I kind of like the Cadillac CTS, however...

[mwmorph]

I'm pretty sure he can find an E60 M5 in the low 30's.

Which is the easiest oil change you'll ever do by yourself. Open fill cap and dipstick, pump out old oil from dipstick hole, dump new oil in, close cap. Drive.

How do you reset the alert? When I asked about it a few years ago everyone just said it either can't be done or that I should buy the STAR service DVD for $800.

 

[mwmorph]

I'm pretty sure he can find an E60 M5 in the low 30's.

Which is the easiest oil change you'll ever do by yourself. Open fill cap and dipstick, pump out old oil from dipstick hole, dump new oil in, close cap. Drive.

How do you reset the alert? When I asked about it a few years ago on MBworld or something like that everyone just said it either can't be done or that I should buy the STAR service DVD for $800.

 

[ballmode]

hyundai genesis or a 300C ring a bell for me

if you wanna pony up for baller status get the LS430 or GS if you want.

I don't think you can have it all in the segment:

Reliable, easy on gas, luxury, sporty, cheap to fix

 

[nerp]

Easy. 2012 Charger SXT with the 8-speed. 31+ mpg highway, performance like that of the previous gen v8 r/t. Drive one, please.

 

[Doppel]

I don't like the looks of the new Maxima at all.

I think good chances that a year from now the 2014 Maxima would be redesigned...

 

[sdifox]

I'm not sure which model or year you have some crazy method to do this. AFIAK, Mercedes uses some vaccum machine to do the change by sucking the oil out of a tube.

you can still drain from the bottom if you are so inclined. Home garage fluid vaccum is under 100 anyway. It is definitely less messy.

 

[hoorah]

I'm sort of in the same boat as you. I've been looking at the CTS (and the CTS-V). I want something sporty, nice, and 4 door (as I also have a kid), but not something I'm going to have to wrench on every weekend.

I have a BMW 330Ci right now, which I like, but the thought of owning another German car makes me feel a bit annoyed. Dont want to have to tinker with the thing.

Have you looked at the ATS yet? Its supposed to be coming out at the end of this year. While it won't be used, it will be smaller and hopefully cheaper than the CTS so its something to think about. I have my eye on it but its far from guaranteed. Also, ATS is supposed to be an American E46 that gets something like 33MPG highway with a 2.0L turbo with a 6 speed manual and I like the idea of that.

 

[Ferzerp]

When I see the word "sporty" I always substitute "that lets me pretend my family sedan is a sports car" directly in to the sentence. :twisted:

 

[sdifox]

How do you reset the alert? When I asked about it a few years ago on MBworld or something like that everyone just said it either can't be done or that I should buy the STAR service DVD for $800.

you should join http://mbworld.org/

you don't need the star service dvd to reset counter.

First you key on #1 position. Then you go to MPH display in the cluster.

Press trip odometer knob three times (QUICK) and voltage will appear on display.

Then you select service menu using + or -. Then the Service Indicator Displays Items Press the menu systems button until the MPH display appears.

I don't get why you got the cannot be done answer...

 

[Sidekicknichola]

FWIW I love love love my IS350.

I had an IS250 before (sold it with 100k) and my current IS350 has 75k and I haven't had a single issue with either car.

If I am easy on the gas I get 34 mpgs on the highway, 28mpgs doing 75-80 mph on the interstate, and 25 mpgs doing city driving.

Its a pretty zippy car, lot of fun to drive, tons of creature comforts, and looks great (at least to me).

Cons: Backseat is small - 3 adults is comfortable, 4 is tight trying to sit someone behind me. Rear seats do not fold down, just an access panel to the trunk. High compression so premium gasoline is required.

Very safe car too, I'm sure the others are, but if kids are involved usually that is #1

 

[foghorn67]

FWIW I love love love my IS350.

I had an IS250 before (sold it with 100k) and my current IS350 has 75k and I haven't had a single issue with either car.

If I am easy on the gas I get 34 mpgs on the highway, 28mpgs doing 75-80 mph on the interstate, and 25 mpgs doing city driving.

Its a pretty zippy car, lot of fun to drive, tons of creature comforts, and looks great (at least to me).

Cons: Backseat is small - 3 adults is comfortable, 4 is tight trying to sit someone behind me. Rear seats do not fold down, just an access panel to the trunk. High compression so premium gasoline is required.

Very safe car too, I'm sure the others are, but if kids are involved usually that is #1

I'm 5-11 with wide shoulders. I feel cramped in an IS. I considered buying one, but had to take it off the list because of this. Just too cozy for my taste.

 

[DietDrThunder]

We have a 2009 CTS that we bought new, and we really like this car. We opted for the 305hp V6 over the CTS-V as well. Our roads are crap, and we did have a few rattle issues, but I made sure the dealership took care of all rattles before the 3 years was up on the warranty. And this was not really a big deal since the dealership is very generous about giving us loaner cars (one loaner was a $70K+ Escalade). I'm sure we would not have had as many rattle issues if we didn't buy it with the same sport suspension package the CTS-V has, but I do like the way it handles.

