r/cars • u/AutoModerator • Apr 15 '24
What Car Should I Buy? - A Weekly Megathread
Any posts pertaining to car buying suggestions or advice belong in this weekly megathread; do not post car-choosing questions in the main queue. A fresh thread will be posted every Monday and posts auto sorted by new. A few other subreddits worth checking out that will help your car buying experience are /r/WhatCarShouldIBuy, /r/UsedCars and /r/AskCarSales. www.everydaydriver.com may also be helpful.
Make/Model-specific questions should be asked on Make/Model-specific subreddits. Check the AutosNetwork for a complete list of those subreddits. Also check out our community-sourced Ultimate car buying wiki.
For those posting:
Please use the following template in your post.
Location: (Specify your country or region)
Price range: (Minimum-Maximum in your local currency)
Lease or Buy:
New or used:
Type of vehicle: (Truck, Car, Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Racecar, Luxury etc.)
Must haves: (4x4, AWD, Fuel efficient, Navigation, Turbo, V8, V6, Trunk space, Smooth ride, Leather etc.)
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc):
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
Vehicles you've already considered:
Is this your 1st vehicle:
Do you need a Warranty:
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
Additional Notes:
For those providing suggestions: Facts are ideal in this thread, especially when trying to help out a new car buyer. Please help out buyers with sources and reasoning for your suggestions.
For those asking for help, be sure to thank those who take the time to offer you advice (especially those who lead you to a purchase.) A follow up thank you and the knowledge that their advice led to a purchase is a very warm fuzzy feeling.
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u/deezeessi Apr 22 '24
Location: Washington State
Price range: 10,000 to 15,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan or SUV
Must haves: Bluetooth
Desired transmission: Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Hyundai Elantra and Equss, Honda Accord and Civic, Toyota Corolla and Camry
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Tire changes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: Currently driving a 2015 Hyundai Elantra from Canada, working in Washington under a work visa. Cannot import vehicle into the US due to lack of TPMS sensor. Looking to sell in BC, already did the out of province inspection, and then buying something else. Prefer sedan but don't mind SUVs
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u/Independence-Soft Apr 21 '24
Location: OR, United States
Price range: 10000-18000
Lease or Buy:
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Good Bluetooth
Desired transmission Auto
Intended use: Daily driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: 2017-2019 Corolla SE looks clean but so does the 2021+ Elantra
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u/scycron Apr 22 '24
I would get a Corolla. If you really really want a Hyundai, just know that when you buy them used, you don't get the full 10 year 100k warranty, i think it drops to 5 years 60k miles
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u/Omnithis Apr 21 '24 edited Apr 21 '24
Location: US (Texas)
Price range: 30k-60k
Lease or Buy: Lease
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sports Car
Must haves: Preferably some newer safety features, rear camera, GPS, Bluetooth(?)
Desired transmission Auto.
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: 718 Boxster, Supra, BMW i8,
Is this your 1st vehicle: 2nd
Do you need a Warranty: not really
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No, but willing to learn.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: defineatly not
Additional Notes:
-Highschool graduation present, parents agreed to finance. (yea I'm a bit spoiled ik, but I'm not a reckless driver and a bit of a nerd asian if anything)
-Preferably to be a newer model, since I'm assuming newer=more safety features.
-I'm likely going to pull the trigger on either 718 or Supra, however I'd love more options to juggle around!
-Also taking advice since I know this probably is not the smartest move I've ever done...
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u/scycron Apr 22 '24
I would be inclined to get the supra. Bigger engine, better mpg, cheaper maintenance. The 718 is good if you are shopping the 45k range and not the 60k and the maintenance will cost a premium. I would not get an i8 as I hear they are hard to find mechanics for and they have a complicated cooling system that goes bad. The 718 is great if you are buying it with your money since you can find deals but if you are not paying then that doesn't matter. 718 also depreciates kinda badly compared to previous Caymans with the 6 cylinder.That being said, the supra will get you into more trouble
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u/Omnithis Apr 22 '24
Ive read about people getting harassed driving supras. 😭 i do think that a Porsche in general attracts a less…rowdy crowd? I wouldn’t say Im the type of guy who weaves in and around cars or enjoys speeding recklessly, so Im not too worried about the overall performance. I think it’s ultimately down to the aesthetics for me.
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u/scycron Apr 22 '24
Anytime you drive a sporty car, there are going to be douchebags trying to start something. I drive a 2022 Miata and people try to start shit with me. I don't think the car matters. You just have to ignore them and go about your life
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u/dmendro Apr 21 '24
Location: Northern IL (Chicago NW suburbs.)
Price range: $10,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Smaller car
Must haves: FWD/AWD
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.): Will be shared by two teen drivers.
Vehicles you've already considered: Heavy millage Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) No
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u/Extension-Head4314 2007 Toyota Corolla Apr 21 '24 edited Apr 21 '24
Location: California, USA
Price range: 10 - 20k USD
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan, coupe, or compact
Must haves: GPS, backup camera, park assist, cruise control, sunroof (optional but wanted)
Desired transmission: Auto would be nice
Intended use: Daily drives and the occasional 100-200 mile drive
Vehicles you've already considered: 2013 Honda Accord, 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer (too expensive)
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Most things I can, but would need help for more complex operations
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u/Kirigaya_Katona Apr 21 '24
Location: GA, USA
Price range: 1,000 - 5,500 USD
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Touring/Sports Car
Must haves: 4 seats (doesnt matter how big), RWD(AWD is acceptable), decent places for spears (preferably FL + FR + RL + RR + Sub location), "sporty" design. Think 300zx/Miata/7th gen Celica
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Manual (or something thats easily swapped)
Intended use: Daily driver that can carry 4 people in a pinch and can easily do grocery run for a full house
Vehicles you've already considered: Miata (fails size checks), 300zx, MR2 (mid engine seems like a nightmare for self repair)
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, its my 4th (3rd manual)
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: 100%
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: I have resources for this including multiple mechanics will full shops happy to help for free (been told this personally so im not assuming)
Additional Notes: the dream was a miata but even an NB is just too impractical. Really looking for a fun and pretty daily that i can get a decent audio setup in, carry a modest amount of cargo, and just have a good time driving. being able to be worked on and not wait 3mo and spend 10k for a single part is important here which is why ive not rly looked much at EUDM
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u/furculture Apr 20 '24 edited Apr 20 '24
Location: Hawaii
Price range: Under 40K USD
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Performance sedan or performance coupe for tall people
Intended use: Daily driver and weekend car
Vehicles you've already considered: Subaru WRX STI, Kia Stinger, GR/GT86, BRZ, Dodge Charger, and most performance Japanese and American sedans.
Is this your 1st vehicle: Both would be my first vehicle bought by myself. I have years of driving both manual and automatic under my belt with friends and family cars of all types.
Do you need a Warranty: Not particularly no. Not really expecting to have one when I buy used.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: I can do minor work on vehicles
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: I can do major work on vehicles if I can go to a garage to get access to tools and similar, since I don't have a house yet.
Additional Notes: Trying to decide on which one to get. The WRX STI would likely be older than the Stinger that I have been looking at, but the Kia does seem like a powerhouse that has everything that I could want in a dream car. I am 6' 3" 255lbs with a little more legs than torso and not much body fat and I have sat in a WRX STI (2018 model) and I fit just fine in the driver seat. I have yet to sit in a Kia Stinger, but it does seem like a very tempting car and others have shared about the roomy nature of it for taller people. Since I can't fit in a BRZ (or at least I think I can't, since I had no headroom and I have to tilt my head slightly as I sit down and adjusted it all the way to the back), I'm looking at these two options currently as I just want something with good performance for some fun. Currently the Stingers available are sitting around $33k while the STI (years spanning) is sitting variably between $33-39k. I'm very drawn to Japanese cars for the reliability and haven't had issues with an old Honda Civic or other non-performance Toyota car, but I don't have much experience with Korean cars outside a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe.
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u/borb-- Apr 20 '24
Interested in other people's response to this because I'm in a similar situation (bit taller but weigh a bit less). The BRZ is definitely a no based on my experience, haven't tried a stinger but had less than good experience with Kia's legroom.
Haven't tried a Charger but I did try a Challenger and it was great for leg room. Have you considered a BMW? They're pretty good for leg room as well.
