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

[JulesMaximus]

I'm sort of looking at possible replacements for my aging Maxima, not really too serious yet but just looking at what is out there and doing some research. I like the CTS, not the V because it gets horrible gas mileage and I commute too far to make this car anywhere close to practical so I'm just looking at the V6.

Only problem is that I've been reading of complaints of rattles in the interior, clunks from the rear end, pinging noises from under the hood, etc. Is this common with this car? I'd like to think that a modern Cadillac would be well built and reliable.

I've also been eyeing used Mercedes-Benz CLK coupes and convertibles but I haven't driven either one of these cars yet. Just looking at Autotrader for the time being. Would love to have another convertible. :wub:

What I want is something comfortable but stylish (upscale) with leather interior and a decent sized back seat (because I have a kid). I know the CLK will be much more cramped in the back seat than the CTS though so I might consider a new-to-me E350 sedan as well. Possibly a Lexus GS350 if I can find a low mileage used one in my price range.

Something in the low $30k range new or pre-owned. Must be reliable. Any other suggestions? I keep going back and forth too between hybrid mileage or something more upscale... hell, I'd probably give the new Lexus hybrid hatch a serious look as well.

I'm not in any hurry and probably won't buy for another 6-12 months because my car is in good shape and has fairly low miles (for a 9 year old car). Plus it is paid for and in excellent condition so I'm in no hurry to get rid of it.

Edit-I'm looking at used cars here or low to mid $30k new. The CTS I can pick up a used 2008 or 2009 for the mid to high 20k range with under 30k miles which is why I was looking at those. They seem to have a nice blend of luxury and low cost plus they look good. The CLK coupe is a little more expensive but there are tons of them for sale used with under 30k miles. I much prefer the Mercedes but am also a little concerned about reliability of that model.

I'm spoiled because I've had very little trouble with my 9 year old Maxima so I'd like to keep whatever car I get for at least 5-6 years and have very little trouble with it too. No money pits.

 

[CraigRT]

This begs the question, why not a newer Maxima? 7th gen Maximas (09+) are very nice cars, and finding a lightly used one could save you a pile of $.

 

[JulesMaximus]

This begs the question, why not a newer Maxima? 7th gen Maximas (09+) are very nice cars, and finding a lightly used one could save you a pile of $.

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

 

[ElFenix]

chances are even if the caddy is a rattle trap it'll still be cheaper when repairs start to come than the benz.


and it's raise the question, not beg. beg means to avoid. like begging off work.
/grammar nazi

 

[Howard]

Third-gen (S190) GS430.

Is fun to drive a factor?

 

[vshah]

used TLs should be well within your range, and even 2008-2009 RLs

 

[Dr. Detroit]

used TLs should be well within your range, and even 2008-2009 RLs

Too F'in ugly - no Acura looks good except for the TSX Wagon -

Midsize sports sedan that are upscale, gorgeous looking, and get decent mileage without MBZ/BMW repair prices:

Taurus SHO or Lincoln MKS or Volvo S60. I'll even throw in a New 2012 Genesis sedan with the updated 330HP V6. With discounts and without the tech package you should be around $30-32K.

CLk/E350 convertible backseat aint bad to throw two teens in the back. Another good choice on the Vert standpoint would be a S4 Cabrio.

 

[JCH13]

Volvo S60T5/S60R would be a good match. Maybe even an S80T6.

 

[sdifox]

CTS-V is the answer

Not sure you can fit kids in CLK.

At low 30 you can get an E350, don't need the 4Matic in Cali.

Out in Cali you should have no shortage of luxo barge for decent prices.

The CTS is a nice car.

 

[Ketchup]

The rattling of the Caddy depends on where you drive and how you treat it, IMO. I live in a state with great gas prices, and horrible roads. I have no doubt the rattles would surface, and surface early, around here.

I know from my Dad's experience that Mercedes vehicles are expensive to maintain, and I have hard from other sources that problems can surface quite often, but YMMV.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The rattling of the Caddy depends on where you drive and how you treat it, IMO. I live in a state with great gas prices, and horrible roads. I have no doubt the rattles would surface, and surface early, around here.

I know from my Dad's experience that Mercedes vehicles are expensive to maintain, and I have hard from other sources that problems can surface quite often, but YMMV.

My Mom-In-Law is on her second E-Class sedan and she's had no trouble with either of them (she had a 2002 E320 and now a 2010 E350 sedan).

There are a crap load of them for sale around here too. I've been checking and it is pretty easy to find a 2009 with under 30k miles for around $30k.

Not interested in Volvo. Too many problems with those cars from what I've heard.

Lincoln=old man car, even moreso than the E-Class Mercedes. Just way too conservative.

Acura=blech
Taurus=blech squared
Hyundai=blech cubed

 

[SpatiallyAware]

MB and BMW make great cars, and they are for the most part reliable. There are many people that go 200k++ miles with no issue.


But major problems are $$. In my opinion you shouldn't own a german car unless you have $5k set aside for a major repair. Engine/trans on a 5+ year old MB or BMW is not cheap.

 

[satyajitmenon]

 

[mwmorph]

My Mom-In-Law is on her second E-Class sedan and she's had no trouble with either of them (she had a 2002 E320 and now a 2010 E350 sedan).

