Hey Guys,
I am looking at getting a new car within the next 12 months (I know, long time but I like to make sure I do my homework first).

I am looking in the 30-40K range such as the Acura TL, BMW 3, etc. I don't know what to get or what people's experiences are with each one. I don't really want a BMW because everyone has them (I know, that means they must be pretty good). I like the design of the Acura TL (looks similar to the 5 series) but didn't know if it is a good vehicle for the next 5 years. I am getting the Automatic transmission which may affect your opinions, but just wanted to throw it out and see what people think.

I am not limited to just those vehicles or that price range but it needs to be below 40K.

I'd suggest going over to Edmunds and search for cars there. They have really good information. (Our resident car dealer would caution you from accepting their TMV numbers at face value, though.)

In fact, I searched for a car with almost the same basic criteria as you (I wanted a manual) just under a year ago. I ended up with a Volvo S60R, which was just over $40k, but I also really liked the BMW 330i and the Audi A4. I don't know if you're looking for performance or luxury or both (or something else), but in any case, I'd definitely give the A4 a look. It's very nice. I don't think that I'd suggest my Volvo with the auto. A lot of people were disappointed with the transmission in it. (Nor, after driving some base models as loaners, would I suggest any S60 other than the R, honestly.) The TL, IIRC, was not out when I was looking, but the TSX was sadly underpowered for a supposed sport sedan when I tested it, FWIW. Rob would suggest the Saab 9-3, but I didn't get a chance to test one thanks to our poor local salesmen.

And you could look at something a little bigger, too. The Audi A6 and the Saab 9-5 could fit in your price range, depending on options.

Rob would suggest the Saab 9-3

The new 9-3 is nice, but if I were to get a Saab sedan I would go for the 9-5. I really like that car and they updated the front a little to make it look more aggressive. The last 9-5 I drove was a 2003 Arc model with automatic. Automatic is lame, but this one had paddle-shifters on the steering wheel for the "sport-shift" feature. Still lame, but at least it's something different. I think that feature is standard now on automatics.

I am biased towards Saabs a little, but I really don't like the A4. My mom buys nothing but A4s every couple years and the interior keeps getting smaller. I can hardly fit in the driver's seat comfortably and I'm only 5'11". Bimmers are nice, but like you said, they're all over the place.

My father has an Acura MDX and my coworker has a Lexus Camry. Both have horribly chosen interior components. The Lexus has 3 different style and color LCD displays on the dash. That's something you would never see on a european car and it bothers me a lot. The Acura has a similar problem, but it's not as bad. Some people simply don't care about that stuff, but it shows Toyota and Honda think making a luxury car means leather and fake wood only.

I agree with the dashes on the supposedly luxury Japanese cars. They're like some child's approximation of luxury. (Honestly, I think it's real wood, but, somehow, it seems fake.)

I disagree about the A4's size. The BMW was smaller. That doesn't mean it hasn't gotten smaller over time, but all of them have.

Also, the A4 has a CVT, which may be of interest. I think BMW may, as well. I think BMW has a sequential transmission, too.

I disagree about the A4's size. The BMW was smaller. That doesn't mean it hasn't gotten smaller over time, but all of them have.

I thought BMWs had got bigger over time? Today's 5s look like old 7s, and they've had to invent 1s that are the size of the old 3s. Or are you saying that all they've done is make the outside look increasingly more imposing, without actually improving the interior space?

Peter

I meant interiors over the past 20 years or so. There's more stuff inside, with more massive consoles and whatnot, while the body has gotten more massive, probably due to increased body frame safety engineering. For example, the inside of a current 330i definitely feels more cramped than that of my '87 325 did, but it is definitely more luxurious in features and presentation. The exterior is also more massive.

Other new or upcoming cars worth considering:

- The new Subaru Legacy GT Limited. It's got the same 2.5 liter turbo AWD setup as in the WRX STi, but detuned for "only" 250hp. It's also heavier, but has a very nice (for Subaru) interior. I'll definitely go beat one of these up on my next round of test drives.

- Allegedly, we'll see the successor to the Lexus IS300 coming out next fall. That means, by next spring or so, we should have a good idea what that car will be all about.

- In Japan, they're selling a Honda Accord with a turbo-charged 2.0 liter engine and AWD. This may or may not show up as a variant on the Acura TSX at some point in the future. That would make for an interesting comparison to the Subaru Legacy GT Limited.

- There's always the Saab 9-2 (Saabaru). It's a Subaru WRX with Saab luxury trimmings and suspension tuning. Same exact engine and AWD system.

- Get a BMW 3-series now before they Bangle-ize them. (Before buying a BMW, talk to local BMW owners and ask them how happy they are with the service of your local dealers. Houston BMW dealers suck. Hard. For that reason alone, when I eventaully trade in my BMW, I'll be buying something else.)

Bangle

What is his thing with the square, tacked-on looking trunk?

I gotta say I love my A6. I've had it for about 5 months now, and it is great. I got mine used, a '99. It has just the 2.8 with no turbo. Go test drive one see what you think. Mine has lots of get up and go, and the styling of the interior is elegant. That is one thing for me, I look at lots of cars interiors as a critical part. I do not like interiors that feel boxy and square, or way out there.

if you decide on the saab, go with the 9-5 and get one 2 years old for half price.
stay away from the V6 engine.

God, I wish I knew.