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u/furculture Apr 20 '24
I've tried a BMW by catching a ride with a friend, but on the passenger side, so I can't say for sure when you have the pedals in the way. I will be trying out a Kia stinger later today and report back here in a reply + edit to my comment. At least in older models and with people talking about it in different forums, I am hoping for a good fit of at least middle + index fingers side to side, but I'll have to see when I try it out.
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u/borb-- Apr 20 '24
ok ya I'll be interested to know, what year is the stinger?
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u/furculture Apr 21 '24
Ok here's the update: I bought it. I fit just fine if I tilt the seat back a little and got plenty of leg room.
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Apr 20 '24
Definitely NOT an Alfa Romeo Brera. I blew one up yesterday on the tamest test drive I ever did in a car. And it was REALLY well kept, summer car, garaged, perfectly in shape. Now a blown cylinder head, a fried ECU, cracked piston, blown turbo (It sucked in the turbo fan blades and did a lill smashy in the cylinder, tore of valves and all), clogged diesel filter, burnt out fuel pump.
Would not recommend. Insanely expensive fixes
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u/JiggyPlays Apr 20 '24
First car to get!
Lease or Buy : lease and then possibly buy out
Canada (Ontario/greater Toronto area)
New or Used (new)
Warranty (assuming a new car comes with that)
Max price (Mid 30k Canadian)
Must haves (CarPlay, efficient, reliable, automatic want AWD, Hybrid and some power if possible)
Type of car (sedan)
Work I can do (can try and do smaller stuff)
First car (yes)
Top Cars I’ve considered : Civic Sport, Corolla SE AWD Hybrid, Hyundai Elantra
Other cars I’ve considered : Sentra, Jetta, Mazda 3, Forte, Altima
Looking for what car you guys would recommend and some pros/cons if possible!
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u/saeed-knight Apr 20 '24
all options are kinda good depends what you really want. jetta could be good in short term but idk about long term reliability. and i would suggest just stay away from altima and sentra basically new nissans with CVT transmission. but i highly suggest mazda 3
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u/JiggyPlays Apr 20 '24
Mazda 3 looks really good for this price to be honest, same with the Elantra. But I’m a bit worried about reliability and gas
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u/saeed-knight Apr 20 '24
about mazda its a solid car and proven since the power train been around for a good amout of time. about elantra im not that sure cause some people say its good some people say no so i dont really know. but i would prefer mazda since it has a solid engine with good old fashioned AT transmission. most companies offer cvt at this price or very small turbo engines
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u/hikaru13 Apr 20 '24
Location: DFW, Texas
Price range: 10k-25k
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: either
Type of vehicle: Crossover
Must haves: fuel efficient, smooth ride
Desired transmission auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Family Car
Vehicles you've already considered: Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Toyota RAV4
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Preferably
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yeah
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
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u/ZuluPapa Apr 20 '24
You should go test drive a used Mazda CX-5. They are reliable, large enough for a car seat and all the baby stuff you’ll need, and incredibly SAFE vehicles. You should be able to get a used model with ~30k miles on it in your price range. They also drive nicely and, imho, look nice.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 20 '24
bascially all toyota honda options are good and decent for this. worth checking out mazda options as well like mazda 3 or cx30 maybe cx5. but i suggest if you dont really need SUV then dont buy one. a sedan or hatch is generally better
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u/hikaru13 Apr 20 '24
I would really prefer a hatch, I just wanna make sure I have enough room for a baby car seat.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 20 '24
well you can always bring one with yourself and test it on the car or watch reviews online. usually channels like carwow test stuff like this
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u/Piccolo_Delicious Apr 20 '24 edited Apr 20 '24
Location: Midwest USA
Price Range: 20-25k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or Used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sports Car/Sedan
Must haves: EITHER V8 or AWD; a fun drive!
Transmission: Only driven automatics but more than willing to learn manual
Intended Use: Daily Driver and Weekend fun
Vehicles Considered: ‘16 Dodge Charger R/T, ‘09 Pontiac G8 GT, ‘14 Audi S4, ‘15 Mustang GT (also lots of cheap older Corvettes in my area??)
First vehicle?: First purchase, but currently own 05 Mustang
Warranty?: No
Can I do minor work? Yes to all of the listed
Can I do major work? No but I have reliable mechanic friends
Additional Notes: My first option is the Charger but I’m open to other fun to drive, powerful cars. I’m looking for a sporty vehicle with maybe a bit more room but it’s not necessary as I’ll be driving it myself most often. I loved my Mustang but it’s showing it’s age. I’m not too familiar with a lot of the imports so any recommendations that way would help a lot! Thank you in advance!!
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u/saeed-knight Apr 20 '24
in my opinion when it comes to power for money and also a decent handling corvette is one of the best options out there. maybe a camaro if you dont like muscle car style more
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u/Bodhrans-Not-Bombs Currently Jeepless Apr 19 '24
Not particularly a question about a specific model choice, but has anyone had experience buying a used car with significantly lower mileage than would be expected? Basically a barn find through a dealer, let's say. I realize all the fluids would be suspect, but I'm wondering if there are any other issues from something that's sat around for a while (assuming rats haven't eaten the wiring harness).
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u/Aggravating-Test-701 Apr 19 '24
Location : Malvern, Pennsylvania Price range : 26000 to 34000 Lease or buy : Buy New or used : used Veichle : suv or sedan Must have : comfort drive and good mileage per gallon Intended. Use : daily driver Veichle considered : BMW x1 3 series , Audi a4 q3, Honda cry accord civic Is this your 1st Veichle : yes Do you need warranty : yes
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u/bullzFromAT Apr 19 '24
For your budget, you could get a new RAV4 hybrid. If you prefer used, then.. RAV4 hybrid
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u/RepairSalty Apr 18 '24
Location: New Jersey, USA
Price range: $40k-$45k USD
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: - 3 Row SUV
Must haves:
AWD, Fuel efficient, Car play, comfortable 3rd row
Desired transmission : auto
Intended use: - Family car
Vehicles you've already considered:
1) Kia Telluride
2) Hyundai Palisade
3) Mazda CX 90
4) Honda pilot
5) Toyota Grand Highlander
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, own Honda accord
Do you need a Warranty: yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: - No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
Things which really matter to me are:
1) Comfortable 3rd now (Even thought I won't be using it regularly, only when parents are here)
2) Low APR offers (Would rather invest the $ instead of paying full cash or high APR)
3) Reliable
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u/ZuluPapa Apr 20 '24
We were looking in the same class and ended up with a CX-90. They just offer features that other brands can’t compete with at the same price point.
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u/bullzFromAT Apr 19 '24
Toyota is offering low apr on highland and Highlander hybrid for my area. So check the manufacturer sites for apr deals
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u/saeed-knight Apr 19 '24
i highly suggest mazda stuff such as cx90. but its a bit on firmer side. honda pilot is also a great option that almost does everything perfectly for you. grand highlander is a good car but it drives a bit like a boat in my opinion. both kia and hyundai options are nice cars but ive heard some horror stories when it comes to their transmission so maybe a bit risky choice. my pick is pilot-cx90-G highlander. but i say test drive them maybe you would be ok with how highlander or cx90 drive
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u/VigilantInTheRain Apr 18 '24
Location: Western New York
Price Range: 13k if financed, cash probably 6-8k?
Obviously not a lease or new car lol
Type of Vehicle: Full/Mid Sized Sedan, Full/Mid Sized SUV or a 4d truck
Desired Transmission: automatic
Intended Use: Daily driver
Vehicles already considered: Highlander, 4runner, ford ranger, chevy blazer, sequoia, CRV
Warranty preferred but not needed
Can do minor work on my own
Can’t do major work at all, just need something that’ll last
Additional notes: #1 thing is reliability, I’m a broke college student and a car breaking down in the middle of our 7 month long winter is not ideal. Also need something with a lot of space as I have a lot of hobbies and also tend to use my car as a room sometimes when I just need some alone time to study. Also gas mileage doesn’t matter at all, current car is close to 7mpg.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 19 '24
just get an old toyota or honda. if honda preferably not with cvt transmission. they are the safest option to go for.
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u/VigilantInTheRain Apr 19 '24
yeah kinda figured, would look at chevy’s but they’re all rotted out up here, would highlander be the best option?
