If NOT a Jag, then what?

[EDELWEISS]

You guys sorta got me worried choosing a Jaguar. So then what is a better option as a luxury daily driver that may occasionally be driven cross country? Im NOT a car guy, well certainly not an engine guy--Id be happy never to lift the hood on a vehicle and routine maintence means when does it have to go in for service....

Im looking for a comfortable highway ride and enough speed/power for passing with ease. Beyond that it has to be kinda well cool. I dont want any SUV or CrossOver; but I dont want a limo OR something tiny(at times there will be kids in the back-other times just me playing "Transporter" for HeadShrinkHer), so it needs to have 4 doors. Sporty is ok.

Please explain "why" for whatever you suggest.

Drive On!

[mike135]

haha too many choices if you're not a "car guy"... :) I've always preferred the route where I start with a good platform and then customize instead of spending the same money on a more expensive vehicle, but I'm a car guy and not everybody wants to do that.

Toyota is the go-to for reasonable price for a good vehicle (a friend who can buy anything he wants recently chose the new Avalon over a 4 door Porsche!). Otherwise, I'm sure Gabe would tell you to go with Audi for the ultimate combination of comfortable "normal" car and performance... :smile:

[DogDoc]

I've always had a thing for the Volkswagon Karmen Ghia. I know, I know, It's not cool or expensive but it's the car that was for sale on my street when I was a kid with a brand new drivers license burning a hole in my pocket. I couldn't buy it then and it somehow burned itself into my subconscious as the car I must someday own.

I've always lamented that there wasn't a Porsche or Mustang or something cooler for sale on my street that day.

Doc

43852

[John Chambers]

BMW, Audi, Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Infiniti, lots of nice choices. I really like BMWs and Audis but the quality of the Lexus is off the charts.

[ctdair]

Look at the new Volvo XC90 many technological advancements.

[firebird6]

BMW 3 series certified used. 6 year 100K warranty. There may be a better value for your buck in a luxury car, but I don't know what. BMW tried to buy mine back twice, before the Warranty expired.

[ReynCon]

If I was buying tomorrow it would hands down be an Audi S6. I need the extra space for the little ones. If not an S4. Must be black.

[Jamitchell074]

I have had a 2009 Cadillac CTS with the performance package for the last 2.5 year/35,000 miles and been very happy. Good performance, yet great on the highway. I commute 80 miles round trip daily and have taken a few trips in excess of 4 hours. Very good value for what you get.

[warriorscience4u]

Check the R&T Spring '15 review of the Audi S3 for a 4-door, otherwise it would be a Corvette Z06 in my money.

Why? Hwy 6spd mpg is 25-30, speed and power is insane, and I can still work on it. I'd love a Porsche T or C but I don't have the tooling for das 911s...

[EDELWEISS]

Yeah Im sorta leaning towards the Audi 8 (not sure the difference between A or S). Its gotta be a 4 door. Now the big job is convincing HeadShrinkHer

[Alex Nieuwland]

just me playing "Transporter" for HeadShrinkHer

With a PDW under your sports coat? :finger:

[Paper Shredder]

Edel, if you want some kick and you've got the change, a S8 is a great choice. It's got everything that the a8 has and more power! But A8 is no slouch either. I had a D2 S8 (early to mid 2000s vintage) which I loved dearly and still miss to this day. Build quality is great and the maintenance isn't much more than normal luxury Marques. All of them run $120-150 per oil change (10quarts synth) and the intervals are much longer (8-10k mi). When big stuff goes, it will be pricey, but get to know the Internet forums on the cars and he community is *almost* as helpful as here.

[Rummy]

AUDI.

S Series.

Lordy, Lordy.

[Jack Rumbaugh]

Read Jalopnik. They have a ton of good info on higher end cars. I was reading recently that 2-3 year old lease return Maseratis were really affordable right now.

Can't go wrong with an Audi. My next purchase will be either a C7 Stingray or maybe a C6 Z06. Just have to see when the time comes. Or the Challenger Hellcat. Maybe both.

[Boetman]

Baas Edel, like my good Ole Pappy used to say "I cant understand these Americans, they build some of the most Beautifull vehicles in the world, they build Caddilacs and Ford and Dodge trucks, then they go buy a Toyota or a Nissan" If I lived in the States, it would only be American Made. Jeeez, you guys have awesome vehicles, now you want to buy something imported. Nothing like an american V8 pappa!!!!

