I did not like the look of the Zen when it was launched. The Jellybean shape was something we had never seen before in India and was not easy to digest.

Car designs that grew on you with time

There are many cars that you can fall in love with at first sight. But then, there are quite a few cars that you may not find appealing to start with. However, with time you develop a liking for their styling as time goes by. Here are some cars that I felt were not to my liking in terms of styling when they were launched. With time though, I developed a liking for them.

Honda CR-V (2007)

This was the second CR-V generation to be launched in India. I had loved the earlier generation car with its boxy styling. After that, the new car looked bulbous. I remember comparing it to a bulldog and worse still, a toad. But as more and more of these cars hit the road, I warmed up to its looks. It was well-proportioned and looked much more in keeping with the times than the old car.

BMW 5 Series (E60)

The E60 5 Series replaced the much-loved E39. While it had great powertrains, when it came to looks, even some BMW fans found it rather ugly. I thought it was rather vulgar after the svelte E39. Chris Bangle's design was nowhere as understated as older 5ers. However, as the years went by, the E60 somehow started looking attractive. It was probably the aggressiveness of the design that struck a cord.

Tata Aria

The Aria was Tata's first crossover. With the way the bonnet was styled and the vertically stacked tail-lamps, it had a hint of Indica in its looks, which I had grown tired of. While I didn't really hate Aria's styling, I didn't find it very good-looking either. Then came the Mahindra XUV500, which was loud in comparison. It was only after that that I started finding some appeal in the Aria's design. The body didn't have many cuts and creases and in darker colours, the vehicle had a very dignified appearance.

Chevrolet Beat

On my first look at the Chevrolet Beat, I felt like someone had taken an axe to it. The headlights were too big and the rear looked like it ended without a warning. There were multiple cuts and creases all over the body of the car as well. Overall, too much styling for my liking! A couple of years down though, I found it a lot more acceptable. It came in some bright colours that made it stand out in the crowd. It looked funky and young in a sea of dull designs.

Maruti Zen

Big shock! Yes, I did not like the look of the Zen when it was launched. The Jellybean shape was something we had never seen before in India and was not easy to digest. Then, the car's front was longer than the rear overhang giving it a front-heavy appearance. In a short time though, the design became more palatable and very soon, it was my favourite hatchback in the market in every aspect and it remained like that till the introduction of the Fiat Palio. I loved its smooth and slippery shape and how proportionate the lights, grille, wheels and other elements were. If there was one car that I was sad to see go from our market, it was this.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

When I saw this car first, I wanted to throw up. But I was very surprised to end up accepting it, especially after the effective facelifts. In fact, a friend or two had modified their Santro Xings and dare I say, they looked good to me.

Absolutely loved the W126, W140 and W220 S-Classes. When the W221 was launched, I found it to be too awkward & confused for an S-Class. Must admit, it has aged well and a well-maintained W221 turns my head today (W222 is still my no.1):

Here's what BHPian Eddy had to say on the matter:

S-Cross. When it was launched, I did not like the way it looked. But that did not stop me from buying it.

And eventually, the looks grew on me. Maybe because I owned it, or maybe it was like an AR Rahman song - takes a while to like some.

Here's what BHPian Kosfactor had to say on the matter:

Never quite liked this vehicle when I saw it first, I preferred the Safari`s shape instead.

As I grew up, I heard from may people including my dad that Scorpio`s shape is smart, except when I sat in the driver`s seat and went for a spin, what an amazing vehicle.

The looks indeed grew on me. My sister who is an art curator told me that old Scorpio had a distinct look different from other 'SUV's, new one looks like a typical SUV.

Perhaps she is right, I grew up to like its character and looks, no one would call a Rottweiler pretty and yet we love them.

Here's what BHPian smartcat had to say on the matter:

Most car designs will grow on you with time. Provided that it was or is a popular enough model that you see it frequently on the roads. For eg:

Toyota Qualis no longer looks ugly. Those who love boxy UVs might even like its looks now:

But Ssangyong Rodius still looks ugly! And that's simply because we don't see it on the road:

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

A well-maintained W221 turns heads, is super luxurious and safer, more comfortable than 99% of other sedans on the road.

