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What Entry Level Luxury Cars should I get, help me pick!
- Thread starter carbonmotion
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Why don't you test-drive all of them and decide based for yourself?
Anyway, I can tell you than no car handles like A4. Quattro rules, everything else (with the exception of Subaru) are just pale imitations. Unfortunately, the latest A4 looks ugly with that new front job.
In terms of general driving experience, BMW 3series is probably the best if you live in California but if you ever have to drive in the snow, good luck with RWD. BMW X-drive AWD system is just not up to par with Audi or Subaru.
So, I would say the only real contenders are Audi or BMW. Every other car in that class/price range is just a pretender in terms of driving experience.
Anyway, I can tell you than no car handles like A4. Quattro rules, everything else (with the exception of Subaru) are just pale imitations. Unfortunately, the latest A4 looks ugly with that new front job.
In terms of general driving experience, BMW 3series is probably the best if you live in California but if you ever have to drive in the snow, good luck with RWD. BMW X-drive AWD system is just not up to par with Audi or Subaru.
So, I would say the only real contenders are Audi or BMW. Every other car in that class/price range is just a pretender in terms of driving experience.
Audis are known for their fantastic quality - my dad's A4 1.8T quattro is fantastic (quality and handling way above par).
BMW also a good choice.
Lexus...
They're just glorified Toyota's afterall...... Audis are known for their fantastic quality - my dad's A4 1.8T quattro is fantastic (quality and handling way above par).
BMW also a good choice.
Lexus...
Audis are glorified Volkswagens. Not saying that's a bad thing, because I absolutely LOVE Audis and do plan on buying an A4 sometime after I graduate college. But if that's your only reasoning against buying a Lexus, then it's a poor one.
Not nearly as prevalent these days. See old and new, respectively:
After your 1st post about American luxury cars, I thought you were joking. A Crown Victoria!!?
Now......I'm not so sure.
The current S4 is sensational...the A4 is OK but a bit heavy and uselessly small in the back - very nice transmission if you get the manual though.
lexus IS 350... thread closed
i was in a similar situation. I really wanted the 04 lexus IS but my parents didn't like it. They thought it was too small. So they upped the ante and got me an ES 330. Well it isn't a young persons car, i love it. Its roomy for all my friends. I love the mark levension audio and lexus has the BEST navi. The ride is smoother which i like for long trip (back and forth from school) In 2008/9 i want to trade it in when i graduate and get a GS hybrid
Also consider the the RX350 if u need an SVU, my bro's got one and he loves it as well as i do.
i was in a similar situation. I really wanted the 04 lexus IS but my parents didn't like it. They thought it was too small. So they upped the ante and got me an ES 330. Well it isn't a young persons car, i love it. Its roomy for all my friends. I love the mark levension audio and lexus has the BEST navi. The ride is smoother which i like for long trip (back and forth from school) In 2008/9 i want to trade it in when i graduate and get a GS hybrid
Also consider the the RX350 if u need an SVU, my bro's got one and he loves it as well as i do.
My friend recommended the Acura, we went to a dealer today ( i know its early ) and the car looked absolutely beautiful with lost of corners like a stealth fighter. its like a is250 but more masculine and understated. the interior is pretty nice too with th brushed alum. what do you think? TSX tada!
but i also heard they weren't sellign for some reason... my other friend said it was a really asian car... i am asian, so i don't wanna be caught driving a stereoypical car
but i also heard they weren't sellign for some reason... my other friend said it was a really asian car... i am asian, so i don't wanna be caught driving a stereoypical car
I just stumbled upon this thread like a drunk man at a bar....
Didn't the OP say he's not getting a car until 10/2008? That's almost 2 years away! Certainly (one would think) one's taste would change over that time or perhaps your priorities. Hell, I'm sure most of the cars here will be redesigned some way or another or there will be a different car that catches your eye.
In short, this question doesn't have any relevance until you are close to making the purchase (ie 2 months before hand). But thats just my $.04 (i'm no longer explaining this joke)
Didn't the OP say he's not getting a car until 10/2008? That's almost 2 years away! Certainly (one would think) one's taste would change over that time or perhaps your priorities. Hell, I'm sure most of the cars here will be redesigned some way or another or there will be a different car that catches your eye.
In short, this question doesn't have any relevance until you are close to making the purchase (ie 2 months before hand). But thats just my $.04 (i'm no longer explaining this joke)
Uselessly small? I have a Hyundai Tiburon right now....a sardine can would be more useful for storage than my car's backseat
The A4, even with a small backseat, would be an upgrade But yeah, I'm planning on an A4 quattro with a 6 speed manual. Granted, that's a couple years away, once I get settled into a job and make a dent in my student loan debt. And in those 2 years, Audi could change something, so who knows what I'll really end up with, but if I had to make the decision now, definitely A4. I'd love an S4, but unless I get one hell of a job, I wouldn't be able to afford it.
The A5, from the few photos Audi has released, looks amazing. But I'm just not quite sure if I want another 2 door. I love coupes, but for practicality reasons and all.
When I read your OP, I was going to recommend the TSX instead. My BMW-obsessed uncle (has owned over four in the last decade, currently owns two) got the TSX when it was first released. It's a sweet ride (but his is manual). TSXs got fantastic reviews by car and business magazines. Did you test drive it??? Do it.