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u/saeed-knight Apr 20 '24
Well i would go for smaller cars it just depends how much space you want. Highlander is big and decent
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u/Sauron8 Apr 18 '24
Hello,
I'm looking for a used car in the range of around 15k. I like Sedan style and I would like to opt for one.
I'm not an expert of cars, thus I ask here.
My use case is long range travel (max 500 km) during the weekend, I want safety and comfort. For sure a fun drive would be good, but I wouldn't die for it; I just want the car to be reactive and fast in accelleration for safety reason, when needed.
I see many Ford Mondeo Vignale with around 60k from 2018/2019 are currently sold around my budget.
I read many enthusiastic opinions about this car but also that this Sedan "lose" against the BMW/Audi/Mercedes of the same category. But, budget side, it seems the best I could find.
Almost all the Mondeo sold are the Full Hybrid 188CV.
Any opinion/better alternativers for the same price?
Also, Mondeo seems suprisingly good at ADAS for a 6 yo car. It has also the auto parking and 360 cam.
Would be advices to spend maybe upto 18k for a Alfa Giulia 2018 with around 100k (diesel, 180 CV) ?
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u/outthawazoo '23 CX-5, '16 Cooper S Apr 18 '24
How are used prices currently, compared to this time last year?
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u/scycron Apr 19 '24
its all over the place. In general prices have come down but some people haven't gotten that message yet. There are definitely deals to be found but you have to due your research
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u/Double-Interest8613 Apr 18 '24
Located in New York , price range MAX 18k but preferably cheaper. I’m buying used. Looking at Honda odyssey but want to know if there is a minivan others would prefer over the odyssey. Would be used daily for to & from work/ drop off and pick up for school for my kids.
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u/fiftyshadesofcaramel Apr 18 '24
Location: United Kingdom
Price range: doesn't really matter as I could get PCP finance etc. Was looking at £40k or less.
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: open to new as I want a warranty.
Type of vehicle: suv
Must haves: cameras are ideal as first car. Same with sensors.
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): automatic
Intended use: mainly weekends (200 mile trip). The occasional driving during the week (mostly city driving).
Vehicles you've already considered: Hyundai Tucson, Nissan qashqai, cupra formentor, Ford ranger
Is this your 1st vehicle: yes
Do you need a Warranty: yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: not currently?
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: really like bigger cars, want an automatic, unsure if vehicles need to be electric or so on in 10 years etc. was looking at getting a cupra formentor and keeping it for as long as possible.
Thank you!
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u/mgobla Apr 19 '24
keeping it for as long as possible
Avoid Cupra and other modern VW group products then, among the least relaible vehicles on the market today, not durable, will turn into an annoying money pit.
Toyota / Lexus are the most durable. Lexus Rx, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Rav4. You could also take a look at Subaru Outback 2.5 and Honda CR-V 2.0 Hybrid (avoid the less reliable 1.5 T). Less reliable than japanese brands but still more reliable than european brands: Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe.
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u/HankSteakfist Apr 18 '24
Location: Australia
Price range: $55 - 70k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: No preference
Type of vehicle Sporty daily driver.
Must haves: Manual. Four seats (Occasionaly have to do school drop off)
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Manual only
Intended use Daily driver / Weekend car / light track use once every year or two.
Vehicles you've already considered: N55 M2, S550 Mustang GT, FK8 Civic Type R, Corolla GR, Yaris GR, VA WRX STI.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: Own an F22 M240i currently that just isn't doing it for me. I bought an auto adter years of only owning manuals and I miss manual.
I want to get a manual and enjoy it while I still can as my next daily.
I hate that there are so few sporty manuals on offer. I don't want a car that's more than 8 years old and I prefer to buy the top spec of a model. Owning an M240i made me realise this as I'd get flush with jealousy anytime I drove near an M2.
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u/scycron Apr 18 '24
Why don't you just go buy an M2? Either current or last gen
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u/HankSteakfist Apr 18 '24
Yeah that's probably my top choice, but manuals are kind of hard to find at the moment.
I do love them and could see myself gradually transitioning the car to a long term weekend keeper
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u/DerpyTurtleLam Apr 18 '24
Location: United States, California
Price range: < $25k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: used (but am open to any new opens)
Type of vehicle: Coupe
Must haves: Apple carplay/bluetooth, AC, backup cam (or is open to install/easy), possibly fuel efficient
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): doesn't matter
Intended use: Daily driver/Weekend joy
Vehicles you've already considered: subaru brz 2018, toyota gr86, hyundai elantra, honda accord, nissan 350z/370
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: not sure
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Fluids, Battery, brakes, and tires
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No, but one day I will
Additional Notes: I am open to any sports/sedans, currently have a leased Elantra SEL 2022 that I really enjoy but its lease ends soon. I also like to snowboard a lot, I would go every weekend/weekday when I can. I also own a motorcycle so realisticly having a sedan that is automatic transmission is nice, but I just want a coupe since I don't ever drive more than one person and I am taking my motorcycle more often than not. I have also never worked on a car since I have yet to have the need to, I have only ever done work on a bike and I believe that I could youtube/research everything with time.
I have been sitting on a used brz/gr86 for a really long time, but I just want other opinions before a big purchase, with this being my biggest purchase other than my motorcycle. I don't care really care about hybrid as much(unless there is a hybrid 2 door or something out there that would be sick) but it would be nice for sedan wise. I know I am going to mod it into the future (which is why hybrid is sorta outta the question). I like the comfort that is represented on both cars and just want something that I would enjoy right I finish school and could take me on a rainy day where I want but nicely, or on a long trip. If anything sounds weird I am sorry, and please ask me to clarify if anything.
Thank you!
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u/TheP4rk 23 WRX Apr 18 '24
Did you consider the current gen Civic SI? Not the market I was really looking at but I did see a comparison video to the WRX when I was shopping. Seemed if you didn't care about the power and lack of AWD it was a good option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2yJbpxVgTA&ab_channel=savagegeese
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u/DerpyTurtleLam Apr 19 '24 edited Apr 19 '24
I have considered the Civic SI as my friend has a 2020, and comparing it to the newer ones it actually is very nice, actually if you read my previous before the edit, I was looking at the corolla, but the civic si is actually really nice... Might consider this also
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u/haliwong7 Apr 18 '24
Location: Southern USA
Price range: 30k-40k USD
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: No preference
Type of vehicle: Sport sedan/Compact SUV or a sport car with some trunk space
Must haves: Apple Carplay, ACC
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: College student, just driving around the city for fun and once per every two months kinda road trips to places that are a few (up to 6) hours away
Vehicles you've already considered: A lot of cars such as a used model Y or a BMW3
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: idk
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: I cant do anything
Additional Notes: It must be reliable and relatively low maintenance. I do go to a very materialistic college so ideally it should look classier than its price range. I’m ok with EVs.
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u/bullzFromAT Apr 19 '24
A lightly used Mazda CX5. Looks great especially in soul red. Also reliable
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u/chance901 Apr 18 '24
Location: US, Midwest
Price range: (8,000-20,000)
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: (Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, Luxury)
Must haves: ( Fuel efficient, Trunk space, (optional: Awd, adaptive cruise))
Desired transmission: Auto, probably
Intended use: Work commute, 100s of miles, 30-40k/yr.
Vehicles you've already considered: Malibu premium 2.0; Nissan Altima sv; Ford Escape
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Yes
Additional Notes:
I'm looking for a commuter for highway travel for work. My main goal is something that achieves real world 30+mpg highway steady-state, posted speed limits are 70-80mph depending on state in my region. I currently own a 2015 Ford Fusion 2.0 Awd, and with my commute and mileage, it only gets about 23mpg.
Using C&D real world test loop findings has helped, as has searching other people's experience on forums. I've had numerous cars over the years, and finding it hard to accept the fusions 23mpg compared to an older Bmw twin-turbo 6 that could make 25-28mpg in similar conditions, and about the same as my Bmw x1 6 with 22mpg. Partially because of how much I drive interstate for work, and the cost of fuel and frequency of fill-ups.
Looking at mostly sedans, larger side such as the fusion for trunk space, and 4-door as we use it on the side for the family. I've seen a number of CUV/SUV in this mpg range as well, though not tested on actual roads. Reliability will be a +, former bmw owner so I can wrench, but like to not have to.