BHPian Aditya recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

When it comes to luxury sedans, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is arguably the first name that comes to one's mind. It is widely regarded as the best car in the world. With every new generation, there are some new features (which are usually the first seen in any car) added. The S-Class is known to set the benchmark in technology and safety for cars.

Back in 2020, we had a poll in which we voted for our favourite generation of the big S from the time it was launched in 1972. Now, let's shift our focus to the latest three generations. So, please vote and let us know which is your favourite.

W221 (2005-13)

The W221 was the fifth-generation S-Class. It was introduced in 2005 & they say, it was a return to the "Mercedes days of quality", unlike the W220 generation that deteriorated rapidly with age (that's why you don't see any on the road today). It had a crazy amount of tech for the time, but also, it brought a design change that some can see as quirky (IMHO, the body has aged well). A well-maintained W221 will turn heads even today.

Link to Androdev's W221 Ownership Review

W222 (2013-20)

Link to Team-BHP's W222 Review

W222 Pros

• The best luxury sedan on sale in India of its time
• Cabin is incredibly opulent & comfy. It's quite the royal experience!
• Superb new inline-6 diesel is paired to a smooth 9-speed gearbox
• Air suspension offers a plush ride & excellent road manners
• Loaded to the gills with technology, equipment & gizmos
• 5-star safety rating & radar-based systems. Among the safest cars ever built

W222 Cons

• Cost of ownership is only for the 'money-no-object' personalities
• Useable boot space is poor (no wheel well for the spare tyre)
• Owners report electronic niggles. Also, concerns over the air suspension's long-term reliability
• Not as much fun to drive as the BMW 7-Series
• Some misses such as no cooled seats at the front
• Sadly, Magic Body Control was not offered on the Indian S-Class
• The W222 is an enthusiast's favourite - many petrolheads have already replaced the W126/W140 with the W222 as their favourite S-Class.

W223 (2020 - present)

Link to Team-BHP's W223 Review

W223 Pros

• The best luxury sedan on sale in India. Period
• Truly next-level technology, it's visible everywhere!
• More driver-focused than previous generations; owners will be happy to drive themselves
• Cabin is incredibly opulent & comfy. It's quite the royal experience!
• Powerful & punchy engines on offer
• Marvelous air suspension offers a plush ride & excellent road manners
• Loaded to the gills with technology, equipment & gizmos
• 5-star safety kit & radar-based systems. Among the safest cars ever built

W223 Cons

• Lost some of the classiness & charm as compared to the W222 (outside & inside)
• Pricing (even for CKDs) is going to be noticeably higher than the outgoing generation
• Cost of ownership is only for the 'money-no-object' personalities
• Technology overload and lack of buttons means it's going to glitch out sometimes. Be prepared for it
• Many of the features we see on this launch edition will be removed in the CKDs
• Large 20" wheels with low profile tyres are easy to damage. R18 wheels will be better suited to India
• Usable boot space is limited (no wheel well for the spare tyre)
• Reliability concerns over the air suspension & the car’s very complex electronics

The seventh-generation was unveiled in 2020. The W223 is a lot sharper in appearance than its predecessor. Actually hides its size really well, but many feel the W223 lacks the big-car personality that an S-Class is associated with. It is also miles ahead when it comes to technology. The interior includes up to five displays, OLED technology, 3D driver display, augmented reality head-up display, active ambient lighting, seat kinetics, 4D sound system and drivertainment. We felt it was sharper to drive than the W222 and clearly more driver-oriented, although still very comfortable.

So, which is your favourite among the three most modern avatars of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

All generations are of course fabulous cars - among the best sedans in the world - and they age really well. Even today, a well-maintained W221 turns heads, is super luxurious and safer, more comfortable than 99% of other sedans on the road.

My favourite is the W222 for its styling & presence; I reckon this car will be going down in history as one of the greats. In fact, it has replaced the W140 as a favourite for many petrolheads.

The W223, I enjoyed, but that's it. The presence really isn't S-Class like to me. It's got way too much gadgetry & gimmicks, while the rear seat & suspension (both) surprisingly felt less comfortable than the W222. Suspension is more handling-oriented than any earlier gen S-Class, so it is more fun to drive. But the rear seat's legroom also felt lesser than the W222.