As for it being an 'Asian' car, I'm sorry, that's one of the lamest reasons I've heard for not wanting something that would otherwise fulfill every other criterion. If you honestly meant that, then you should reconsider buying any of these cars as you would inevitably come across someone who thinks poorly of your decision thereby causing you to experience buyer's remorse.
And a couple of people have mentioned Cooper Ss. Great car, still got kinks to iron out though. If I hadn't needed a car at that point, I would have waited to get mine.
But they're not cheap at all. No way. Not even upfront. Not super expensive, but especially in CA w/ our sales tax? Easily blow past the $30K mark.
Ack yes. I ran into that problem while messing around on the mini site to see how much a mini cooper that i want would cost. Like the OP, I need a car. Unlike the OP, as much as I'd like to ask my mom to buy me the likes of a lotus exige or an aston martin v8 vantage roadster, it's not gonna happen. Oh wait, those aren't entry level cars..sheit.And a couple of people have mentioned Cooper Ss. Great car, still got kinks to iron out though. If I hadn't needed a car at that point, I would have waited to get mine.
The 2007 models seem to own the pants off of all previous models so
I would totally love a mini cooper (go for s or use the difference for accessories and features i want? i dont know im undecided
), and it would take one hell of a car (or well..maybe after a few more test drives i can make up my mind) to make me change my mind about it.
Yes, I know. Thank you for twisting the knife...The 2007 models seem to own the pants off of all previous models so
Screw the BMW salesman trying to act like hes unbiassed. you own shares in Mobil, dont you? americans cars, are for the most part, ****. its that simple. cant powder-coat that one ladies and gents, they're just plain ****. if you want a real car, go european. its that simple. and jesus christ. an american v8!? do you guys even know how to SPELL technology, much less make use of it??
yes audi's and volkswagens share components. volkswagen group owns Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche.
i own a 2003 Passat, which is the "equivelant" model to the A4. Yes i would like an Audi. Yes i will buy an audi, but if you dont have the cash for an audi, a volkswagen will get you something VERY simmilar for significantly less $$.
as for those of you suggesting manual. pfft. manual is 20 years ago. Tiptronic or it's not worth it.
whoa. must be nice to have such worries when the general population, i would assume, doesn't have a choice between 'entry level luxury cars'.
trust me, get a decent car and ask for the rest in a bond or something that will mature in a few years. sounds like your folks have some cash? save the money, use the decent car for a few years and when you're done school, it sounds like you'll have a job where you'll need a mid to high luxury car...ba boom! take out the bond...got the cash.
and i wouldn't worry about what your friends are driving. who cares? if they are making fun of you now, they're not good friends at all.
oh and in terms of the vehicles: we have a lexus 330 and it's a great car so i'm partial to lexus, but the beemers are 'driver's cars'.
and another poster was right, big time insurance costs either way.
best of luck,
keebler
trust me, get a decent car and ask for the rest in a bond or something that will mature in a few years. sounds like your folks have some cash? save the money, use the decent car for a few years and when you're done school, it sounds like you'll have a job where you'll need a mid to high luxury car...ba boom! take out the bond...got the cash.
and i wouldn't worry about what your friends are driving. who cares? if they are making fun of you now, they're not good friends at all.
oh and in terms of the vehicles: we have a lexus 330 and it's a great car so i'm partial to lexus, but the beemers are 'driver's cars'.
and another poster was right, big time insurance costs either way.
best of luck,
keebler
you mean the other way around, as i'm having quite a difficult time talking the parental unit into saying yes to the mini cooper.Yes, I know. Thank you for twisting the knife...
i'd love to have one right now, alas...It doesn't seem like i'd be saving much money buying used or an older model mini cooper, sooooo...
edit: i guess i'm sort of in the same boat as the OP, except its "which car should i get". given everything about how my mom is willing to pay for my car and how she doesn't want to "pay" for anything like insurance, and she's just giving me essentially a lump sum to do all of this with, I'm trying to get a decent average car (or..the mini, which i've been wanting for a long time) and use up the rest of the money to pay insurance/maintenance/repair/miscellaneous related costs for the car for as long as i can. Anything else is out of the question as at the moment I don't have a job to pay for all that stuff if i were to dump the rest of the money into (something...savings, whatever). So it's either buy a good car and **** myself over in every other way, or buy a cheapass car and be unhappy with myself, or sit on the fence with the mini cooper
Sorry, a bit OT but
My parents swore nothing but Japanese for my family and don't even get them started on manual transmissions. But I was able to get them to come 'round. You can lemme talk your parents into buying you my Cooper S. Then I'll gets me an '07. Or better yet, a SMART!
My parents swore nothing but Japanese for my family and don't even get them started on manual transmissions. But I was able to get them to come 'round. You can lemme talk your parents into buying you my Cooper S. Then I'll gets me an '07. Or better yet, a SMART!
Haha my mom will NOOOOT buy used. I tried to get her to buy my friend's 2006 mini cooper s once a few months ago (cause he wanted manual and he was at that point willing to sell the current mini cooper at a loss to get it), she wouldn't have it.
the smart fortwo is adorable but too tiny
i've seen a few around los angeles...not the car for me
WTF?! I thought they weren't being sold 'til '08?! I wants me a SMART. *drool*the smart fortwo is adorable but too tiny