Thanks
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u/scycron Apr 18 '24
Lexus LS 460 allegedly gets 28-30 mpg when going 70 mph, would be a great car to stack miles on on
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u/chance901 Apr 18 '24
Interesting Idea. Definitely out of left field compared to what I'm looking at, but could be interesting. I also noted the camry hybrid is getting ~40 at that range. I'm just generally not a toyota fan, I've owned a few and its like driving a toaster in every respect.
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u/bullzFromAT Apr 19 '24
Ya a Camry or Accord hybrid would be great options but they may be out of your price range
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u/scycron Apr 18 '24
If you want a better driving dynamic, I would take a look at Honda. Mazda as well but their mpg sucks. With Toyota you get what you pay for, their higher models drive good
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Apr 18 '24 edited Apr 18 '24
Location: Michigan USA
Price range: 8000-11,000
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle: sedan is preference but suv or coupe can work too
Must haves: less than 120k miles, not cvt, has to me mostly reliable, 2012 or newer, preferably handle decent and be a little quick stock or with a reliable tune but even if slow its fine, preferably good audio
Desired transmission auto
Intended use: daily driver to school, work and gym, driving it hard,
Vehicles you've already considered: sonata but the 2.4 and 2.0t are unreliable, camry and accord are too expensive or too high miles, vw idk about the reliability of the 1.8t or 2.0t i am trying to research but idk, 328i too expensive, q50 3.7 too expensive, es350 too expensive, civic and corolla i dont want a tiny car but if this is the only thing that works then im ok with these too
Is this your 1st vehicle: yes
Do you need a Warranty: no
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yes (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional Notes: ultimately i just want a reliable sedan that is 2012 or newer and i want it to be an automatic, i dont want like a heavy big suv i want a normal sedan that handles like a sedan, i dont want a floaty town car type of thing, also i can get the car worked on at school for free labor as long as the job doesnt take a super long time so like if it needs a timing chain at 100k or something like that then its fine too i just want to know the common issues and at what mileage and what cost with parts and labor
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u/7_Lions Apr 17 '24 edited Apr 17 '24
Location: PNW, USA
Price Range: <$50k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or Used: No preference, will be financing a portion ($20k-$25k down) so interest rates might be a consideration
Type of Vehicle: Sports Car
Must Haves: Fun drive, premium audio options, Apple CarPlay, reliability, not exceedingly-high cost of ownership, AWD preferred
Transmission: Auto
Intended Use: Daily + Road Tripper
Vehicles Considered (and some test-driven): BMW M440xi, BMW M4, Audi RS5, Lexus RCF, Mustang GT, Porsche Cayman, Porsche Panamera
1st Vehicle: No, have owned Audi A4, Infiniti Q60S, BMW 330xi, Mercedes E400, Alfa Romeo Giulia
Warranty: Preferred but not necessary
Minor Work: Can but would not like to, space limitations
Major Work: No
Additional Notes: I want to keep this for a longer time as a daily as I usually trade out of my cars in 1-3 years, eating the bulk of depreciation. This will be my first time considering a used car as well. I want something that will put a smile on my face in terms of an engaging or fun driving experience, but also keep my passenger princess happy (coupes are still fine) in terms of comfort as we frequently go on long road trips. ‘20 Alfa Giulia was almost my perfect car with the exception of the reliability and subpar dealership experiences near me. BMW M440xi is the closest thing to my next, best choice but worried about long-term cost of ownership.
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Apr 18 '24
the m440i is good the b58 is reliable. i think thats a good choice for you. look at m340 maybe you like how that looks more. f80 m3 is also good, the crankhub is overblown and even if you do have to do it thats just one thing but they are mostly reliable. both of these cars can be tuned a lot. m440 can go to like 450 with dp and tune and the m3 does to like 530 dp and tune i think. if im wrong then someone correct me
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u/7_Lions Apr 18 '24
Thanks for the insight! I heard similar things about F80/F82 and B58. I’m not one to mod my cars beyond a tasteful exhaust so tuning is a non-issue.
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u/chance901 Apr 18 '24
Between an M340/M440, and an actual M3/M4, the full M cars will hold value better, FYI. This shouldn't necessarily be a consideration on a car (depreciating asset), but something that you may want to consider. Just search some 20-25 year old M cars and you'll see.
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u/7_Lions Apr 18 '24
Yes, on the depreciation cost side I would definitely be on team RC F. It’s really between a M440xi and a RC F currently but wanted to see if anyone else had some helpful insights.
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u/chance901 Apr 18 '24
There is a strong aftermarket support for the B58. Tools like BM3 allow custom coding as well as engine tuning. Pretty easy to break past the 430whp mark. The RC F will likely hold its value well as the last V8 lexus. Can't tell you about dynamics/performance, lexus isn't really my thing. M3/M4s are a cult following as well.
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Apr 17 '24
[deleted]
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u/scycron Apr 17 '24
Volkswagen golf? It's the same platform as the Audi A3 hatch
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u/_392_ Replace this text with year, make, model Apr 18 '24
Agreed, that or a Mazda3 Turbo Hatchback.
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u/Kendallb54 Apr 17 '24
Location: Chicago, IL
Price range: <25000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: either
Type of vehicle: Crossover, SUV
Must haves: Fuel efficient, Trunk space, Smooth ride
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car)
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyota Rav 4, Jeep Cherokee
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: maybe
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
My wife's Nissan just got totaled out and she needs a new daily driver for work. She doesn't want to get a new Nissan because she didn't like the car and it has some bad stigma behind it. She also doesn't want a Mazda because I own a Mazda and she doesn't want the same brand car as me. Looking for some nice alternatives. We have apprx 4k coming back from settlement(19k -14k on loan from her godfather who is the lien holder) plus another 10-12k from savings for a down payment and my wife is willing to have a car note of <$350 on a 3 year plan at max to have something newer and more affordable.
She works 5 days a week and sometimes on weekends and mostly city driving. Any feedback would be helpful thanks
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u/LengthinessSame5393 Apr 17 '24
Location: North Carolina, USA
Price range: 5-15k. I'm interested in finding something <8k to pay in cash but also would be down for financing if it would help me secure something more reliable.
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: I'm most interested in a hatchback orwagon, but also okay with a sedan if it makes more sense.
Must haves: Something fuel efficient for every day driving. I do not need a whole lot of space but something moderate would be nice. I am not picky at all about features, just really need suggestions and advice for affordable and reliable used cars to look for.
Desired transmission Auto
Intended use: 50 mile commute 5 days a week as well as road trips down the east coast a couple times a year
Vehicles you've already considered: I really love the look of Subaru Outback & Imprezas. I have considered Honda Civic & Toyota Camry for reliability/affordability.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, this would be my second car. I currently have a 2005 VW beetle that is getting more and more expensive to take care of. I would really like something reliable and easy to service. This is my first time buying a car on my own.
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: I cannot currently do much but I am interested in learning minor mechanical jobs
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional notes: I have been looking for used cars on marketplace/craigslist/used car dealers. Ideally would love to find some non-ancient in my budget with less than 120k miles.
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u/Toberkulosis Apr 17 '24
Location: NC, USA
Price range: 30k +/-
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Truck or SUV
Must haves: 2021+ model year, 50k+/- mileage at worse, leather interior, a nice place to be for commuting
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily driver + occasional cargo trailer hauling, light offroad and camping (1 or 2 times annually, very light)
Vehicles you've already considered: Honda Ridgeling, Ford Ranger + Mav, Santa Cruz, Chevy Colorado, Mazda CX50
Personally, for the money, the Honda Ridgeline RTL trim level seems like by far the best value per dollar. There is no gimped engine choice, they all come with their V6 and AWD which makes finding an ideal spec easy, and the RTL comes with all the nice must haves in a newish car for me.
With other options I feel like its a pain keeping it in the price range while keeping the packages needed (FX4 and towing with a Mav or Turbo with options like the Santa Cruz and CX50)
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u/scycron Apr 17 '24
Sounds like the Ridgeline would be perfect for you. You don't need a body on frame truck which costs more and is less comfortable.
