Which used car would be best for me in your opinion?

[Chad82]

Alright, to give a brief overview on myself:

I am a 23 year old professional making a little over $60k gross. I live in Western Washington, and my daily commute is about 5 miles, which I ride my bike during the summer. I sometimes have to carry around suppliers/customers for my work, but they are typically only one at a time, but extra seating (4 or 5) is does get bonus points. I drive a rather relaxed style, and I won't be doing any tuning. My pleasure drives are generally about 4 hours over the mountains to where I went to school. I do get more spirited driving there, but ultimately I drive rather tame. I am approximately a 9,000 mile a year driver.

So specifically what I need(in approximate order):

1) Headroom and legroom for myself and passengers. I am 6'7" so I fit well in my current car (91 Infinity Q45 with 144,000 miles).

2) Appeal. I need something that reflects well on myself and my company. With my current income it doesn't need to be anything extravagant, but it should be respectable. I like all ranges of style from highway cruising lazy boy on wheels to 2nd gen MR2 turbos.

3) Reliability. I do most of my routine maintenance myself, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I don't want it something I need to work on every week. I plan to keep my next car 3 or 4 years if all goes well.

4) Power. Like I said, I generally drive rather tame, but like everyone I like it to zip when I jump on the gas. I won't be any tuning, so it has to be out of the box.

5) Handling/Traction. Both equally important. I prefer AWD but it is not necessary. I drive a lot in wet weather, being from Western Washington, and I travel the passes a good deal.

6) Fuel economy. I don't need a 50 MPG econobox, but I also don't want 6 MPG gas guzzler. 16 city makes me happy enough.


So based on those approximate categories, which car do you think would work best for me? My budget is ~$25,000 as that will allow me to pay cash, and of course the cheaper the better.

On the poll, please give reasons on you would suggest it. In order to get a more accurate thought process, I will forego giving the order I am looking at.

Much thanks and please give reasoning for your selection as you see fit or offer other options if you choose "other".

[Oldengineer]

I suggest you look at a certified Jaguar X-Type 3 liter. It offers:
1. Decent performance - The Jag V6 makes 227 HP in this model. The engine pulls strongly all the way to 120+ MPH until it hits the software limiter. Similar European models w/o the limiter will clear 140.
2. Good fuel economy. Mine delivers 20 mpg in town and 28 interstate.
3. A luxury interior with plenty of room.
4. Very large trunk.
5. AWD is standard, with a rear bias, that makes it handle as well as its RWD competitors. Foul weather capability is excellent.
6. Top notch reliability scores from JD Powers.
7. Elegant exterior styling and fit and finish are second to none.
8. Excellent 100K factory warranty coverage.
9. The car should fit your budget just fine. Should get you in a fairly current one.
10. Normal maintenance is easy.

Regards:
Oldengineer
2003 X-Type 2.5 automatic.

[Chad82]

Thanks for the feedback and the reasoning behind it! There is a Landrover/Jaguar dealership about 15 miles from where I live, so I will go check out a couple tomorrow morning and see how it feels.

[kman10587]

It sounds like you're looking for a mid-sized luxury-sports sedan. They're fun to drive, but still look nice, give a good impression, and are generally roomy and comfortable. All-wheel-drive is a plus.

I'd say that your ideal car would be a 2000-2002 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro sedan. Four door luxury car? Check. All-wheel-drive? Check. Price? $16,000-24,000, depending on year and options. Gas mileage? 17 city/24 highway. As long as you can keep it well-maintained (which you sound like you can), reliability should be just fine. The downside to a fairly big luxury sedan like this is that, while it may feel athletic (and it certainly has plenty of acceleration with the 4.2L V8), it'll never handle corners with the aplomb of a smaller car like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, or Lexus IS 300. However, I think the extra headroom and legroom will offset the slight reduction in handling prowess for you.

[Chad82]

Good suggestion. I will have to check it out again. I had test driven an 00 A6 with the 4.2 about a month ago (prior to my raise which pushed me from just under $50k to just over 60k). It had high mileage compared to others available (85k) and the price was about $17k. My problem was I had just test driven a 98 A8 4.2 which actually felt a little perkier and had a nicer ride. The A8 also felt more secured to the ground (perhaps the all aluminum frame?)

Although thinking back it did feel like it actually had more front leg and head room.

I don't plan on riding rails through corners, and I am used to the handling on large sedans (like I said, have a 91 Infiniti Q45) so handling wise it felt actually like a vast improvement.

[kman10587]

If you want something a little perkier, the BMW 5-Series is always a good choice. No all-wheel-drive is the only reason I suggested the A6 4.2 over the 540i.

[Chad82]

Ive got a couple of friends with 540s and I want to be different. Good car, nonetheless.

[NISSANSPDR]

The Q45 would be my choice...severely underrated car but amazing in everyway.

