$30K+ on new car.

Looking to spend approximately $30-35K on a new sedan. I have a few cars in mind and would like the board's opinion. I am looking to buy, not lease as I do too many miles. Here's the list:

Acura TL
BMW 325
Infiniti G35
Volkswagen Passat 3.6

Thanks!

PS-how are the newer rear-wheel drive cars in the snow such as the 325 and G35, assuming they had dedicated snow tires (Blizzaks, etc.)?

 

325xi is AWD and costs around what you are wanting to spend

http://byo.bmwusa.com/configurator/config/frameset.asp?Acode=XAB60BMC142A0 here you can play around. I have been playing around with this thing a lot lately

 

I just perused the Acura site and if the TL is just a more sophisticated TSX(which I've seen and liked), I'd say go with the TL. The G35 with the extra 2 doors just doesnt seem attractive to me. The rest, well, nah.

 

Go with the TL.

 

Don't really want an AWD car unless I lived in the snowbelt.

Thinking 325 with sport and cold weather packages....

 

TSX for '06 is supposed to be really nice. More equipment, Bluetooth, memory seats, etc. Supposed to be the best handling FWD vehicle available.

Not at dealers yet.....

 

Volvo V60 (possibly V60R if you get lucky). I just love Volvos and not everyone has one like a BMW.

 

Subaru Legacy GT Spec-B. Plenty quick, plus it's all-wheel drive. If you can find one, should be about $34k. Has NAV, 5-spd, MP3/CDC, leather, roof, etc. at that price. Or save a few bucks and get a standard Legacy GT.

 

unless you can swing for a 330 over the weak-sauce 325, acura TL all the way. G35 coupe looks nice but the sedan just look weird.

 

TL easily in that list.

I wonder if one can get a used CTS-V for that price. That would be a steal.

 

G35....RWD and the most fun.
TL, Passat FWD....blah

 

What about an Audi A4 2.0T? Six speed manual or automatic, all wheel drive. Great looking

 

Have you thought about the new Lexus IS250 or IS350?

The IS350 (RWD) starts at just under $36k, and the IS250 (AWD) starts just under $35k... Something to possibly look into.

Here was the website: http://thenewis.com/

Good luck with your search!

 

Man I was just going to say the same thing, New Lexus IS350 awsome and toyota reliability, 306HP and they look great also, check them out.

 

Damn, I forgot about that. Definitely the best choice.

 

I would bet that it would be near 50 with the features of the Acura.

 

thanks for your input. not a big fan of turbos as a daily driver so subaru/audi are not top of list. lexus is nice but i've read that they cannot be driven hard without the computers taking over-very intrusive. I think that all of us on this site love driving and I don't think I want a computer cutting in on the fun. don't think the lexus stability system can be switched off. I'm surprised that no one has made a case for the rwd 325. carefully optioned they can be had for less than $35k but how is the quality?

 

I live in Westchester and just bought the G35x, which is the awd model. Just about anywhere in Westchester has the potential to get blasted in the winter, so the awd is pretty nice. I don't think you really lose much, if any, performance between the G35 and the G35x.

 

How has the gas mileage been? Guy here at work has one and his gripe is that it is a gas pig. Other than that he loves the car. Did you pick it up at Pepe?

 

sounds like ya want the bimmer...i say wait till next years comes out and buy it, I wouldnt want to worry about a 1st year car..

 

i have drive the the tl, which is practical but not fun to drive at all...too much torque steer, sloppy handling and shifting and actually the new car idrove had a few squeeks and rattles..the g35x was fun to drive, but a little unrefined ride and cheap interior material and cheap feeling doors...the new passat is nice and refined, but lacking in sportiness and you have the questionable vw reliablity...the lexus new 350 is fast, quiiet and nice inside, but it could have more road and steering feel...the winner is the 325i, great chassis, nice 6speed, great steering feel, nice seats and very good on backroads and the highway...with snow tires, rwd should be ok, other wise get the xi, or for 5-6k, you get a 2000 blazer or explorer for the bad weather not get your nice car salted and snowed all over

 

I went to Pepe, and I was going to buy one there, but I got a good deal from a dealership on LI. I dont have any complaints about Pepe though. I dont think that it's a guzzler, but it's not a prius either. It probably gets around 17-18 city, and about 24-25 on the highway. Thus far I have no real complaints.

 

I was rather 'judgmental' concerning the 325 until I discovered the fact that they are faster in many cases then the last gen 330s! Then I respected the little bugger.

 

G35...it has the performance of a Z car with the luxury of an Infiniti plus a small back seat. I drove one the other day and was impressed. The dealer also told me if I bought one I could get my name on the list for the new 450+hp "Skyline" that will come to the states badged as an Infiniti... While I have been looking at replacing my e39 M5 with a new e60 M5, the new Skyline looks mighty good too.http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/spyphotoid/6051014.001

 

Last month's Car and Driver had a short test on the 325 and they were raving about it-good performance and gas mileage, good value if you don't go nuts with the options. I'm looking at a base model with cold weather and sport package. Don't need leather, idrive, navigation or "comfort access" bs.

TL is great value for the $-I like it but wife thinks it is ugly. I owned an Accord once and it was the easily the best car I ever owned. Put 242K miles on it and got rid of it 'cause I was bored-it still ran like a top.

Wife thinks the TSX is better looking. She also likes the G35 so that is in the running. Went to dealer on Saturday and wife still loves the solid thunk a German car makes when you close the door.

I want to like the Passat, but too many quality/dealer service horror stories are pushing me away.

I must tell all of you that I still love driving my late dad's car, a 1987 Alfa Milano. Of all the cars I'm looking at, the one that is closet to the Alfa is the BMW. Maybe that explains my bias. If the Lexus IS had defeatable stability controls that car would probably jump to the top of the list. 306hp? Nice but not if I can't go charging up on ramps without HAL telling me what to do...

I have an "04 Tahoe for the serious winter stuff......