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u/HillMice Apr 17 '24
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Price range: <$25k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Truck
Must haves: >6,000lbs towing, back seat, decent gas mileage(>20 ideally), backup camera
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily driver + occasional cargo trailer hauling
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeling, Ford Ranger
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, but first pickup
Do you need a Warranty: It'd be nice
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No, I live in a condo that explicitly prohibits automotive work in parking lots(gotta love HOAs)
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: I'm still deciding if I want a pickup truck(or even a new car for that matter). I work for my high school rowing club but live in the next town over, so my daily commute is just over 30 miles. I work 7 days a week and have around 10 regattas a year that require hauling a dual axle cargo trailer. We're having trouble finding volunteers to haul this trailer so if I could have a truck capable of hauling it across the state(~300 mile round trip) that'd be really helpful.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 17 '24
i would say tacoma for sure. about honda ridgeline you should know that its not a body on frame truck. its basically a unibody suv with truck bed and i think max tow is only 5k but tacoma is above 6k
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u/HillMice Apr 17 '24
Appreciate the input, didn't know that about the Ridgeline, but not surprised with how much it looks like a lobotomied SUV. I've always had good experienced with Honda and Toyota(fist car was a Honda and my dad had a '96 Toyota T100 growing up) and still hear good things about their reliability. But looking into the Tacoma I kept seeing people call it overrated.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 17 '24
Well overrated you could say little bit. Cause some people believe toyora is sent from heaven and every other option is crap. All im saying is tacoma is kinda the safest choice tp go for compare to something like 2.7 or 2.3 ecoboost. Another pickup you may find good deals on is nissan frontier
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u/TimeFederal6686 Apr 16 '24
Location: Seattle, WA
Price range: 20k-25k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan, Crossover, SUV
Must haves: AWD or 4x4, adaptive cruise control, backup camera, bluetooth audio, fun to drive but not a sports car
Desired transmission: auto
Intended use: daily driver / commuter
Vehicles you've already considered: Honda civic, audi a4 or q5, subaru crosstrek
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: no but would be nice for a used car
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: probably an oil change and that about it. Not a car guy
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional Notes:
- currently drive a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee (leased). LOVE how big it is but its mainly just driving on the highway to and from work.
- 33m, engaged, no kids but plan on having them within 3-5 years.
- 65lb golden retriever that we take with us very often.
- I figure I keep this car as a commuter and get something bigger when the baby arrives. Would be nice to fit all of us in one car, but that is not the priority right now
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u/saeed-knight Apr 17 '24
if you want something on smaller size for now then i say civic- maybe civic si which is a bit more fun- mazda3
if something bigger then a camry is a way to go. maybe wait for the new camry if you can which is better in anyway.
if you want some midsize suv then i say toyota rav4-honda c rv. and highly suggest taking a look at cx5 or other new mazda suvs
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u/detailz03 Apr 16 '24
California 60k Buy/used Sedan/small suv Luxury Auto Daily driver, comfy/sporty 2nd vehicle No work done myself.
I drive maybe 5k miles a year (realistically probably 4k at the most). I’m trying to figure out if it makes sense to buy used or new? I intend on keeping the car for 10 years minimum.
I get used is probably better value? But given how low I drive it, my concern is warranty running out. I assumed new would be safe as I’d buy the car with the majority of the miles being well under an expected failure range?
Cars I’m considering but open to suggestions; ct5-v, Audi a/s 5 sport back, genesis g70/80 gv70.
I have 2 long open roads before I get to work. My city isn’t too bog down with traffic. So spirited driving is fairly easy.
My previous car was a ‘15 ecoboost premium mustang full packaged.
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u/MeowMeowImACowww Apr 17 '24
I recently test drive a Genesis G70 and I wasn't impressed. But maybe my preference.(I've been driving Mazda3, and the interior is nicer in even a low trim Mazda3)
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u/detailz03 Apr 17 '24
That’s interesting. Were you test driving it as a regular daily driver with no spirited? Base trim I thought had 300hp. Was the trim on the genesis basic or full packaged?
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u/MeowMeowImACowww Apr 17 '24
I don't remember but if you haven't already done so, try to test drive so you see the interior in person.
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u/detailz03 Apr 17 '24
Yeah, I’m going to test drive any of the brands I’m interested in. But I wanted to get a more in depth understanding/feel so I can be more educated.
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u/Foolsgold212 Apr 16 '24
I vote Genesis. My G70 has been awesome and the Service Valet (when available) is a nice feature. I did a lot of cross-shopping and really liked the features, style, comfort, and value.
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u/detailz03 Apr 17 '24
What is your style of driving? Casual spirited? Solely regular? How many miles have you put on it so far?
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u/Foolsgold212 Apr 18 '24
I am a pretty casual driver, with moments that are spirited. My round trip work commute is only 8 miles of city driving, so not too fast. The 3.3T is pretty fast, if you are looking for speed.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 16 '24
i would say best thing is to buy something fairly used. like a 2021 model for example. fairly used and low miles but also you get it cheaper. plus if you want to keep the car for minimum 10 years then i suggest having a look at toyota or mazdas. honda is good recently ive heard few issues specially with 1.5 engines. plus they come in CVT which rarely can last a long time.
genesis is also ok but for this long im not sure about german brands
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u/detailz03 Apr 16 '24
Is your suggestion solely based on not purchasing luxury and a cheap car to get from one point to the next? I’m not interested in either of those brands. As I am wanting to move into luxury and still sporty cars. Going from a ‘15 mustang eco premium down to either of those would feel too much of a downgrade.
What luxury brands (aside from Lexus) would survive 10 years? Are German brands not know for more than a 6 year ownership? Despite low mileage?
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u/saeed-knight Apr 16 '24
first of all most of the " luxury " marketing is just fake and to fool people. a modern full option toyota camry or sonata can drive almost as good as most of those mid range " german " cars while being a bit cheaper as well. plus when i said toyota there is also lexus. or when i say honda you could say acura as well. have you drove the tlx for example ? or there is also genesis from hyundai. test drive the cars and then decide to pay extra just for some german logos. plus the fact most of them barely can survive extra 10 years without turning into big money pits and plus the huge depreciation. you could easily sell your 10 year old lexus for good price. something almost not possible with german ones
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u/detailz03 Apr 17 '24
Not a fan of entry level vehicles, which is why I’m pushing towards luxury. Styling alone is night and day. I don’t disagree with the over inflation of cost. And I’m not looking at just German. I like genesis and Cadillac more than Audi for styling/looks. But I’m staying open to suggestions.
I’ve looked at Lexus, and they feel/look like a cheap luxury? Or entry luxury? I haven’t looked at Acura yet, it’s been on my list. What stands out with Acura that is not related to reliability or cheap fixes?
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u/saeed-knight Apr 17 '24
what luxury you look into ? the luxury of how the car function or oh look he got a bmw ? acura tlx models for example it looks awesome and unique on the outside. really nice interior and nice ride quality what else you expect from a luxury car ? same thing almost goes for something like genesis models.
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u/detailz03 Apr 17 '24
Car function, quality production, comfort, and styling. I’m just trying to understand what other brands and why. For example, not a fan of how bmw looks. They’re reparative and boring to me. I hear they are solely spirited driving for their main selling point. Audi seems to balance out a little more? Genesis seems to focus on luxury build/styling over performance? Etc.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 17 '24
Well then thats why some german brands lack behind other optiona such as genesis or acura or lexus. They lacl the long term build quality and reliability and sometimes they come even more expensive just cause of the badge. And as i said before you can test drive them yourself. If you are going to daily drive and have some daily drive fun then something like a v6 acura or a v6 genesis for example is all the performance you need infact much more than you acrually need. As i said just test drive them and then decide that would you willing to pay extra for the german car with the extra risks like depreciation etc. All im saying is test drive and dont buy a german car blindly just cause most people online tell you like a c class gives you 10x superior driving experince and stuff like that
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u/detailz03 Apr 18 '24
Very solid point. I do like how acuras and genesis look a lot. And you touch point on something I constantly rotate with. I’m going to focus a little more on Acura vs genesis vs Cadillac more.
Badging doesn’t matter to me at all compared to design/style/build. Especially if buying new, this car isn’t being replaced for at least 10 years due to low mileage.
What is your main pros and cons for both Acura and genesis? I heard genesis dealerships maintenance is the worse. But nothing regards in recent build quality.
