Probably going to need some car ideas in the 6k to 10k range...

[mvbighead]

Hail damage to my 2007 Impala. Brought it in and the guy's guesstimate was totaled, will hav official word later today. Windshield is smashed, rear window has a gaping hole, and the rear driver's side door window is knocked out. Anywhere from nickel to softball sized hail dents on the 'roof', quarter panels, hood, doors, etc. Head light knocked out, and a crack in the tail light. Guy also mentioned water damage which is likely considering the amount of time stuck in the storm with missing windows. I believe they reported we received 5-6 inches of rain in one day.

So, all that aside, I figure it is time to get some ideas. That car had about 140k miles on it. Cost to buy from a dealer seems to be about 7800-8000 according to TrueCar and KBB. Not sure yet how that'll go with insurance, but we'll see.

Features I am looking for:
AWD (a near must)- I would like to have the piece of mind in winter that I won't be completely out of luck getting up my hill if I don't leave work in time with this vehicle. The car has generally been fine, but the Subaru never leaves any doubt.

Leather(would be nice) - Have had this in most cars recently, and I would like to stay that way... heated seats and all.

Dual climate (nice, but not completely necessary) - Have had this in the Impala and Tribeca, and the wife runs cold while I run hot. This car will mostly be the secondary vehicle to the Tribeca, so not completely necessary.

Mileage - right around 20mpg is what I've gotten, so somewhere around or above that would be great. I don't imagine this will be too hard to accommodate.

Miles - Less than 150k, the less the better generally

Year - Probably 2003 or newer. Newer body styles preferred.

Title - Clean; not a salvage title.

Body style - Sedan, small SUV, maybe a wagon (but most I don't find to be my cup of tea). Open to suggestions.

I've been considering Audi, but I am not sure of what their maintenance looks like. A4 would be too small, so would need to go A6 or higher. Could also do an SUV.

Not a huge fan of Pilot/Element/or much of anything Honda has to offer.

Another Subaru could fit the bill, just about any model, but if the wife and I don't like the look, it's out.

Generally not a fan of most Dodge vehicles, so probably not likely to go that route. Probably going to go with something other than Chevy also, I've had an Equinox in this price range and was not impressed.

What am I missing? I am looking for something reliable. I had originally intended to take the impala past 200k, but I probably won't have that chance.

 

[mvbighead]

Options:
http://omaha.craigslist.org/ctd/4497670474.html

http://omaha.craigslist.org/ctd/4493458561.html

http://omaha.craigslist.org/ctd/4492593026.html

http://omaha.craigslist.org/ctd/4485968213.html

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4483772970.html

http://lincoln.craigslist.org/ctd/4497172647.html

Some of the options above aren't going to fly as I most likely will steer away from black and other dark colors (dirt/rock road). But if I find a similar model with a more preferred color I may be inclined to go that route.

 

[CurseTheSky]

In the $6-10k range, I would stay away from most luxury vehicles. Rather than shopping for BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, etc., I'd be looking at Camrys, Accords, Fusions, Altimas, etc. The lower the miles, the better. Also, that Mazda CX-7 that you listed has a salvage title.

This looks promising:

http://lincoln.craigslist.org/ctd/4482954095.html

Another one:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4487384188.html

 

[mvbighead]

I am particularly liking the silver one a bit more, but both look nice.

My only thing with the luxury cars is that there are some known to drive 200-300k miles (Lexus ES300, LS400, etc). If I can find something that is build with a solid engine and transmission, I can deal with most of the nickel and dime stuff myself.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Ford 500... that is pretty much sitting at the top of the list. Almost a drop in replacement for the Impala plus the one extra feature I wanted, AWD.

 

[halik]

In the $6-10k range, I would stay away from most luxury vehicles. Rather than shopping for BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, etc., I'd be looking at Camrys, Accords, Fusions, Altimas, etc. The lower the miles, the better. Also, that Mazda CX-7 that you listed has a salvage title.

This looks promising:

http://lincoln.craigslist.org/ctd/4482954095.html

Another one:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4487384188.html

For a dd appliance, the 500 is probably awesome value. Super underrated usually translates to underpriced, sort of the opposite of the used civic premium.

