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[LouisCorney]

Hello again guys.  

After selling my old elite I'm now searching for a new car, but would like to hear your opinions and experiences. The cars I'm looking at to replace the omega are:

MV6
Mercedes C Class (230 kompressor)
BMW 5 series (528i or similar)

Would like manual (hence MV6), rear wheel drive saloon with decent spec and performance. These all seem to fit, but are there any others I have overlooked? Insurance is also an issue so preferably not much bigger engine-wise.

Which is the better out of the above, in terms of both performance and handling? Looking for something a bit sportier now I don't do so many motorway miles, for the which the barge was perfect  

Thanks in advance for any of your collective automotive wisdom  

[omegaV6CD]

Beemer and Merc are both a joke. The Merc doesn't handle nice sounds like s**t and it is styled for 2 decades ago, the beemer is OK performance wise with serious engine durability issues and less interior space than a seicento. MV6 is the answer my friend

[Admin]

Merc and BMW are just too damn expensive for what they are.

I would find a nice manual MV6 and then tinker with it a little....

Few other RWD cars around.

Front wheel drive Saab 9000 Aero is strongly recommended though. Try one, I think you will be entertained!  

[sounds2k]

Front wheel drive Saab 9000 Aero is strongly recommended though. Try one, I think you will be entertained!  

I drove a mate's 9000 which was one of the last made so had the Aero engine fitted, joined the M1 from Newport Pagnell services and some oik in a paxo thought he'd give it some welly, so I did too ... needless to say he failed to keep up, lol

they are rather rapid when on full boost

[Admin]

Front wheel drive Saab 9000 Aero is strongly recommended though. Try one, I think you will be entertained!  

I drove a mate's 9000 which was one of the last made so had the Aero engine fitted, joined the M1 from Newport Pagnell services and some oik in a paxo thought he'd give it some welly, so I did too ... needless to say he failed to keep up, lol

they are rather rapid when on full boost

That is in standard form... simple remapping of the ecu results in them becoming stupidly fast!  
I used to work with a guy who had a stage one conversion (upped to 260bhp).
The acceleration on it was phenomenal!

[amigov6]

Hello again guys.  

After selling my old elite I'm now searching for a new car, but would like to hear your opinions and experiences. The cars I'm looking at to replace the omega are:

MV6
Mercedes C Class (230 kompressor)
BMW 5 series (528i or similar)

Would like manual (hence MV6), rear wheel drive saloon with decent spec and performance. These all seem to fit, but are there any others I have overlooked? Insurance is also an issue so preferably not much bigger engine-wise.

Which is the better out of the above, in terms of both performance and handling? Looking for something a bit sportier now I don't do so many motorway miles, for the which the barge was perfect  

Thanks in advance for any of your collective automotive wisdom  

;)Merc no. Saab fwd. Bmw not bad, you know the answer..........

[Markjay]

This is the one to have, and the right colour too (spotted this morning in my area):

[Markjay]

...but the next best thing is Omega  

[LouisCorney]

So the BMW and Merc aren't rated too highly then?  :-? Did like the idea of a supercharger though  

If I could get insurance for it I would have a 540i or M3 straight away.

Seems I've been suckered in by their reputation; entirely why I wanted to pick your brains  

Also fancied a bit of a change and a more sportier car - thinking of which should I consider roadsters/ pure out and out sports type cars? Are there any decent, cheap ones out there?

Don't fancy FWD much, how does the Saab handle/feel with so much power through the front?

How fast is an MV6 - not on paper but in the real world? How much difference does the Mtek chip make?

Sorry for all the questions again  8-)

[Markie]

for me 540 yes, m5 yes, c43 amg yes

But anything in the 2.5 to 3litre area id go for the MV6 3.0 or 3.2  

[tunnie]

i'd quite fancy a one of the last shape Jaguar XJ's......

4.0 Supercharged V8, gets to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and thats stock figures!

Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120105221534&rd=1&rd=1

[Markie]

i'd quite fancy a one of the last shape Jaguar XJ's......

4.0 Supercharged V8, gets to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and thats stock figures!

Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120105221534&rd=1&rd=1

me too   but then its the build quality   was also reading about range rovers the other day and some part that can cost up to 8grand to repair....cant remember what it was, some kind of electronic module. So thats been pushed of my list!!

[tunnie]

i'd quite fancy a one of the last shape Jaguar XJ's......