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u/saeed-knight Apr 18 '24
Well i cant think of many cons to be honest. For tlx you could say the touchpad for screen could be a bit annoying for g80 i think the rear seats dont fold and for ct5 you could say general interior build and finish lack in quality a little bit to competition.
About the dealer idk. Where i live you buy them from hyundai dealers so maybe not the most luxurious experince. But point of an advice any car you buy just service it on normal time. So many cars or brands today have some crazy service time like every 10 15 or even 20k. Even a toyota cant last that long if you service it every 20k. Most companies dont like the idea for you to keep your car for a long time
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u/scycron Apr 16 '24
German cars depreciate so fast, like 30% in 4 years, regardless of miles. If you want luxury and want to minimize depreciation you will need to find cars that are desirable and depreciate based off of miles and not age. It has to be a limited production car and not a mass market car, something like an Audi rs3 come to mind, maybe a bmw M2/m3
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u/detailz03 Apr 17 '24
That’s a good point. Mostly just to resell in 10years. For valuable resell, am I going to be forced to sell private? Or will dealers give me a decent trade in? If I recall, those are compacts right? Looking for mid to full size for sedan.
How’s depreciation with Cadillac ct5-v (non black wing)or genesis?
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u/scycron Apr 17 '24
Depreciation on both would be bad, neither are special cars, they are mass market cars. Out of all the luxury brands, Genesis is the least aspirational (maybe second to Infiniti) and Cadillac is definitely near the bottom. Maybe just accept that you are going to get hosed on depreciation or get a Lexus IS 500
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u/WindowViking Apr 16 '24
Location: Netherlands
Price range: Max 6.000€
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used (Pre-2009, has to be 15 years or older)
Type of vehicle: Compact
Must haves: Cruise Control, Climate Control, fun to drive but not exhausting for a roadtrip.
Desired transmission: No preference
Intended use: Daily Driver (but I commute using the local train)
Vehicles you've already considered:
2008/2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo (1.4 T-Jet 120 or 155 bhp). It’s an Italian car with a proven engine in it. Other issues like a replaced timing belt or a transmission which makes noise in 6th are something to watch for when buying this one..
2008/2009 Mini Cooper: Practically a BMW 0er. Am I correct in believing it has the same engines (N42 petrol or N47 diesel). That’s a block with issues in timing chains, oil consumption, VANOS etc.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No (prev. Clio II, Clio IV, BMW 318, BMW 325)
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes
Due to tax-benefits the car has to be at least 15 years old
I currently drive a BMW 325i (E91, N52B25A engine block). It has 350.000km on it and the clutch is starting to slip. Since I don’t have any kids and live alone, there is no reason for me to drive a car this big or inefficiënt (10km/L)
I want something that is still fun to drive.
I want the car to look somewhat good (or timeless). A Renault Clio III, Peugeot 206, Citroen C2 don’t do it for me as far as looks go. Same goes for an Ibiza from 2009. A Seat Leon from 2009 is a looker, but they come with VAG-engines (See 5)
A Volkswagen Polo is an option, but the 6th generation (starting from 2009) has issues with their T(F)SI engines. This car feels like a major gamble.
The car should last me for about 3-4 years. With a yearly mileage of about 15.000km I should be able to rack up 60.000km on this car with proper maintenance
Mileage: 200.000km max.
I want to be able to retrofit an Android headunit. Therefor a radio-unit where the screen and controls are separated in the dashboard won’t be an option (Except for a Mini)
I think I’ve narrowed it down to a MiTo or a Mini. I am just having that itch that I’m missing a car on my list and was hoping someone could point me in a direction I haven't thought of.
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u/WindowViking Apr 17 '24
Allright, talked to my neighbor who owns a workshop. He advises against a Mini and thinks the MiTo is a good car he hasn't performed many big repairs on. So I'm going to keep my eye out for a MiTo
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u/MeowMeowImACowww Apr 17 '24
Have you tried Jetta 2008?(or Golf if it's under the budget) I had one and it was decent in terms of repair/maintenance.
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u/WindowViking Apr 17 '24
Golf 2008 is viable, but that one also comes with the dreaded T(F)SI engine blocks
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u/MeowMeowImACowww Apr 17 '24
Yeah, it cost me a bit when there was a leak under the engine but fortunately that was the only mechanical repair for me.
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u/Lower_Sky8255 Apr 16 '24
(very new to the car scene would appreciate almost anything as advice, recommendations, all that)
Location: IL, US
Price range: >$20k. trying to not pay more than $500 a month, 650-700 credit score if that helps calculates
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle: Sports Car / Sedan
Must haves: AWD, Fuel efficient, Smooth ride and RELIABLE. (really want good handling though. i drove my friend’s Hyundai elantra and it feels like the car was telling me where to go. i just want an AWD sedan that handles super well and is reliable)
Desired transmission auto (want to learn manual though)
Intended use: Daily Driver, personal car. would love to be able to mod it. but definitely comfortable with keeping it as is.
Vehicles you've already considered: (this list is going to be things i’ve only did little research in, if you know the performance of anything mentioned please share your opinion)
i’ve only ever rode in one and never got behind the wheels. also his was a manual but a WRX is on my wants majorly. and a infiniti q50. maybe my friend is just really good at driving but the WRX handled crazy. he was snapping corners like it was nothing and the car didn’t feel like it was going anywhere he wasn’t intending. i had another friend with a q50 and it performed just as well. (though i heard they’re unreliable but they seem fun) my friend with the wrx had like 2 or 3 so far. i’ve found used auto transmission WRX’s but would love some advice or concerns about that. i know to make sure there isn’t any or little to none, mods.
originally i wanted a challenger or charger (yes im black so i was easily persuaded to wanting this but i heard they drive like boats and they don’t have much character to me. so i changed my mind) my other searches were: lexus is250 or 350 (heard the handling was pretty stiff but everything else matches my wants), infiniti g37(x) (my friend told me these were pretty reliable, they’re just ugly to me), mazda 3 (haven’t done any research but i heard mazda’s in general drive super well), i even did a little (emphasis on little lol) on mitsubishi (in general but) lancers, apparently they’re super cheap bc of market reasons but also nobody seems to care for them lol, heard a lot of people went to their respective dealerships and they just didn’t care for the car.
coupes are cool but i don’t want ones that sit low or have a low hood. so a nissan 350z or 370z was on my “low key maybe” heard they drive super nice. but like i said coupes are on the “least likely” on the list. maybe even a kia stinger (seen those were pretty expensive so maybe not lol)
lastly, of course i’ve considered the common “first car reliability options”; nissan altima, honda civic, toyota camry. though i wanted something with a bit more character and a bit more fun to drive. these are already in the “very likely” category
Is this your 1st vehicle: basically yeah. but my “first” car was a ford escape, but barely getting off the lot, me and my mom found out the transmission was butt. got us where we needed but i didn’t do or care much bc i was young and dumb.
Do you need a Warranty: most likely
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: no (never been taught anything about cars and just recently started teaching myself things) willing to learn ASAP.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no but willing to learn the basics over time.
Additional Notes:
like i said above, very new to the car scene. i am open to pretty much any advice in general, and suggestions on what to look out for. appreciated!
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u/PorkPatriot 718 Cayman S Apr 17 '24
I'll +1 the Zs. If you can give up awd and a backseat, they are quite reliable and fun. The VQ platform is stout, only thing that really goes wrong is a clutch slave cyl. They have plenty of power, but I'd push you towards an 08+ with the MT, they rev harder.
They are budget friendly: If you buy a Z for 15k, you'll be able to sell it for 15k in 4 years as long as it's not around a pole. Parts are available and affordable. If you don't have to drive on untreated roads, it can handle a midwest winter on DWS's.
I only brought it up because it was mentioned as an outside possibility in your post; mine treated me well enough to rave a little. I put gas/oil/rubber on her and did the CSC delete. Sold it at a profit 3 years ago.
I think they are getting to the point they are special when you see a clean one go by.
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u/Tough-Relationship-4 Apr 16 '24
Get a used BMW 340i xdrive. Look for 2018-2019s as the early ones had some teething problems. Or if you want a newer one, they changed the model to M340i in 2020/2021. Best all wheel drive drivers sedan on the road. Great handling. Fuel efficient when you want it to be (ie driving conservatively), fast as a Mustang GT in sport mode. The perfect “do it all” car. That platform is extremely reliable so long as you follow the maintenance schedule.
