Daily driver recommendation?
#16
Rudy,
I've been thinking the same thing only I've been thinking of selling or trading my TT in on something easier for commuting.
I hope you don't mind me piggy-backing on your post, I've been looking at the following:
Infiniti G37S
BMW M3
Audi S5
Any thoughts on these and/or other suggestions I should consider (my range is ~$40k)?
I've been thinking the same thing only I've been thinking of selling or trading my TT in on something easier for commuting.
I hope you don't mind me piggy-backing on your post, I've been looking at the following:
Infiniti G37S
BMW M3
Audi S5
Any thoughts on these and/or other suggestions I should consider (my range is ~$40k)?
#18
Rudy, you want a stick shift or an automatic? This daily driver other than being sporty and relatively fast with reasonable back seats, do you prefer a 4-door sedan? Wagon? Coupe?
Specify a little more please (body style preference, transmission, MPG if matters).
Specify a little more please (body style preference, transmission, MPG if matters).
#20
tphss:
I'd prefer an automatic transmission. Could be coupe/sedan/wagon, as long as I can put two adults of about 5'10" in height back there. As for MPG, obviously the higher the better in this $3.50/gallon climate, but the balance tips in favor of driving characteristics if it means sacrificing a bit in the fuel efficiency department. But to be specific, lets say nothing that gets worse than 16 city 21 highway.
Thanks for the help!
I'd prefer an automatic transmission. Could be coupe/sedan/wagon, as long as I can put two adults of about 5'10" in height back there. As for MPG, obviously the higher the better in this $3.50/gallon climate, but the balance tips in favor of driving characteristics if it means sacrificing a bit in the fuel efficiency department. But to be specific, lets say nothing that gets worse than 16 city 21 highway.
Thanks for the help!
#21
If it's the supercharged E55 (W208?), a friend has one and he suffered an engine failure! I get the impression that the supercharged AMG cars from '03 to '05 or so don't appear too reliable. When I was considering a SL55 couple years back, I found plenty with buy-back title, which didn't inspire too much confidence in me
#23
If it was me and I didn't want an SUV to daily drive, but to stay with something fairly fast and sporty but also reasonable and practical (and automatic for the horrible traffic), there would be my choices for under 25K (first are smaller sedan, then larger ones):
1) Audi S4 (sedan/avant) 2004-2006: That 4.2 V8 340hp is a very good engine, it had a couple of tweaks over the years (my father had almost the same engine, but without direct injection in his 1999 and then 2003 A8), the quattro is a very good as well. The automatic of those years (tiptronic) is annoying if you like to control it manually as it doesn't let you complete control and the downshifts are not quick enough. If not the S4 you can find a newer A4 2.0T quattro for about the same price. The engine is very good and linear (better gearbox as well with paddle shifters on the s-line) and the 2.0T has much better MPG as well.
2) BMW e90 328i (sedan/wagon): well you drove plenty 3-series, you know...
3) Infiniti M35 2006+: great engine, reliable and comfortable, sporty and excellent gearbox.
4) BMW e60 530i / 545i (more power, less MPG)
5) Jaguar XJ8 (or XJR) 2004+: one of my personal favorites. Very comfortable and luxurious, you can find one for a FRACTION of the original price (usually with low miles). From 2004 on its a completely new body and revised chassis, with better handling (surprisingly good handling, although obviously not a sports car). The car is reliable as well and many people don't know this but the body is aluminum and the XJ8 although much bigger weighs about the same as a 2006 545i, and the same year Mercedes-Benz S430 weighs 500lbs more than the XJ8!
1) Audi S4 (sedan/avant) 2004-2006: That 4.2 V8 340hp is a very good engine, it had a couple of tweaks over the years (my father had almost the same engine, but without direct injection in his 1999 and then 2003 A8), the quattro is a very good as well. The automatic of those years (tiptronic) is annoying if you like to control it manually as it doesn't let you complete control and the downshifts are not quick enough. If not the S4 you can find a newer A4 2.0T quattro for about the same price. The engine is very good and linear (better gearbox as well with paddle shifters on the s-line) and the 2.0T has much better MPG as well.
2) BMW e90 328i (sedan/wagon): well you drove plenty 3-series, you know...
3) Infiniti M35 2006+: great engine, reliable and comfortable, sporty and excellent gearbox.
4) BMW e60 530i / 545i (more power, less MPG)
5) Jaguar XJ8 (or XJR) 2004+: one of my personal favorites. Very comfortable and luxurious, you can find one for a FRACTION of the original price (usually with low miles). From 2004 on its a completely new body and revised chassis, with better handling (surprisingly good handling, although obviously not a sports car). The car is reliable as well and many people don't know this but the body is aluminum and the XJ8 although much bigger weighs about the same as a 2006 545i, and the same year Mercedes-Benz S430 weighs 500lbs more than the XJ8!
#24
As for the original question, I pick the S4 from those options. Specifically, a manual transmission B6 model as I prefer its styling to the mechanically similar, facelifted B7. The car is a nice balance between comfort and sportiness. The biggest pitfall of the S4 is their notoriously poor fuel economy, but it's a great car. I drove one before getting my Subaru STi and liked it, but in the end the Subaru was sportier, more fun to drive, and much cheaper. You already have a Porsche, so getting a sort of sport cushy sedan makes sense. AWD is a plus for all season ability, and that V8 can sound very mean with downpipes and a cat-back. Also throw in a nice set of wheels and tires, a software flash, and some clear corners in front and you'll be good to go.
#25
The S5 has really nice looks, but I really didn't like how it drove. It was very big, and felt that way behind the wheel.
#26
tphss:
I'd prefer an automatic transmission. Could be coupe/sedan/wagon, as long as I can put two adults of about 5'10" in height back there. As for MPG, obviously the higher the better in this $3.50/gallon climate, but the balance tips in favor of driving characteristics if it means sacrificing a bit in the fuel efficiency department. But to be specific, lets say nothing that gets worse than 16 city 21 highway.
Thanks for the help!
I'd prefer an automatic transmission. Could be coupe/sedan/wagon, as long as I can put two adults of about 5'10" in height back there. As for MPG, obviously the higher the better in this $3.50/gallon climate, but the balance tips in favor of driving characteristics if it means sacrificing a bit in the fuel efficiency department. But to be specific, lets say nothing that gets worse than 16 city 21 highway.
Thanks for the help!
#28
with tune only, id say 330 max whp SAE.
to get 380 whp, you need just about every bolt (dps, IC) on as well and running near max boost.
#29
For M cars, why limit your search to M3's? About four months ago I picked up a very, very clean E-39 M5 (2003) with 45K miles for less than your budget. I've owned M3s, and this is my second M5. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. There's not a ton out there, so you have to be patient to find a "good" one. Good luck!
#30
For M cars, why limit your search to M3's? About four months ago I picked up a very, very clean E-39 M5 (2003) with 45K miles for less than your budget. I've owned M3s, and this is my second M5. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. There's not a ton out there, so you have to be patient to find a "good" one. Good luck!