Pick my daily driver!

[TheAcAvenger]

Figured I'd ask here since we obviously have similar tastes in cars.

Requirements:

Under $55k. 4 doors.

AWD or FWD (but i'd rather you not put me in a FWD car. I used to do the whole RWD + snow tires, but I've moved to the DC area far off any main street where i'm on my own as far as getting to work)

Not German. Preferably Japanese: I was about to get an S4, but after reading report after report of this breaking and that breaking, I've decided it's just a bad idea for a car I plan to rack up a ton of miles on. Definitely not depending on a BMW to be problem free day-in-day out. Just not a mercedes guy.

Must be able to withstand 25-40k miles a year for the next 4-5 years. (See above comment). I'm coming from an 05 RL I inherited that currently has 160k miles on it. It's still running well, but it's not a very fun car to drive. I don't turn down hand-me-downs though, and I've definitely appreciated having it for the purpose of racking up miles.

The current contenders:
Acura TL SH-AWD (maybe 6MT? DC traffic sucks though).
Pros: The facelift looks good, IMO. Good seats, good tech, handles VERY well for a big japanese car
Cons: It's huge. It's as big as the RL now. So it's not much of an upgrade from a sport aspect. Bigger Con: There is NO aftermarket for this car. Comptech doesn't really exist anymore. So the days of supercharged TLs are apparently behind us.

Infiniti G37x
Pros: Can supercharge it to 400whp. Good tech. Good seats. Their all wheel drive system is sport oriented and extremely impressive.
Cons: I think it's absolutely hideous. There's not one color I like it in.

Lexus IS350 AWD (they finally made the 350 in AWD)
Pros: Decent looking. Nice seats. Pretty quick
Cons: This is a bmw forum, so I don't even think I need to state this.... But.. the steering is numb, the back seat isn't very usable, the motor doesn't respond at ALL to any kind of forced induction.

Ford Taurus SHO
Pros: Fast. Roomy. Great tech.
Cons: This sucker is HUGE! It's a foot longer than the TL, which I already think is big.

Cadillac CTS AWD
Pros: Fast. Good seats.
Cons: Tech is weak. I'm a big fan of the car (especially the V), but I'm not sure I could actually bring myself to own one.

Acura TSX V6
Pros: Cheap. Good power for the size.
Cons: Much worse weight balance than the 4cyl. Brakes aren't up to the engine.

Lancer EVO MR Touring
Pros: Really fun to drive. Love the transmission
Cons: the interior is really shitty compared to everything above. The front is pretty heinous looking. Considering I spend most of the time in gridlock and not on the twisties (where i'd just take the 335 anyway), I'm not sure it's worth all the drawbacks. Plus: Mitsubishi dealers suck compared to the others. Who wants a Lancer loaner?

Subaru WRX/STI 4 door
Pros: Good cost. Good fun. Good reliability. Not toooo bad looking
Cons: A bit ricey (holy flared fenders batman) and econobox looking. I'd have to get a stick (I'm not sure if that's a bad thing yet. I don't mind it in stopped traffic, but I like the auto in traffic that's slowly moving... it's easier to change lanes on the fly)

Any others I've missed?

[TK-421]

GS350

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by TK-421

GS350

Pardon?

Why? So you can get an underpowered, weak handling, slightly bigger version of the IS he listed when the new GS will debut in 14 short day?





To the OP...why the requirement of AWD/FWD vs. RWD? I can point you towards many M3/C63/IS F drivers that use their cars year round happily. Ask me how I know.

For $55K there are a lot of very capable cars available that you don't have listed.

[TheAcAvenger]

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

Pardon?

Why? So you can get an underpowered, weak handling, slightly bigger version of the IS he listed when the new GS will debut in 14 short day?





To the OP...why the requirement of AWD/FWD vs. RWD? I can point you towards many M3/C63/IS F drivers that use their cars year round happily. Ask me how I know.

For $55K there are a lot of very capable cars available that you don't have listed.

To be honest, the reason I didn't include them is because I already decided that if I went rwd, i'd get an IS-F. Have you given it a run in Calgary winters? I'd imagine they're more intense than anything I'll have to deal with.

[TheAcAvenger]

Originally Posted by stingray23

I would personaly pick the Cadillac. I had a 2008 CTS AWD when It first came out. Leased it for 3 yrs. Ended up putting 80K miles on it in that time. Very comfortable, very quiet cabin, well built, enough power for some for DD, and handled well. AWESOME in the snow and ice. Looks very sharp, and really didnt have much to fix or service. I would definitely get another.