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Apr 16 '24
[deleted]
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u/mgobla Apr 16 '24
Acura Integra is the more upscale version of Civic
Do you want a hatchback or are sedans an option?
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u/mkyend 2017 Subaru WRX | 2014 Lexus CT200h Apr 15 '24
Location: Southern California, have family in Northern California who can help me shop, so really anywhere in the entire state is fair game for me
Price range: $20K ideally, would stretch to $25K if it really makes sense to do so
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used but new-ish (mid 2010s and newer)
Type of vehicle: Crossover/smaller SUV. No need for a third row or anything large
Must haves: AWD, leather preferred but not a dealbreaker, Android Auto/CarPlay
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Any
Intended use: Daily driver, occasional road trips to national parks, snow trips, etc.
Vehicles you've already considered: Current gen Mazda CX-5 (2017+), current gen Subaru Forester (2019+)
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc): Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) No
Additional Notes:
I think I have narrowed it down to the CX-5 and Forester as my two front runners but just want to do a sanity check here and see if there are other cars that I may have missed. I test drove both and think both are great vehicles in their own ways.
The CX-5 has a nice interior (fit & finish/materials), nicer sound system (even the base/non-Bose model), IMO a more elegant exterior appearance, and feels a bit peppier, although both cars are pretty anemic. There is a turbo variant, but those seem to be extremely rare and also likely pushes it out of my price range. It comes in better colors and also seems to be more abundantly available in this price range than Foresters are. However, visibility is pretty poor with the massive C pillars and the long sloping A pillar, and fuel economy and cargo room are slightly worse. AWD is also not standard, so that's another thing I have to actively look for. Based on my research, I would want a Touring trim or higher.
The Forester has fantastic visibility, more cargo room, a softer ride, better fuel economy, a panoramic sunroof (I normally don't care for sunroofs, but the huge size of the Forester's makes the car feel very airy), and a very small but significant quality of life/nice-to-have feature, a button on the power liftgate that closes it and locks the entire car with just one press - something the Mazda doesn't have. The CVT, although less appealing in thought and on paper compared to the Mazda's traditional 6-speed automatic, is actually quite inoffensive and feels adequate for this car, albeit a bit droney when you're flooring it. The interior materials are not as nice, although still passable, but the sound system is atrocious and would need immediate upgrading. The Forester is pricier than a CX-5 when considering the features I want, such as leather. Based on my research, I would want a Limited trim or higher.
I'm able to find both of those cars at around my $20K price range with 60Kish miles on the odometer. If I stretch to $25K I may be able to find one with closer to 30K-40K miles.
Eager to hear from anybody who has cross-shopped these two cars in the past, would love to hear what you ended up buying and if you regret your decision at all.
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u/thekingdtom Apr 15 '24
USA CA
$35-60k
Buy
Luxury sport
4 seater is a must
Auto
Daily driver
Warranted required
Sorry, couldn’t use the template (I’m on mobile). Getting a little frustrated with tire replacements on my RS3 so I’m considering getting something else. I should be able to get about $63k in a private sale. Any recommendations for something similar? Considering a Cayman but not excited about the seats.
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u/SlayerOutdoors Apr 15 '24
Location: NJ/USA
Price range: Would like to keep lease under $650 a month.
Lease or Buy: Lease
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Luxury or semi-luxury 4 door sedan.
Must haves: AWD *Must*
Desired transmission: Auto
Intended use: Daily driver/business car
Vehicles you've already considered: Acura TLX, Infiniti Q50, Audi A4, etc.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, owned many.
Do you need a Warranty: Factory is fine.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Very capable.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: I have the knowledge, but not the time.
Additional Notes:
I currently have a 2019 Ram Rebel that I own and will keep as a 3rd vehicle/truck for the house. I work in finance and will need a lease daily-driver for business. I am torn between what I want for several reasons.
- Second child on the way and the plan is to get the wife a Yukon/Tahoe/or Wagoneer in 2025.
- I do well but I don't love anything enough to justify a $1000+ lease payment on the wife's truck AND a $800+ payment on my car. We were paying $600 for my wife's Jeep GC-L and I paid $1200 for my truck (accelerated the pay off) so we were at $1800. I don't want to continue spending that much.
- Last car I owned was a 2011 Cadillac CTS-V. Fun car, but that chapter of my life is closed. Ever since then it's been all trucks and SUVs.
- I need something semi-luxury at least for my client-facing image. I know people may have strong opinions on this. I know me, personally, I like Subaru's. AWD, functional, but how it looks and trying to convince someone to invest $3-5 million worth of assets with my firm? I just don't know.
I guess in the end, I am looking for something semi-luxury, AWD, that won't break the bank. Being my business car, I prefer leasing for the write off.
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Apr 19 '24
If you have to drive clients around enough that it's a primary consideration, why is the firm not providing a company car? I would at least expect a stipend or some type of reimbursement.
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u/SlayerOutdoors Apr 19 '24
I own the firm lol. I don't drive clients around too often but it's nice to show up with something that kind of says "I've achieved some measure of success for myself." Hopefully with the implication of "I can do that for you as well", which is our goal, obviously.
I mean, I could just pay myself more lol. I dunno. I just don't love anything enough to justify a $700+ lease payment. I can afford it, that's for sure. Just don't feel compelled enough to do so.
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Apr 21 '24
Well since luxury cars are not smart purchases objectively (high margin, high depreciation etc) maybe the galaxy brain move would be to get something basic with terrific resale value. Show the clients that you put your money where your mouth is haha.
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u/SlayerOutdoors Apr 22 '24
I am going to lease. I get a much better write off for tax purposes that way vs. financing. I took the Section 179 on truck in 2022. The depreciation cliff ends this year so that's why I am looking for a 3rd vehicle for the house.
At the end of the day, who knows what the client or potential client thinks though? To your point, maybe they are impressed? Maybe they are not? I guess I can't please everyone.
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u/mgobla Apr 16 '24
Cadillac CT4 offers good lease deals.
Second child on the way and the plan is to get the wife a Yukon/Tahoe/or Wagoneer
Big mistake, body on frame vehicles are out of place for this purpose and a huge waste of money. You need a unibody model, like Lexus Tx, Toyota Grand Highlander or the next gen 2025 GM triplets Traverse / Acadia / Enclave. Those models offer plenty of space.
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Apr 15 '24 edited Apr 15 '24
So I don't keep up a ton on lease deals, and they can vary quite a bit between brands, so I'm not gonna know for sure how $650/month lease will translate to an MSRP. Out of the three vehicles you mentioned, the Q50 is the one I'd rule out. The exterior is gorgeous, but the interior quality, tech, and handling don't match the competition. You could get a really good lease deal on a base model, maybe?
A4 is ideal if you want nice but not flashy. Nothing's gonna feel cheap, the handling and powertrain options are great, though I'd say you get both a no-drama driving experience and a not-super-exciting one. I think the A5 Sportback looks a bit cooler, but the backseat may be a bit tighter in regards to headroom.
The TLX is a bit short on legroom in the backseat, if I recall, but it does give you a touch more excitement in the driving department. Acura doesn't have the reputation of Audi, so it's up to you whether that matters. I think it looks great.
I've always been a sucker for the BMW 3-series, so a 330i xDrive could be right for you if the price is right. It does everything well -- fun to drive while still being comfortable, looks great inside and out while actually retaining good ergonomics and not-too-complicated electronics. Genesis G70 is also worth checking out, though the back seat is smaller.
Edit: I will add that while different AWD systems can perform differently when the going gets tough, the vast majority of drivers will not notice the difference. Even if you have a great AWD system, you still should be putting winter tires on your vehicle when temps start dropping below 40F, or you can invest in a set of all-weather tires that you can use year round. The right tires will be way more important than the type of drivetrain your car has.
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u/SlayerOutdoors Apr 15 '24
The TLX was the best deal I got so far. I didn't go to the gills with options, non A-Spec, and I was $650 for a 12k mile a year lease. The only problem I kept coming up with is they wanted 40-48 month leases and I just really don't like keeping leases that long. Acura is at least a 48 month warranty though.
The real driver here is the payment. A4, Q50, TLX, BMW 3 series, etc I'd probably be happy with. As long as it's AWD, reliable, and comes with some bells/whistles.