Hope I can own the W222 someday

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Facelift W222 would be my pick - it was a thoroughly perfected design both exterior and interior-wise. Looks very majestic and built as if to ferry heads of state.

W223 looks very understated and doesn't stand out from the rest of the model lineup like the C and E classes. In fact, this particular design looks fantastic in C class, whereas the W222 design looks the best in S Class and not so much in C class.

From the time of W222 onwards, Mercedes India started removing features and lowering material quality in the Indian launches. I'm only talking about cars sold in India. You will have to buy Maybach if you want a fully loaded S Class.

A facelift W222 Maybach on grand touring duties would be a perfect S Class to enjoy if someone is feeling lucky!

Here's what BHPian Dippy had to say on the matter:

My pick would be the W221 S-Class. Classic Mercedes styling with an old-school touch. Look at one today on the road and it still holds it own with more modern machinery. This was the last S-Class that had distinct styling and character of its own.

The W222 and the W223 seem to me like L size of the Mercedes sedan with similar styling to that of the C and the E-Class.

Even the interior of the W221 still looks so elegant even today along with nice big dials and high-quality buttons.

A friend of mine had bought one of the first W221s to go on sale in India. It was a CBU and had the works like a night vision camera. He had even specced it with AMG rims. That car went like a ship wafting on Indian roads.

Look at a W221 S65 AMG and it is nothing short of mafia feels especially in black.

That said my second choice would be the W222 facelift.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

What we discovered was that the new 7 series offered a much better ride—almost as good as the S-Class

BHPian Ashar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After much thought and discussions, both with the dealers and within the family, we decided to proceed with the purchase of the new S-Class. Big thanks to the entire Team-BHP community for helping us arrive at the ideal buying decision.

We made a booking for a new S350D in the middle of December 2023. I didn’t update the forum at that time as decisions happen and change very quickly in my family. I decided to wait until we could literally lay our hands on the car. Towards the end of December 2023, I received a surprise call from a BMW dealer offering a test drive of the new 7 series. We initially declined, but they strongly insisted, and we finally agreed. We found that the new 7 series was leaps and bounds ahead of the older model. When comparing the new 7 series to the S-Class, one must clearly define their priorities, or else confusion might arise between the two.

What we discovered was that the new 7 series offered a much better ride—almost as good as the S-Class—while maintaining the typically good handling of BMW. The technology and features were superior to the S-Class, and the space was comparable. The strengths of the S-Class, compared to the new 7 series, were a slightly better ride, more accommodating seats, and much better air conditioning. Surprisingly, the A/C in the 7 series was weak. This was unexpected, as I had taken a ride in the new X1 a couple of months ago and found the A/C to be very powerful.

So, it was back to the meeting room (aka dining room), and after clearly defining our priorities and conducting a final round of comparison, we ultimately decided to move forward with the purchase.

We finally received our vehicle on January 4, 2024, and here is an image of the car with our family. Thanks again to the entire Team-BHP community for all the help and suggestions.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Having to redo the control arms is a bummer but the rest of the items are not too bad considering the age of the car. Speaking of age, the car tries its best to hide it.

BHPian androdev recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As much as the smooth ride offered by S Class is a big plus, it also makes you very OCD about it. I observed some very mild/hushed suspension noise while going over rough patches and had to get that addressed immediately. The best or nothing business has become an expensive affair :-)

Took the car to the dealer (Sundaram) myself as I was worried they'd send back the car saying the noises are in my head. I'm not a noob to fall for that SOP (standard operating procedure). I was worried I may not be able to find a suitably wretched road to demonstrate the noise issue. How wrong I was! The service advisor took to me to a stretch not too far from the service centre that looked like a purpose-built test track for researching suspension problems. My relief of being able to demonstrate the suspension noise didn't last long as I started getting anxious about developing new suspension issues!

My experience with the service department at Sundaram has been fantastic. SA told me he doesn't want to order parts on a trial-and-error basis, instead he would take sometime to fully diagnose the issue and suggest the right remedy. I believe him because all the recent fixes - two check engine light errors (one due to faulty mass airflow sensor and another due to faulty intake manifold actuator) were diagnosed very systematically and resolved to perfection in the first attempt. So a couple of days later, I got a call informing me that control arms need to be replaced due to ball joint failures.

