I need a new(er) fullsize car.

[Vic Vega]

I was set on a 300C but that was six months ago and my interest has wandered.

2012 300 and 300C with leather/nav/sunroof/etc and under 40K miles or so can be had for $25-30K depending on V8 or no. Points for rear wheel drive.

2013 Taurus Limited with leather/nav/sunroof/etc and under 20K miles can be had for $22-26K depending on color and who's selling it. The Taurus is wrong wheel drive. Points off. All wheel drive is avail but pushes it up considerably in price.

The wild card: 2013 Impala LTZ can be had for under $19K with under 10K miles. Leather, sunroof, etc AND the good 3.6 V6 (300 HP) and 6 speed auto. Points off for wrong wheel drive and the car being absolutely dull. I've had a bunch of rentals.

I've driven all of these cars quite a bit and the 300 and Taurus are very good. The Impala is a car, it goes from A-B and is quiet-comfortable-reliable but that's it. Chevy dealers know this hence the price (plus new model for 2014).

Looking to buy in the next 30 days. Thoughts?

 

[Jimzz]

Yea the Impala is a basic plane car. I rank it with the Camry/Avalon type cars; boring but reliable. The LTZ is V8 but still all the power in a car with no fun or spirit.



Cadillac STS is RWD and can be had cheaply used.
Nissan Maxima is FWD but nice.
Hyundai Genesis (2010+) is RWD, not sure about price.

 

[Vic Vega]

The LTZ is the 3.6L 300HP direct-injection V6. It's front wheel drive though so if you're going say, less than 30 MPH and mash the gas it tries to kill you. At speed isn't a problem, highway passing for instance.

I like your STS recommendation and have been thinking about it, but honestly the interior of the 300 and Taurus are as good in my opinion. It's a tough sells because for the mid 20s which is my sweet spot you're looking at a 2008 or so STS. Out of warranty and +/- 5 years old.

 

[Jimzz]

Opps missed that. I guess they dropped the V8?


But yea my BiL has a 2005 V6 STS with 105k on it. No major troubles. I did the 100k service last summer. Only thing i would do if it was my car is put larger sway bars on it. But I like stiff cars that handle well.
I had a CTS before and put the CTS-V sway bars on it. Also RWD but smaller than the STS. Have a mercedes now.

 

[BurnItDwn]

My grandmother has an Impala. It's a small step down from her last car (Buick Lesabre.)

I would rate the Impala much higher than the 300C though, as the 300C is most likely going to cost a lot more $$$ to keep running over the years.

The taurus is boring, but should be reliable and overall a decent set of wheels.

I have a strong bias against Chrysler because I used to own a 1999 Chrysler 300M. It was awesome when it worked, but, had so many electrical problems that I will never ever consider another Chrysler again.

 

[Vic Vega]

Examples:

300:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2012...0475382?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item33809364f6

300C:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrysler-300-C-/400424486451?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5d3b28c633

Taurus Limited:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TAUR...6925741?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2c6cfaa1ad

Impala LTZ:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2013...5627377?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5d3bd2c571

 

[CraigRT]

Of the 3, easily 300C.
5.7L is a rock solid engine, and the car itself is built well and is a great barge to ride around in.

I am a big fan of the new Charger/300.

 

[LTC8K6]

Is an Avalon big enough?

 

[Vic Vega]

The Avalon is the right size and is in that same general price range of 22'ish to 28'ish for a 2012 with low miles... but it's just so dull. The Impala is dull as well, but it's much cheaper. It's like driving a really nice refrigerator.

 

[LTC8K6]

The 2013 Taurus with the 3.5L V6 has a 25hp boost over the previous years, so it should be a little livelier than a 2012. For 2013 you could also get the 2.0L ecoboost,which may be a tad slow, but it's rated 22/32mpg. 2013's also got some upgrades to improve the way they handle and drive. So a 2013 should be a bit less dull than a 2012.

The only boat here I can see that possibly wouldn't be dull is the 300 with the V8.

 

[smitbret]

If you can find one, get a year old Hyundai Azera.

 

[Vic Vega]

I like the Azera a lot (the old one, not the current one) but they didn't sell well and like you said, are hard to find. Hard in the colors/options I want.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I like the Azera a lot (the old one, not the current one) but they didn't sell well and like you said, are hard to find. Hard in the colors/options I want.

From what I remember the earlier ones had issues with the suspension being tuned a bit hard for comfort.

Of the three vehicles you mentioned the Taurus wins hands down over the 300c and the Impala in my book.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The Avalon is the right size and is in that same general price range of 22'ish to 28'ish for a 2012 with low miles... but it's just so dull. The Impala is dull as well, but it's much cheaper. It's like driving a really nice refrigerator.

Have you driven the new Avalon? It isn't exactly a drivers car but it does handle fairly well and it comes with a lot of nice features.

