I thought id just jot down a few notes as I was given one as a loan car when I dropped my mums Coupe in for some remedial work.
Firstly, these last of the line models are somewhat different looking to our 2005 car - less butch but sharper and I think much better looking - it looks lighter on its feet.
The interior feels like a small step up in quality, not much, but choice of materials is improved and the option of red leather that the loan car had, brightens up against the black-on-black of earlier cars. The centre console is tidier, the leather on the steering wheel is softer and everything looks fresher.
Biggest difference though is the drive. I dont like mums V6 - steering is over-heavy, the gearbox is notchy and it just doesnt feel chuckable - yes theres grip, loads of it, but its like trying to hustle a van - you can but it becomes tiresome and no fun at all.
The 2.0 is a totally different beast, its feels like a different model alltogether, I was to say the least, rather shocked.
I suspect they have changed the steering because not only is it much lighter, but it felt sharper too. This may have something to do with the smaller engine of course.
Its not quite as fast as the V6, but its not in real-world driving much slower and pick-up is actually much smoother low-down the rev range, whereas the V6 seems happier past 3500 rpm.
The gearstick is shorter and the change itself is light and fast, totally the opposite of the V6. These aspects make it feel far sportier and chuckable in a way that the V6 never comes near.
What is brilliant is that somehow, someone really smart, made updates that answer nearly every issue we could find with the previous model - heated seats now, mum always said she wished it had them for instance, just little things that as an owner you realise over time. Lots of little tweaks here and there that seem to have been done by someone who lived with the old model.
It does seem very good value too - £12995 for a 2000 mile demo car on an 09 plate - I suspect mum may actually be tempted by this - she is driving it on a 70 mile round trip this evening, so it will be interesting to hear what she thinks, but she was grinning like a child when I dropped it off to her.
I was rather smitten myself.
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I've had a zero delivery miles pre reg SIII 2 litre for the past 16 months and really have little to complain about. Interior and exterior styling make me smile every time. It is really practical unless you need adult sized rear seats and the luggage boot is enormous with the seats folded. Went camping in Spain/France last year for 3 weeks. Rear visibility is poor when parking as my minor bodywork scars show. Getting over 35mpg at present. Just replaced the front tyres at 17,500miles.
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