The unfortunate part is that these control arms were replaced as part of the air suspension replacement job as a preventive maintenance done in an outside workshop. Airmatic struts I personally imported from the US but control arms I allowed them to source and ensured they are OEM brands. Either counterfeit parts (or parts from a bad batch) were procured or the fitment was done with incorrect torque settings resulting in things going bad in just few months. I am going to stick to A.S.S - no appetite for experimenting to save few bucks.

New control arms in place:

The car showed an error to replace AUX battery. It has a small aux 12V battery to handle emergency functions like shifting the transmission to neutral in case the main battery is dead.

New aux battery:

The car is back from the workshop with the following jobs taken care of:

1. New control arms: 1.7L

2. New xenon bulbs as old ones were getting dull: Rs 20K per piece

3. AUX battery replacement: Rs 12K

4. On the day of supposed delivery, the car shows "speed sensor" error. New speed sensor: Rs 20K

I requested them to allow me to import the control arms as that's a big ticket item to which they agreed. I paid 80-90K (landed cost) to import them from FCPEuro. Grateful for the small mercies!

Speed sensor:

Having to redo the control arms is a bummer but the rest of the items are not too bad considering the age of the car. Speaking of age, the car tries its best to hide it.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I simply love it and when I find myself in a car with a calf support, I use it even for a 20 min car ride.

BHPian Sahil recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Ottoman Seats are the best thing that happened to rear seat comfort since the introduction of the air suspension decades ago. Infact, they provide more tangible comfort than a cushy suspension does.

In a chauffer driven market like ours, these seats are fast catching on but I think they further need to gather some pace. They now exist in cars right from the GLS Maybach to Toyota Innova Hycross ZX.

This one feature is enough to make a car a hit even if it looks like a 'dabba' aka The Vellfire. Several others have done well in our market such as the Kia Carnival.

From the Sedans currently only the higher end models like the S,7 and A8 offer this. I hope with the new E LWB and 5 LWB due next year, we see this feature catching on.

I simply love it and when I find myself in a car with a calf support, I use it even for a 20 min car ride.

What your take on it?

I hope this poll compels more car makers to explore adding this to their rear seats! Or even front passenger seat like the Nissan Tian did over a decade ago!

Here's what BHPian Shreyas_Jain had to say on the matter:

Frankly, not enough people have had the experience of ottoman seats to have a poll of consequence. This is still a feature beyond the mass market. The closest it has come to being democratised has been the top ZX model of the Innova HyCross. But even that has been a blow hot - blow cold kind of car with its extremely limited availability and overall cost cutting which kills the interior ambiance and feel.

Ottoman seats require a big car with a very long wheelbase and loads of legroom. Indian mass market cars are simply not big enough for this to catch on and become a trend like sunroofs.

Here's what BHPian ron178 had to say on the matter:

Tried them in a Toyota Vellfire and they made the whole experience a lot better.

But in shorter-wheelbase models like the Innova Hycross they can at best improve thigh support when set to their mid-position (feet just below the front seat). Even with the seat as far back as possible, for most people they will be impossible to extend fully without flexing their knees.

Given the option, I would certainly choose "depends on car".

Here's what BHPian Haze had to say on the matter:

As a 6'0" guy, I have tried them in various overnight Volvo buses, and disliked them in every single one of them.

So my vote would have been "Strongly dislike".

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say on the matter:

Can’t say I ever had the pleasure of sitting on such a seat on a car.

However, I do have such a reclining leather seat as a stand alone chair at home.

It has travelled with me all over the world. Nobody sits in my chair other than me. As soon as I sit down and recline the cat will jump in my lap. She knows I ain’t getting up.

My wife and my kids call it my old git chair! I don’t care, super comfy and relaxing

Jeroen

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My dad first bought a new Merc C Class in 2013 and he has completely fallen in love with the car and the brand.

BHPian Ashar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Dear all. I am requesting your opinion on this doubt that I have with regards to an upcoming car purchase for my dad. You all are the experts when it comes to cars and I am sure I won't get a better answer from anywhere else. Your humble opinion on this please!!