 

[Jumpem]

SHO.

 

[nerp]

Just get the 300. Big badass RWD sedan. You won't regret it and 2012 is when Chrysler really turned the corner. 2011 was about ironing kinks. The 2012 models across the line are showing good reliability so far.

 

[Vic Vega]

2012 300 with 5,900 miles is sitting in my driveway. I went with the V6 and 8-speed automatic. If the V8 had the 8-speed I would have gone that route but it doesn't for 2012 (or 2013 I believe... I could be wrong but I heard it was "incoming"). Overall, super pleased with the car. Pics tomorrow, maybe.

It was the right choice. I really like the Taurus but can't get past wrong wheel drive. The Impala is an insane value with an amazing engine (it really is, this engine is in much higher end Caddies) but again, wrong wheel drive and my god it's just boring.

 

[Knavish]

I just drove an 2013 (I think) Impala LTZ rental car last week. It was fine for driving the family around on vacation, though I ended up averaging 19MPG with a bunch of idling at 0 MPH. The most frustrating part to me was the "Bose" stereo. It looked like the head unit was vintage < 2005 with weak bluetooth support an no aux / bluetooth audio. I really wonder if they've updated much about this car (beyond the engine and transmission) since 2000.

I wonder how many 2013 Impalas were sold to the general public vs. corporate fleets -- a used 2013 is probably a rental car, of course, a 300 might be as well.

FWIW, the redesigned 2014 Impala looks quite nice.

 

[JulesMaximus]

2012 300 with 5,900 miles is sitting in my driveway. I went with the V6 and 8-speed automatic. If the V8 had the 8-speed I would have gone that route but it doesn't for 2012 (or 2013 I believe... I could be wrong but I heard it was "incoming"). Overall, super pleased with the car. Pics tomorrow, maybe.

It was the right choice. I really like the Taurus but can't get past wrong wheel drive. The Impala is an insane value with an amazing engine (it really is, this engine is in much higher end Caddies) but again, wrong wheel drive and my god it's just boring.

I had a 300 rental for a week in Maui and honestly I have no idea how you'd ever know the difference. That car handled so badly I don't think which end powers the wheels would make any difference at all. Way too much understeer, and that V6 engine does nothing to help cure that either.

 

[Bacstar]

I've got a 2012 300S AWD with the V8/5speed. Chose it over the Audi A6 and the Cadillac CTS coupe when I was shopping around in Nov 2011. Interior and price was probably the main deciding factor. No regrets here so far.

I wish my commute to work was longer than 15mins because I find myself taking longer routes, especially on the drive home.

 

[nerp]

Yes, excellent car, great platform, nice interior, smooth ride, can't go wrong. The 8-speed is awesome, isn't it?

 

[pauldun170]

I would ave been very tempted to pick the Taurus, tint the windows and have everyone move out of my way where ever I drive.
Our county PD drives Taurii

 

[Vic Vega]

Yes, excellent car, great platform, nice interior, smooth ride, can't go wrong. The 8-speed is awesome, isn't it?

The 8 speed is REALLY nice and really works well with the V6, this car feels like it has a lot more power than it does because the transmission is so good at keeping you in the power band.

I've got a 2012 300S AWD with the V8/5speed. Chose it over the Audi A6 and the Cadillac CTS coupe when I was shopping around in Nov 2011. Interior and price was probably the main deciding factor. No regrets here so far.

I wish my commute to work was longer than 15mins because I find myself taking longer routes, especially on the drive home.

See, I was so close to going with the V8 and this time next year I will probably regret not doing it. The interior really is very good and genuinely a nice place to be, vault like quiet also. I too have begun to enjoy the ride home quite a bit and my commute is also about 15 minutes.

The thing I like most about this car is, it does everything. City traffic? Easy. Highway cruising? Easy. Twisty back roads? You would think a car this size would struggle, it doesn't.

 

[Vic Vega]

I just drove an 2013 (I think) Impala LTZ rental car last week. It was fine for driving the family around on vacation, though I ended up averaging 19MPG with a bunch of idling at 0 MPH. The most frustrating part to me was the "Bose" stereo. It looked like the head unit was vintage < 2005 with weak bluetooth support an no aux / bluetooth audio. I really wonder if they've updated much about this car (beyond the engine and transmission) since 2000.

I wonder how many 2013 Impalas were sold to the general public vs. corporate fleets -- a used 2013 is probably a rental car, of course, a 300 might be as well.

FWIW, the redesigned 2014 Impala looks quite nice.

The shifter also really annoyed me... as it's not labeled.

 

[hans007]

how about a new charger?

its basically a 300 anyway and costs less.


on the way back from vegas the other day at 2am, i was trying to keep up with one and it kind of just took off and blew by me at 125mph or so....

8 speed ZF auto in the 2012 + , with the 3.6 V6 pentastar seems like a great combo. and the taillights look great.