From the lux selection the o/p provider, I personally would do the Audi A6 (owned the same 2.7T one bought at 108K, sold at 148? something K, solid cars), but you have to know how to work on them. Stupid thing like secondary air pump is ~1200 at the dealer, or $100 diy. Same thing for valve cover gasket, simple DIY or hundreds at the dealership. There's also the turbo risk,though not really that prevalent on automatic A6s.

The C class benz will probably be the best bang for lux $ when it comes to maintenance and reliability. Still built like a benz (aluminum suspension pieces, quality interior, sound deadening, padding on everything so it won't rattle with miles etc etc), but reasonably simple drivetrain.

 

[mvbighead]

For a dd appliance, the 500 is probably awesome value. Super underrated usually translates to underpriced, sort of the opposite of the used civic premium.

From the lux selection the o/p provider, I personally would do the Audi A6 (owned the same 2.7T one bought at 108K, sold at 148? something K, solid cars), but you have to know how to work on them. Stupid thing like secondary air pump is ~1200 at the dealer, or $100 diy. Same thing for valve cover gasket, simple DIY or hundreds at the dealership. There's also the turbo risk,though not really that prevalent on automatic A6s.

The C class benz will probably be the best bang for lux $ when it comes to maintenance and reliability. Still built like a benz (aluminum suspension pieces, quality interior, sound deadening, padding on everything so it won't rattle with miles etc etc), but reasonably simple drivetrain.

Honestly, the Audi has always been in the back of my mind (prior to the damage). With the recent damage, I just figure why not do something I have some interest in. As for how to work on them... most of what I've done to this point is based on manuals and youtube/forums, so so long as it has some decent following, I'd think I could knock many of the minor things out myself.

The Benz would be nice I bet, and I would like the sound deadening quiet ride. Something I've never experienced in a car. I am a bit leary there, but at the same time, I would really like a nice, comfortable, quiet car.

Mercedes C class
Audi A6
Ford Five Hundred

Those are some very different options I guess. Wondering which I'd have better luck with (as in, not experiencing any major faults).

 

[halik]

Honestly, the Audi has always been in the back of my mind (prior to the damage). With the recent damage, I just figure why not do something I have some interest in. As for how to work on them... most of what I've done to this point is based on manuals and youtube/forums, so so long as it has some decent following, I'd think I could knock many of the minor things out myself.

The Benz would be nice I bet, and I would like the sound deadening quiet ride. Something I've never experienced in a car. I am a bit leary there, but at the same time, I would really like a nice, comfortable, quiet car.

Mercedes C class
Audi A6
Ford Five Hundred

Those are some very different options I guess. Wondering which I'd have better luck with (as in, not experiencing any major faults).

Can't speak for the 500, but i know the Edges have some issues with the AWD xfer case. The big ticket item, if you hit it, on the A6 are the turbos - engine needs to come out etc. The c class, as far as i know, are bulletproof.

 

[mvbighead]

Can't speak for the 500, but i know the Edges have some issues with the AWD xfer case. The big ticket item, if you hit it, on the A6 are the turbos - engine needs to come out etc. The c class, as far as i know, are bulletproof.

So if I got an A6 without turbo, I'd be fine most likely? I am thinking most of the options I saw weren't turbo, but I could have missed something.

 

[halik]

So if I got an A6 without turbo, I'd be fine most likely? I am thinking most of the options I saw weren't turbo, but I could have missed something.

Yeah both the 3.0 and 4.2L are better options. Both of those are timing belt motors though, so at some point you'll have ~1200 dollar expense to get that done. The 4.2L specifically is neat, because you get the wide fender flares.

 

[mvbighead]

Giving this one some thought... it is a bit older, but it fits most of my requirements:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/ctd/4485968213.html

 

[mvbighead]

Well, the car is totaled. $7800 minus 500 deductible leaves 7300. I can throw in some cash, but the wife and I would prefer to avoid payments for this vehicle.

I might swing back to the Ford Five Hundred... a lot of the luxury types require premium, and gas is expensive enough. That said, I suppose with as much driving as I intend to do with this vehicle, it may not be that big of a deal. Just the idea stings of paying an extra $4-5 a tank. Decisions.

I can buy back the Impala for roughly 1500. Not sure it's worth the time/effort to replace all the windows, have dents pulled, and try to make another grand on resale. Everything drive wise is fine, just replacing glass, replace the hood, and pull dents I suspect. Suck.

