Used sporty luxury auto under $15Gs

[lv2xlr8]

I've been making a lot of car threads lately lol. Over the next probably 6 months-ish I'm looking for a car to replace the Galant. I've been looking at the A4, A6, 3 series sedan/coupe, acura CL and TL.

Requirements:

At least 200 HP
Not FWD
Automatic I know laugh it up, I'm from America
2001 or newer
Less than 75,000 miles

The only issue I'm having with the Audi and BMW is the reliability. Some people have zero problems while others say the car is at the mechanics every month.

Please throw out some ideas!

[awdrifter]

The CL and TL are FWD. Another choice would be a G35, I've seen some 2003 G35 sedan with 50k miles going for $17k or so. It's RWD and has 260hp stock. So you might want to also consider that.

[prizrak]

I second the G35 idea.

I can only speak about the Audi's since I own one.
Issue with A6 is that you won't find an A6 under 15G from 2001 and the base model while has over 200hp is not all that quick due to weight. A4 is 170HP unless you get a V6, however from what I hear the V6 is not as good of an engine as the I4 Turbo and are difficult to find. Also the V6 due to its "rarity" is a bit on the pricier side.

I suspect BMW would be somewhat similar. Also in my experience the 325 model isn't as fast as my A4 so you might want to stay away from that

[lv2xlr8]

I don't really like the the interior of G35 and I heard they have reliability issues as well. In terms of performance its amazing.

I actually did find a A6 4.2 V8 under 15Gs but I unfortunately don't have all the money right now.

[CrazyRussian540]

If you didn't have the 2001 and up limitation, I would've recommended the 95 Audi S6.

But if you want 2001 or newer... You could probably find an E39 530i for around 15k.

[vegasrebel29]

Cadillac CTS (pr CTS-V)?
I don't know that they're quite as sporty as the others,
but perhaps you have the bug too.

Also, a price limit would help with external choices.

[luvcars]

I'd probably go for the A4. 2nd choice would be the A6 or one of the Acuras! An Infiniti would be nice

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by lv2xlr8

I've been making a lot of car threads lately lol. Over the next probably 6 months-ish I'm looking for a car to replace the Galant. I've been looking at the A4, A6, 3 series sedan/coupe, acura CL and TL.

Requirements:

At least 200 HP
Not FWD
Automatic I know laugh it up, I'm from America
2001 or newer
Less than 75,000 miles

The only issue I'm having with the Audi and BMW is the reliability. Some people have zero problems while others say the car is at the mechanics every month.

Please throw out some ideas!

BMW 330i sedan should do the job. Coupe version is always a bit pricy, unless you can find a good deal.

And my beemer seems to be pretty reliable, apart from the computer box that had to be replaced. That was the only thing went wrong in the car, motorplan FTW.

[mautzel]

Go for the 3 Series if FWD is such an issue for you. (Are all US-Audis Quattro models?)

[lv2xlr8]

Originally Posted by vegasrebel29

Cadillac CTS (pr CTS-V)?
I don't know that they're quite as sporty as the others,
but perhaps you have the bug too.

Also, a price limit would help with external choices.

Eh, rather not have a car engineered in America. Even though some of the cars on my list are made in America. The price limit is under 15Gs

Originally Posted by luvcars

I'd probably go for the A4. 2nd choice would be the A6 or one of the Acuras! An Infiniti would be nice

The A4 seems more practical with the quattro and the beautiful interior and nice looks. But damn when I hear those G35s, that exhaust note is like porn but I think they're out of reach for me.

Originally Posted by MadCow809

BMW 330i sedan should do the job. Coupe version is always a bit pricy, unless you can find a good deal.

And my beemer seems to be pretty reliable, apart from the computer box that had to be replaced. That was the only thing went wrong in the car, motorplan FTW.

Have you ever driven a 325i? They're rated at I believe 184HP but every review I read says they are sporty and the handling is excellent. The 330i or Ci would be nice. Was your motorplan from BMW or a 3rd party?

Originally Posted by mautzel

Go for the 3 Series if FWD is such an issue for you. (Are all US-Audis Quattro models?)

It's not such an issue, I just want to try something different. The 2 cars I've driven are sooo bland. Some US Audis are actually FWD.

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by mautzel

Go for the 3 Series if FWD is such an issue for you. (Are all US-Audis Quattro models?)

I believe the A3 comes as an FWD base model. A4 and above I think are all Quattro but I'm not sure. At the very least I have yet to see anything A4+ w/o the Quattro badge here.

Here is an easy way to decide. Go test drive all of them and see what you like better I would suggest staying away from anything coupe because that is just a huge red flag for the insurance company. I would have to pay twice as much in insurance (liability only) if I got a STOCK 240SX as I do for the A4 with full coverage.

[awdrifter]

Nissan's reliability is not bad, so I can't imagine Infiniti would be worse since they are the luxury/high end brand. My uncle has owned two Nissan Maximas and they were both reliable. BMW's mechanical stuff are not bad, but their little problems are annoying, and replacement parts are generally more expensive. Another car I would suggest is the Lexus IS300. They have 220hp stock, 2JZGE engine. That engine is practically bulletproof. So it should be cheap to own.

