WTB: Grown-up Car

[Levey]

So the 2002 Camaro is a great car. Tons of fun, over 400 hp, and the roof is see through and removable. What's not to love? Well, it gets 14 mpg on my 14 mile commute (do the math), it's 11 years old and kind of clunky, and most of all it does not portray the fact that I have a real job that pays pretty well. So I have been looking around trying to decide what will replace it. I am all over the map, so have not pulled the trigger yet. When I made the move from the 04 RX8 to the Camaro, I vowed to myself to never own anything without a V8 ever again. Ehhhh, maybe I can break my rule. So i'm looking to spend up to $35k. If I top out my budget, whatever I get better be pretty much new. Otherwise, decently low mileage is acceptable. Here how my mind has been working thus far. My focus is on modern interior, non-lame exterior, overall cost of vehicle. Power is a plus, but wimpyness could be justified (ct200h?)

Audi A5: Gorgeous, AWD, 27mpg highway, not too expensive insurance, luxurious, sporty, but maintenance would suck.
BMW 335i: Power, luxury, but still the high maintenance costs.
Lexus ct200h: Massive amount of technology inside, unique looking, 40+mpg, but 98 freaking hp. Would this be stupid and boring in 8 days?
08+ Corvette: Because Corvette, but might miss the backseat, and insurance is insane.
12+ Mercedes C300: Because I could own an almost new Mercedes in my price range. But that's the only reason.
SUV: a jet ski may be purchased in the next couple of years since I live at the beach now. This opens a whole other string of possibilities.

I'm open to taking a lashing if the above choices all suck. Let's hear it.

[Ken]

Going from 400HP to 98 HP? Methinks you're going to regret that one real quick, think that should be a quick cut from the list, there are other cars that will give you the MPG you want/need and not be balls slow.

[Levey]

You have a valid point. The mpg improvement, although drastic, would save me about $1,500/yr. Not sure if $1,500 is the going price of castrating myself.

[Jake]

Hybrids are, financially, a bad move. And they all kinda suck.

You don't need AWD in Virginia Beach. I know, sometimes it rains, but trust me, don't bother taking the MPG penalty and limiting which cars you can buy because of that feature.

I like the A5's, and I like the new-ish E92 BMW coupes, but I guess I don't really know what you want. What do you want to DO with this thing? Just commute in it? Do you care about driving dynamics at all? Do you just want to have it be a big "wave my cock around and look at how awesome of a job I have" vehicle?

So far, all I can establish is "nice" and "good on gas." Which, to be fair, is a good start. But coupe vs. sedan? Do you care about the ability to haul things (hatchbacks are awesome for that)? Stick or automatic? Give us more to go on, and we can probably halp more.

[JPolen01]

You can get a brand new fully loaded v6 accord for under 30 if you know how to bargain. My dad got his 2011 for right under 30 and it is awesome. Enough power and the interior rivals a Lexus in my opinion. Low maintenance and solid reliability.

[Levey]

Jake, you have a point about the awd. That being said, I really don't have a preference regarding sedan vs coupe. Coupes can be more stylish, but 4 doors could be more convenient and also still stylish. I do care about driving dynamics, so I really need to get out there and start driving stuff. Basically, due to high levels of materialism, I cannot drive a car of which Hertz owns 20,000. That means that yes, the car would have to inform people that I am hung like a light switch. Auto vs manual is not a priority. Most likely, I jumped the gun on creating this thread since I really have no loyalties or favorites in mind.
Jon, Accords are nice, but do not pass my "Hertz Fleet Test".

[Ken]

Just going to throw this out there, new Golf R? Top of your designated price range, AWD, pretty decent MPG's, nicely appointed interior and it's new, so warranty. VW looks like they are running good programs for lease or purchase.

[Jake]

Just going to throw this out there, new Golf R? Top of your designated price range, AWD, pretty decent MPG's, nicely appointed interior and it's new, so warranty. VW looks like they are running good programs for lease or purchase.

I like that idea.

