Another, what car should I buy thread (AWD need not apply)

[guroo270]

I might be doing a little bit of retooling now that I live in a place where road conditions are rarely an issue, Nashville, and the new road conditions I'm worried about are all the bumps out here. My brother has been hounding me about buying my car, too. It's an '06 Forester XT in wonderful condition, over maintained, etc., but I think the KBB is about 12,500, and I told my brother, "I don't want to sell it, but I will for $6k, and take over payments", which is about 10,500, and he still wants it.

In any case, I'm considering cars with a MUCH more plush ride. Now, I'm also trying to pick up a '99-'01 Honda VFR800 for riding for around $3500 to get my Tail of the Dragon/speed fix, so for cars I'm considering:

2006ish E350 (maybe an 04,05 E320) wagon
2006ish E class diesel - I hear this is one of the best engines ever, not to mention I wouldn't mind picking up a diesel with 130k miles.
2004-06 Caddy XLR, just always wanted one.
2001 BMW 740iL, not a huge fan of how the well used parts of the interior crack, but it's a great car
2009 Hyundai Genesis, the newest of the bunch, and love the warranty.
2001,02 BMW 530/540i, maybe a wagon

I've only ever been in the Bimmers and I know what to expect with them. Wonderful vehicles, but in an '01, I'm a little concerned with the miles. I'm also tempted to get a 2000 M5, but I have to remember I'm going for a comfortable ride.

Might also consider an Acura TL, might want the Type-S, or maybe a decked out Accord, and am also open to suggestions.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I'd go 5 series. They have pretty friendly resale values. IIRC for a 2001-ish 5 Series, the cooling system is a concern. Bring it to an independent mechanic and ask him to do aggressive preventative maintenance on the cooling system, and you should have a solid car for a while.

[Obstruction]

I'd go 5 series. They have pretty friendly resale values. IIRC for a 2001-ish 5 Series, the cooling system is a concern. Bring it to an independent mechanic and ask him to do aggressive preventative maintenance on the cooling system, and you should have a solid car for a while.

Looks like the best bet on the list. I'd be wary of the 740 I remember some horror stories about the reliability and cost of ownership of these sleds.

[The Tortoise]

Lexus GS. Either the GS 350 or GS 430.

Will be much more reliable than the Germans.

[Tippster]

I have an '08 E350 4matic wagon. Great car - but boring.

[iceman]

Buy a new Ford Focus.

[guroo270]

I do dig the GS. I also dig the LS. My parents used to have an LS400, and aside from the very boring styling, I loved the engine, engine sound when you got into it, the comfortable interior, the nakamichi sound system, and ride. Will consider. I should probably look up insurance prices on these, too.

Come on, though, I'm really waiting for someone to tell me how wonderful that XLR is.

Tipp - Boring is okay, hence the VFR. Did you try the diesel?

Ice - No. That would not be any more of a comfortable ride than my Forester, and they are not exciting in any way. At least until we get the racier version that may or may not still be only available in Europe, but that would be way less comfortable.

[iceman]

The 252-hp turbocharged Ford Focus ST is available here, it's nice. One of Car And Driver magazine's 10 best cars in the world.

Entry from "10 Best Cars of 2013": http://www.caranddriver.com/features...ocus-st-page-4

You'd want the stick.

[guroo270]

But again, my main concern are these shitty ass roads.

[MotherFucker]

But again, my main concern are these shitty ass roads.

How can it get any worse than Denver metro?

[iceman]

Well whatever, just throwing it out there. I just like them.

[4matic]

GS350 is a piece of junk. Just get a Camry if you like the GS.

[Timberridge]

A plush ride = potholes + and any car that has 50 series tires or lower (XLR, M5, 540i etc)?

...doesn't compute.

[guroo270]

How can it get any worse than Denver metro?

I almost never drove over there. Probably 10 times in 2 years. Lafayette to Boulder to Vail/Grand Junction and back.

GS350 is a piece of junk. Just get a Camry if you like the GS.

I'm pretty sure it's the ES that is the Camry. I suppose the GS could be based on that chassis, too, but yes, it is somewhat different than a Camry to say the least.

A plush ride = potholes + and any car that has 50 series tires or lower (XLR, M5, 540i etc)?

...doesn't compute.

Caddy suspension soaks up a ton, M5 I was saying that I'm going to have to fight the urge to buy, and the 540i would probably be second to a 530i, which has higher sidewall tires, but even though BMW suspensions are sporty, and you do "feel" pretty much everything, they are still quite pleasant, like a firm Mercedes seat.

[4matic]

That's right. I drove an ES350. What a disappointment.

[guroo270]

My mom wanted a new car in 07 or something, and, as my dad and I are very opinionated about cars, she said, I want to go without you guys. I want to buy something that I want, that I like, without you guys telling me what's wrong with it, or why I should get something else. She came home with a blueish silver ES350. She said, come look what I got!

I went into the garage and said, "You bought an overpriced Camry?" She was so mad that she took it back to the dealership and got an RX350, and took like an $6000 loss.

[The Tortoise]

The GS is definitely in a different league than the ES. Definitely a different chassis.

For starters it's RWD. And considered a competitor to the 5-Series/E-Class.

The ES is a gussied up Camry.

[Tippster]

Tipp - Boring is okay, hence the VFR. Did you try the diesel?

We bought Certified pre-owned. No Bluetec available.

[BmillsSkier]

I'd put in a vote for the GS as well, very nicely built car and handles differently than other Lexus(es, i?) of that time.

As for the BMW 740. I think I mentioned it in the other thread, if you're going to do an '01 I'd do the 740 Sport Short over the iL. Way more fun to drive. Do yourself a favor and don't consider any of the Bangle-disaster 7 series (E65, 66 from 01-08, although they did get better starting in 06)

[Cabinfever]

2007 Acura TL. 260 hp and 233 torque. Comfortable and well laid out cabin. Medium stiff ride. Front wheel drive a +\- . this was the last year before they made it ugly. Basically a pimped Accord so you know it will be reliable and cheap to fix when it eventually breaks. Have not driven the S type but bet it's fun.

[ncskier]

I think the only two real choices are-
Audi Allroad with stick shift and diesel motor
Subaru Outback with the V6

Edit-Sorry I wrote a script to reply to all car thread on TGR with those answers.

[stuckathuntermtn]

A G35, or whatever number they're up to over at Infinity, is an insanely fun car to drive, and it's still pretty plush. Not too expensive, either.

For city driving with no snow, think German or Japanese and RWD.

Sent from my DROID2

[schuss]

I'd check out the new Ford Fusion (beautiful car) or a V6 mustang (still 300HP, better balance than V8)

[Bobby Stainless]

Get a 01-05 GS300. Depending on mileage will run 10-15k dollars.

One of the best cars ever built. Will last forever, and get 20-25mpg.

It has the 2JZ-GE, 3 liter, inline 6. The same engine used in the NA Toyota Supra.

Bulletproof engine. I have a 04, with 122k miles on it, that still drives like new.

German cars are a pita.

[spook]

your brother might as well go to a dealer to get fucked over like that