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Cars that are "smooth" and quiet

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Can't believe I'm saying this but what about a VW Golf? From what I hear, pretty smooth and comfortable. Not sure about quiet. It's a VW though.
 
Pandamonium said:
I'm not decided on the FWD vs AWD. I can handle NYC-climate snow in a Camry with all-weather tires, but there are definitely a handful of times that I wished I had AWD. I'm not sure what part of the country I'll be in in 2 years, so it's hard to say if it will even be important for me. All I know is that highway noise and bumpy roads really piss me off.

For the record I'm driving a 2002 Camry right now. It feels like a boat compared to what I remember my 1994 Camry felt like.
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FWD with good snow tires will typically be better than AWD with all seasons in snow.
 
JulesMaximus said:
So is the Mazda 3, the Toyota Matrix, and all of the compact SUVs the OP mentioned along with nearly all the other suggestions. Hell, the only two cars mentioned so far in this thread that aren't FWD are the BMW and the Lexus IS250 the OP mentioned (both are AWD) and the GS350 I mentioned which is too expensive...and too big.

The Infiniti G35x might be another choice worth considering but somehow I doubt there are many of those available on the used market.

FWD is actually great in the snow if you get a car that is fairly evenly balanced F/R and equip it with proper snow tires. Hell, I'm just assuming the OP lives in an area where it snows since he asked for opinions on AWD versions of these two cars to begin with as there would be no reason to buy either of these unless you lived in the mountains or the snow belt.
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G35x has a huge used market. According to a salesman at a local Infiniti dealership (and I didn't get the impression he was bullshitting), 70% of new Infinitis are leases.

That being said, I now have a G35x, I've driven a bunch of them, their focus is not about being smooth or soft. It's made to handle tightly, the engine revs fast and high, the transmission shifts quick and hard, you'll notice every bump in the road. I'm not complaining, that's what I want, but it doesn't fit the OP's criteria.

Given the OP's criteria, I'm with you, JM, on the bigger luxury cars, and the Lexuses. If I were looking for something soft and quiet, I'd be looking for a large luxury car. Smaller cars are more likely to be tuned for handling and speed.
 
MotF Bane said:
G35x has a huge used market. According to a salesman at a local Infiniti dealership (and I didn't get the impression he was bullshitting), 70% of new Infinitis are leases.

That being said, I now have a G35x, I've driven a bunch of them, their focus is not about being smooth or soft. It's made to handle tightly, the engine revs fast and high, the transmission shifts quick and hard, you'll notice every bump in the road. I'm not complaining, that's what I want, but it doesn't fit the OP's criteria.

Given the OP's criteria, I'm with you, JM, on the bigger luxury cars, and the Lexuses. If I were looking for something soft and quiet, I'd be looking for a large luxury car. Smaller cars are more likely to be tuned for handling and speed.
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I've checked used listings around here and there are very very few x models for sale. I'd say 95% of the G's for sale are RWD models. Granted, AWD is practically useless here. Maybe they are more popular and sell in higher numbers in the cold states where it snows during the winter?
 
JulesMaximus said:
I've checked used listings around here and there are very very few x models for sale. I'd say 95% of the G's for sale are RWD models. Granted, AWD is practically useless here. Maybe they are more popular and sell in higher numbers in the cold states where it snows during the winter?
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Correct. I'd say X's outnumber RWD... maybe 10 to 1 up here?
 
Look for a low mileage '06+ Toyota Avalon. The smaller cars you have listed are going to be hipster/economy/gadget oriented and not the smooth/quiet luxury you are looking for. The Avalon gets you a Lexus+ without the Lexus price tag.

Most of the touches that make a car like that smooth and quiet (the Avalon has felt lined wheel wells to even absorb rock noise) aren't going to be found in the compact/subcompact market.

I realize it's a bigger car than you said you are looking for, but it's easily in your price range and delivers everything else you could want in a fully loaded well rounded NVH-aware cruiser.
 
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herm0016 said:
i came here to recommend this.
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MSRP looks very nice on that car. I had the Cruze as a rental and it was VERY quiet for a non-luxury car. With more sound-dampening, this could be an inexpensive Lexus.

Remember when Lexus was an 'inexpensive' MB or BMW back in the day? Similar idea. 🙂
 
G35 is not a smooth car, wheelbase is short, it is loud and stiff. Good kids car. I had two and an M35x.

Audi A6, ES350 or a Buick I guess.
 
A lot of people really hate FWD despite themselves owning FWD cars. Get in a brand new Maxima or Avalon and it's going to offer a nice, quiet ride. Or get a Bentley and drive it backwards...Or a 1 series, since apparently most 1 series drivers don't even know the car is RWD anyway 😀
 
Quite and smooth usually mean bigger and heavier car. Bigger engine is quieter than little 4 cylinder engine. My 2012 Mustang Gt is VERY quite and smooth. It's almost as quiet cruising as my brother's Lexus Ls430. I haven't seen a Lexus that is not quite and smooth. LFA is an exception!
 
calvie said:
Quite and smooth usually mean bigger and heavier car. Bigger engine is quieter than little 4 cylinder engine. My 2012 Mustang Gt is VERY quite and smooth. It's almost as quiet cruising as my brother's Lexus Ls430. I haven't seen a Lexus that is not quite and smooth. LFA is an exception!
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If all you have is a hammer everything in the world starts to look like a nail...

There are things the Mustang GT are good at, being known for quiet and smooth however is not one of them...

It is a V8 with little sound dampening and a solid rear end. I like the car but this comparison is poor at best.
 
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So you don't agree that bigger and heavier car with bigger v6/v8 engines are usually more smooth and quiet than smaller and lighter car with little 4 bangers? That's what i am getting at. Have you sit in a 11-12 Mustang Gt? It is very quite and smooth. I am shock by it. I hate it actually, it's suppose to be a muscle car. It's almost as smooth and quiet as my older bro's Lexus and quieter and quieter than my little brother's G35x.
I actually don't like how quiet it is. I installed a Gt500 axle back exhasut and imho, that's how the car should sound.
 
why not save a lot of money and pick up an older Lexus LS400 or maybe if you're lucky you might find a LS430 for a good price.
 
Chevrolet Cruze if you want a small quiet/smooth car, or a second hand Toyota Avalon if you just want smooth/quiet.
 
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