My dad first bought a new Merc C Class in 2013 and he has been driving/riding in it ever since and he has completely fallen in love with the car and the brand. Now almost 10 years have passed and now he feels it's time to upgrade. We test drove a Merc E Class (E 220 d) recently and he came out really pleased with the car and almost decided to go ahead with the purchase when his friend proposed to him the idea of getting a 3-4-5 year old S Class for the same amount of money. His friend told him that a 4 year old S Class (the older generation one) was a much better car than even the new E class. FYI, the on road price for a new E class is Rs. 95.75 lacs (on road - Trivandrum, Kerala).

Since then, we have been really confused about this with opinions supporting either side. Please help us arrive at the best decision.

PS: Since, we have been using a C Class for the past 10 years, we have already found out an independent garage for its maintenance works and we found it to be even better (and undoubtedly more cost effective) than Merc Authorized service center. So, the question of service is not a big issue.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

You can't go wrong with either car, and both are the best-in-class in terms of comfort.

Between the two, I would strongly recommend the S-Class:

It's the best sedan in the world. Period.

Think of the E-Class LWB as a 5-star hotel room. Think of the S-Class as a suite at Taj or Oberoi.

Within your budget, you will easily get a late model W222 still within its warranty period. Take the extended warranty package, and follow our used car checklist (including service history, checking past insurance claims etc.) to the T. Your risk is effectively zero.

The S-Class air suspension is magic. E-Class cannot come close to it.

The opulence, luxury & quality of the S-Class is two levels above the E-Class. The E-Class is closer to the C-Class in terms of part quality than the S-Class.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Just my personal opinion.

The best/flagship car in the family garage is worth buying as new. It's a bit of celebration and there is a sense of rewarding yourself and the family for the hard work, etc. Even after 10-15 years, I get warm and fuzzy when I look at my family pictures during the new car delivery and early days after the arrival of the new car. The older I grow, the more value these things seem to acquire.

S-Class in particular is a status symbol and everyone in your circles would talk about it. How you bought it matters. You might want to explore the option of waiting for a discounted new S Class during a model change period and stretch your budget.

If new S Class is not an option in near future, go for the new E Class - but pay attention to any upcoming model changes. Unlike in the past, E class LWB has significantly reduced the gap between E and S Class sedans making such a decision a lot to do with "image" than "value".

If it's not for your dad/family but for a young solo driver, I would say a used car from a higher segment is usually a better choice.

Here's what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:

Get the S Class - for the same budget you'd get a within warranty W222 S Class easily - extend the warranty and enjoy the superior car.

Compared to the E Class - you will get much better rear seat comfort, effortless performance, superlative ride, and superior interior fit and finish.

Plus both the current E & outgoing S are of the same generation, so it's not like you would be getting a newer generation car except some changes like UI, etc.

Of course maintenance would be higher and maybe finding a competent workshop would help - but if you can digest the maintenance cost, it's well worth it!

In case you still decide to go for the E Class, do keep in mind that an all new model is literally around the corner and would be worth waiting for (esp given the scarce discounts).

If your father drives then also look at the BMW 7 series pre-owned, 6GT new.

Here's what BHPian NazgulLOTR had to say on the matter:

There is definitely a sentiment attached to the Pointed star in your household. If you are convinced it's the Merc which has to be the next car, i'd recommend jumping to the S Class. The comfort and pampering which it will offer will not be comparable to even the latest E class.

This also gives an opportunity to be chauffeured around while being seated in business class like seats - the way one should travel (unless you are an enthusiast)

I am personally not a big fan of the styling of the new E but the S class in every generation has always been a looker. It's worth it's price even while standing still in my opinion.

Here's what BHPian Akshay1234 had to say on the matter:

Going against the tide, but I would suggest a used S. Its a far superior machine to the E class, and while the spec sheets may not show a large difference, one drive in the S will seal the deal. It is far better built, more comfortable, really seals you from the outside world. A 3 year old low run S class would fit right into your budget, and considering you have a good independent shop wont break the bank either.