My family has 3 BMW 330is, and they're great. I've had Saab 900s, 9-3s, and 9-5s before -- the only one I would consider again is the 9-5. There are still quality problems with Saabs that are really disconcerting in that price range. I like the new Acura TL and Infiniti G35 -- the Cadillac CTS is also a solid choice.

If I were limiting myself to $30k-some, I would likely end up getting an Infiniti G35. It's available with rear or all wheel drive, starts at $28k (goes up to $36k, depending), and has the power, panache, and quality to boot. Plus, it really has a capacious interior. The interior of the Acura is a bit nicer and it has a touch more power, but it is a FWD vehicle. Yuk. Acura will make AWD available later in the year, but it will still be FWD-biased. The Cadillac costs more, but you may also like it more depending on your preferences.

I would *strongly* urge you to consider a Mercedes E-class. You can get a 1 or 2 year old E class in your price range and it is an amazing car. They are extremely reliable, too.

I have owned several BMWs and I really like them, too. My next ride will probably be a Mercedes E Wagon, 4Matic (all wheel drive). That is a $60k car that you can pick up in the low $30's with low miles. A ton of car for the money.

FWIW,
Jim

The Caddilac CTS (and the CTS-V) is an intriguing car. I find it beyond ugly, but you can get the honking fast GM 5.7 liter V8 package and a manual transmission. Likewise, you can get the far less ugly Pontiac GTO. It may not have the attitude of the old GTO, but taken by itself it's probably the nicest Pontiac in decades. The other intriguing American car just around the corner is the next-generation Ford Mustang. Ford claims it's going to be based on a more modern platform, so there's at least some chance that it will be good for more than just drag racing.

The Caddy has a Getrag tranny, even. It's quite nice, but even if you do like the exterior styling, the interior is really cheap. Cheap black plastic with 1980s-style futuro-font silkscreened on in plain white. It'd be cheap looking for an econobox.

Have you considered a wagon? I don't know why more Americans don't buy wagons. They are extremely useful and you hardly give up anything compared to the same model sedan. I guess people have an image problem with them. Funny, because I was just in Holland and everyone drives wagons and hatchbacks. Pretty much the only sedans are the taxis.

An oddball, but appealing, choice not mentioned yet is a W8 Passat. I owned a Passat V6 and I've driven the W8. The W8 is a nice engine with really usable torque. Even though the Passat starts as at $25K it's not outclassed by 35-40K cars.

I think hatchbacks are returning to the USA. When I got my golf a few years ago it was the only decent one available. Now we have the Golf, MINI, Mazda 3, Honda Si, Mazda 6 (although that's more of a wagon it's pretty long) and Toyota matrix. The new prius is also a hatch back.

Ford claims it's going to be based on a more modern platform, so there's at least some chance that it will be good for more than just drag racing.

Funny you should say that, as I've read that, once again, the only variant with I.R.S. will be the megabuck SVT Cobra.

I don't know why more Americans don't buy wagons. They are extremely useful and you hardly give up anything compared to the same model sedan. I guess people have an image problem with them

Because we have SUVs, they are "image friendly."
I think you are correct in that the wagon's image in the USA is a family vacation-mobile. I really like the looks of the newer Volvo wagons, but I agree with TigerJimmy regarding a used E Class MB. A friend got a really nice, low mileage 2 year old one for less than $40k last year. I'm going that route when the boat and truck are paid for.

Funny you should say that, as I've read that, once again, the only variant with I.R.S. will be the megabuck SVT Cobra.

A friend of mine owns a '99 Cobra. Though the IRS is superior on the road, it pisses him off when the regular GTs beat him at the drag strip because their live axle doesn't hop like his IRS does on launch.

it pisses him off when the regular GTs beat him at the drag strip

I am always puzzled by people who are obsessed with driving quickly in a straight line. The fun thing about driving a car is the corners.

He already said it was a Mustang. If he tried to turn, it'd skid out. Straight lines are all they have left.

Because we have SUVs, they are "image friendly."

Actually the real reason is worse than that - the image has been created and molded by the manufacturers to sell SUVs. The reason we have so many SUVs is because of the legal loophole that prevents many of the modern emissions and safety laws that apply to cars from applying to them. SUVs are classed as a light truck, ie like a pickup truck. US manufacturers found it more profitable to create and manufacture SUVs than to make wagons that complied with new laws. That is why a US made wagon is hard to find now.

European manufacturers don't have those loopholes in their core markets so they kept refining wagons, hence the reason that Audi, VW, Saab, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, and Volvo all have various wagons on offer.

Also, if you buy a really heavy one and pretend to use it for business, you can write a huge amount of the cost off of your taxes, in a loophole intended for farm equipment and the like.

Yeah, one of the owners of the company I work for just bought an expedition and wrote off 100%. Nice! (If you don't mind driving a huge vehicle with horrible gas milage)

And bilking the US populace.

I wouldn't go that far...he's a salesman and does use it extensively for business.

I wouldn't go that far...he's a salesman and does use it extensively for business.

Would he have been able to write off taxes against a smaller car?

Would he have been able to write off taxes against a smaller car?

Nope. Does he need a vehicle that large? Probably not. Does it come in handy when hauling our displays to conventions, etc? Yes.

The law does not specify what is and isn't legitimate business use. He's a business owner and is using the vehicle for business purposes. IMHO, that's just taking advantage of the incentives to business owners offered by the government, not bilking the public.

That law was obviously not intended for that purpose. Is it legal? Sure. Is it ethical? Nope.