 

[mvbighead]

Any opinions on a 2005 E500:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...38474&minPrice=6000&listingId=370714831&Log=0

 

[Knavish]

No offense intended, but if you're thinking about the extra price of premium gas then why would you consider a premium brand car with its high cost parts, tires, etc...

Parts on your impala are typically much cheaper (and probably easier to work on) than something like an Audi or Merc. If you are entertained by the more expensive car and enjoy (and have time) to do the work yourself, then it's worth considering.

Also, on the premium side of things, are there good deals to be had on an infinity G35x?

 

[mvbighead]

No offense intended, but if you're thinking about the extra price of premium gas then why would you consider a premium brand car with its high cost parts, tires, etc...

Parts on your impala are typically much cheaper (and probably easier to work on) than something like an Audi or Merc. If you are entertained by the more expensive car and enjoy (and have time) to do the work yourself, then it's worth considering.

Also, on the premium side of things, are there good deals to be had on an infinity G35x?

That's a good point also, no offense taken. It's just something that is ingrained in my brain.

I had seen some G35X in the range, I believe I had heard reliability on those was supposed to be good. I just haven't been looking for a while.

I keep leaning more toward the luxury route more so for comfort. I drive 20-25 miles of highway to and from work daily. Every so often we drive 300+ miles to see her family (though that may likely be in the Subaru (family car)). At this point, I'd like to get something I enjoy a bit more without spending much extra. Never had any real issue with the car, but I just want something that is a better 'cruiser' so to speak.

Again, that could be a Ford Five hundred, but I am not ready to throw some of the options out so long as their transmissions and engines are solid. (I had once considered Cadillac, but the northstar engines were suggested to be common for failures that were expensive to fix, so it's definitely not on my radar.)

I'll see what Infinti options I can find.

 

[Belegost]

Can't speak for the 500, but i know the Edges have some issues with the AWD xfer case. The big ticket item, if you hit it, on the A6 are the turbos - engine needs to come out etc. The c class, as far as i know, are bulletproof.

I drive an 04 C230, and yea, the engine/drivetrain are solid, and the suspension is great, smooth but responsive. Plus the added luxury of the interior is appreciated during my commute. And the used pricing is really good on them.

Most of the issues I've had with it are with the non-essentials - mine has a panoramic roof, and the gearing on it is weak, and without some mod work it wears out quick. Other complaint is the shifter trim uses crummy plastic clips to attach to the wood/aluminum and they break over time. If you look around the benz forums, there's a quick mod with a bit of wire/paperclips that I did to fix it. I do have a tie rod I need to replace, but that's more on me for taking the corners fast in a RWD. =)

As for costs - if you're able to do the maintenance and basic repairs on your own, it's not bad. I haven't noticed a huge difference between it and my old SE-R. However, if you're reliant on taking it to a shop, expect to pay a premium.

 

[kitatech]

I keep leaning more toward the luxury route more so for comfort. I drive 20-25 miles of highway to and from work daily. Every so often we drive 300+ miles to see her family (though that may likely be in the Subaru (family car)). At this point, I'd like to get something I enjoy a bit more without spending much extra. Never had any real issue with the car, but I just want something that is a better 'cruiser' so to speak.

Camry with the I4 for more MPG or Avalon with the V6...highway MPG = 10% difference but the Avalon is perhaps more the feel or a luxo cruiser...my 05 LE I4 is still tight as a drum @ 119k miles (bought 20k ago), and cruising comfortable even on recent 1400 mile/2-day drive averaging 35mpg at 70-80mph.

The 05/06 Camry can be had for under $7.5k with 100k or fewer miles.

 

[CurseTheSky]

The thing about Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc. is that you're going to pay more for the repairs (either in parts, or labor, or both) when they come. If you're buying a car with around 100k miles, you need to start thinking about potential repairs that are coming up in the next 30-50k miles. Sometimes absolutely nothing will go wrong, other times you could easily be out several thousand dollars.

As they say, you have to pay to play. Whether it's maintenance, fuel, insurance (get a quote on one of those), or something else. If you really, REALLY want a luxury vehicle, go for it. If frugality is your top priority, I'd look elsewhere.

 

[halik]

I drive an 04 C230, and yea, the engine/drivetrain are solid, and the suspension is great, smooth but responsive. Plus the added luxury of the interior is appreciated during my commute. And the used pricing is really good on them.

