50K for a luxury/sport car or SUV – what to get?! - Page 2

Considering the demographic of SF voters, are you really that surprised?

What are your priorities? Performance? Convertible OK? Does the fuel economy matter? Need a 4-door or lots of interior room? Since this is your commuter car you will wish that you had all wheel drive at least a few days every year. A5 2.0T is a very good choice. It's attractive, has all-wheel-drive, is good on gas and a well equipped Premium Plus model will run about $42K. If you need more power, the A5 3.2V6 model will run a few thousand more but still in your price range. You can even get the A5 convertible model or a carefully optioned Audi S4 under 50K. In your price range, you will be limited to the base V6 model of the Porsche Cayenne, if that matters. The new BMW 5-series is due to be released shortly and the 528i x-drive should be in your price range if you like the looks. The 328 and 335 coupes, which have been around for a couple of years, are both available with x-drive. The 335 is getting a redesigned engine this year as well as higher performance version, the 335is (powered by a revised version of the older twin turbo V6). Historically, German new model cars and engines have more issues in the first model year, so if reliability is of utmost importance to you may wish to wait until the second model year to give manufacturers the chance to work out the kinks.

The Cayenne, except the rumors are that the next-gen Cayenne is a soft-roader: it won't be as nearly competent off-road as the current one. More like the Lexus RX, BMW X, Honda CRV, etc.

--Andre

-1 to the Q5. +1 to A5 and whatever BMW would fit price range

If not passionate about cars but want safe/reliable/comfortable <$50K daily transport and had to deal w/NYC's nasty potholes and crappy parking garages, would $0-down, 2-yr lease a Mercedes C300 4Matic and just 2-yr lease another new Merc at conclusion of lease....sort of like getting new iPhones or Blackberries algorithmically...just another obsoleting tech device

Choose a reputed, convenient dealer so will have easy access to loaner cars for (likely) just a couple of oil changes during one's use of car...and better service if have any warranty-covered glitches (latest new MBs are arguably some of most reliable cars on planet today)

Do you drive in to the city at all? I don't imagine having an SUV is the optimal choice there...

Here's what I would look at, and I'd recommend going the CPO route:

Audi @ your price point of 50K = 2007 A8L, 2009 Q7, 2007 S6 (and then of course newer A6s and A4s and S4s)

BMW: 2007 M6, 2008 M3, 2007 750 (ugly IMO, but within your range and it is a lot of car for the price) and 2009 335s are around 50k now.

2007 Quattroportes are around 50k but read up on their trannys I think they had some issues

MB: 2007 S550 (caution on airmatic malfunctions though), ML350 (07,08 or 09), 2009 E350 4matic (good AWD in the snow, last year of W211 chassis..fantastic deals. Its underpowered IMO, but the ride is amazing). or a 2006 CLS55.

Lexus: The only Lexus I would get is the 400H. The last I heard there was a waiting list but I don't know if that is still true.

I like them. They are a great improvement over the previous CLK that it replaces. Looks sharp, and within the price range you want.

Your car is only as nice as where you park it. Do you really want a car you have to worry about?

Do you plan to purchase or lease? German cars should be leased, they're just a headache after the warranty runs out (and sometimes before).

Sensible new car would be infiniti G37x sedan (17" wheels/tires are much more pothole friendly).

They look pretty good, IMHO. They are new so reliability is unknown, though the drivetrain - engine and transmission, have been around for a few years and are well regarded. The MB coupes are rear wheel drive though. Not sure if they plan on making the 4matic versions any time soon. While the E350 V6 coupe is under $50K, the E550 V8 coupe also starts at about $55k. If I was looking for some RWD fun in that price range I would also look at the C63 AMG. Why don't you test drive some of these cars and see what speaks to you? Maybe A5 3.2, the S5, 335xi coupe and the E350 coupe. If you are leasing, the BMW currently has the most favorable lease terms.

I would recommend a one or two year old Mercedes GL450 SUV. It has won several awards and is considered the best in its class.

For 50k you can get the last of the air-cooled 911's (993) from '95-98. Raw, lots of fun and I considered it but :

1) Best as a manual. You really want to fight Holland/Lincoln tunnel/GWB daily on a manual?
2) Reliability in a greater than 10 y.o. car for a DD can be straining. At least you have other cars while this is in the shop. For me it had to be the only car.
3) Maintenance & repairs.

The 996 bears little appeal to me. The 997s are generally still a little over 50k.

I agree they are nice, but I'd wait for the new engine coming soon.
Should be a great improvement over the current NA offering. The current engine is fine, it'll be somewhat of an odd duck a couple of years down the road being the only N/A W212

^^^Good point, I agree.

How about a nice Jeep