Need input on new commuter vehicle options

[Sho'Nuff]

So at the moment I am driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla LE. It has served me well for close to 150k miles, but I am starting to feel the itch to move on to a newer vehicle. This is partly fueled by my own wants, but also because my dad needs a car that he can putz around town with and the corolla fits the bill perfectly.

Budget is $35-40k and I am struggling with various options. Part of me just wants to get a new corolla (I am usually very frugal when it comes to cars), but my buddy convinced me to test drive some BMW's and Mercedes and now I am torn. I do have a fairly long commute so I am looking for something that sips gas but is also very comfortable. Options considered so far are:

1. 2014 Toyota Corolla (blech)

2. 2014 Accord Hybrid (pluses - ~50MPG combined, comfortable interior; Cons- loud, tiny trunk, long ROI time, its a friggin Accord)

3. BMW328d Xdrive (Pluses - probably the nicest car I've ever considered buying, fast, fuel efficient; cons - expensive, expensive to maintain, diesel fuel is ~10-15% more expensive)

4. 2012 Mercedes E350 blutec (Pluses - big, comfy, relatively efficient; cons- relatively expensive (at the top end of my range even though used), feels like an old mans car).

5. 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid - no comments, haven't driven)

The BMW is probably the car I like the most so far, but it is pushing the budget considerably.

Any others I should consider?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Do you access to HOV lanes?

If so, the plug-in hybrids usually are allowed in the HOV lanes. They also come with a nice Tax Credit.
Fusion Energi & C-Max Energi & Accord Plug-In - Only issue is the very large battery pack in the trunk so you lose a lot of space.

http://www.caranddriver.com/compari...4-honda-accord-plug-in-hybrid-comparison-test

Fusion Hybrid is a great choice, also has a very usable trunk with folding rear seats unlike the Camry & Accord hybrids. Fusion has won pretty much head to head test and is quite stylish and has great driving dynamics.

Don't buy a Corolla. Just don't.

 

[Demo24]

If your looking corolla money, look at Mazda 3. If you want that price range with diesel, vw has some nice options ( 2015 golf is coming out, could get a good deal on a 2014).

Mid-size car, might want to look at Mazda 6.


BMW, any reason you are going for the all wheel drive diesel one? Non awd would save some money. But also why not either the 2 series or a 328i?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I suggest sitting down and deciding whether or not you want to enter the luxury car market before trying to narrow anything down.

Or, pick the luxury car you want, then pick the economy car, then decide. But listing 4-5 cars all mixed types makes it difficult to choose. You also need to decide if you want a small or medium sized car.

Based on your ownership style (drive them to the ground) I would not get MB/BMW. German luxury caters best to buying 2-3 years old, driving for 5-6 years, then selling and repeating the process. Also used german luxury and long commutes don't really mix well.

If you are going to go german, I would get a 328 regular, not AWD. I don't know about the current 328, but historically the AWD bmws have been a real PITA to work on.

 

[NutBucket]

Diesel 3 series? Got I wanted to buy the 328xd we drove yesterday. But, $48k for a compact car is not in the cards currently. In SoCal diesel is cheaper than 87!

 

[unokitty]

Any others I should consider?

This fall, Lexus is coming out with a smaller SUV the NX.

If you are going to lease, the German cars would be an attractive alternative.

If you are going to drive for 140,000 miles, Lexus, Mazda CX-5, and Subaru, Crosstrek or Forester would be models that I would consider...

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[hans007]

228i sport / m sport. Should be in the $35 range. Add a couple options like xenon's. 2015 models BT audio finally standard. Probably $35+ tax out the door. 320i + sport is even less if you need a bigger albeit less powerful car.

I can't imagine a 328xd being all that fun to drive (you'd need to get the dynamic handling package on a awd BMW to get a sport suspension and that is not going to be fast since its close to 3800 lbs with diesel and awd). a 228i should still get pretty good mpg (probably more than your corolla) weigh in the 3300 range and be much more fun.

I guess I'd you live somewhere it snows I would probably consider the new wrx or legacy.

 

[Topweasel]

Fusion Hybrid would be my vote. I love my 2.0T but now that the "hybrid" cost has flattened out I almost wish I could have held out for that. The Energi is still a little expensive comparatively, but with my commute (8-10 miles), it would be my preferred hybrid. Not sure it would be that useful for people on longer trips.

 

[TheAdvocate]

Jetta TDI or hybrid

Passat TDI

VW GTD (Diesel GTI - coming very soon)

Camry Hybrid

(or if you wanna blow more money)

Lexus ES300h or Avalon Hybrid - which are almost the same car

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Do you access to HOV lanes?