Here's what BHPian ajmat had to say on the matter:

My recommendation is the S. It might be dated but feel the trim, touch the vents and feel the quality. The E is full of metal coated plastics.

Unless the car has workhorse duties, go for the S, keep 3 Lakhs aside for the air suspension overhaul and identify a good FNG.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The service folks ran the diagnostics and reported there were no errors or stored faults. Connectors and other usual suspects where checked and found no issues.

BHPian androdev recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The car has returned from its 11th annual service visit. Nothing special to report except for a warning message I received when I stopped the car for refuelling a couple of days before the service visit. The error went away when I started the engine and everything including steering worked normally. I patted myself on the back for not flinching after seeing a big bold red error message on the dash.

The service folks ran the diagnostics and reported there were no errors or stored faults. Connectors and other usual suspects where checked and found no issues.

After consulting with their Pune technical team (this is something I have noticed with Mercedes, they consult with their Pune technical team a lot - which is a good thing IMO) they said it is likely due to weak battery. The battery was 2016 make.

They charged battery fully and tested the battery. The battery test report said "Good Battery".

Then they left the car overnight and tested the battery next day morning. The battery test report now shows "Charge" which means the battery is not holding the charge sufficiently and a replacement is recommended.

They could have easily said "saar, it's 2016 battery, time to replace it". Credit to them for taking the trouble to follow the process to confirm that battery indeed needs replacement. A side note: The battery lasted this long because I was using Bosch C7 battery charger. Prior to that I was changing the batteries way too often. This S Class is a battery hog, not surprising, given all the stuff it is loaded with.

The new battery costed me Rs 42,000 incl labour after 10% discount. I requested for a separate bill for the battery just for clarity.

The rest of the service was routine and the bill came up to: Rs 53,072 (10% discount was given for senior citizens - the car, not me, lol!)

My spend analysis looks something like this. I need to explore how I can bring down the cost of schooling, food and other non-essentials!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Even the new 5s do not have the same build quality. Another 1 year and the life of this car in Delhi-NCR will come to an end.

BHPian ashishkashyap recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed 9 years with F10 530. Still absolutely love it! Even the new 530's do not have the same build quality. Another 1 year and the life of this car in Del NCR will come to an end :(

Those in a similar boat : What are the new wheels that you all are considering after this? Any of the BHP-ians considering the new X5 40i M sport? It is launching in August.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

I hear you, man. My 530d is going to be 10 this year, but looks + drives + feels like a 3 - 4 year old car. More importantly, it is still comparable to any sedan in the 70 - 90 lakh segment. I feel the pain of the 10-year ban in Delhi and am sure it will make its way to Mumbai sometime in the future. My girl's family had to let go of a pristine 9-year old Audi Q5 because of the Delhi ban. Meanwhile, I plan to enjoy my car till its 12th - 13th year.

Suggestions:

• I have considered the W222 S-Class (IMHO, the best S-Class ever made) and the GLS as the family cars to replace the 530d. Take a spin in the W222 or W223, the 223 is more driver-oriented.

• BMW X5 40i M-Sport should be your top choice.

• If you're looking at fast & 4-doors, take a spin in the Audi RS5 (Audi RS5 Sportback Review).

• Don't know if you can increase your budget, but the Porsche SUVs (whether Macan or Cayenne) are both fantastic (and overpriced with options).

• The Land Rover Defender is unbelievably wild and big on the feel-good factor. If you drive it, you will fall in love. But again, overpriced and you better have another car as a backup.

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say on the matter:

Yes, it's coming early next month, but delivery dates are uncertain. Some say around September. M will be pretty loaded per the details; you can connect with any dealer and make the booking. They will be adding Seat cooling in the M trim finally

I checked a Defender recently, and some of these are now in stock with the dealerships. No discounts yet but stock delivery. If you have any other fast sedan, you can consider Defender (caveat being the reliability part), especially the 6-cylinder. This is a genuine truck-like drive (for good, mostly), but if it's going to be the only car with you, I will pick X5.

An example of 75 Years sitting at a dealership. I can't get past those wheels and turns out I am not the only one cribbing. But the fix should be easy should you wish to consider it.

Here's what BHPian Prashant316 had to say on the matter:

Can i be a little different here?