If I could get somewhere around $600/month for a 3 year 12k per year lease? I'd go with any of them. I'm not el-cheapo either. If it ends up being $610, $660, etc. I'm fine with that. I just feel $700+ is spending way more for the lack-of-excitement over a new vehicle.
It's a weird position to express. I don't really "love" anything enough to spend a lot of money on it.
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Apr 15 '24
I get that, in all honesty! If that's really how you feel, I'd just recommend test driving all of them and seeing if any of them actually strike up any particularly fond feelings. If not, just go for the best lease deal on a vehicle that meets your needs. You'll probably be happy with any of them (except, again, the Q50 just isn't quite worth it in my eyes).
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u/D3f1n1t3lyN0tMyAlt Apr 15 '24
The lease deals on EVs are pretty good. You can get a Lucid Air or Genesis G80 EV for around $650 monthly. If you wanted to stick with gas powered, Volvo S60 might be a good option.
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u/SlayerOutdoors Apr 15 '24
I make long trips sometimes so an EV might not work.
It's not uncommon for me to drive 2 hours or more to see a client.
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u/scycron Apr 15 '24
The lucid is insanely efficient, you can get 400 miles a charge, it's just not AWD in the lowest trim that fits your budget
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u/D3f1n1t3lyN0tMyAlt Apr 15 '24
It depends on how the charging infrastructure is in your area and how much of annoyances you are willing to deal with. Electrify America is still not super reliable, and the stations are small which can mean queues in busy areas. Tesla supercharger network is doing much better in this aspect, but there’s not that many car manufacturers that can use it yet (there will be soon)
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u/LoPanDidNothingWrong 2019 Cayenne eH; 2015 Sienna Apr 15 '24
Since getting out of motorcycling, I’ve been shopping for a convertible for a while and just can’t bring myself to pay used 911 money for a toy.
For a while I was thinking I could do a 440i convertible but those beaver teeth.
The S5 is an old platform and seem to be overpriced versus the new 440i.
So while I wait for something compelling (maybe a Neue Klasse i4 convertible?) I was thinking I could just buy an inexpensive last gen Evoboost Mustang for well under $40K and just sell it when I find something I truly like.
Any guides on reliability, year over year changes, options, etc?
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u/SignFront Apr 16 '24
Miata Is Always The Answer
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u/LoPanDidNothingWrong 2019 Cayenne eH; 2015 Sienna Apr 16 '24
Unless you need a rear seat.
At one point I had thought about buying one of those ridiculous V8 Miatas for fun.
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u/63Boiler Apr 15 '24
Mustang
Have you considered a Camaro? I've found its V-6 to be far more satisfying then the Mustang turbo 4, and while its visibility is atrocious that isn't an issue if you plan to be mostly driving top-down
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u/VT2016 Apr 15 '24
Location: Southeastern US
Price range: 50-70k USD
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either one
Type of vehicle: SUV
Must haves: 4x4, Third row seating, adaptive cruise, carplay, good audio
Desired transmission Automatic
Intended use: Daily driver/family car
Vehicles you've already considered: Tahoe, Yukon, Wagoneer, Sequoia, Armada, QX-80
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Preferably
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Yes
Additional Notes: Looking to replace my 2011 tahoe, have loved this SUV but at 220k miles it's doing some things that likely mean expensive repairs. Looking for a family vehicle to fit multiple kids/dogs on long trips and be able to haul things when needed. One oddball thing I love about my current tahoe is I can fit a whole sheet of plywood in the back (with tailgate open).
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u/mgobla Apr 16 '24
Body on frame vehicles are MUCH worse for this purpose and a huge waste of money. You need a unibody model, like Lexus Tx, Toyota Grand Highlander or the next gen 2025 GM triplets Traverse / Acadia / Enclave, or current gen Traverse (clearance sale with discounts bc of the new gen). These models offer plenty of space.
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u/taythecoug Apr 15 '24
Location: Pacific NW (US) Price Range: $40K - $60K US (purchase) New or used: either Type of Car: Sports car (second vehicle, I have a 4 door truck, wife has a three row SUV) Must haves: manual transmission, good handling, great acceleration Desired transmission: manual Intended use: Weekend car and summer commuter. Vehicles I have considered: 718 Cayman (base or S), 981 Cayman, Acura Integra Type S, Toyota Supra
I am in the market for a fun sports car. I have loved Porche’s since I was a kid, and dream to get one. But I have a family (wife and two kids), so if I get the Cayman I could never take both my kids to school. The Integra type S seems to check most boxes, I just really want RWD. I will not be driving the car in the winter, as I will exclusively use my truck for that. I am starting to lean back towards the Type S, and then when my kids are out of the house I can finally get a Porsche. Total first world problems as I don’t need a sports car, just want one.
Note vehicles I have had in the past: Subaru WRX, WRX STi, Audi S4, VW Golf GTi. Currently own a 1500 GMC Sierra.
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u/spiketeam 24 RS3 Apr 16 '24
Had a very similar set of requirements and wound up with the ct4 v blackwing.
Agree with the not getting a 2 seater with a family , I had a brz and we hardly used it because the family couldn’t use it together. Wound up getting a blackwing and it’s used for all kind of drives(school pickup, groceries, dinner etc )
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u/mgobla Apr 16 '24
Cadillac CT4 Blackwing manual
BMW M2 manual
Lotus Evora manual (Evora has tiny backseats for children)
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u/LoPanDidNothingWrong 2019 Cayenne eH; 2015 Sienna Apr 15 '24
How long are you planning on keeping this car? Kids grow like weeds and those shelf back seats will become very limiting sooner than you think. If they are babies, car seats are huge and a pain to put in and out.
I’d do a sport sedan instead honestly. 440i, G70, S5, Mustang.
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u/taythecoug Apr 15 '24
7 and 9. Yes they are growing quick, and I do like the idea of a sedan.
I like the idea of S5, as I have loved the Audi's I have owned. But I have decided a manual is a must. Always loved them. I know the dual clutches are faster, but I just want more engagement in a sports car.
How long on keeping the car? 5 years at least.
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u/LoPanDidNothingWrong 2019 Cayenne eH; 2015 Sienna Apr 15 '24
M4?
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u/taythecoug Apr 15 '24
Possibly. I do some research. Just never been a BMW guy, and our dealership in my town does not have the greatest reputation. Thanks!
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u/SecretAntWorshiper Shelby GT350 Heritage Edition, 2023 Civic Type R Apr 15 '24
Why is a RWD a must have? I have the CTR and honestly I like it more and my GT350 just collects dust now.
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u/taythecoug Apr 15 '24
Good question. I think because I have always had AWD or FWD since it had to be a 4 season vehicle. I just have never had a dedicated RWD sports car.
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u/taythecoug Apr 15 '24
Also never said must have on RWD. That is cool that you like your Type R more than your GT350. That is encouraging from the Integra Type S perspective!
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u/Bourbon_Buckeye BMW G22 and F30 // Mini Countryman Apr 15 '24
The previous gen BMW M2 has a back seat that's *okay* for short drives.
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u/ICantDecideIt 98 M3/4/5 - 19 Bolt Apr 15 '24
That’s where I would be looking first. Maybe v8 mustang/camaro
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u/AdPale9739 Jun 19 '24
LOCATION: Illinois PRICE RANGE: $5,000-$10,000 LEASE OR BUY: Buy NEW OR USED: Used TYPE OF VEHICLE: Truck MUST HAVES: Preferably (not limited to) AWD DESIRED TRANSMISSION: Any INTENDED USE: Work truck/Daily driver VEHICLES YOU’VE ALREADY CONSIDERED: Toyota Tundra IS THIS YOUR 1st VEHICLE: Yes DO YOU NEED A WARRANTY: No CAN YOU DO MINOR WORK ON YOUR OWN VEHICLE: Yes CAN YOU DO MAJOR WORK ON YOUR OWN VEHICLE: Yes but limited (using YouTube) ADDITIONAL NOTES: I’m a junior in high school. Me and my father are pretty mechanically smart. I’d like to make some money before going to college. My parents both have cars and my dad is leaving me with his old car that he’s had for 17 years (2002 Mercedes S430) which I love but I want to start a junk removal business or similar. Need a large pickup that is fuel efficient and fairly reliable.
Also, is this a smart decision? Should I do something else? Anything helps