THSCC Forums

Art- I think it would help us if you could give us a cost range your friend is willing to spend. And ask him/her these questions:

- American or Furregn car?
- new or "previously owned"
- any thoughts or preferences as to brands liked or to stay away from?
- front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, no wheel drive, or doesn't care?
- 2 door or 4 door?
- which is more important, performance or luxury?

I could ask more, but those answers would help our car consulting staff to lead you to the vehicle most appropriate for your friend's needs.

Miles

Talk about "eye of the beholder" problems

My recommendation is for your co worker to go to some place (such as Car Max) that has a really broad inventory of lots of brands and prices to get some idea of what he/she wants. Then get back to you/us to get our comments on the general reliability, etc. Also Consumer Reports would be a good source of the type of info needed for this kind of target car type.

Dick (whose idea of a near-luxury car is a stock Mustang GT and whose first car with power windows was a Lotus Europa)

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Thanks for the replies so far. To clarify, in our 1 minute conversation during the Cinco de Mayo pot luck lunch at work today, my co-worker specified used. Said he has a friend who can buy a car at auction for him, and wants to narrow down what to look for. I believe his current car is a 5 liter Explorer. I doubt he's specifically looking for a great handling car (I could be wrong), but he likes acceleration. The luxury requirement is probably to impress his passengers.

I have heard about the auto trans problems on Acura TLs and CLs. Luckily for the two co-workers who had that problem, they were replaced under warranttee.

I don't think BMWs are out of the question. Anybody familiar with 540s? How about the RWD Lexus sedans? He doesn't seem to like Audis. A turbo Volvo might work.

Based on what I've been hearing about Caddys, he might want to try a CTS like Aaron mentioned. I was checking prices and they are pretty cheap used.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

I can't believe I'd ever recommend a Cadillac.... but the 3.6 liter motor just squeaks over the 250 hp threshold. Perhaps he won't think the CTS is the ugliest car of the decade

Here's a few cars not yet mentioned....

I just helped a family member buy a brand new Camry. They now offer a V6 model (which I haven't driven) and the upper end Camry's can be had with a vast array of fancy options, including DVD nav system, power moonroof, traction control, stability control, ABS, etc.... Depending on what your friend wants to pay for a used car, a new Camry could possibly be had in the same range as some fancy used cars of other makes. I faxed 17 Toyota dealers in NC to get a quote and ended up with a pretty good deal.

I've driven a 2004 Chrysler 300M on a 1000 mile road trip, and I couldn't believe how comfortable that car was. It was a fine 4 door cruising machine. And of course, it will depreciate faster than a falling safe, so used ones can be had pretty reasonably.

If he's going to get a fairly late model car, I'm a big believer in getting a car with both front airbags and if possible, side airbags as well. He should check the crash test results on the IIHS website if he cares at all about safety.

I've read some pretty good things about the Lincoln LS V8, but haven't driven one.

I still think a 97 or 98 BMW M3 sedan is a nice balance of a practical daily driver and a great performer. The only problem is that it might be a tad small for back seat passengers if you are expecting the room of a full sized car.

I haven't checked to see what the HP ratings are of all of the above cars, so they may not meet your requirements.

Miles

Lol, Miles doesn't get to the Toyota showroom very often. The V6 has been an option on the Camry since about 1988. They even had an AWD model back then.

Scott

Scott, Toyota didn't have showrooms in 1988 did they?

You're right though, of all the cars I claim to have some knowledge of their history, the Camry is not one of them. If you read the reviews of the 05 though, you'd think the V6 was as innovative an option as a replicator.

But Scott, I will clarify one point.. It's not that I don't to the Toyota showroom very often... It's that I don't get there at all. I think my trip to the Toyota showroom about two weeks ago may be the only trip I've ever taken to the Toyota showroom. It's not that I have anything against Toyotas, it's more that I just have no reason to shop for a new car (unless it's to help somebody else.

Someday I will get to the Ford showroom to actually look at a real GT40. Yes, I know, it's just a "GT" officially, but it will always be a GT40 to me.

Miles

Make sure that you get a goood look at the front control arms too ...

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

If they are planning on buying at auction, then it's likely he is looking for something >3 years old. Why not a BMW?

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

Escalade.

Not going to work at Crossroads .. last time I was there they had the car sequestered in its own little room. Now you might be able to get a look at the front suspension of the one at U. Ford in Durham.

What Wes is snidely referring to is that all of the GTs were recalled last December to replace defective front control arms. So any you see now should be very shiny.

Back to the official thread ... any opinions on the Lexus GS300 or GS400?

Graham test-drove one and apparently it overheated a couple miles into the test drive But me, I like 'em. Too expensive for me though...50K. Youch.

Anyway Art, a friend just got a new Acura TL. It's a very nicely done car. Another got an Acura TSX, the smaller 4-door - also a real nice car too. Just doesn't have a lot of giddy-up.

i think this car would be a lada fun for your co-werker.. a bmw m5, they now come with a 5 litre 500 hp v-10 motor, very fast cars, roomy as well.. get to work and lunch and back very quickly..

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hey yall,watch this...

FYI on the acura trannies - Acura has extended the warrantees out to 100k miles I believe because they're junk and Acura knows it. My roommate is a tech at Leith Acura and he's got it down to a science. Think he can do a swap in less than 3 hours now.

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www.ncvw.org
1993 VW Corrado VR6 - DSP15 (RIP)
1986 MB 190E 2.3L 16v - STX (SOLD)
1997 BMW M3 3.2L - BS for now