I am not sure of your preferences in terms of body style and luxury/mass brand preferences or if this is your primary or additional car. GTO has already well covered the luxury replacements.

If I were you and money no bar, I would go towards that Defender. It would be something you will not forget till you kick the bucket. Maybe even have traces of it in your memory in the next life.

But here is my different opinion.

Except on very rare occasions, luxury brands only provide you with a snob value, which i understand is important to some. Not to me.

Hence:-

• Sedan - Camry. I couldnt believe my own self on how much i ended up appreciating this car. The comfort is phenomenal and if you forget the Toyota badge, you will be forgiven to think that you are in an upgrade to that F10.

• SUV - Wrangler. You will stand out on the road and enjoy every bit of your adventure on the roads or off it when the monsoon arrives.

Special mention, in case electricity ignites a buzz inside you - Ioniq 5. Though for now i am unable to recommend an electric car whole heartedly due to their inability to tour.

Here's what BHPian ashish22 had to say on the matter:

Hi Ashish, any specific reason for not replacing sedan with a sedan or you want to consider X5 for SUV practicality?

I was in the same situation, sold my F10 BMW 530d when it was 7 years old due to the NGT ban and knew that only at this point i could have lot of takers for the car and the decent sale price which i eventually did!

I would recommend you to look at few options:

1. BMW X5 40i surely if SUV is the only choice you have!

2. Defender would be my second preference in SUV however it’s 3L petrol engine would be in X7 price territory and the base 2L petrol would be underwhelming coming from 530d. Reliability would again be second to BMW.

3. Audi RS5 Sportback if you are still considering sedans. The RS5 would be smaller than 530d but more than makes up for it in outright acceleration, grip and sweet sounding petrol engine tone.

4. BMW Z4 m40i because why not!

5. BMW M340i is also an interesting alternative and would have my recommendation for it’s selling price but Z4 (road presence and as fast as 340i) and RS5 (explosive performance) have proper USPs and your 530d is no slouch when compared to another fast sedan like M340i.

6. Kia EV6 and Jeep Rubicon Combo (interesting take, you get so much for money spent albeit the badge value!)

7. BMW X3 m40i if SUV is primary buying factor and performance also has to be top notch!

Happy buying!

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The car is back on duty, on the way to clock 70K km. Not just that, it is seeing a lot of daily usage these days due to certain changes that took place.

BHPian androdev recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The car had the following incidents during 2022, clearly the 10th anniversary didn't go that well!

• March 2022: Front air suspension failure. Lot of suspension bits (control arms), engine and transmission mounts and brake pads, etc. were also replaced during this time. Spent close to 3L for air struts and 2.5L for the rest. This work was carried outside of A.S.S (details in post #269)

• July 2022: Check Engine Light fault due to air intake actuator failure. Apparently a common problem with this engine. Sent the car to Sundaram motors. Intake manifold replaced at the cost of Rs 1.75L. They also replaced the rear air struts with the parts I imported myself (Rs 3L).

• Nov 2022: Check Engine Light again. After considerable effort in diagnosing the issue, it was found to be a faulty Mass Air Flow sensor. I was very satisfied with the approach taken by A.S.S to diagnose the issue. Very systematic and with proper involvement of MB technical team from Pune. Air Flow Sensor was replaced at the cost of Rs 71K.

The car is back on duty, on the way to clock 70K km. Not just that, it is seeing a lot of daily usage these days due to certain changes that took place. Needless to say, I am hoping for a more economical 2023 :-)

Aging gracefully:

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As I drove the car regularly in the buzzing but rarely moving Bangalore traffic, I started realising how therapeutic it is to drive a Hybrid in the city.

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During the middle of Covid period, an NRI family member had the opportunity to camp in India for an extended period of time due to remote working flexibility. He knows how much time I spend on team-bhp :-) so he asked me to help him buy a 15L range used car for temporary use while he was in India. I proposed cars like Skoda Superb, C Class, etc. After spending some time shopping and test driving a few cars, he said performance and fun-to-drive are the least of his priorities and he would prefer a reliable sedan that's spacious and comfortable. For a moment, I lost interest in his case :-) He understood I was not too pleased with him for dropping the German cars though I insisted I have no such prejudice.

