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+--- Thread: MM: Help me choose a new daily driver! (/showthread.php?tid=4661)
MM: Help me choose a new daily driver! - WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
So, I got some exciting news at work yesterday: I will be going into sales! I'm extremely stoked because this is what I had originally pushed for when I joined the company, but they started me in production because I had "management potential" (whatever that means :lol: ). Sales is the next step up in the promotion process, and I've been thrown into it quicker than usual because of the current situation with the home sales market and our desperate need for more sales.
Anyway, long story short, I don't really want to be driving around my Tundra any more. It's a nice truck, but I would like something more luxurious and sedan-like for a daily driver. I need some opinions from you guys, here's a little info:
1) Tundra cost me about $12,000. Ideally I'd like to keep the daily driver close to that amount, under if possible, with a max of $15,000 at the VERY most.
2) I want something sporty, but luxurious...AWD is a bonus but not a necessity, RWD would be second best.
3) Reliability is obviously important, and it would be a big plus, but again not a necessity, to have something that's maintenance costs won't completely assrape me.
4) It would be great if the cost of insurance wasn't incredibly high either. I think I'm paying about $1200 per year on just the Tundra.
So far I'm thinking:
2001+ IS300 (not the newest ones though) - I REALLY like this car and it would probably be the most ideal for me, although it's tough to find a decent one in that pricerange
2000ish Infiniti G20 - Another nice car, but I don't know much about the reliability of these
2000ish Audi A4 - Could fit the bill for AWD, comfortable, 4 doors
Any ideas? I'm really not into Hondas or Miatas, so don't bother with those.
- G.Irish - 08-23-2006
IS300 sounds like the perfect car. Excellent reliability, fairly sporty, decent power, good style, you can't really go wrong with that one.
- Evan - 08-23-2006
Im actually in a similar situation right now. Im sick of driving busted piles.
G20s are tarted up Sentras. I wouldnt touch it. Also look dated.
IS300 is a great car but hard to find in 6speed. Probably pretty hard to find for that $$ too.
A4 may not be a bad choice, but personally Im not a fan and Ive heard too many unreliability and service cost stories.
Solara V6 may be something to consider.
should be able to get an E46 bmw for 15k
Mazda6
~2002 Acura TL
although those are fwd
- .RJ - 08-23-2006
If you dont mind the automatic and "appliance" driving experience then you can get a used lexus pretty reasonably.
I'm assuming with home sales the appearance of a nice car is pretty important....
- Sijray21 - 08-23-2006
IS300, Audi a4, and BMW 330i would be (and are
) my top choices personally.i was leaning toward the IS300, but they're a little out of your max for a good conditioned one. The e46 bimmer would be great, but again - a little out of the 15k range. The e36 328i would be a fantastic car. A little older, but still nice and pretty close to the 15k range. The b4 a4 is also a great car. I'm sure you can get more than you can handle from scotty on this one :lol: .
I know there're more options out there for you, but those are my particular choices that i'm actually looking for next year or sometime in the future :wink: .
- BLINGMW - 08-23-2006
what about an AWD BMW? 330xi?
- WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
.RJ Wrote:If you dont mind the automatic and "appliance" driving experience then you can get a used lexus pretty reasonably.I agree with you for sure. I mean, it's not a necessity to have a nice car, but it doesn't put forth the best first image when you drive around a scratched up and dented truck permanently running a spare tire because you get flats so often :lol:
I'm assuming with home sales the appearance of a nice car is pretty important....
Surprisingly, automagic is a big plus for me. I really don't want my daily driver to be a manual; my STi is more 6 speed than I can handle. For traffic and stop and go, I actually am really glad my truck is an automatic.
- HAULN-SS - 08-23-2006
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- WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
HAULN-SS Wrote:http://roanoke.craigslist.org/car/197781661.htmlOo haha tight! Nice looking car
A Rustang is not exactly "luxurious" though 8)
- JohnC - 08-23-2006
E39 540i
- WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
BLINGMW Wrote:what about an AWD BMW? 330xi?Yeah I've seen one of the newer ones and those are really nice, but are there any in that price range that I could afford?
Can you guys dig up any pics of these e46s and so on? I know I've seen some but I bet you guys have some better examples from the intarweb.
- WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
Maybe an RSX Type Essssuhh? I hadn't even considered those. I'm not sure if I really like those though...
- JohnC - 08-23-2006
WRXtranceformed Wrote:Maybe an RSX Type Essssuhh? I hadn't even considered those. I'm not sure if I really like those though...
Being in sales, I got the impression you needed a 4-door, in case you have to haul clients around...
- Goodspeed - 08-23-2006
We had one of these same discussions for Derek and he got a Subaru Legacy GT....AWD, great looking cars, maybe one of those?
- BLAIR - 08-23-2006
is300 , e36 m3 , gs300 ,
- Feersty - 08-23-2006
E46 330i and 330ci's are smooth, that would definitely be my vote.
- WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
Goodspeed Wrote:We had one of these same discussions for Derek and he got a Subaru Legacy GT....AWD, great looking cars, maybe one of those?Yeah, I actually went to the dealership to see if they had any used newer GTs, they didn't. Even if some place does, I won't find one for that price range.
- Goodspeed - 08-23-2006
WRXtranceformed Wrote:Yeah, I actually went to the dealership to see if they had any used newer GTs, they didn't. Even if some place does, I won't find one for that price range.
Ah, ok. Well in that case my vote goes to an older Lexus, GS300 or LS400 etc...Toyota reliability+Lexus luxury = win
- WRXtranceformed - 08-23-2006
JohnC Wrote:A 4 door would definitely be ideal, but not mandatory.WRXtranceformed Wrote:Maybe an RSX Type Essssuhh? I hadn't even considered those. I'm not sure if I really like those though...
Being in sales, I got the impression you needed a 4-door, in case you have to haul clients around...
I think that's why I'm drawn to the IS300 so much. It's comfortable, somewhat roomy, quick, looks good, and actually gets OK gas mileage from what a friend of mine said about his wife's IS300.
- Nis01 - 08-23-2006
WRXtranceformed Wrote:I think that's why I'm drawn to the IS300 so much. It's comfortable, somewhat roomy, quick, looks good, and actually gets OK gas mileage from what a friend of mine said about his wife's IS300.Sounds pretty win win if you can find one in your price range. Would be a nice DD that fits all of your needs.
Not quite as nice but perhaps a Nissan Maxima... with the luxury package those things are quite nice and very reliable.