Cognitive issues - help re Volvo

[Tiger1057]

I had been a member of the Volvo Owners Club for 14 years up until three year ago. I wanted to change the car and had always wanted an XC60. Sadly despite two test drives it was not to be as my wife and daughter didn’t like the rear seating compared to our S60.
So I went and bought a totally different experience a 5 door Mini Cooper S and practically added everything apart from the sunroof and audio. An expensive purchase but the car is great fun. Sadly it is no longer fit for purpose as we have a new Labrador so space is at a premium to say the least.
Yesterday I walked around the Mercedes, BMW and Volvo dealerships whilst they were closed to see what was on the Market these days.
I now have some cognitive issues as a result of a brain haemorrhage (stroke) and cancer/chemotherapy treatment. This manifests itself as very poor short term memory and what I call reasoning and logic difficulty in other words I don’t effectively work through the thought process and often make decisions which are flawed!
I was drawn to the Mercs as the discounts at drive the deal etc are huge. BMW because they are a pleasure to drive and appear to be good quality materials wise. Volvo because I had one before and I really like the ride/Comfort/seats.
Nowwhilst the thought of huge discounts appeals I’m not really sure that is a good basis on which to purchase a car. The BMW X3 is too expensive once you add on a couple of packs and the 3 series touring doesn’t really do it for me until you are spending a fortune again.
On seeing a Volvo XC40 R design in a bronze/reddish colour I was smitten and decided ‘I want one’. The problem here is that as it is new with no discount it appears to be very expensive. Whilst I was there I saw a few low mileage old shape XC60’s around the £20k mark. I was really looking to get the next car on PCP or lease until the future direction of the car industry is sorted. I wasn’t really looking to actually own the car but £20k for an XC60 is very appealing. My problem is I don’t want to go into a dealers and get bamboozled without having fully thought the issue through. Hence I am looking for suggestions from the esteemed members of this forum. The XC40 would really be my car of choice but as it’s new with no real discounts it’s putting me off. I really do like the old XC60 but I have no idea of what the prices should be.
I would be very grateful if I could have some suggestions to help with my dilemma so I can move forward with some confidence.
TIA - Martin

[Prufrock]

There are finance companies that will offer a PCP on a used vehicle, providing the vehicle fits their age, mileage and other criteria.

Jon.

[St Evelyn]

I've not had a proper look at the XC40, but someone in the disabled section decided against getting one as the boot was too small for his needs; not saying the space required for a dog is the same a mobility scooter or suchlike, but it may be worth checking you're happy with this specific aspect of the car before deciding.

Good luck with whatever you decide to get.

[T5R92011]

XC40 is nice but it's aimed at the iPad generation (if you like that sort of thing).

Don't forget about the XC70 - They're still bloody expensive given the age of the car though - £22,000 for this one. Absolute Tank.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...=gl40lu&page=1

[Tiger1057]

Well the XC40 is most definitely out. Whilst it rally appealed to me the price to my mind is dreadful.
I think I may go with an estate. So now down to the V90, 5 series or E class.
If only they still made that V70xc. I know there is the V90xc but I really liked the shape of the older one.
Thanks to everyone who replied.

[Whippy]

Worth while looking at the current A6. As it's an outgoing model the discount is simply staggering. Spec one up on orange wheels to see what I mean.

[Tiger1057]

Originally Posted by Whippy

Worth while looking at the current A6. As it's an outgoing model the discount is simply staggering. Spec one up on orange wheels to see what I mean.

Thank you for the heads up. Added to the list and planning on a dealership visit.
Will be interesting to compare them all as there are some good cars available at decent prices.

[Whippy]

Originally Posted by Tiger1057

Thank you for the heads up. Added to the list and planning on a dealership visit.
Will be interesting to compare them all as there are some good cars available at decent prices.

Tiger, you'll know this already, but, go in have a look, come back out and visit car wow, drive the deal, orange wheels etc. Then if you like to back to dealers armed with prices you know you can get. Bargain from a position of strength. Currently:
SE business edition
Metallic
2.0ltr diesel
Manual
£24887.00

[St Evelyn]

Originally Posted by Tiger1057

So now down to the V90, 5 series or E class.

I had an S80 for 4.5 years (sister car to V70) and loved it; January last year bought a 2 year old 520D - not a happy marriage. Got so frustrated with the car, dealer and BMW UK I ended up part-exing it last month for a pre-reg V90. The difference between the 2 cars is chalk and cheese! Appreciate you may be looking at a brand new 5er so a different generation to the one I had, but I personally wouldn't go back to BMW.

E-class on the other hand...mmmmmm, very nice! Biggest boot in the class and has a really nice feel to it. Not driven one or experienced dealers other than pre-sale (MB of Southampton were excellent in this regard). Biggest problem I had with all of the Mercedes range was that options are mostly only available in packs, with the basic pack containing panoramic sunroof. I was unable to fit in to any MB with a pano roof, which meant that I could only buy a base model. Whilst I have the same issue around headroom with Volvo (don't fit in either XC60 or V90 with pano roof), you can at least up the spec without being forced in to specifying the (in my case unwanted) pano roof. Gives you much greater flexibility on tailoring the options to precisely what you want / need.

[XC70Virgin]

The E Class is the best estate car on the road for room and as a complete package bar none. Only wifey wasn't too keen I'd my mind set on one before the XC70. Loads of them about too and MB seem to have got their mojo back after the shambles of the mid 90s and early to mid 2000s.