Also... what about an Infiniti G37 (or Q50 or whatever bullshit name they're giving it now)? Pretty nice cars and not often thought of when people consider luxo-sport-sedans.

Lexus IS350?

[D_Eclipse9916]

Lexus IS350?

I like that suggestion. Drive's nice, great interior, decent gas mileage, still has "status" or whatever you are looking for.

I tried to get my mom in one before she decided she had to have the m3. I still try to convince her to sell it and get one.
G35/G37s get horrendous gas mileage, worse than you would think by far.

New A4?

If I had 35k, I would buy a $25k E55 amg, and the rest for maintenance for the next 5 years.

[Ken]

Just going to throw this out there, new Golf R? Top of your designated price range, AWD, pretty decent MPG's, nicely appointed interior and it's new, so warranty. VW looks like they are running good programs for lease or purchase.

I like that idea.

Also... what about an Infiniti G37 (or Q50 or whatever bullshit name they're giving it now)? Pretty nice cars and not often thought of when people consider luxo-sport-sedans.

Lexus IS350?

Like the Lexus idea too.

Ugh, if Virginia Beach area is anything like up here, G37's are like cockroaches, they're everywhere. Hate those things lol.

[Jake]

Hate those things lol.

He would also have to budget for a copious supply of flat-brimmed hats, and Tapout t-shirts.

[HAULN-SS]

Re: miles per gallon...

I assume the camaro is paid off. How long will it take for your recovered gas money take for you to cover the cost of a new car?

[HAULN-SS]

Also here's a low mileage, BSD car that comes in under your budget : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WONT-FIND-CLEANER-NICER-RIDE-AMG-SPORT-WHITE-DIAMOND-/271134943346?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3f20e6e872">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WONT-FIN ... 3f20e6e872</a><!-- m -->

[Ken]

Rebuilt title and still listed at KBB value? yeesh. Not to mention rebuilt in NY means it, at some point, had at least 75% of it's value worth of damage.

[CaptainHenreh]

Can anyone say "Sandy"? I knew you could.

[FlaakCM]

He would also have to budget for a copious supply of flat-brimmed hats, and Tapout t-shirts.

Hahaha.

I agree with the A5, however, I stayed away because of the maintenance costs. However, if you were looking for something along the same lines but with lower maintenance, maybe look at the BRZ/FRS :dunno:

[ScottyB]

2nd gen CTS-V

[Levey]

I'll look into the Golfs
G37 has come up on the radar, but I think Jake nailed the obligatory supplementary supplies, of which I have exactly 0.
The A4's are nice, but the A5's capture the style requirement. I'll go to an Audi dealer to compare side by side.
Lexi keep smacking me in the face with their insurance costs.
Camaro is paid off. So this is why I do not mind rocking its mullet ass around a little longer. I always told myself that when I got a job, I would go immediately to the Chevy dealer to get a new SS. Well, they're kind of "meh" and get way worse fuel economy than even a Corvette. I'll go look at them again though.
Insurance is currently ~$1,500/year for full coverage for the Maro.
Honestly, as long as the next car I get does better than 11 mpg city and 20 highway, I can deal with it. Ideally 18/25 range.

So far A5's lead the pack. I know they just came out in 09, but anybody have any stories on how they hold up?

[Levey]

Oh and CTS-V's tickle my fancy along with G8's.

[SlimKlim]

The thing that convinced me to finally drop the Audi thing (because I did want one super hard) was taking a peek at the front suspension design. They have like eight front control arms, the shit is ridiculous. Also, I personally would have a hard time paying the $8-10k premium of an A5 over an A4 when its basically the same car with less doors.

If I had 35k, I would buy a $25k E55 amg, and the rest for maintenance for the next 5 years.

/thread.

EDIT: Boom. $10k left to maintain it for the entire time you feel like owning it, and $5k for coke & hookers:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/...x=11&Log=0

Supercharged V8, 7-speeds, air-suspension, a shit-ton of features and you'll look like a Columbian drug lord, especially with all that coke & hookers. Everybody wins.