Daily driver suggestions

[BLAKE]

I'm partial to the Infiniti. I loved our G35. It had plenty of power to get us in and out of traffic, I believe 155 mph was where I finally let out of it the one time I was able to stretch its legs. we got 18-20 mpg no matter how we drove it.

I test drove an IS250 when we traded our Infiniti in and comparing the two, I would prefer the Infiniti, the ride was better than the Lexus. If we are ever in the market for a sedan an Infiniti will be at the top of our list.

I loved my old '03 G35 a lot, but I know that the newer cars are completely different than the raw, light, fun to toss around version I had. They're also better built, as I had to do all of the standard fixes to mine (like the Bose stereo/HVAC crapping out, the bad suspension bushings, etc).

My goal is to drive all of the best options and do my best to be objective.

[Chili]

I thought this thread sounded kinda familiar..

Update for MattB!

Threw money and new parts at it, and even painted the 18" coupe wheels a color I was sure Matt would hate! (Bronze)

The new suspension is a dream. Handles great, isn't too harsh. 350Z suspension and some fancy polyurethane bushings that are squeak-free so far.

Thanks again for y'alls input. I'm ready to drive this thing until it dies, then find another one just like it with lower miles and swap the parts over.

[Baron Von Crowder]

http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto/5953350088.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/5945338924.html

The MKS had the option for AWD and the 3.5 Ecoboost. They arent everywhere, but would be a good alternative to the SHO.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/687246261/overview/

[BLAKE]

I thought this thread sounded kinda familiar..

LOL, was a great car, but I had that weird thing fall in my lap of helping a friend by taking over his lease on that Leaf. (man I'm glad that thing is gone)

Now I'm a little older and hopefully a little wiser. As great as that car was, I don't want to be driving a 14 year old car with 150K miles on it right now.

http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/cto/5953350088.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/5945338924.html

The MKS had the option for AWD and the 3.5 Ecoboost. They arent everywhere, but would be a good alternative to the SHO.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...6261/overview/

I actually like the MKS for what it is, just wish it was native RWD. They look like nice cars, but reviewers seem to slot them as less dynamic, less fun than the Japanese options.

[Baron Von Crowder]

LOL, was a great car, but I had that weird thing fall in my lap of helping a friend by taking over his lease on that Leaf. (man I'm glad that thing is gone)

Now I'm a little older and hopefully a little wiser. As great as that car was, I don't want to be driving a 14 year old car with 150K miles on it right now.



I actually like the MKS for what it is, just wish it was native RWD. They look like nice cars, but reviewers seem to slot them as less dynamic, less fun than the Japanese options.

after getting to know a few auto-journo's, I wouldnt worry too much about reviews. Go drive it and whatever else you're looking at.

[Sean88gt]

I have a G35s. I wouldn't hesitate a bit to buy a G37, or whatever the new moniker is. They are quick, quasi-efficient, reliable, comfortable, and fun to drive.

[Craizie]

Speaking of G's, why did they switch it to the Q40/50/60? For a minute there I thought they had a 6 liter Q.

[Sean88gt]

Speaking of G's, why did they switch it to the Q40/50/60? For a minute there I thought they had a 6 liter Q.

They hired their CEO away from Audi, he implemented it.

[Craizie]

What a fag.

[Baba Ganoush]

'13-'14 Accord. If you can bump your budget just a bit, you can get a v6 model in the $17k-$18k range.

Definitely at the top of my list. I think that generation of accords are some of the best looking sedans on the road.

[BLAKE]

after getting to know a few auto-journo's, I wouldnt worry too much about reviews. Go drive it and whatever else you're looking at.

Sounds about right.

What a fag.

LOL, yup.

[46Tbird]

Have you driven a Charger R/T?

I have not, but that car is in this weird intersection of not loving the styling, oddly holding their value so that a decent one is out of my price range, and being a Chrysler product. Rightly or wrongly, I associate Chrysler with crap in terms of quality and reliability. Is that an outdated notion?

I think they're oddly styled too. I have never driven one either, but you see scads of them all over the place (along with 300s) so they are either really reliable, really easy to maintain, or just dirt cheap.

I did some searching, and man - you're right, they aren't all that cheap. This one is just outside your budget but the year is right, miles are right, HP is right, it's V8 + RWD, has a sunroof and is non-Deutsch. That's tripping a lot of the triggers you called out. It might be worth test driving one. This one looks pretty sharp in that color and with the dark tinted glass. Could maybe use some more blacking out of the grille.

https://www.carmax.com/car/13470875

I know several years ago when I was looking at them, there was a huge difference in the 2010 versus the 2011 Challengers. Some styling changes, some drivetrain and suspension changes, but mostly the interior was improved. I remember thinking they should have been discounting the '10s a lot more than they were with those shitty interiors. LOL

[Ratt]

Curious as to why the year limitation. Is it just for parts availability, or because you want more modern interior features, or what?

I agree that the Lexus IS250 is gutless, and both the IS250/350 are cramped. You might like it for a short drive, but if you drive it often or for long periods of time, it will get tiresome. I'd go find something like this, maybe with a few less miles: https://www.carmax.com/car/13901043

The last year they made that body style was 2010, so maybe something from 2010, if you can find it.

Also, don't dismiss the Acura TL (especially the AWD version). If you can get one that's 2012 or newer, then you can avoid the ugly bucktooth grill. My wife has a 2014 (FWD version), and the interior controls can be kind of weird to use. Other than that, it's one of the most comfortable cars I've been in, and is surprisingly quick. This one is a little out of your price range, but I would wager you could find a good deal on one like it somewhere:

https://www.carmax.com/car/13974610

Side note: If/when it comes time for my next car, and I find myself looking at mid-sized sport sedans, it will be an Infiniti Q50S (the new version of the G series sedan). Top-notch quality and still very fun to drive.

[4king]

You can find a low mileage 2011+ 300c with the 5.7 v8 fully loaded with glass roof and gamin based touch screen with gps with heated and cooled seats and heater and cooled cup holders for around $15k

I'm not sure why the 2011+ chargers hold their value so much more than a 300c, if I had to guess it's from strength of the name plate more than the actual car itself.

The hyundai genesis sedan comes with radar guided cruise control, lane departure, nav, heated and cooled drivers seat all for around the same price or cheaper. It has a 4.6 v8 with a 6 speed automatic

To me the genesis is alot more sporty than the 300's grand daddy's cadillac bones make it look

https://www.carmax.com/car/14065512

The g37 and especially g35 are out of the discussion because of their dated looking interiors and basic options. There seems to be no distinguishable qualities about individual cars and the one you pick will be the exact same as the one next to you at the stop light, which would be the while reason to want something a little nicer and a little more different than a standard daily driver

[BP]

If you were slightly flexible on the mileage/dollars that's 2011 GT range.

https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/1ZVBP8CF0B5141835/2011-ford-mustang/

https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/1ZVBP8CF7B5157286/2011-ford-mustang/

The top one is even an auto.