Wife's car - What to choose for <$50k

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by left123

I second this option for what you seem to want, ie, quality interior, not too big, and still sporty so that when you drive it you'll like it.

The C class is just blah to me. Audi is on a serious roll right now.

With the new one coming out soon you could get the current version for a really good deal if you can hold out til fall.

[Fahrvergnügen]

Originally Posted by left123

I second this option for what you seem to want, ie, quality interior, not too big, and still sporty so that when you drive it you'll like it.

The C class is just blah to me. Audi is on a serious roll right now.

I considered the Audi seriously but the design has just not really changed that much for such a long time. Audi used to have the best interior for the price but I think the C class is like a mini S-class. Also, I feel like I would be paying for AWD with an Audi when I don't really need it.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

I considered the Audi seriously but the design has just not really changed that much for such a long time. Audi used to have the best interior for the price but I think the C class is like a mini S-class. Also, I feel like I would be paying for AWD with an Audi when I don't really need it.

Agree the Benz interiors are really nice, just drove the C450 and was very impressed. Have you driven an Audi with the new virtual cockpit? Took a TTS out a few months ago and I've got to say I was damn impressed. Think it's finally to the point where it's usable tech that makes life easier vs gimmicky bullshit that makes things complicated.

[bailyhill]

Just got a 328 d sportwagen. Wife loves it. You can get lots of bells and whistles. My wife gets 45-50 mpg on the hiway.

As an alternate, X3 d suv. Good room. Not too big. 44 mpg hiway at 63 mph.

Sin_Gas

[Bbb34]

Crazy idea, but have you asked her yet what she would like ?

Consider something a bit different, if you're not bothered by Chinese ownership, which some folks seem to be. Volvo S60, S80 maybe?? Depends what she likes, but I bet she'll love spending time inside either of those.

[CSanto]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

I considered the Audi seriously but the design has just not really changed that much for such a long time. Audi used to have the best interior for the price but I think the C class is like a mini S-class. Also, I feel like I would be paying for AWD with an Audi when I don't really need it.

Also ask her what she likes lol. We were going to look at the new C but my wife hated the way the exterior looked.
So ask her opinion on the styling. Its to make her happy after all

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Crazy idea, but have you asked her yet what she would like ?

Consider something a bit different, if you're not bothered by Chinese ownership, which some folks seem to be. Volvo S60, S80 maybe?? Depends what she likes, but I bet she'll love spending time inside either of those.

If you're gonna go that route I highly suggest you stick w cars that have benefitted from the Chinese $ like the XC90 and S90 / V90. Light years ahead of the rest of the lineup, and more will be coming. XC60 will be awesome. They spent close to $10 billion to develop the XC90 it's insanely nice.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

If you're gonna go that route I highly suggest you stick w cars that have benefitted from the Chinese $ like the XC90 and S90 / V90. Light years ahead of the rest of the lineup, and more will be coming. XC60 will be awesome. They spent close to $10 billion to develop the XC90 it's insanely nice.

No disagreement here, it looks just stunning, inside and out, thought I wasn't too keen on how the previous one handled. However, I thought that these meant "no SUVs" from OPs requirements which would rule out XC90, maybe I misunderstood ?

Some criteria are:
- Has to be a 4 door car

Also, can new XC90 be had under 50K.. maybe S90 can? I haven't checked but guessing it'd be close.

[Fahrvergnügen]

Originally Posted by CSanto

Also ask her what she likes lol. We were going to look at the new C but my wife hated the way the exterior looked.
So ask her opinion on the styling. Its to make her happy after all

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

If you're gonna go that route I highly suggest you stick w cars that have benefitted from the Chinese $ like the XC90 and S90 / V90. Light years ahead of the rest of the lineup, and more will be coming. XC60 will be awesome. They spent close to $10 billion to develop the XC90 it's insanely nice.

Originally Posted by Bbb34

No disagreement here, it looks just stunning, inside and out, thought I wasn't too keen on how the previous one handled. However, I thought that these meant "no SUVs" from OPs requirements which would rule out XC90, maybe I misunderstood ?

Some criteria are:
- Has to be a 4 door car

Also, can new XC90 be had under 50K.. maybe S90 can? I haven't checked but guessing it'd be close.

Haha, thanks guys. Never really considered Volvos. My wife is Chinese (from China) so I'll see what her feeling are on this, lol. She is very much not a car person but I know she would like a nice interior if she is driving everyday. Every time I ask her about a car she just ignores me and then eventually says I should just get something and she will drive it.

The only cars she really likes are orange McLarens and since I am not a Saudi prince I have to go with something lesser.