If you could get a 2002 that would be really nice. 340hp. But the 1997-2001 models arent bad. Around 270hp



This is the 97-01 Model



2002-present Model

[del]

that's a wide variety of cars you're looking for. you have big saloons like the A8 and 7 then by the end of the list, you're at a 2 dr twin turbo japanese sports car. you want size and comfort but you want good handling/performance and fuel economy. if they made such a car with this kind of balance, it'd be the best selling car ever. haha. i voted for the A8 for the following reasons - my biase towards audi, but also it has awd, it's roomy, has appeal and decent power. which is some of what you're looking for. it may be questionable in reliability but as long you take care of it, it'll take care of you.

[BP2K2Max]

i'd go with the Q45 too. like nissanspdr said i'd look into the VK45 powered model(02+) since it got a significant increase in hp and i've heard that there were some mechanical flaws with the 97-01 models that was remedied in in the later models.

[blakscorpion21]

i would consider a lexus is300, they are pretty nice and decently quick. im not a fan of the luxury/s[ports sedan but the is300 is one of my favorites. the latter three on your list seem to not be what ur looking for. the 3000gt is very high matinence and the other two are not really that roomy. the first four are kinda plain and boring to me but if u like them they will be a fine choice. im more a fan of the last 3 cars though.

[DinanM3_S2]

My first instinct was to say E39 540i. They have a great blend of power and space, but you already nullified that choice.

My problem with the Audi A6 is just how unreliable they are. I've known 2 C5 (1998-2004) A6 owners, and they both ended up hating them. They drove well and the were nice cars, but both of them ended up getting rid of them because of how unreliable they were and how badly they were treated by dealerships and shops. Audis are great cars if they run, but with cars like the C5 A6 and the B5 A4/S4, thats a big if.

Infinitis are not generally considered to be great cars until the arrival of the G35 and the newer M35/M45, I would avoid most other models.

The Jaguar X-Type is based almost completely on a European Ford called the Mondeo, which is basically a Taurus. They look great but arn't good cars. Look up comparisons involving the X-Type in Car & Driver, Road & Track, etc. Its always near the bottom.

Its kinda hard to pick a car out of such a wide field of choices. For larger cars, I'd either go with the 740i or the A8. You could probably get a newer A8 with fewer miles then the 740i due to the depreciation of Audi v. BMW. Both are very nice cars, for Seattle weather, the A8 Quattro might be a better pick.

This timing is unfortunate from my point of view, because a B6 S4 sounds almost perfect for you. Its sporty, refined, and AWD. The problem is that they are too new. They started as a 2003 model, so they cost at least about $30,000+. So if you were willing to spend more, I'd look into one.

[k3smostwanted]

i like the Lexus IS300 idea...

only thing it doesnt offer that your looking for is the perkiness of some of your other choices and AWD. i think it runs a low 15 in the quarter which by all means is not a slouch but compared to a 300zxTT and SupraTT, it is not quite up to par. but it is a lexus and it will give you superb handling and nice ride...but a little more sportier than an A8 or a car of the like.

another car may be a Audi S4. its quite a bit more sporty and quicker than your average Audi but still with the comforts of owning a midsize sedan and AWD.

i cant see you being completely satisifed with an A8 or big luxury car of the like as you are a younger fella and does seem that you are somewhat interested in sportiness (this would explain the Jap Sports Car options you listed).

[Oldengineer]

Dinan:

Hate to rain on your parade - but you've been reading too many car magazines with poorly researched data about the X-Type. This is a common misconception that continues because of Jaguar's really pathetic advertising campaign associated with this car. In reality, the X-Type shares only 20% of its parts with Mondeo, a vehicle never imported into the US, and virtually nothing with a Taurus. Ever heard of an AWD Mondeo or Taurus?? How about a 5 speed automatic Taurus?? Not to mention that the X is about 2/3 the size of Taurus. I think all 3 cars do use the same oil filter, if that's a major issue. The X-Type faired badly in a lot of the early reviews because of 2 primary reasons:
1. It was initially overpriced for its target market.
2. The initial model year (2002) had reliability problems that the magazines trumpeted loudly about.
Nobody seemed to notice that the 2 Jag V6s, the 2.5 and 3 liter actually outgunned their BMW counterparts on HP until the 2006 model year. Actually having driven and researched most of its competitors in 2003, I concluded that most of the magazines were full of sheep dip. MY final 2 contenders for my dollars were the 325i and the X Type. I selected the X because of the reasons I mentioned in my earlier post.

Regards:
Oldengineer

[DinanM3_S2]

Actually the most recent C&D comparo was in 2004, well after the reliability issues should have been sorted out. It placed 7th out of 7. They didn't cite price or reliability as major problems. Here is a link to the article-

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=2

They didn't say it was a bad car at all, just not nearly as good as its competitors. The suspention is too soft, the transmission isn't very good, and it really just doesn't make a great sports sedan. I love the exterior styling, and the interior, while small, looks great. Its a good luxury car, but for a similar price (often less), you can get an Audi, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura that is a good luxury car AND a good sports sedan.

In my eyes, the X-Type is to Jaguar what the C-Class is to Mercedes Benz. They both seem like good cars until you go and drive the competition.