time for a new car...

[altagirl]

My 97 suby has like 107000 miles on it and has rapidly become a pain in the ass over the past 6 months or so. And as much as I love it, it's not particularly impressive to drive up in when I'm selling 600k houses (which I've actually been working on 3 of lately). And there not much of a back seat if I have clients to drive around.

So I'm thinking even a new or newer Legacy would be nice (I test drove one today while I'm sitting here at the dealership waiting for them to fix the latest damn thing...) It's sweet. Manual transmission that's soooo smooth, leather, turbo... (My current turbo is called step on the gas and then turn off the a/c)

I didn't even let myself drive a WRX - I'm afraid I'd be in there filling out a loan application.

What else should I test drive? Obviously AWD is a necessity. VW has a passat or something w/AWD right? What else looks professional but is good in snow and not insanely expensive?

[stump832]

Honda CRV was nice. VW Touareg looks sweet.

Check out the Audi A4 and A6 as well, or the Volvo XC series.

[Below Zero]

Buy anything else besides a Subi? How dare you?

Kidding.

Anyway, I don't know much about the other AWDs, but yeah, VW makes a 4motion.

[Steezus Christ]

Buy a truck so everyone you have ever met can ask to borrow it or it and your time, to help them move.

[comish]

There was a thread in Tech Talk about this just last week. Check out the Audi A4, Volvo S40 (Turbo, surprisingly real fun to drive). Let us know what you decide as I'm in same situation currently.

[Long Duck Dong]

I have had the same thoughts a lot about getting a car for my wife. What is a good, AWD car that isn't too expensive? Not than many options. Subies hold their resale value well, which is nice, but not all the nice if you are looking to buy a used outback. You'd be surprised how cheap used Audis can be, but if you are trying to get a car with low miles, then you might not find much thats reasonably priced.

You can always take my WRX for a test spin if you feel like it. I already drive it like I stole it, so you don't have to worry about a dealer freaking out. . .

[Foggy_Goggles]

Check and see if you can get a Passat 4motion TDI. That would be one sweet ride with the Nokians. As Lemon said in another tread, word is they are practically giving away the Saab-a-roo.

[Beaver]

100000miles and already a PITA? You may want to consider a Toyota; my last went 250000mi trouble free before I traded it in.

[jibij]

There was a thread in Tech Talk about this just last week. Check out the Audi A4, Volvo S40 (Turbo, surprisingly real fun to drive). Let us know what you decide as I'm in same situation currently.

We bought an S40 new in 2000. The car drives beautifully. Lots of torque, handles like a go-cart. Unfortunatley, it's a maintenance nightmare. Tons of little stuff plus it idles like a friggin diesel tractor. It'd take a lot of convincing to get me to buy another Volvo after this one.

If I could buy any car I wanted right now, it'd be this:



2005 Allroad Quattro 4.2 About $50K with the good stuff.

[Foggy_Goggles]

2005 Allroad Quattro 4.2 About $50K with the good stuff.

Dude, you drive a Saturn

[meatdrink9]

I think this car is cool and somewhat in the category you're working in:

[INDY GS]

I've got a 2000 Outback Sedan that i love. 77K and nary a problem. I have heard bad things about VW's 4 motion when they get higher in miles. same with audi. However the Allroad is quite badass. If you are worried about Leg room in the back for clients, don't go with the WRX. I looked at them but with a 4 yr old, in a car seat in back all the time and me being 6'2" There was maybe 4 inches of leg room available.

[mr_gyptian]

I think this car is cool and somewhat in the category you're working in:

and leases cheap as shit. you can get into one for around $400 with $1500 due at signing.

[cj001f]

VW 4motion is the same as Audi's Quattro.Same corporate family, and car's like Passat and A4 are passed on the same platform. Both BMW & Mercedes offer AWD Systems as well, but BMW's doesn't put much power to the front wheels, and the more recent Benz's have had some quality problems. I wouldn't want to own a high mileage version of any of those.

[Superstar Punani]

I'm actually in a similar situation with a 6yo 200,000 mile Taco TuRD. Need a 2nd car that can actually move people around instead of cramming them in the Xtracab. (Will keep the truck for dirtbag purposes)

Budget $15-20k
My choice/recommendations:
1) '99-00 4Runner (manual tranny)
2) '96 Subie Outback (<$9k)
3) Audi Avant A4 wagon
4) '99-00 Range Rover HSE

Criteria- must be able to get me to Kirkweed during a Winter Storm warning and do 30,000 miles in a year without maintenance costs eating up my bank account (might scratch #4, but I need to look like a sexy bitch in LA).

Here's a good resource for researching reliability
http://autos.msn.com/home/reliabilit...px?src=LeftNav

[zion zig zag]

What kind of problems are we talking about on the '97?

I'm looking for a cheap car.

[Spats]

An Acura MDX seats seven, has stability control (finally), and is about $35K. It should be about a billion times more reliable than a Saab, Audi/VW, or Volvo, and the inside is big enough that you can put 4x8 plywood or drywall in it, flat, once you fold the seats down.

It's not exciting, but it'll look professional and get you there.

Edit: The Honda Pilot is basically the same thing with less options and an $8000 smaller price tag. I think that's your best bet.

[jibij]

Dude, you drive a Saturn

But it's a BADASS Saturn.



At least that's what I keep telling myself.

[altagirl]

So uh... I'm at the vw dealer and they have a 2002 passat awd, leather, tiptronic, v6 for 22k. He's going to let me drive it home to show it to mr.ag. Drives sweet I all the bells and whistles... Is this a good deal? 37k miles on it.

[mrw]

So uh... I'm at the vw dealer and they have a 2002 passat awd, leather, tiptronic, v6 for 22k. He's going to let me drive it home to show it to mr.ag. Drives sweet I all the bells and whistles... Is this a good deal? 37k miles on it.

NONO around $17500 is a good deal. remember, the car is 3 years old and the model changes completly this year.Walk out of there for a penny over $17500.

[schuss]

WRX's are 24......

[shmerham]

I really like the new legacy's. The H6 engine is very smooth. My roommate has an outback. Subaru stepped it up on the interior this time around. It's not an Audi but it's a million times nicer than previous subaru's.

[zion zig zag]

NONO around $17500 is a good deal. remember, the car is 3 years old and the model changes completly this year.Walk out of there for a penny over $17500.

they'll never go for that. kelly blue book says 21,000.

[grrrr]

My plan is to go over to Sweden and pick up a nice new Saab 9.5 sport wagon Aero at a discount, have it for a month in Europe and have my airfare paid for.

[onehotchili]

i am also in a similar boat.... but totally for the wrong purpose. i currently have a '99 Subie Outback and a '99 A4 Sedan. before the Subie i used to have a totally pimped out 01 S4 Avant that flew around the mountain roads and the track if i wanted to. i sold it to get the more economical/practical Subie when i had a long commute to work.

now, i no longer have the long commute and want a fun daily driver or mostly summer fun/ track car.

on my short list are for AWD daily drivers and sometime track car:
1) VW R32
2) WRX STI
3) Mitsu Evo XIII
4) S4 Sedan (B5 Model)
5) 90/91 Audi Coupe Quattro (modded to hell w/ different motor)

if i went with any of the above, i would sell the A4 and prolly get $11k-12k.

other choice could be going for a cheap 3rd car (and keeping the A4 and Subie) and tailor it specifically for the track. choices include
1) '87-'89 Porsche 944 Turbo
2) mid-90s Mitsu Eclipse DSM
3) mid-90s Mazda Miata

anyone with thoughts on what i should do?