If so, the plug-in hybrids usually are allowed in the HOV lanes. They also come with a nice Tax Credit.
Fusion Energi & C-Max Energi & Accord Plug-In - Only issue is the very large battery pack in the trunk so you lose a lot of space.

http://www.caranddriver.com/compari...4-honda-accord-plug-in-hybrid-comparison-test

Fusion Hybrid is a great choice, also has a very usable trunk with folding rear seats unlike the Camry & Accord hybrids. Fusion has won pretty much head to head test and is quite stylish and has great driving dynamics.

Don't buy a Corolla. Just don't.

Thanks. I live in NH so I do not have to deal with traffic or HOV lanes 99% of the time. My commute is 50 miles each way, 99% of which is highway.

Agreed on the corolla. I don't want to buy one. But my cheap side is forcing me to consider it.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

BMW, any reason you are going for the all wheel drive diesel one? Non awd would save some money. But also why not either the 2 series or a 328i?

I live in NH. We have 6 months of winter and the AWD will be much better in the snow. Particularly as (correct me if I am wrong) the 2WD 328's are rear wheel drive. I would be surprised if the local BMW dealer even stocks 2WD models.

The 2 series would be more fun to drive, but I have 2 small kids and I need a useable back seat.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

leftover 2013 g37x's going for cheap right now. Pros: AWD, powerful, comfy, whiff of upscale luxury at a bargain price. Cons: Not good on gas, not as refined as an audi or merc, last seasons merchandise.

 

[Imported]

If you can wait a few months, look at the Audi S3. Would probably be the most expensive on the list though. IIRC, the pricing guide for the S3 says a Prestige model would run around $46k. Or look at the A3 with appropriate packages. Would be far less.

 

[NutBucket]

Again, the 328d wagon I drove yesterday stickered at $48k with nav as the only option.

 

[Belegost]

leftover 2013 g37x's going for cheap right now. Pros: AWD, powerful, comfy, whiff of upscale luxury at a bargain price. Cons: Not good on gas, not as refined as an audi or merc, last seasons merchandise.

Another vote for taking a look at the G37x - my friend picked one up recently, and if I was in the market it would be good replacement for my C230K. It should have lower costs for service (if you're not the type to do the work yourself) than the Audi/BMW/MB.

My suggestion if you are looking at the German group, my experience has been that MB has the edge on reliability, especially in the powertrain. Those who I know that went Audi have all since left them. To give some idea beyond my personal anecdote; take the results for what you will, but Audi was recently placed in the 10 least reliable brands, and MB in the 10 most reliable.

Unsurprisingly Inifiti, Acura, and Lexus also slot into the top 10 in that survey, hard to go wrong with one if you're looking at a luxury vehicle.

 

[jaedaliu]

I like the 328 xdrive as an option. You'll get fantastic fuel economy in cruise control, and you already like it. I think you get like $3000 off if you pick it up in Germany. Can fly there to sign the paperwork then fly back and pocket some change, or take the family and get a heavily discounted vacation while driving your own car on the autobahn.

Can you finagle a company lease? No clue how the tax rules are supposed to work, but it's quite common for my friends at small companies to have the owners and senior employees driving leased cars and leveraging some type of tax benefit.

I would love to get one, but the cheap person in me will probably keep getting Toyota Camrys once every 10-15 years. (love my couch on wheels.)

 

[JulesMaximus]

I was in the same boat as you are about a year and a half ago. I was looking at used Lexus GS sedans and Mercedes-Benz and then I drove a Camry Hybrid. Really liked the way it drove and the fuel economy is excellent. Another car you may want to consider is the Avalon hybrid (same powertrain as the Camry) or the Lexus ES hybrid (same powertrain as Camry).

I wanted something nicer but I also wanted something cheap to operate that gets good mileage which automatically eliminates pretty much any German sedan.

 

[mmntech]

I'd go with the Civic over the Corolla any day. Same reliability but the Honda is the much nicer car all around IMO.

I haven't driven the new Fusions but the last generation was quite nice to drive. Very comfortable interior. At it's worst, you can at least fool everyone into thinking it's an Aston Martin.

It's well known that I hate German cars. I'd probably go with the BMW though over the Benz or VW. Gas prices have been pretty volatile while diesel has been pretty stable. At least here. When it comes to Volkswagen, I'd probably check out the Jetta TDI or the Golf Wagon TDI.

The new Accords are quite nice. More luxurious than they used to me.

I'd also check out the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata, and it's counterparts the Kia Forte and Optima.

