help with higher end sedans buying decision

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Burt

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Okay, so my last child is graduating from college and I am thinkng of redirecting(some of)the money that used to go there into a nice sedan. I was going to buy a used BMW from a private party off craigslist, but the supply of late model used cars seems to have dried up. And new BMW's seem overpriced by the time you add options.

At first I thought a loaded Maxima was the ticket. With a list price of $39k, they are discounting the heck out of them to $31.5. Then I looked at the Acura TL, Infiniti G37 and H. Genesis and the Maxima looked a little cheap. They all list in the $39 range except the Infiniti is about $3 more. Not as bad as I would have thought, but I don't think they will discount as much. Genesis is a little too sedate. TL is crisp and spiffy, but only a 5 spd transmission and no cooled seat option. Seems like they were behind the ball on latest technology. G37 is well built but styling is just not that exciting. I like that the 7 sp transmission has upped the gas mileage above the others . Older models had poor MPG.

Any thoughts on what I should buy? Normally I keep a car until death do we part. And I like to work on them myself.
 
obviously there is not a loser in the group. Personally I love the Max; and be prepared to feed it premium. 2nd choice would be the TL.

have you have interest in a convert? or an audi?
 
Do you have any student loans or debt? How much money are you earning? How secure is your job?
 
All the cars in your range are crammed with high tech stuff. Not a lot of DIY opportunities besides basic maintenance.

With the high end brands, you get a better warranty, better dealer service, and usually better resale value, none of which seem to matter to you. So it comes down to, is there a car you like from a luxury brand?

Might as well add Lexus ES350, Audi A4 3.2, Volvo S60/S80, Mercedes C-class, Cadillac CTS to your list.
 
Acura RL/Maxima/Infinity/Honda V-6 EX-LX NAV (handling is outstanding!)


I do like the BMW 535i x-drive and yea...it's not cheap...nor is an E-500 Benz.
 
have you have interest in a convert? or an audi? [/quote]

No interest in convertible. I wonder whether Audi are as durable as others. It still is a VW at the end of the day.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Do you have any student loans or debt? How much money are you earning? How secure is your job?


No debt. I am frugal. My first car was a 10 year old 65 mustang. 45 years after it was built, I am on my fourth car (not counting wife's cars) and might keep the 02 maxima for awhile except my daughter says I owe her a car cuz the older one got one too. Job is not that secure but am in my early fifties and have enough money to retire.
 
Originally Posted By: bretfraz

Might as well add Lexus ES350, Audi A4 3.2, Volvo S60/S80, Mercedes C-class, Cadillac CTS to your list.


Volvo reliability/durability seems hit or miss. Some people have problems with keeping the A/c going and other nagging things. Wife has a thing against Cadillac's. Used Mercedes are interesting - resale is poor so may be good value. Probably should price out Lexus to check out the cost/value.
 
You H A V E to look at the Caddy CTS! or the Buick Lacrosse or the Buick Lucerne. With Onstar you will have your car stats emailed to you monthly if you like. (tire pressures, oil life, etc...)
 
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
You H A V E to look at the Caddy CTS! or the Buick Lacrosse or the Buick Lucerne. With Onstar you will have your car stats emailed to you monthly if you like. (tire pressures, oil life, etc...)


Can you turn off the Onstar spy except for an automatic emergency call in case of a crash?
 
Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
You H A V E to look at the Caddy CTS! or the Buick Lacrosse or the Buick Lucerne. With Onstar you will have your car stats emailed to you monthly if you like. (tire pressures, oil life, etc...)


Can you turn off the Onstar spy except for an automatic emergency call in case of a crash?


Good question, I will find out for you. My sister in law is an 8th level engineer at GM and I work at GM as well as the Chief of the Emergency Response Team / International UAW Health & Safety Rep..

I am interested in this question as well since I just bought my first auto with Onstar.
 
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IS 250 is probably worth a look. Avalon is a modern interpretation of Dad's Buick. Actually I think modern Nissan's are what Oldsmobiles would've/should've looked like if they still made them.
 
Toyota Avalon. I would not buy a domestic.Buick? LOL

Motor Trend Magazine says about Detroit in an article introducing the new Buick Regal (which is engineered in Europe not in Detroit):

'... Detroit mindset that believed American automakers could get away with foisting outclassed machinery on American consumers too patriotic -- or dimwitted -- to buy an import brand.'

'First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal' at http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_1004_2011_buick_regal_drive/index.html

Avalon and Buick similar? You can say that Avalon is a modern interpretation of a horse carriage, yes it is. But not of dad's Buick.Buicks have never been that interesting to enthusiasts.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Burt
Quote:
have you have interest in a convert? or an audi?


No interest in convertible. I wonder whether Audi are as durable as others. It still is a VW at the end of the day.


if an audi is a vw, then don't forget that a Lexus is just a Toyota, an Acura is just a Honda, and an Infiniti is just a Nissan.

The only one of those three that I get a feel of a real value proposition and enhancement over the basic manufacturer is Lexus.

If I wanted a nice sedan and didn't want a euro maker, I'd only go Lexus. I'd look at a Lexus is if I were you...
 
Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
You H A V E to look at the Caddy CTS! or the Buick Lacrosse or the Buick Lucerne. With Onstar you will have your car stats emailed to you monthly if you like. (tire pressures, oil life, etc...)


Can you turn off the Onstar spy except for an automatic emergency call in case of a crash?

I don't even know if it's completely off when you don't subscribe.

My Buick is equipped for it, but I've never signed up. One day last month a commercial for OnStar came over my stereo! I couldn't turn it off or down, and it lasted a minute or more -- scared the heck out of me. Finally the stereo went back to my station. I have no idea what triggered it -- I wasn't at some even mile marker like 75K.

Personally I don't want somebody knowing what I'm doing in my car. When I decide to dump a body in New Orleans East, I want it to stay a secret.
 
Originally Posted By: Geo_Prizm
Toyota Avalon. I would not buy a domestic.Buick? LOL

Motor Trend Magazine says about Detroit in an article introducing the new Buick Regal (which is engineered in Europe not in Detroit):

'... Detroit mindset that believed American automakers could get away with foisting outclassed machinery on American consumers too patriotic -- or dimwitted -- to buy an import brand.'

'First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal' at http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_1004_2011_buick_regal_drive/index.html

Avalon and Buick similar? You can say that Avalon is a modern interpretation of a horse carriage, yes it is. But not of dad's Buick.Buicks have never been that interesting to enthusiasts.


You obviously have not noticed the change in Buick the last 3 years. The new models are competitive and not like Buicks of the past.
 
Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
You H A V E to look at the Caddy CTS! or the Buick Lacrosse or the Buick Lucerne. With Onstar you will have your car stats emailed to you monthly if you like. (tire pressures, oil life, etc...)


Can you turn off the Onstar spy except for an automatic emergency call in case of a crash?


You have to subscribe to Onstar for the features to work. So for emergency crash notification you have to be subscribed. Even if you are not subscribed, the system is capable and working. You can just hit the Onstar button and it will contact them so yes you can be tracked even w/o it activated/subscribed to. You can unplug the Onstar module for privacy.
 
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