This is probably over your target price, but the previous gen Infiniti M45 would also be a pretty good car. It has a 330hp V8, it's RWD, and it's pretty luxurious inside.

[MattD1zzl3]

BMW 3 series, a bit boring, but a fantastic car. General motors makes its automatic transmissions for them

[lv2xlr8]

Originally Posted by MattD1zzl3

BMW 3 series, a bit boring, but a fantastic car. General motors makes its automatic transmissions for them

Yeah I see 3 series' everywhere and that is why I'm a little hesitant but I hear they drive great.

Originally Posted by prizrak

I would suggest staying away from anything coupe because that is just a huge red flag for the insurance company. I would have to pay twice as much in insurance (liability only) if I got a STOCK 240SX as I do for the A4 with full coverage.

Yeah especially since I'll be 19 when I buy the car.

Originally Posted by awdrifter

Nissan's reliability is not bad, so I can't imagine Infiniti would be worse since they are the luxury/high end brand. My uncle has owned two Nissan Maximas and they were both reliable. BMW's mechanical stuff are not bad, but their little problems are annoying, and replacement parts are generally more expensive. Another car I would suggest is the Lexus IS300. They have 220hp stock, 2JZGE engine. That engine is practically bulletproof. So it should be cheap to own.

This is probably over your target price, but the previous gen Infiniti M45 would also be a pretty good car. It has a 330hp V8, it's RWD, and it's pretty luxurious inside.

The new M45 would be great lol but the damn G35 is hard to find. I'm again looking for the coupe if i get a G35 but they are all near 20thou and too much. I wouldn't want to buy a G35 sedan first gen because then I'd rather have a 3series because its got a much nicer interior and better handling probably.

[Crazyjeeper]

I voted for a 3-series sedan. There is a 330i and a 328i (both old) at work, and everytime I walk past them, I can't help but notice how great they look, and I bet they are a hoot to drive.

[_HighVoltage_]

Originally Posted by CrazyRussian540

But if you want 2001 or newer... You could probably find an E39 530i for around 15k.

+1. I think you'll be better off with a 5 series than a 3 series.

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by lv2xlr8

Have you ever driven a 325i? They're rated at I believe 184HP but every review I read says they are sporty and the handling is excellent. The 330i or Ci would be nice. Was your motorplan from BMW or a 3rd party?

Motorplan is from BMW themselves, I dont trust 3rde party motorplans, lots of potential hassles and problems.

And yes I've driven a few 325i, while the newer ones are pushing around 215bhp or so, the older ones will still feel quite sporty, considering you are driving a luxury saloon and not a purpose built sportscar. The car is nicely balanced in terms of weight distribution, it will do better with a LSD but thats not really necessary with a < 250bhp RWD car.

What you have to remember is, 325i are not exactly fast on the straights. In fact, I dont think any luxury cars under $15K with an auto gearbox will be fast on the straight, but the beemer just feels so much better around the corners. And try go for the steptronic models, as you can override the gearchanges under manual mode.

Instead of taking my word for it, go try a 325i out, you will be amazed on how nice the chassis really is, its really good to drive and will definetely put a smile on your face if you enjoy driving.

You might also want to look at the 328i or even the 330i, I'm sure you can find a few good deals on these cars, 330i is the one I would go for, that or maybe the E39 535i/540i. The 535i has a 3.5litre V8, 250bhp or so (cant remember the exact figure), but the 540i has a nice beefy 4.4litre V8 and pushes out 290hp. A real sleeper and a great looking car IMO. Cant go wrong with the E39 series.

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by awdrifter

Nissan's reliability is not bad, so I can't imagine Infiniti would be worse since they are the luxury/high end brand. My uncle has owned two Nissan Maximas and they were both reliable. BMW's mechanical stuff are not bad, but their little problems are annoying, and replacement parts are generally more expensive. Another car I would suggest is the Lexus IS300. They have 220hp stock, 2JZGE engine. That engine is practically bulletproof. So it should be cheap to own.

This is probably over your target price, but the previous gen Infiniti M45 would also be a pretty good car. It has a 330hp V8, it's RWD, and it's pretty luxurious inside.

+1 for the Lex. Not the biggest fan of those cars, but you should be able to find one in your price range and being a Toyota they are insanely reliable.

[deltableh]

I have to admit, being an American is no excuse for not knowing how to drive stick. It's not to hard to learn either. Get an A4 with a 5-speed.

[JakeRadden]

Well then, want to teach me?
I would learn but my family all drives autos and none of my friends have a manual...
I do, however, intend to get a manual when I do buy myself a car.

EDIT: This is actually almost exactly the same types of vehicles I'm looking into when I buy a used car (Within the next 2 years)... Personally, I'd try to find a four-door G35 or a 5-series BMW. Anyone know what the insurance would be like on one of those? (In the US)