For an ultra fuel sipping vehicle, there's always the perennial classic Prius. There's also the Chevy Volt. I've heard nothing but positives from owners.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I like my golf TDI.

I'd get that 328d xi

 

[Zargon]

I loved my fusion ecoboost titanium rental I had

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I like the 328 xdrive as an option. You'll get fantastic fuel economy in cruise control, and you already like it. I think you get like $3000 off if you pick it up in Germany. Can fly there to sign the paperwork then fly back and pocket some change, or take the family and get a heavily discounted vacation while driving your own car on the autobahn.

Can you finagle a company lease? No clue how the tax rules are supposed to work, but it's quite common for my friends at small companies to have the owners and senior employees driving leased cars and leveraging some type of tax benefit.

I would love to get one, but the cheap person in me will probably keep getting Toyota Camrys once every 10-15 years. (love my couch on wheels.)

Taking delivery in Germany is an option for me, as I have family in the Czech republic and it would be a good excuse to go see them. A fried of mine did that many years ago and it worked out well for him. Only issue for him was that he had to take U.S. delivery in Atlanta, because at that time that was where BMW was shipping their vehicles to the east coast.

Leasing is unfortunately not an option for me, as I put about 15-20k miles per year on a car. 100 miles a day 3 days a week will do that. If I had a shorter commute I would definitely consider a lease. Company car is unfortunately not an option either.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

If your looking corolla money, look at Mazda 3. If you want that price range with diesel, vw has some nice options ( 2015 golf is coming out, could get a good deal on a 2014).

Yeah I have pretty much nixed any Volkswagon as an option. Apart from being ugly (IMO), everyone I know who has owned one has said that they would not purchase a VW again if given the choice. Their cars just fell apart after 5 years.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

The new Accords are quite nice. More luxurious than they used to me.

Yeah from an interior materials standpoint my opinion is that the 20014 accord is akin to the 2009-2010 BMW 3 series but with better technology options. From a driving standpoint the 3 series blows the accord away (by a large margin), but I'm looking for a comfortable daily driver not a track car.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I was in the same boat as you are about a year and a half ago. I was looking at used Lexus GS sedans and Mercedes-Benz and then I drove a Camry Hybrid. Really liked the way it drove and the fuel economy is excellent. Another car you may want to consider is the Avalon hybrid (same powertrain as the Camry) or the Lexus ES hybrid (same powertrain as Camry).

I wanted something nicer but I also wanted something cheap to operate that gets good mileage which automatically eliminates pretty much any German sedan.

Your points are well taken. I was a toyota guy for a long time, but the reliability of other makes has caught up quite a bit, and across the board the Toyota line-up is just . . . milk toast . . . IMO. Honda used to be that way too but they are finally starting to realize that one way to even further expand their market share is to improve interior materials and technology. Which they have done quite well in the 2014 accord IMO. Ford was ahead in that movement (in the every day, joe schmo car sector), though their implementation in sedans has been iffy until lately.

Its crazy, really. 5 years ago I would have never even considered Ford for anything other than a truck. Times change.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I'd strongly advise against a Prius as you have 50-miles on the freeway. Those cars are tin cans to keep the weight down so they are brutal on the interstate, loud, buzzy, major wind noise the interior materials are atrocious.
The Prius is excellent at getting great fuel economy and is a much better city car than a hwy cruiser.

You really should look at the midsize offerings in 4-cyl flavor. The Altima will get 36-38mpg hwy all day long and is a comfy chap cruiser with good reliability. Its appliance like, but will be a major upgrade over a Corolla.

I got rid of my Euro turbo 6spd manual sedan for a Focus Titanium, It would probably feel small to you as your a big guy. I've averaged 33.1mpg over the life of the car and don't baby it. 50K miles on it and it has been problem free. My buddy has an Elantra and went from a Camaro 2SS to that as his commute changed. Roomier cabin & trunk but piss poor technology, lower HP engine, and suck ass handling.

Other buddy went from a STS V8 to a Jetta TDI Wagon - loves the mileage but has some gripes over VW's interior materials.

You've been fine all these years in a Corolla - so why dump $45K into a BMW when for $20-22K you can get yourself into a leather clad, heated seats, touch screen, parking sensors/camera compact. See Dart, Focus Titanium, Elantra Limited, Civic EX.

I do like the looks of the 2014 Accord Sport - great looking car that will get you around 35mpg hwy - If I had to cross shop mid-size cars it would come down to the Fusion & Accord - Altima if I wanted cheap and Mazda 6 if I wanted to pay the premium.