A friend needs a car. The criteria are:
4 door sedan
European or American manufacturer
Cool looking design (Audi, BMW, etc.)
Reliable
Auto trans
Good handling and reasonable power, but no need for high performance
Price around $20,000

The car will get reasonable maintenance, but the owner has zero ability to do any maintenance or repairs.

Shop for a good condition, one owner Audi A6 or Mercedes W204 C Class, if looking for a "luxury" marque.

I would find a good, used 08 or newer Mercedes E class.

__________________
Jim

An Audi for somebody who can't do ANY work on the car?
REALLY?

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I like both of these....note I knocked out Audi. Audi quality scares me.

"Techically", in the automotive industry news that I read Mercedes and BMW are labeled as Premium. Cadillac, Lincoln, etc. (puke) are listed as Luxury.

__________________
Current:
1985 300D aka Miss Margaret
1991 300SE aka Alarice
1995 SL320 aka Samantha
1997 K1500 Silverado
Past:
1999 E300 ex-wife got it and let her son ruin it
1984 190 2.3 ex-wife got it and let her son destroy a great car
1985 300D (CA version) aka Maybelline lost to deer at high speed.
1981 300D aka Madeline (went to salvage at near 400k) rusty, yet best car I ever drove
Wishlist:
McFarlan TV6 (only a few privately owned)
ReVere with Rochester engine
1917 Premier (only one left)

In typical Peach Parts Pit fashion of ignoring the parameters, I'll recommend a Camry.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Stretch that second requirement a little and a Mazda3 looks like a match made in heaven. Seriously fun little car.

I'm with nate300d and elchivito -- the Audi scares me.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Pontiac G8 GT.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Where does your friend live? I have a friend with a car THAT FITS.

Moderators, Ban this man!

Just kidding. It is killing me that she rules out Japanese cars. I think that's exactly what she needs, although the Camry doesn't really meet her cool/stylish criterion.

In beige. Or, a Toyota Avalon would also be a nice choice.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Northern Virginia

You could also pick up a first gen CTS-V for like $8k, then have $12k to spend on mods.


A nice cam, long tubes, heads, and a blower would be under that $12k mark, and your lady friend would have a bas@$$ sleeper.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Isn't that more like $12k for repairs?

Out of 5 or 6 people that I have spoken with that own a Caddy made between 2005 to present none have a positive thing to say about their car.

__________________
Current:
1985 300D aka Miss Margaret
1991 300SE aka Alarice
1995 SL320 aka Samantha
1997 K1500 Silverado
Past:
1999 E300 ex-wife got it and let her son ruin it
1984 190 2.3 ex-wife got it and let her son destroy a great car
1985 300D (CA version) aka Maybelline lost to deer at high speed.
1981 300D aka Madeline (went to salvage at near 400k) rusty, yet best car I ever drove
Wishlist:
McFarlan TV6 (only a few privately owned)
ReVere with Rochester engine
1917 Premier (only one left)

Assuming new...
VW 4-door Golf or Jetta?

Used, I'd second the G8 recommendation, though it's more of an Australian car than an American car