OV9

Morning, As you may know, I got the S5 back around May time, and was very happy indeed. Sice then I have clocked up 11k miles which is far more than I expected.

My daughter does now have her own car, which will cut down on trips slightly, but with older realtives in Forres, Oxford and Aberdeen, chances are we will put more miles on, rather than fewer.

I do very much like the S5 despite it not being an estate, and it is far more economical on a run than I expected, but I am worried servicing will get ridiculous and am now contemplating a diesel estate, as tbf, I loved my e-class.

All e-classes with the bigger engine seem to have glass roofs, so they are out. It was also less econoical on a run than teh Audi.

I am looking at very late 335D (F80 maybe?) and also the newer 530D from 2017 onwards, but the MPG figures are all over the place on those.

I am hoping a 530D ona similar run to 40 in the S5, would be pushing 60MPG and feel the 20D in either sized car would be a bit gutless?

Any thoughts?

M340d or Alpina D3? Should offer similar performance to S5 and available in Touring form.

IanF wrote: Sat Dec 20, 2025 10:17 am M340d or Alpina D3? Should offer similar performance to S5 and available in Touring form.

I am not looking to sink too much into the change, so upper limit likely to be £20, maye £22k. Would love an Alpina.

Eldest is off to Uni, hopefully St Andrews, so not wanting any sort of monthly payments, as although halls are the same rip off as most other Universities, the private rents are an absolute rip off.

I’d stick with what you have if you enjoy it, if it’s more economical than you expected and it’s been solid and not showing any signs of deteriorating.

If you swap you’re taking a leap into the unknown and if a diesel E-class isn’t any more economical what is the point? Just the bigger boot?

Jobbo wrote: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:20 pm I’d stick with what you have if you enjoy it, if it’s more economical than you expected and it’s been solid and not showing any signs of deteriorating.

If you swap you’re taking a leap into the unknown and if a diesel E-class isn’t any more economical what is the point? Just the bigger boot?

I suspect the Merc was just not a great engine for economy, equivelant 3 litre Derv unbits fro Audi and BMW seem to be able to top 50mpg easily, but I suspect I may well be better keepiong the S5 as it will have dropped silly amount since I bought it, so to recoup any losses would take years and years.

Thank you.

Out of curiosity @Jobbo is your S6 a diesel, and if it is, what sort of mpg are you getting?

My S6 is the diesel and I’ve seen up to 53mpg over a long journey, usually mid-40s in summer and around 40 or just below in winter. It’s very economical if you don’t put your foot down too much.

My CLS was a 350d so had the same engine as your E350 and I couldn’t get it reliably over 40mpg even at a 70mph cruise in summer. Covid roads so no traffic. I think the newer Merc straight-6 diesels are more economical but I’ve not tried one.

So is it just servicing you’re worried about? Changing to an unknown new car doesn’t sound like a great plan!

Thank you, did a quick and easy trade in valuation on a garage website and it reckond the car had dropped £6k over 7 months and adding 11k miles so not worth changing. I could no doubt sell it provately for more, but the hassle of that outweighs any benefit, will just keep the Audi another year or more and then maybe look again.

(so that means I will no douobt post a completely different car on here before 2026! )

Rich B wrote: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:35 pm So is it just servicing you’re worried about? Changing to an unknown new car doesn’t sound like a great plan!

Not really, just that with th emiles I am clocking it just seems a little like I chos ethe wrong car. It may be that the S5 laps up th emiles and servicing os probably no dearer than a 530 or similar, so yeah, for the grand a year ish that I would save on fuel costs, it seems a bit daft.

Maybe I will just upgrade the quite awful stereo as compared to the Merc system, and the Canton in the Superb, it is pish.

Actually, check the price of an Audi service plan for your car. It’s a massive saving on my S6 over paying for each service if using a main dealer. And if you buy at the right time of year - I think it’s around October/November - they seem to do a 25% discount.

Jobbo wrote: Sat Dec 20, 2025 1:20 pm Actually, check the price of an Audi service plan for your car. It’s a massive saving on my S6 over paying for each service if using a main dealer. And if you buy at the right time of year - I think it’s around October/November - they seem to do a 25% discount.

No main delaer near me, and my local garage are brilliant, but cheers.