations and sensibly sized wheels and tyres. I think the single most comfortable long distance car I've ever owned was my 405 SRi - Peugeot got the comfort and control balance absolutely bang on with that

Ze Germans on the other hand seem to be largely useless at making their cars ride well on British roads, not helped in the slightest by having marketing-led massive wheels with very low profile tyres. I'm sure that they work well enough on the smooth tarmac they have in Germany, but they don't on a typical rutted and broken British B-road.

As an aside, I do find it somewhat bemusing that the OP has a 306 - a car well renowned for having a class-leading balance of comfort, handling and poise as standard - and has proceeded to completely screw up the comfort (and no doubt handling) element by slamming it on its a**e and fitting big wheels, only to then bemoan the lack of comfort and seek out another more comfortable car...

[Poodle]

Exactly as above, tbqfh.

[RetroPug]

You can rid a 306 of a lot of rattles with sound deadening and damping.

[bashbarnard]

You can rid a 306 of a lot of rattles with sound deadening and damping.

Mine doesn't even rattle.

Apart from on idle

And slow driving

And b road driving

And motor miles

And sometimes when turned off when bits fall off.

[cpikey316_]

My Accord was super comfy, and the diesel engine was GOOD!

Just a shame about the exhaust manifold!!

[Niall]

Antony has hit the nail on the head tbh. Modern cars (especially German ones) Are all about looks. Yeah, a car may look good on 19" wheels (no, a 306 doesn't though ) but on our roads, we just don't want this. It makes for something very crashy and bumpy. Yeah, on that small section of resurfaced B road, its amazing but lets be honest, how often do we come across that?

[Toms306]

Massive wheels aren't all about looks. In a lot of cases its for efficiency (mpg/emmisions). Bigger rolling radius with less sidewall flex and eco tyres... Problem is then they have to stick tall springs on to have any sort of comfort which makes it look like an off roader, ruining the original aesthetics! Its the same with most modern new cars now, arch gap everywhere!