There are a crap load of them for sale around here too. I've been checking and it is pretty easy to find a 2009 with under 30k miles for around $30k.

Not interested in Volvo. Too many problems with those cars from what I've heard.

Lincoln=old man car, even moreso than the E-Class Mercedes. Just way too conservative.

Acura=blech
Taurus=blech squared
Hyundai=blech cubed

I had a 2006 E500 and there's only 1 thing you really need to know about Mercedes: Keep options to a minimum. My my repairs have been for optional extras like the Airmatic suspension, entertainment and GPS system. The base car is good, but the Europeans just haven't figured out all this electronics wizardry yet. It's the ghost of Lucas electronics I tell you.

I would personally get the CTS, or a new Chrysler 300 V6 if you wanted style and leather. We have a CTS coupe at work in the parking lot and every time I see it, even now, I'm still blown away, it certainly is a strikingly handsome car.

My experience with the domestics is if you don't go full retard on maintenance, they won't give you any troubles for the most part.

My experience with Mercedes on the other hand is much less positive, but of course YMMV.

IMO:
Style: CTS 3.6L, 2012 300 Limited/Sport
Reliability: Acura TL (The older non hideous version), Lexus GS

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Based on your likes:

It's E350 with Sport package all the way. Gorgeous looking car in every way.

Opt for the Panoramic roof as well as the PII package and you should be set.

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ctd/3059303771.html

 

[JulesMaximus]

Based on your likes:

It's E350 with Sport package all the way. Gorgeous looking car in every way.

Opt for the Panoramic roof as well as the PII package and you should be set.

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ctd/3059303771.html

Yeah, it's a gorgeous car. And the 2009 is a bargain really if you can get it for under $30k with low mileage. There are a ton of them for sale and they are kind of undervalued now because of the 2010 redesign.

I'm fine with paying for normal maintenance/upkeep, what I don't want is to always be fussing with niggling reliability issues. I want to spend as little time hassling with problems as possible. It's more the time issue than the money.

I do like the CTS too. It is a handsome car with a nicely appointed interior. I'll have to go test drive some cars I guess. No hurry though. I'll post up reviews of the cars I test drive.

 

[Childs]

Charger V6 8spd, BMS 3/5 series, some kind of Hyundai.

 

[mwmorph]

Yeah, it's a gorgeous car. And the 2009 is a bargain really if you can get it for under $30k with low mileage. There are a ton of them for sale and they are kind of undervalued now because of the 2010 redesign.

I'm fine with paying for normal maintenance/upkeep, what I don't want is to always be fussing with niggling reliability issues. I want to spend as little time hassling with problems as possible. It's more the time issue than the money.

I do like the CTS too. It is a handsome car with a nicely appointed interior. I'll have to go test drive some cars I guess. No hurry though. I'll post up reviews of the cars I test drive.

I have a W212 for 1 year, a 2006 E500 from 2008-2009. I bought it with 29,000 miles and it had 35K when I sold it. I didn't want to keep it after the warranty ran out.

Problems that I had to go to the dealership for warranty work:

Airmatic suspension would not lower after being in a raised position: 2 days
Head unit/COMAND system would not go out of locked mode despite not having any battery or electrical cutouts: 2 days
GPS DVD drive stopped reading GPS DVDs: 2 days
Fuel cap defective, caused CEL: pretty quick, but unscheduled appointment anyways

The dealership was actually very nice, but the car was just unreliable and maintenance truly did cost too much. Oil changes are 13K miles or thereabouts but a baisc oil change/cabin air filter/inspection cost $390 and you can't do it yourself. Every once in a while you'd also have to have a B service which IIRC is a oil change, cabin air filter, whindshield wipers and a more through inspection for somewhere around $800 to $1000 IIRC. Also my car called them D & F services respectively IIRC.

 

[sdifox]

I have a W212 for 1 year, a 2006 E500 from 2008-2009. I bought it with 29,000 miles and it had 35K when I sold it. I didn't want to keep it after the warranty ran out.

Problems that I had to go to the dealership for warranty work:

Airmatic suspension would not lower after being in a raised position: 2 days
Head unit/COMAND system would not go out of locked mode despite not having any battery or electrical cutouts: 2 days
GPS DVD drive stopped reading GPS DVDs: 2 days
Fuel cap defective, caused CEL: pretty quick, but unscheduled appointment anyways

The dealership was actually very nice, but the car was just unreliable and maintenance truly did cost too much. Oil changes are 13K miles or thereabouts but a baisc oil change/cabin air filter/inspection cost $390 and you can't do it yourself. Every once in a while you'd also have to have a B service which IIRC is a oil change, cabin air filter, whindshield wipers and a more through inspection for somewhere around $800 to $1000 IIRC. Also my car called them D & F services respectively IIRC.

You can definitely do the oil change yourself. And resetting the counter is easy. The only maint I go back to dealer is transmission fluid change.

 

[ussfletcher]

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

 

[SSSnail]

M5.

 

[Howard]

M5.

Which generation?

 

[mwmorph]

You can definitely do the oil change yourself. And resetting the counter is easy. The only maint I go back to dealer is transmission fluid change.

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.

 

[RiDE]

My friend has a 2008 CTS with about 35k miles. He has the interior rattles.

I think you should match your Ducati and get a Fiat 500.

 

[SSSnail]

Which generation?

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

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.

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.