[Red Bread]

Jag XE? If my wife hadn't totaled her X1, it would likely have been the replacement, but we needed a car and the LCI 3er did the trick.

Except she already dislikes it and has been eying Macans already. D'oh.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

No disagreement here, it looks just stunning, inside and out, thought I wasn't too keen on how the previous one handled. However, I thought that these meant "no SUVs" from OPs requirements which would rule out XC90, maybe I misunderstood ?

Some criteria are:
- Has to be a 4 door car

Also, can new XC90 be had under 50K.. maybe S90 can? I haven't checked but guessing it'd be close.

Wasn't suggesting SUV if OP isn't looking for that, was trying to provide an exhaustive list of Volvos that have the benefit of China involvement. I have driven just the XC90 not the others but it is light years ahead of the old one in every possible way. You can def get into an XC90 for under $50K, actually anywhere from mid 40s up to mid 60s if you get the big hybrid one. S90 / V90 a bit more to start but don't get up as high I don't think. That said the V90 will be offered in 400hp hybrid variant I believe.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Jag XE? If my wife hadn't totaled her X1, it would likely have been the replacement, but we needed a car and the LCI 3er did the trick.

Except she already dislikes it and has been eying Macans already. D'oh.

The new XE will lease like shit if you are going that route I'd stay away. For the Macan, had one and LOVED it. That said I'd wait to see what the XC60 is like before getting something in that segment.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

She is very much not a car person but I know she would like a nice interior if she is driving everyday. Every time I ask her about a car she just ignores me and then eventually says I should just get something and she will drive it.

So use that fact and be smart about it, don't overdo it .

Anything European (yes even VW) will have a nice interior and likely make her happy. I suggested Volvo for that reason exactly, interiors and seats are pretty nice in their cars and it's a bit different, not everybody has one.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

I considered the Audi seriously but the design has just not really changed that much for such a long time. Audi used to have the best interior for the price but I think the C class is like a mini S-class. Also, I feel like I would be paying for AWD with an Audi when I don't really need it.

Wouldn't awd be nice in Chicago winters?

[Fahrvergnügen]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

Wouldn't awd be nice in Chicago winters?

It most definitely would but we are moving to Dallas

[PandaM3]

Tesla Model 3
- it's electric so you don't have to buy gas for it (every week my wife takes my electric commuter car to force me to buy gas for her car)
- it's electric so besides tires and brakes there's no maintenance (that way you spend more of your resources keeping your M3 up to date with maintenance)
- It will have some sort of autonomous drive and all the parking aids
- if it's as fast as the P70 then that is going to feel really good, but if they have a model with ludicrous mode that is going to feel insane
- starts at $35,000 before the $7500 federal incentives... predicted to top out at $50k to $60k for the top model with air suspension, extended range, and ludicrous mode

only downside is that you have to put a $1,000 deposit on a car that isn't going to get made until late 2017 early 2018.

So you can probably lease something for the next 2 years and join the rest of us camping out in front of the Tesla stores to put a deposit Thursday (just kidding I wont be camping but stores are forming comicon like lines for people to camp)

I am planning on something similar since my electric commuter car lease will be up by the time the Model 3 is built so I plan to put my fully refundable deposit on Thursday... and I'll either get the cheapest one to be a commuter car or get a mid grade to top model and sell off my wife's car to replace it.

[ndinh]

We were in the same boat last year. We looked at an Audi A6 and ultimately went with a CPO 528i for her, since her commute was a little further and one main criteria was good gas mileage. Fast forward a year.....with a 1.5 year old toddler, we quickly learned that the F10 was a little small (..so 3's and 4's will never work, trust me!) With a rearward facing carseat, your front passenger will have to be on the short side to fit comfortably. Plus, moving the baby in and out in a relatively low sedan is not easy. It works for us but looking back, we should've gotten a X5.

[BEM-S4]

Fwiw my parents (both near 70) get my niece 3.5 and nephew 1 in and out of the or Allroad VERY easily. One rear seat and one front seat. New one is coming out in fall supposed to be awesome, although their 2015 is really nice too.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

It most definitely would but we are moving to Dallas

Ah yes, skipped over that part for some reason.

[pimp4cheddar]

VW CC (great value and an awesome car)
Jaguar XF

[BEM-S4]

What about that new VW Alltrack or whatever it's called? Looks like a scaled down Allroad, saw one in the flesh in Stockholm a while back looked like a really nice car.

[HyeWarrior]

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but Audi Q7?

My dad just picked one up. 2014, brown on brown leather, 15k miles for $36k