However, being a team-bhpian, it's hard to let go of a chance to force your car buying opinion on someone else, so I decided to give it another shot. I asked him if he really said he wanted a boring car or did I hear it wrong? He repeated the words slowly as if he was speaking a language that I don't understand: reliable sedan that's spacious and comfortable. With the fake enthusiasm of a boutique watch salesman responding to a customer who has moved from the Rolex counter to the Seiko counter, I suggested the Toyota Camry Hybrid to him. I don't know what's with NRIs and Camrys but he looked very pleased and things progressed very quickly.

The idea was that the car would be bought in my name for ease of doing business, used by him till he heads back and then we'll figure out whether to sell it or keep it. Later when the time came to sell it, everyone in the family made a big fuss as if I was giving away their favourite puppy. During one of the drives with family, I casually asked my wife if she felt any difference between the rear seat comfort of Camry and S Class. She said no. Not only did she say no, she said it so nonchalantly. My younger son, who always cries to sit in the front seat disregarding the family constitution that says both my sons take turns, and I exchanged a look of utter disbelief. We both smiled as we remembered how we fancy travelling with my wife and his elder brother who don't dig cars.

I'm someone who expects a car to feel like a tank and go like a high speed train on the rails. Camry does neither. However, as I drove the car regularly in the buzzing but rarely moving Bangalore traffic, I started realising how therapeutic it is to drive a Hybrid in the city. The electric mode is devoid of any vibrations typical of ICE, incredibly smooth in coming to a stop, taking off from standstill, and crawling without hunting for gears. The S Class is already one of the best in business to offer a very smooth ride but the driver still has to deal with the massive weight of the car and the heavy steering in congested city roads. Camry Hybrid, on the other hand, is a joy to drive in congested and chaotic traffic without compromising the comfort and space of a well-built family sedan. No amount of German engineering can help a torque converter beat eCVT in slow traffic.

There is a reason why I have such a strong bias towards German cars - they are engineered very well and offer a great driving experience. Like IBM ThinkPads and BlackBerry Bolds of the old - cutting edge engineering combined with beautiful craftsmanship to offer an enjoyable user experience. When I drive many other cars, I only see pragmatism and I assumed the Camry Hybrid would be one such car. I am happy to be proven wrong. Hybrid technology is like magic. On paper, it's an impressive concept. When you see how it is implemented and how seamlessly and intelligently it switches between modes, you can't help but become a fan. To me, this is impressive engineering, on par, if not superior to those of turbocharged, dual clutch drivetrains from the Germans. As much as a turbocharged engine with a slick gearbox, etc. makes you want to drive the car hard to get your emotional reward, Camry Hybrid with its hybrid system can give you dopamine rush for driving to achieve high fuel efficiency.

A typical BMW/Porsche offers a human-machine interface to get the best out of the machine - tachometer, paddle shifts, steering feedback, engine sound, etc. all of which are missing in the Camry. Camry hybrid instead equips the driver to strive to achieve the best fuel efficiency. It's the same principle of cutting edge engineering combined with beautiful craftsmanship to offer an enjoyable experience. Albeit for a different use case but with the same level of engineering excellence and attention to detail.

At this point, it might look like I am essentially describing how it feels to drive an EV. Maybe but I don't think there is an equivalent EV at 15L budget in the market - not to mention all the early adopter hassles. While the Hybrid technology is the raison d'être for my praise, I found it fascinating to note many uncanny similarities between Camry and S Class. Toyota has most definitely used the S Class as a reference while designing the car which gives it an edge over cars of the same size from the German brands because none of them offer such a rich feature set as they are exclusively reserved for their flagship models.

Extra large four-spoke steering with wood trim

Boss seat controls that allow driver and rear passenger to move the front passenger seat. S Class implementation is elaborate and those buttons are placed both on driver's door as well as rear passenger's door in order for both to be able to operate. Placement of these buttons on the Camry offers similar access to driver and rear passenger without adding complexity.

Very similar looking layout for cup-holders and cigarette lighter

Generous amount of controls for the rear passengers including seat recline

Typical old Mercedes parking brake in the footwell (S Class has electronic one)

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