4.0 Supercharged V8, gets to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and thats stock figures!

Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120105221534&rd=1&rd=1

me too   but then its the build quality   was also reading about range rovers the other day and some part that can cost up to 8grand to repair....cant remember what it was, some kind of electronic module. So thats been pushed of my list!!

I did join a few forums.... the chains are the killers with them. £1,200 dealer job!  

Most forums said though, if you avoid main Jag dealers, they are not too bad to maintain! (like Omega and Vx Dealers)

I have seen Y reg (last of the olds) with around 60k miles go for 9k....

Some people say they are "old mans" cars, but 60 in 5.2??? 'dangle berries' to that i say!!!

[Markie]

i'd quite fancy a one of the last shape Jaguar XJ's......

4.0 Supercharged V8, gets to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and thats stock figures!

Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120105221534&rd=1&rd=1

me too   but then its the build quality   was also reading about range rovers the other day and some part that can cost up to 8grand to repair....cant remember what it was, some kind of electronic module. So thats been pushed of my list!!

I did join a few forums.... the chains are the killers with them. £1,200 dealer job!  

Most forums said though, if you avoid main Jag dealers, they are not too bad to maintain! (like Omega and Vx Dealers)

I have seen Y reg (last of the olds) with around 60k miles go for 9k....

Some people say they are "old mans" cars, but 60 in 5.2??? 'dangle berries' to that i say!!!

Hmmmmm may look again at them then Tunnie - very very sleek and hellishly fast  

[tunnie]

They are very tempting, have to speak to some owners to gauge a true running cost.

Not sure how easy acess is to trade parts with them  :-/

Might be worth going to a dealer, and saying how much is a disc and pad set on trade / retail .... then compare to Vx.

Should give a rough indication of running cost differences.

[Taxi_Driver]

Beemer and Merc are both a joke. The Merc doesn't handle nice sounds like s**t and it is styled for 2 decades ago, the beemer is OK performance wise with serious engine durability issues and less interior space than a seicento. MV6 is the answer my friend

SLK is fine imo....you are comparing a 4 pot to a V6....no comparison noise wise....but the supercharger makes it behave like a V6  

[Admin]

So the BMW and Merc aren't rated too highly then?  :-? Did like the idea of a supercharger though  

If I could get insurance for it I would have a 540i or M3 straight away.

Seems I've been suckered in by their reputation; entirely why I wanted to pick your brains  

Also fancied a bit of a change and a more sportier car - thinking of which should I consider roadsters/ pure out and out sports type cars? Are there any decent, cheap ones out there?

Don't fancy FWD much, how does the Saab handle/feel with so much power through the front?

How fast is an MV6 - not on paper but in the real world? How much difference does the Mtek chip make?

Sorry for all the questions again  8-)

Advertising is a powerful tool Louis.

BMW and Mercedes... you are paying so much more for the badge... and the spares!

Supercharged Jag. Mmmm!
As others have said, hellishly fast (consumption is too). Downside is build quality and hideously complex electrics.

There are very few RWD sportier cars right now. It costs more to make them and people are used to FWD.

Nissan 200sx or 300zx. Toyoata Supra (1993>)? All RWD and rather rapid!
May take a bit of time to find an unmolested example.

The Saab only really gives away the FWD weakness of torque steer when taking off from a standing start.
In real world driving it is stunningly quick with good handling in standard form and easily modified.
Pick one without the troublesome traction control system (TCS) though.
Oh and in Aero form it has the best seats ever put into a car!

How fast is the MV6?
Against the cars mentioned above? Well you would not want to race them!
Difference is they are all turbocharged or supercharged so big differences in power.
What the MV6 does have in its favour is, it is cheap, handles well (especially with tweaks to the suspension), is comfortable, relaxed and has the best support network!

The Mtek chip makes a noticeable difference. It makes it more responsive from starting off and at the top end of the rev range and is a highly recommended upgrade.

Ultimately it is a question of how much you have to spend (include insurance costs here) and what you will be doing with the car?

[Martin_1962]

and people are used to FWD.

This is true - in our first house a neighbour had a Nova 1.3 and wanted something quicker - yet he was terrified of my Sunbeam - 300cc bigger and about 45-50bhp more - why - because it was RWD, he just scared of RWD transmission despite my best education attempts.

[LouisCorney]

So the BMW and Merc aren't rated too highly then?  :-? Did like the idea of a supercharger though  

If I could get insurance for it I would have a 540i or M3 straight away.

