Need Recommendations for a fun, 4door sedan

[Fenixgoon]

OP are you located anywhere near western NY? I will probably be trading in an 07 Audi S6 ( with the godly sounding v10) in the next month or so. ( only 62k miles on it)

ygpm!

I really like my 2008 RX8, and it will fit 4 adults in reasonable comfort while still being a great sports car.

There have been a lot of good alternate suggestions in this thread, so go buck-wild with test drives and see what you wind up liking. I had researched myself into getting an M3 convertible, but I drove one and didn't like it at all.

I feel that this video is quite apropos to this discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbcj-zE7gBw

My favorite quote: "you're not buying a $22k car, you're buying a $50k car that's been beaten down to $22k"

that's a very good point. will check out the vid when i get home 🙂

 

[Wuzup101]

How about the Focus ST?

 

[dawp]

i'm afraid this is my opinion on the SHO 🙁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVhS9dd2-R8

well, the one I had was fun to drive.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I'm surprised that there aren't any BMW's in the list.

 

[jlee]

I'm surprised that there aren't any BMW's in the list.

OP is not interested in BMWs.

 

[zerocool84]

I really like my 2008 RX8, and it will fit 4 adults in reasonable comfort while still being a great sports car.

There have been a lot of good alternate suggestions in this thread, so go buck-wild with test drives and see what you wind up liking. I had researched myself into getting an M3 convertible, but I drove one and didn't like it at all.

I feel that this video is quite apropos to this discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbcj-zE7gBw

My favorite quote: "you're not buying a $22k car, you're buying a $50k car that's been beaten down to $22k"

The maintenance and gas costs of an RX8, he mine as well get a BMW the actually truly seats 4.

 

[railer]

wrx.

On your list, the G8 might be the least exciting, but it by far is the best bang for your buck. A regular 08/09 GT with reasonable miles is a cheap car, and should be relatively bullet proof and worry free. Unfortunately only available in a slushbox. Now the GXP potentally gets you a stick and an LS3...but they are just obscenely priced. Good luck finding a GXP for < 30k. Way too many bones for an 8 YO Pontiac IMO.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

wrx.

On your list, the G8 might be the least exciting, but it by far is the best bang for your buck. A regular 08/09 GT with reasonable miles is a cheap car, and should be relatively bullet proof and worry free. Unfortunately only available in a slushbox. Now the GXP potentally gets you a stick and an LS3...but they are just obscenely priced. Good luck finding a GXP for < 30k. Way too many bones for an 8 YO Pontiac IMO.

There are a couple GXP around me for a reasonable price, all automatic and over 50k miles though. The cheapest stick shift is $27k 🙁

 

[AdamK47]

There was a 20% off sale of the SS a while ago. You could have gotten a 2016 for 38K out the door. It was short lived with a stop sale concerning a seat belt recall that affected the Holden imports, SS and the Caprice PPV.

 

[JCH13]

The maintenance and gas costs of an RX8, he mine as well get a BMW the actually truly seats 4.

See: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/2011/st-101364626/cost-to-own/

vs: http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/3-series/2011/st-101276754/cost-to-own/

Objectively the RX8 is significantly cheaper than the lower-end 3-series BMW.

For interior dimensions see (click "Colors" then "Specifications"): http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/3-series/2011/st-101288737/features-specs/

vs: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/2011/features-specs/

Combined front and rear leg-room (i.e. how much room there is when you're able to slide the front seats forward and back) is about an inch bigger in the BMW. Not dramatically different. Having sat in the back of both a 3-series and an RX8 I can't say that either would be good for a road trip as an adult though.

 

[NutBucket]

Yep, definitely too small. Wife and I test drove a 328d wagon a couple years ago and loved it....except the price and size! The front seats were roomy enough but the rear was not practical for adults.

What we really want is either a 5-series wagon, E-series wagon or maybe the upcoming V90 wagon. I think our heads and wallets will say no to all 3 tho 😉

 

[JCH13]

*shrug* At 5'9" I can sit in the front seat with a friend behind me at 5'11" to 6'1" or so. It's not huge by any stretch, but it's reasonable to take short trips with 4x adults.

Always worth trying a new vehicle out with a couple people though, YMMV, I bring a friend to test drives for just that reason.

 

[NutBucket]

I'm 6', my wife about 5'6". I'm thin so any car is "roomy" in that sense. If I can't comfortably sit behind myself I consider the backseat "useless". My unscientific method 🙂

 

[agent00f]

See: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/2011/st-101364626/cost-to-own/

vs: http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/3-series/2011/st-101276754/cost-to-own/

Objectively the RX8 is significantly cheaper than the lower-end 3-series BMW.

For interior dimensions see (click "Colors" then "Specifications"): http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/3-series/2011/st-101288737/features-specs/

vs: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/2011/features-specs/

Combined front and rear leg-room (i.e. how much room there is when you're able to slide the front seats forward and back) is about an inch bigger in the BMW. Not dramatically different. Having sat in the back of both a 3-series and an RX8 I can't say that either would be good for a road trip as an adult though.

The rx-8's problem is that rotor seals are more likely to go than piston rings, which is rather expensive. It's one of those issues where one mistake by the previous owner can have consequences so definitely need to check compression & such before buying. The second gen is more reliable here because it has a good low oil warning and some kind of more active lubrication system.

The back seats in 8 are better for adults than most coupes because of the door opening size and fact they're not compromised for 3 abreast seating, and rather generous legroom.

 

[JCH13]

The rx-8's problem is that rotor seals are more likely to go than piston rings, which is rather expensive. It's one of those issues where one mistake by the previous owner can have consequences so definitely need to check compression & such before buying. The second gen is more reliable here because it has a good low oil warning and some kind of more active lubrication system.

The back seats in 8 are better for adults than most coupes because of the door opening size and fact they're not compromised for 3 abreast seating, and rather generous legroom.

The RX-8s problems are different from it costing more to own. When low-mileage used engines can be had for under $2k, and installs quoted at $500-1k, replacing an engine really isn't a disaster. It's not cheap, no, but compared to BMW maintenance... well... ask those people replacing $500 water pumps, $300 run-flat tires, and $1k brake jobs...

 

[agent00f]

Several K isn't end of the world, but still typically problematic for folks who are already buying a used car simply due to size of the sum. I say that as someone who rather likes the car. Of course, potentially several K for whatever random issue on a german car is par for course, they are not the best choice imo for anyone looking for a sure way to save money.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Am I crazy to think that maybe the V6 Lincoln MKZ belongs on this list? Looking at it spec-wise it seems like it would be in the pack. But I'm suspicious it would somehow manage to Domestic it all up. (That's a verb now. To take something that looks good on paper and cut corners so it sucks.)

 

[Excelsior]

No way the G8 is a good bang for the buck, and this is coming from a GM fan. They still command too high of a price on the used market, parts aren't particuarly plentiful, and the rear seats don't even fold down. I'd much rather go for a CTS-V if I was interested in a GM performance sedan.

Also, OP, why no consideration for a B8 S4?

 

[Leyawiin]

I'd go for a brand new Mazda 6 with a manual transmission. Pretty, fun to drive, reliable, new car warranty etc...

 

[RichUK]

Audi is fail. BMW all the way.