[Greg Nichols]

I've always had a thing for the Volkswagon Karmen Ghia. I know, I know, It's not cool or expensive but it's the car that was for sale on my street when I was a kid with a brand new drivers license burning a hole in my pocket. I couldn't buy it then and it somehow burned itself into my subconscious as the car I must someday own.

I've always lamented that there wasn't a Porsche or Mustang or something cooler for sale on my street that day.

Doc

43852


Dead on Doc! These are awesome. I've always wanted one.

[Greg Nichols]

Yeah Im sorta leaning towards the Audi 8 (not sure the difference between A or S). Its gotta be a 4 door. Now the big job is convincing HeadShrinkHer

the 3 I would look at woudld be:

Audi S8
BMW 735I (can be had with manual)
Lexus F series sedan

[tweek]

Too bad you don't want an SUV. I'd recommend an Expedition limited. We have been through two so far and they are amazing vehicles that will do everything you want and go wherever you want in a very nice level of luxury leaving plenty of cash left over for extra trinkets and do-dads.

Not an SUV: The Lexus ISF. Very much a luxury car but with enough power to give you tingles where they're good. They handle pretty well, but a well driven M3 will still beat it. However, the M3 will have a very had time drifting corners the way the ISF will let you. This car is what I'd choose if I wanted a 'luxury car'.

I'm not a fan of BMW (they build great cars) because of the maintenance. Mercedes just look like shit in my opinion but they have great stuff beneath it. They're like putting Madeline Albright's head on Jennifer Lawrence's body. I want to like Audi but what I have witnessed at the track does not bring confidence: great performances that blow up. Lexus has been the only luxury brand that I've seen that not only looks great but backs it up with maintenance free performance (other than tires but I go through tires the a rate similar to Hillary Clinton telling lies).

I will say that Cadillac's CTS-V looks great and on paper it appears very capable. However nobody has brought one to the track so I don't know how it holds up to abuse.

On the 'cheap' side the 2015 Mustang GT kicks butt - but it doesn't have 4 doors unless we count the trunk and front hood. I just wanted to mention it because I just traded my STi for one last week and wanted to work it in to the conversation ;).

[eldon54]

My Dad's 1951 Chevy pickup restored to what it looked like when it rolled off the showroom floor new.

[BillyOblivion]

43893

http://blog.caranddriver.com/owner-was-a-rolling-stone-keith-richardss-shag-tastic-bentley-up-for-sale/

Go big or go Toyota :)

[Shooter Ready]

Yeah Im sorta leaning towards the Audi 8 (not sure the difference between A or S). Its gotta be a 4 door. Now the big job is convincing HeadShrinkHer

BRO, if you are in A8/S8 territory, then you should expand your horizons. A car at that price point should have panache and be a looker. A mere Audi (or BMW/Lexus/Mercedes) for that matter, just won't do. Consider the Maserati Ghibli, Porsche Panamera, or even the Jag XJ.

While I love my Audis, their look is become a bit dated. I'm trying to fly below the radar, so it suits me for now. Their lineup has been described as one sausage with different lengths.

[ChuteTheMall]

If you're not a car guy, not an enthusiast, and you want reliability with your luxury, you might want to eliminate all but the Japanese companies: Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infinity. Dealers are everywhere in the world.

[PERVADER1]

I dunno, bon vivant supremacy is cool and all but for the money, you should really see what kind of deal they'd give you on a Mazda6 AND the brand new MX-5!

[warriorscience4u]

43914

Rally Racing?

[Craig R]

EDELWEISS .....not sure the difference between A or S.

Simply put the S option is the higher performance version of the A.

[EDELWEISS]

Hahaha HeadShrinkHer keeps saying she wants a Ford Edge. I think she does it just to see me cringe. Yeah maybe the Audi 8 series is a bit much but I might be able to satisfy myself with a S6

[warriorscience4u]

Hahaha HeadShrinkHer keeps saying she wants a Ford Edge. I think she does it just to see me cringe.

Yup, I cringed too, but commuting in a Z06 isn't a decent option for me yet. Only way to fit the .300WM into the Z06 is to eliminate the passenger !?

IIRC, Audi is doing quite a bit of clearing out right now, if you want BNIB...