I'm starting to get into the mode of looking for a new car. My car is now 8 years old with 160K miles on it. It's a decent car and I'm sure I could get another 100K out of it easily, but I have to admit that cars are a weakness of mine.
I can delay big financial purchases easily, but with cars, it's a different matter.
I was looking at the Acura MDX and the Lexus 330, but the idea of paying $40K for an Isuzu Rodeo or $40K for a nice looking, but small, SUV didn't sit too well with me. Besides, it's the Toyota Highlander.
It irks me that the luxury cars provided by the Japanese car makers are plushed out versions of their more pedestrian line.
Then I started thinking, I could get a nice car for that price, even though, sometimes, I really need the space of an SUV. But if I'm going to pay that kind of money, let's go with BMW or Mercedes Benz.
The new 3 Series looks nice, especially since they are going to give the car more room. I really like the 5 Series, but the comments about the "I System" have turned me off.
The Mercedes Benz C class always catches my eye. But the amount of horse power for the car is a concern. I've had enough weak engines. My wife's car is a V6, and though it's not fast from stop, once it's up to speed, it goes.
Then I think about the recall the BMW and Benz's have had and I wonder how such "German engineered" cars can be in the state that they are in. I won't even consider Audi, though they are pretty cars. The track record for finding a good mechanic for Audis, and Volkswagons, is not good.
I guess I should consider American iron. Uhh.... Then again, they have been having recall problems as well, right?
NEXT!!!!!
Back to the Japanese lux-cars again, and what do I see? The new Lexus GS.
Oh, and look at the Infiniti M!
Queue Christopher Williams...
Don't wake me.
I'm dreammeennnnnnnnnnn
E.... if a luxo ride with size/utility in the $30K range is what you're looking for, I'd recommend the Chrysler Pacifica. As Chrysler is now a division of Daimler-Benz, many models -- including the Pacifica -- share switchgear and running gear with Benz models. The Pacifica was the first of the new 'crossover' vehicles, combining the best attributes of SUVs, minivans and passenger cars.
If you've got to flex, dubs and monitors are available on the Pacifica from the factory.
Should you require more bling, $32K will snag you a full-boat Dodge Magnum RT with the 345-hp Hemi and all-wheel drive. The only comparable cars are the Volvo V70R and Subaru Legacy GT. The Volvo and Subaru come close performance-wise, but neither has the Magnum's cachet.
I wouldn't get too caught up with badge-engineering and platform-sharing -- practices automakers throughout the globe have followed for years. Jaguars and Volvos are Fords; Lexus (Lexi?) are Toyotas, and Porsches and Audis are Volkswagens.
I see the new GS and Infiniti M cars have caught your eye. I'd give serious consideration to the Acura TL.
Posted by: MIB at April 17, 2005 06:18 PMI got the chance to drive a fully loaded Chrysler 300.
Wow. The car is nice. I used to think "K Car" with anything Chrysler. That didn't change when my wife had a Dodge Neon.
Chrysler has some winners. No doubt about it.
Posted by: DarkStar at April 17, 2005 07:52 PM
If I were in the market for a new car, there's only two used that really kick me in the gut right now. One would be a used Porsche 911. Spend about 15k on one that been owned twice and then dedicate another 3-5k on restoration. Simple.
The other would be the basic black Transporter. BMW 745i.
There's only one new car that gets my blood up would be the new Mustang GT. Yeah that Infiniti M is nice, but not like a convertible black Mustang GT.
Posted by: Cobb at April 17, 2005 02:59 PM