Most of the issues I've had with it are with the non-essentials - mine has a panoramic roof, and the gearing on it is weak, and without some mod work it wears out quick. Other complaint is the shifter trim uses crummy plastic clips to attach to the wood/aluminum and they break over time. If you look around the benz forums, there's a quick mod with a bit of wire/paperclips that I did to fix it. I do have a tie rod I need to replace, but that's more on me for taking the corners fast in a RWD. =)

As for costs - if you're able to do the maintenance and basic repairs on your own, it's not bad. I haven't noticed a huge difference between it and my old SE-R. However, if you're reliant on taking it to a shop, expect to pay a premium.

My mom put some 80K on the previous generation c-class with one unexpected expense (~$350 for a belt tensioner) over the 5 years she had it.

 

[mvbighead]

The thing about Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc. is that you're going to pay more for the repairs (either in parts, or labor, or both) when they come. If you're buying a car with around 100k miles, you need to start thinking about potential repairs that are coming up in the next 30-50k miles. Sometimes absolutely nothing will go wrong, other times you could easily be out several thousand dollars.

As they say, you have to pay to play. Whether it's maintenance, fuel, insurance (get a quote on one of those), or something else. If you really, REALLY want a luxury vehicle, go for it. If frugality is your top priority, I'd look elsewhere.

The frugality aspect is just something in my nature. Eventually I see myself having something nicer.

As for extra maintenance cost, I figure as long as the engine/transmission and key bits are solid, I can deal with the other stuff. And if it is a luxury type car that I enjoy driving, I'll be more inclined to put the time into it.

At this point, despite being all over the place, I may be leaning slightly more towards Infinity as I believe they are similar in many respects to Nissan. Also, they seem to be a bit more common, so I believe I might have better luck with forums and such.

Still haven't narrowed it down to anything specific yet, but I figure I'll try to find some options to try out on saturday.

Here's a slightly older more local option:
http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4457006513.html

Posted about a week ago, I may be a outta luck.

 

[mvbighead]

Top picks so far between me and the wife (as far as style, etc):

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...us=75&minPrice=7000&listingId=370714831&Log=0

2005 Mercedes E-500 - 137k miles, AWD, 8 cylinder,
$8500

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/4457006513.html

2004 Infiniti G35X - 88k miles AWD 6 cylinder
$7500

2003 Mercedes C Class 320:
http://omaha.craigslist.org/ctd/4485968213.html
121k miles, $7k

The Ford Five Hundred is at best a fallback plan, it's not very stylish (less so than my super impressive 07 Impala that is being replaced).

I realize one of the Mercedes above is not the C class, but the price is around the right ballpark.

Any thoughts directly about either of the two? Does the E500 have the same type of engine/transmission reliability as was suggested about the C class?

Any reason to be concerned about that Infiniti? I will say, either of these two leaves us with plenty of spare cash for fixing things up if it would end up being required down the road. Otherwise, there was this option:
http://www.infinitiofomaha.com/used/Infiniti/2007-Infiniti-G35x-69e3fc5a0a0a004947c17aa774864e5f.htm

2007 Infiniti G35X - 145k miles
$13000

Problem here is the mileage is much higher than the other two, and the price is a fair bit more than we wish to spend on the secondary vehicle.

 

[kitatech]

Good finds!

 

[halik]

I believe both the benzes have the 722.6 trans, which is essentially bulletproof. You should check benzworld forums on the v8; I had the 4.3L version in a CLK that was maintenance-free.

 

[dbcooper1]

If you consider the Lexus LS and ES, don't overlook the GS; I've had one for a while and it's been great so far- 190K and counting.

 

[thedarkwolf]

For what it is worth my Dad bought an AWD 500 new and hasn't had any major problems with it I can remember other than the throttle body soon after buying it. He is/was a traveling salesman so he has put a lot of miles on it. It is a rather boring car but it is very comfortable and gets decent mileage.

 

[mvbighead]

For what it is worth my Dad bought an AWD 500 new and hasn't had any major problems with it I can remember other than the throttle body soon after buying it. He is/was a traveling salesman so he has put a lot of miles on it. It is a rather boring car but it is very comfortable and gets decent mileage.

Are you referring to the ford or the Mercedes?