We like the CTS so much that we are looking for a good, low mileage 2003 to 2006 CTS for our daughter to drive when she turns 16. I'm really surprized at how many 50,000 to 80,000 mile CTS's can be had for around $10k.

 

[evident]

FWIW I love love love my IS350.

I had an IS250 before (sold it with 100k) and my current IS350 has 75k and I haven't had a single issue with either car.

If I am easy on the gas I get 34 mpgs on the highway, 28mpgs doing 75-80 mph on the interstate, and 25 mpgs doing city driving.

Its a pretty zippy car, lot of fun to drive, tons of creature comforts, and looks great (at least to me).

Cons: Backseat is small - 3 adults is comfortable, 4 is tight trying to sit someone behind me. Rear seats do not fold down, just an access panel to the trunk. High compression so premium gasoline is required.

Very safe car too, I'm sure the others are, but if kids are involved usually that is #1

his wife has an IS250 already. Dont think he would want matching cars.


i rented a CTS for a 10 hour road trip and while it was a decent and fun car to ride, i noticed some cheapy parts and plastics in certain places, like behind the front driver and passenger seats. I also noticed some rattles, but overall it was a decent rental

 

[Howard]

We have a 2009 CTS that we bought new, and we really like this car. We opted for the 305hp V6 over the CTS-V as well. Our roads are crap, and we did have a few rattle issues, but I made sure the dealership took care of all rattles before the 3 years was up on the warranty. And this was not really a big deal since the dealership is very generous about giving us loaner cars (one loaner was a $70K+ Escalade). I'm sure we would not have had as many rattle issues if we didn't buy it with the same sport suspension package the CTS-V has, but I do like the way it handles.

We like the CTS so much that we are looking for a good, low mileage 2003 to 2006 CTS for our daughter to drive when she turns 16. I'm really surprized at how many 50,000 to 80,000 mile CTS's can be had for around $10k.

I've never driven a 2nd-gen CTS but I think they are a huge improvement over the 1st-gen. I wouldn't recommend the stick shift, and the automatic is not bulletproof.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Check out the Buick LaCrosse, its an all around nice car.

It's not a bad looking car... but it's a Buick.

 

[Sidekicknichola]

his wife has an IS250 already. Dont think he would want matching cars.

My fiance drives my old IS250 ( and I drive a IS350 now... mine is RWD so in the winter I take the IS250 (awd) and she drives a Tahoe. It is really nice to be able to switch up cars and know that I'll like driving it... everything is right where I remember it being

 

[JulesMaximus]

My fiance drives my old IS250 ( and I drive a IS350 now... mine is RWD so in the winter I take the IS250 (awd) and she drives a Tahoe. It is really nice to be able to switch up cars and know that I'll like driving it... everything is right where I remember it being

It's too small really. I like the IS but it is just too small.

At least with my car I can fold down the rear seats and stuff my road bike in it without going through the hassle of putting the roof rack on it. Or we can load it up and go away for the weekend.

I don't want an SUV but I don't want a small sedan either. Actually, a small car with a usable rear hatch like a hatchback would be fine.

 

[sdifox]

It's too small really. I like the IS but it is just too small.

At least with my car I can fold down the rear seats and stuff my road bike in it without going through the hassle of putting the roof rack on it. Or we can load it up and go away for the weekend.

I don't want an SUV but I don't want a small sedan either. Actually, a small car with a usable rear hatch like a hatchback would be fine.

MB E63 Wagon is the answer :whiste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWtjjg40mVo

or CTS-V Wagon

 

[exar333]

It's too small really. I like the IS but it is just too small.

At least with my car I can fold down the rear seats and stuff my road bike in it without going through the hassle of putting the roof rack on it. Or we can load it up and go away for the weekend.

I don't want an SUV but I don't want a small sedan either. Actually, a small car with a usable rear hatch like a hatchback would be fine.

The IS is decent to drive, but you are right that the back has ZERO room. My WRX has more legroom in the back. I sat in a IS250 once in the back, it was NOT comfortable, even for just a couple miles.

Did a quick check: 30.6'' in rear legroom in a 2008 IS250; that is less than the standard 31'' in a crappy coach airline seat.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I don't want an SUV but I don't want a small sedan either. Actually, a small car with a usable rear hatch like a hatchback would be fine.

Focus ST is your answer - if you chose to shift it yourself.

Elantra Touring 5dr will be out soon - the luxo features on those are quite nice although down on HP

The New B-Class Mercedes hatch or A3 TDI would also be excellent choices.

 

[robphelan]

keep an eye on ecarone.com in dallas - they have really good prices on pre-owned luxury cars. it may be worth the price of an airline ticket.