Looking for car recommendations

[anonmouseuser]

Hi,
I am looking for a new (or used) car around the $25K mark and hoping the experts here can chime in. My preferences are as follows:

1) $25K budget
2) Comfort and style
3) Reliability
4) Performance (would prefer step/triptronic to full manual)
5) Resale value

The Lexus IS250, BMW 330xi, and the Saab 9-3 seem interesting but I don't know the finer details.

Thanks.

 

[compman25]

I just bought a new 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero XWD for $30k, you can get the regular 9-3's for around your price point now.

 

[Fenixgoon]

pontiac G8 GT? i don't know how you'd feel about getting a car from GM, but the specs are insane:

360hp, 390 ft-lbs, 6spd tiptronic, RWD, $25k for a used 2008 model.

 

[vi edit]

Acura TL or Infiniti G35. Look or an '06 or so of either of them.

http://www.luxurymotorsohare.c...ns+--&type=2&keywords=

For 25k or so....that's a very nice car.

Less miles and less money....

 

[USAFdude02]

For 25K I would say get a new 09 Mazdaspeed 3. They are great. Had one until I sold it cause we had a baby. Sweet ride, but they tone down 1 and 2 gear.

 

[Jumpem]

Legacy 2.5GT is the only sedan in that price range I would consider. Why buy a two wheel drive when you can get AWD for the same price.

 

[StageLeft]

If you want resale, saab is already out, obviously. The brand is very likely to be killed soon.

For 25K I would say get a new 09 Mazdaspeed 3

Anybody who spends 25k on a mazda three should be sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole.

OP should be buying a car about a year old with 15k on it. Let the first owner/sucker take the huge hit on resale and end up with a car with still tons of warranty. If you get a manufacturer certified you can in fact end up with MORE warranty than a new one. That's what I did when I bought my 04 mazda; the certification process ended up giving it more warranty than a new mazda mpv. And the thing was about 70% the cost of a new one (it was a year old)

 

[L1FE]

You can get an '09 MS3 GT for around 23k (invoice), and I personally love mine. You get a lot of car for the money, but they only come in full manual, so that probably nixes it from your consideration. My friend has been looking at used G35s and some dealerships have good CPO'ed '06s for ~$21-23k. Not sure if they have step/triptronic. The last time I looked at 330s (last summer), you could get an '06 at dealer auction for around 25k. I'm sure that has dropped since last year, so maybe dealers have some CPO'ed ones for that price (I don't claim to know, but you can check). In the end, I went with a new car over an expensive German car because I didn't want to be faced with potential (very expensive) repairs.

 

[MovingTarget]

G8. You really can't beat it for the things you listed.

 

[yh125d]

possibly 06 S60 R? 300hp, 4wd, very comfortable, absolutely beautiful imo and you won't see too many others

 

[papadage]

Used BMW M3. Probably a 2003 or 2004. Available with a sequential gearbox, great looks and performance, and they retain a lot of value after the initial new car depreciation hit. You can probably get a 2003 or 2004 with under 40,000 miles for that, maybe even in convertible.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Comfort, Style & Reliability:

2007 Infiniti M35

Saabs have horrible resale value - they should not be overlooked if you are willing to buy a slighlty used 2008 9-3. You will be getting a 40% price reduction on a great car with a great warranty. Damn fine looking automobile as well.

Saab & Sweden are in the process of freeing it from GM's hold and making the Company sutainable. The 2.8L V6 turbo engine is fantastic and made Wards top-ten list in 2006 for best engine.

 

[Slew Foot]

Honda Accord, there's a reason they sell a billion of them.

Or if you really want the faux manual tranny, a TL-S. You might swing a 2007 or 08 for 25K. My 2008 was 32K new.

 

[Mide]

I just bought a Saab 9-5. Lovin' the turbo.

 

[TehMac]

I'd lean towards the Pontiac, especially considering they are better made than the debacle in the 80s and '90's, and so forth. It's more Australian than it is American though.

 

[sindows]

I second the G8. The only requirement that it doesn't meet is resale value but otherwise its a solid car. The LSX engine is virtually bulletproof and there is a huge aftermarket for it if something goes wrong or if you just want more power. If you don't like the looks of it, they sell bodykits to revert it back to Holden's original design which IMO is a million times better looking. http://www.jhp.com.au/pontiac_...e_front_conversion.php

I've seem used Gts sticker for 23k and I have no doubt you can get one for ~20.

 

[Hyperlite]

Legacy 2.5GT? G8 GT? Used 2008 Audi A4?

 

[Vette73]

Caddy CTS
Pontiac G8

 

[mc866]

Anything but the G8 especially if you are looking for resale value.

I would say a lightly used G35, 3-series, A4/A6, or TL?

 

[woodie1]

Lots of low mileage 2007 328s around and I see the G37 is now in your ballpark.

 

[blahblah99]

Originally posted by: anonmouseuser
Hi,
I am looking for a new (or used) car around the $25K mark and hoping the experts here can chime in. My preferences are as follows:

1) $25K budget
2) Comfort and style
3) Reliability
4) Performance (would prefer step/triptronic to full manual)
5) Resale value

The Lexus IS250, BMW 330xi, and the Saab 9-3 seem interesting but I don't know the finer details.

Thanks.

Get a brand new 08 350Z off the dealer. They're blowing them out for under 25K.

 

[sindows]

Originally posted by: mc866
Anything but the G8 especially if you are looking for resale value.

I would say a lightly used G35, 3-series, A4/A6, or TL?

Why do you say that? Just about every review compares it to the M5 and thats a compliment that none of the other cars listed in this thread has managed to achieve. As far as dash strokers are concerned, the interior materials are no worse than in any other 30k car. Yes the G35 has a more stylish interior but the materials are no better than what you'll find in an Accord or Camry. The only interiors which are both nice in materials and design belong to the A4 and TL/RL.

 

[ANGRYEAGLE]

I just bought my 09 Mazdaspeed3 for 23800$ OTD. I love this car. Huge upgrade from my old Saturn with no AC. 263 HP, 6 speed manual. Very good performance, handling, braking. I actually look forward to driving now.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

anything but the g8, it'll be worth close to nothing in 2-3 years. same goes for the reliability of the car.

i'd go with either a brand new 2010 Mazda 3 for $25k or Honda Accord in the trim that fits your budget. You can also get many many used TL's G35's, M35's, 3 series in that budget...

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
anything but the g8, it'll be worth close to nothing in 2-3 years. same goes for the reliability of the car.

i'd go with either a brand new 2010 Mazda 3 for $25k or Honda Accord in the trim that fits your budget. You can also get many many used TL's G35's, M35's, 3 series in that budget...

resale is questionable, although the biggest hit has already been taken. do you have any links proving the holden commodore is unreliable (since that's all the G8 is)?