Roger (The Sales) Rep must be salivating: 2008 will be his year.

We already have the superb Ford Mondeo, the high quality Renault Laguna & VW Passat.

To add to this bunch, we now have the high quality & stunning Citroen C5 & if this wasn't enough, Vauxhall are about the launch the gorgeous Insignia, which will surely be a match for the others in the quality stakes.

The mass-marker manufacturers have really got their collective acts together over the last few years.

The D-segment looked dead in the water, with people switching to small MPV's & soft-roaders, but I think with these stunning designs & high quality cars, the used car D-segment market is going to be the place to shop in a couple of years!!

Company cars are brilliant now.
The ones of 30 years ago were dire, looking back.

I can hardly wait for 3 years to pass so i will be picking them up at 30% of the current cost.That German looking French car will be amazing value then.

Yes, the standard of D-segment cars has certainly improved over the last 20-30 years. They run the so-called "premier" cars in the segment such as Mercedes,BMW & Audi closer than ever.

The only fly in the ointment for me is that 20-30 years ago, cars in this segment used to be hatchbacks. A hatchback is an ideal blend of looks and practicality for my driving needs. (I can't stand estate cars. Yes I know they are practical, but I find them hideously ugly). The choice has narrowed, because some D-segment cars used to be hatchbacks and now they are only saloons or estates e.g. Citroen C5 (and its predecessors), Honda Accord, VW Passat.

I agree, estates are ugly beasts.

The Mondeo estate isnt a bad looking car.

I'd rather have a Titanium X spec Mondeo than a poverty spec 3-series.

quote:

Originally posted by Bamford:
I agree, estates are ugly beasts.

The S-line Audi looks good. The BMW touring with M-body kit are certainly not ugly, maybe menacing, but not ugly. IMO hatchbacks are ugly 'cos of trying to straddle 2 body shapes and i think the main reason manufacturers who care about their car looks are dropping the body style.

quote:

Originally posted by assettt:
IMO hatchbacks are ugly 'cos of trying to straddle

I half agree with you. There are two sorts of hatchbacks. Those that look like cut-down estate cars, and those that look like saloon cars.
I agree with you that the former are often ugly. However, saloons and the hatchbacks-that-look-like-saloons are handsome in my eyes because they conform to the classic "three box" shape.

I'd have a coupe or saloon every time over an estate car.

Why the RS6 with 572 bhp is only available as a 'van' who knows?

quote:

SYNTAX ERROR: the forum member that will do anything for love; but he won't do THAT!

Oooooohhhhh matron!

I do like the Citroen C5. Certainly a more sensible buy than a C6 - and thats after a discount. But nothing comes close to the Alfa 159.

With the 2.4, 210 bhp, 5-cylinder derv?

quote:

Originally posted by Bamford:
Why the RS6 with 572 bhp is only available as a 'van' who knows?

I think I read somewhere that a saloon is coming soon: I sincerely hope so, because I just don't get the estate thing with Audi.

Yep, if you are getting a race car engine, why have a delivery van????