Well I owe some of you guys an update and I haven't been too active on here lately. Me and the ms. is now me and the Mrs. We are also both starting new jobs this week and she will be driving about 50mi a day (I am now working from home and taking the train or flying when I need to, no driving). So I agreed that we would get her a nice car now that we are settled down (she's been driving the same car since college, I've been through 11 cars in the same time). Shooting for $25k pre owned, entry level lux with awd. We have considered higher end but can't really justify it with depreciation and they're just huge. Right now we are between the caddy ats and volvo s60. The c300s don't really offer bang for buck. They're nice but for the money the ats is better in every way and the s60 just sort of speaks our design language. We can spend more if it's justified but wary of spending so much on high depreciation cars. Notes:

- new lexus IS is there but pricey. Would pay more for that reliability though, so it's on the list
- loved the ats, fun to drive and cheap.
- s60 is safe and their cpo program seems second to none
-acura is ugly and boring? Can't really find one we like.
- c300 was really nice but for the money nowhere near competition.
- BMW. Not after my experience. Not even going there.
- apparently infinity g37x just doesn't look as good to the lovely lady. Fair enough, it's her car.

Any thoughts? Are we missing anything? Like I said we can go up in price but far as I can tell it's fiscally really stupid to do so and the ats/c class sort of car is what we consider a big car.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I would agree that it is stupid to pay a lot for any car, especially if you're financiing it. i.e. not paying cash.

I've paid up to 100% of my annual income for a vehicle, but based on my net worth? Pfft.....not even a blip on my financial radar.

Without more information, there's no way to give you a reasonable recommendation, beyond advising paying cash for it.

I'd go out and get a new 4 cyl. Subaru Outback. Scrub the Cadillac and Volvo noise - unless you're trying to impress others with fancy used cars.....

Its a rare thing for me to agree with Skid, but I was thinking Subie too. Made in Lafayette In. Reasonably economical, hold their value like nothing else, relatively simple too.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

get your money,and buy in Mexico the vehicle of your choice. They use demographics in selling vehicles,like gasoline, and clothes. Poorer countries get massive discounts on profit.I know I lived there.

I'd get a Subaru with full leather.

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

My spouse bought a 2016 Outback limited trim (Hi Tom!) to replace her w211 sedan. It's a good, solid, rational car and she likes it - but I don't. From a car guys point of view, too many things are not done well. In particular the ergonomics, electronics, and seats are subpar. And it ain't pretty. Given TB mentioned design language, I suspect these things are important to him and the mrs. A new limited is well above TB's price range, though a base model should be in range. My $.02 from someone that has now totally moved away from the mb brand...

Btw, there is a good OB forum at subaruoutback.org. Look at the gen 5 discussions if so inclined.

One of the most practical vehicles I know of is a Sienna with the tow package. Towing may be standard these days.

Finding a newish car at private sale may be nearly impossible. That should tell you something.

Crash protection is tops. Great truck performance. Part stealth truck, part stealth Lexus, doesn't attract unwanted attention.

Check for leftovers at the dealers. Maybe pickup a new 2015 at used car pricing.

Audi is conspicuous in its absence.

Check out the 6-10 year old MB 4-matic lines of your choice. For instance, you can pick up a really nice E class between about 6-10 years old with between 40K and > on the odometer for around $15K.

Many MB dealers will offer at least a short term bumper to bumper warranty for anything but a longer warranty is obviously a plus. For low mileage cars, it’s pretty inexpensive to get a good extended warranty for a couple of kilobucks and the model year matters less than the number of miles the car has.

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Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.

First of all congratulations on the marriage! I hope you have at least as many wonderful years with her as I did with my late wife.

I agree on the Subaru. Lots of value in good performing, heck for durable and reliable transportation. Find good used. New vehicles are absolutely crazy overpriced, especially many of the GM vehicles for which about every part comes from China while they are presented as American cars.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

There IAre many reasons for that.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

May be regional in my case. When at the car auction reciently. It seemed there was an abundance of newer cars and suv's there. Especially suv's. A lot of really low milage items. Far more present than I ever remember when I used to go regularily.


The only thing that made sense to me was bank repossessions might be way up. I had not been at the auction for a few years and what the son in law got was exceptional good value for his money. It is almost like the market is saturated here at this time.


My point is right now right here it might be really foolish to buy brand new from a dealer.

Have you ruled out crossovers as a potential vehicle type? That definitely would broaden your choices if AWD is a must-have.

If you end up looking back at the Volvo there's also the V60, sits between the S60 and Subaru in terms of practicality and style.


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