Seems I've been suckered in by their reputation; entirely why I wanted to pick your brains  

Also fancied a bit of a change and a more sportier car - thinking of which should I consider roadsters/ pure out and out sports type cars? Are there any decent, cheap ones out there?

Don't fancy FWD much, how does the Saab handle/feel with so much power through the front?

How fast is an MV6 - not on paper but in the real world? How much difference does the Mtek chip make?

Sorry for all the questions again  8-)

Advertising is a powerful tool Louis.

BMW and Mercedes... you are paying so much more for the badge... and the spares!

Supercharged Jag. Mmmm!
As others have said, hellishly fast (consumption is too). Downside is build quality and hideously complex electrics.

There are very few RWD sportier cars right now. It costs more to make them and people are used to FWD.

Nissan 200sx or 300zx. Toyoata Supra (1993>)? All RWD and rather rapid!
May take a bit of time to find an unmolested example.

The Saab only really gives away the FWD weakness of torque steer when taking off from a standing start.
In real world driving it is stunningly quick with good handling in standard form and easily modified.
Pick one without the troublesome traction control system (TCS) though.
Oh and in Aero form it has the best seats ever put into a car!

How fast is the MV6?
Against the cars mentioned above? Well you would not want to race them!
Difference is they are all turbocharged or supercharged so big differences in power.
What the MV6 does have in its favour is, it is cheap, handles well (especially with tweaks to the suspension), is comfortable, relaxed and has the best support network!

The Mtek chip makes a noticeable difference. It makes it more responsive from starting off and at the top end of the rev range and is a highly recommended upgrade.

Ultimately it is a question of how much you have to spend (include insurance costs here) and what you will be doing with the car?

Hmmm the more I read up on the Saab 9000 Aero the more tempting it becomes. I like the straight-line performance figures (better 50-70 than a Lamborghini Diablo   !!!???). How does the handling compare with the MV6? Is it even comparable? Can it be uprated/improved upon? Also, what power gains are easily available (e.g. chipping)?

The insurance is the same as an MV6! Most of my driving will be some motorway journeys to Derby (Aero seats seem ideal - but just how supportive are they for more vigorous driving?) and small commutes. After the Elite MPG doesn't concern me  

Is high-mileage a worry, even with full service history? Most seem to be bargains but either high mileage or no history. Any main faults other than the traction issues?

Again, sorry for all the questions Dave, but you do seem somewhat to be the authority on Saab around here  

(Oh, and suprisingly enough I couldn't get any quotes for the Jag/Jap cars mentioned   )

[Admin]

Handling is excellent but can be improved with poly ARB bushes front and rear and a change of shocks/springs.

The Aero seats are very good even for "vigorous" driving.

Mileage is not a big worry. Look for the following jobs to be done.

Timing chain (not a cheap job, generally required after 150k or so).

Head gasket. It will have gone at some point.

Gearbox work. NEVER buy an auto Aero! Gearboxes are not good enough.
Manuals are good, but generally require a rebuild at some point (the torque is what does it).

Avoid ones with the TCS system, it is both troublesome and damn expensive to repair!

Proper service history with regular oil and filter changes.

I would generally avoid the ones for sale on ebay. Concentrate instead on ones from these places.

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk

http://www.saabcentral.com

[M-Tek Performance]

The Merc 230 Kompressor is under powered and slow..

Only BMW's to get in the 5 series are a 540i (e39 with the 4.4 lump) and the M5's.

[ClarCE]

i'd quite fancy a one of the last shape Jaguar XJ's......

4.0 Supercharged V8, gets to 60 in 5.2 seconds, and thats stock figures!

Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120105221534&rd=1&rd=1

I drove to manchester from Newbury on Tuesday in this:



Needless to say I loved it..

Its a company car thats going at the end of the week (it was our MD's before he sold up and left), some of the features are amazing, heres a short spec:

 - 469 horsepower
 - 516 lb-ft. of torque
 - 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds!
 - Limited to 155MPH (which obviously I got no where near  )
 - £90'000    

It was a serious rush... it has it all, I especially liked the seats that mold to your body, they literally blow up on your left when going round a right hand bend, and visa versa - they also have massage function, and have 3 levels of heating and cooling - I want that for the meega!

Driving the Omega home after that from the office was not as special as it normally is