Definitely seems like a good buy. I enjoyed my test drive. Which engine did you have?

[swaite]

I know you said no German, but you didn't specifically say Volkswagen. So, my vote is for a Volkswagen CC 4Motion. The Swedish option would be the Volvo S60 R-Design. Going with Japanese, a well equipped Subaru Legacy sounds up your alley.
I think the STI and EVO give up too much on comfort for a daily and everything else is just plain ugly. If the SHO wasn't so hideous I would vote for that.

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

Pardon?

Why? So you can get an underpowered, weak handling, slightly bigger version of the IS he listed when the new GS will debut in 14 short day?





To the OP...why the requirement of AWD/FWD vs. RWD? I can point you towards many M3/C63/IS F drivers that use their cars year round happily. Ask me how I know.

For $55K there are a lot of very capable cars available that you don't have listed.

It seemed like he just wants a cruiser and wasn't putting performance that high on his priorities list. And since the new one will be coming out, the dealers will be slashing prices to get rid of the current ones.

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by TheAcAvenger

To be honest, the reason I didn't include them is because I already decided that if I went rwd, i'd get an IS-F. Have you given it a run in Calgary winters? I'd imagine they're more intense than anything I'll have to deal with.

I actually don't live in Calgary....but the mountains West of it where we get far more snow than even Cowtown sees. Like I mentioned previously, there are many drivers that run their 400 hp, super sedans year round.

I run an 18", non-staggered set up in the winter with Blizzaks. Drove it as my primary car during our first winter out here. There have only been about 6 days where I chose to leave it at home and that was when we had north of 18" on the ground. Never been stuck, never been sideways (or at least more than I wanted to be ).

I'd humbly suggest you are doing yourself a disservice if you are spending north of $50K on a four door that can't entertain you properly year round.

[Inspired]

Why can't a 335 be a DD?

[kdiggz]

Originally Posted by twinturbo335

Why can't a 335 be a DD?

+1, 335 is the ultimate daily driver

[ZJP]

Originally Posted by kdiggz

+1, 335 is the ultimate daily driver

Until the HPFP fails when you're cruising at 60mph on the highway.

[TheAcAvenger]

daily drive the 335i? Fuel pumps (3), DSC/DBA malfunctions (2), mechatronic transmission seal fail (1), injectors/coils (1), and then your various errors like brake light malfunctions (2)... not to mention this is pothole city, my shock/spring setup is rock hard, and it's an inch and a half off the ground.

I love the car as a hobby, but there's no way on earth I'd want to go back to making it my daily driver and depend on it to get me where I need to go every morning. I don't intend on selling it, but it's cost me more to run the 335i in the 5000 miles i've had it outside of warranty than the last 40000 miles I've put on the RL in the last 15 months(which already had 105k to start with)

[kdiggz]

jeez sounds terrible. 99% of 335 owners daily drive theirs with no issue. i've only come across like 2 people that don't, you being one of them. sounds like you should sell it honestly. if you are going to have 2 cars you might as well get something nicer like a viper or something else completely impractical as a 2nd car

[Greenkirby21]

get a golf R in janurary

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by kdiggz

99% of 335 owners daily drive theirs with no issue.

You must be joking.

Originally Posted by kdiggz

i've only come across like 2 people that don't

Two people? You've only come across two people who have had issues with the 335 reliability on this forum?

[kdiggz]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

You must be joking.



Two people? You've only come across two people who have had issues with the 335 reliability on this forum?

no, people that don't daily drive theirs. these cars aren't garage queens, seems silly to not daily drive it. sounds like he would be better off with a different car personally

[MikeyV]

Hmmm I think the Volvo S60 T6 AWD would be exactly what the dr ordered. It's AWD, pretty quick, can easily be made much quicker, Volvo make the best seats ever, BMW don't make seats anywhere near as comfortable as Volvo do. The Swedes really do know a thing or two about making a car that works well in winter, they sure do a better job of it than the Germans.

[RevsPlease]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

get a golf R in janurary

This. Revised Haldex, 6MT, and more power. If you want DSG buy the MK5

[3002 tii]

I did the same analyis 2 years ago... looked at the A4 2.0T, e90 330xi, and few others and I have to say I think my choice of going with the G35x was definitely right. So far it's been totally reliable, and the ATTESA + Conti DWS worked great for me during the past harsh winter we had (at least by NYC standards). It's sporty, luxurious, reliable and on the cheaper end of cars listed above. The only downside is the mileage, but that goes with any AWD car. In hindsight, I might've gone with fwd and just picked up a set of snows but you've already covered that.

