Bad time to buy a car. But guess what it is.

[Sundayjumper]

After all the times you gushed about how brilliant the old one was, I’m disappointed.

Old one? The CLS is great...

Old one, meaning "not-the-new-one". I was having a brain fart and couldn't remember exactly what you had atm

Given how much you've gushed about the CLS in the past I was surprised you're changing it. The A6 must be noticeably worse on fuel ?

[Jobbo]

Yes, I did gush about the old one. Hence buying exactly that model I had a nose around the new shape A6 and it really does nothing for me. The interior feels cheaper and I hate the touch screen for everything; I don’t like the looks inside or outside. Not surprising that C7 Allroads like mine sell immediately while the new ones languish on the forecourt.

Based on my historic knowledge of the A6, I think the economy may be slightly better on the Audi than the CLS. Will only be able to confirm with a direct comparison in the same use. Audi fuel tank is 73l to the Merc’s 82l, but since the low fuel warning in the Merc is so paranoid I’ve only ever got 76l in it. And the Merc trip computer is about 3mpg optimistic, so gives a bit of a false sense of the economy.

[Sundayjumper]

I had a nose around the new shape <XXXX> and it really does nothing for me. The interior feels cheaper and I hate <modern stuff>; I don’t like the looks inside or outside. Not surprising that <YYYY> like mine sell immediately while the new ones languish on the forecourt.

As said by every old person about every new model of every car ever

Audi fuel tank is 73l to the Merc’s 82l, but since the low fuel warning in the Merc is so paranoid I’ve only ever got 76l in it.

You're an engineer. You know full well that that fuel tank capacity is not a measure of fuel efficiency.

[dinny_g]

Nice choice Jobbo. Always like the look of an A6 Estate. Be interested to hear how it compares in real world with the CLS - I can’t remember your commute details but it’s too long for an Electric, isn’t it??

Our new house ( please God, exchange only a few weeks away) is only a few miles from the office and I’ll be 3 days from home, long term. I’ve been comparison pricing an EQC vs my current GLC300

We’ve decided not to renew the other half’s company car in Jan so the only doubt is we’d only have one car and it would be pure electric. I’ve included a few weeks rental of something like an Octavia Estate into the price and the break even point arrives at only 400 miles per month.

Plus, it’s not all about money. It’s about the Polar Bears, innit

[Jobbo]

You're an engineer. You know full well that that fuel tank capacity is not a measure of fuel efficiency.

I’ve also owned both and the Audi was more economical, from memory. I’ll be interested to know if that’s still the case with bigger wheels on this one and a different commute.

The tank capacity is important because I hate filling up, and doing it more than once a week is a pain. The Merc never quite managed a full week’s commute before a fill. The Audi won’t either, I’m sure, since I’m not going to run it down to 0l left. But we’ll see; at least I’ll still be able to fill it up completely at the unmanned pumps with a £99 limit.

Dinny, I’ve looked at electric but my commute is 70 miles each way and there’s nowhere to charge at work. Carwow’s test of the E-Tron and EQC got no more than 200 miles to completely empty from each; in winter, if I’m going to see a client during the day, it’s marginal whether I’d get home. So the only options were Tesla; the Model 3 won’t fit a bike and a Model S is ~£55-60k for a £20k mile 100d. I ran the figures through work, considered the depreciation and likelihood that company car tax will go up during my ownership and decided to buy what I wanted instead.

[dinny_g]

Yeah, Electric really isn’t the right choice for you is it. I’ve a 2 mile commute and the only business trips I do is to visit a supplier, 3 miles away.

[Jobbo]

I’d really like it to be - would totally remove the annoying stops to fill up with diesel.

If Teslas depreciated like other EVs I’d get a Model S.

[Gavin]

Looks spookily familiar but I do remember you enjoying the car. I guess the Allroad is a bit more forgiving on crappy British roads?

Audi 6 dervs are meant to be more parsimonious than the Mercs aren't they? I can get mine just over an indicated 40mpg on a run and is averaging around 36 but I do very few miles and although I may have previously wondered why you wouldn't get a 4 banger I shall not do that again!

Happy motoring.

[Jobbo]

A Merc C250d would have been the economy champ choice but I can’t be doing with 4-cyls or the lower-rent interior after the CLS.

The Allroad has air suspension as standard and rides incredibly well, yep.

[Gavin]

Yeah, I liked the D5 engine but when I drive the Volvo now it seems a bit rickety after the Merc and sooooo loud!

[Simon]

... lower-rent interior after the CLS. <snip>

Oi.

[Broccers]

Thats nice Simon.

Are you getting a fun car ever again?

[Jobbo]

I’ve got one, Broccers - the Jimny.

I quite fancy an Emira or Alpine A110 but I’d never use them so no point.

[Mito Man]

Going off-road at a few miles per hour really is the greatest fun
If you know you know

[Beany]

Going off-road at a few miles per hour really is the greatest fun
If you know you know

I thought with dogging your stayed in the car park, not drive up the kerb into the grass?

[Mito Man]

Too many people these days, have to go off road. Why do you think there’s so many SUVs now

[Jimmy Choo]

Going off-road at a few miles per hour really is the greatest fun
If you know you know

It really is.

Nice motor, Jobbo. How many miles would you have done if we weren't in lockdown during your ownership of the Merc?

[Jobbo]

I’d probably have done 50k or more in the Merc - lockdown hasn’t reduced my travel as much as I’d expected.

To be honest, I’m not planning to work in the office every day, but there’s a need to quite a lot to set the right example for the staff.

[Matty]

Always liked the Allroad. Deffo preferred to the Merc. I thought Diesels were considered the ultimate evil these days though?

[Coaster1]

It’s actually Moonlight Blue; I made exactly the same mistake confusing it with my old Corrado colour when I had my previous Allroad. Everyone said it was black then It shines blue in the sun, much more than something like BMW Carbon Black.

I thought the Corrado colour was called mystic blue pearl? Unless they did make one in midnight blue? (Porsche colour)

Allroad looks nice but I like your old CLS