Another thing to consider is dealership experience. The 2 Infiniti dealerships local to me are both great, cover all the CPO work without any hassle, rarely offer things beyond what I requested, and always give me a loaner at my request. I'd factor that in my decision making as well.

If you plan on modding your daily or want the performance aspect, then I could see why you'd go with the Subie but I associate daily as no hassle, no mods, A to B and nothing more. FYI - someone else said it but you can have plenty of nicer cars than on that list for 55k. I bought my CPO G35x for 20K... even new, alot of those cars shouldn't be more than 40k.

[TheAcAvenger]

Originally Posted by kdiggz

jeez sounds terrible. 99% of 335 owners daily drive theirs with no issue. i've only come across like 2 people that don't, you being one of them. sounds like you should sell it honestly. if you are going to have 2 cars you might as well get something nicer like a viper or something else completely impractical as a 2nd car

Originally Posted by blipit

Wow, de-mod the 335i and sell it. Sounds like a headache.

My buddy has 2010 S4 with the dual clutch. Zero problems, car is a blast to drive.

It's not THAT bad. I bought it outright, new in 07, and for the first 3 years, it was a great daily driver. Now, it makes 420 to the wheels, handles like its on rails, and visits the shop once a month just like its a real sports car. The only reasonably priced cars I'd sell it for would be a C6 or a 911, but the 335 is already paid for, I KNOW I wouldn't want to rack up 30k a year on a 911 or sit in a Vette for 2 hours a day. But a "true" weekend car is up next. For now, 3 days a week in the car that only costs me maintenance is perfect.

Although, yes, I do have days where I consider just selling them both and picking up a CTS-V or a B8 RS4 if it ever comes.

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

get a golf R in janurary

I thought about it. I can't believe they're not bringing it with DSG. As if it'd be that hard to yank everything straight from the TT-S.

Originally Posted by MikeyV

Hmmm I think the Volvo S60 T6 AWD would be exactly what the dr ordered. It's AWD, pretty quick, can easily be made much quicker, Volvo make the best seats ever, BMW don't make seats anywhere near as comfortable as Volvo do. The Swedes really do know a thing or two about making a car that works well in winter, they sure do a better job of it than the Germans.

Volvo's reliability has gotten much better in the past decade. I'll have to give them a look. I had a friend with the last gen S60R. Really nice car.

[TheAcAvenger]

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

I did the same analyis 2 years ago... looked at the A4 2.0T, e90 330xi, and few others and I have to say I think my choice of going with the G35x was definitely right. So far it's been totally reliable, and the ATTESA + Conti DWS worked great for me during the past harsh winter we had (at least by NYC standards). It's sporty, luxurious, reliable and on the cheaper end of cars listed above. The only downside is the mileage, but that goes with any AWD car. In hindsight, I might've gone with fwd and just picked up a set of snows but you've already covered that.

Another thing to consider is dealership experience. The 2 Infiniti dealerships local to me are both great, cover all the CPO work without any hassle, rarely offer things beyond what I requested, and always give me a loaner at my request. I'd factor that in my decision making as well.

If you plan on modding your daily or want the performance aspect, then I could see why you'd go with the Subie but I associate daily as no hassle, no mods, A to B and nothing more. FYI - someone else said it but you can have plenty of nicer cars than on that list for 55k. I bought my CPO G35x for 20K... even new, alot of those cars shouldn't be more than 40k.

I actually like the Subie because I figured it'd be fun WITHOUT parts, but it definitely sounds like you've been through this before. The TL and the G37 are definitely my top choices based off comfort and reliability. The Acura dealership around here has definitely won me over. Their service department is open until midnight, and in my last visit they gave me a 2012 TL with 200 miles on it. I've always thought the G offered the best blend of comfort, reliability, performance, and value.

The strange thing about the list and the 55k mark is that there really aren't any cars in between 40k and 55k that are that appealing. Generally, the cars in the 50-60k range are just bigger versions of the cars in the 35-45k range. I don't need the excess space and smaller cars are generally more fun to drive. Yeah, it opens you up to M3s, S4s/S5s, C63s, but the number one factor in the decision is reliability. Hence why the IS-F gets to be the lone RWD car on my short list.

[MikeyV]

Originally Posted by TheAcAvenger

Volvo's reliability has gotten much better in the past decade. I'll have to give them a look. I had a friend with the last gen S60R. Really nice car.

I think you'll be pretty impressed with the S60, a V60 would be even better but the US isn't going to get them.