Need Advises on Cars
- Thread starter shak
- Start date
From your list, I'd go with the Lexus simply because it's the only Japonese ride on the list. If I had to suggest a vehicle, it would be the Acura TL.
not in the same class
With my 16 year old pickup truck in mind, I was going to vote for "other cars in the same class". But I decided the truck really isn't in that class. It's much more useful.
With my 16 year old pickup truck in mind, I was going to vote for "other cars in the same class". But I decided the truck really isn't in that class. It's much more useful.
I would have recommened the IS 250 but after seeing the new Camry..... It's just another rebadged rip off. Take a look at the rear end, almost identical. So for the price of an IS 250 you should buy a Camry V6 which will give you 268hp and 248 lb ft as opposed to 204hp and 185 lb ft and some change. If you can't look past the Toyota badge then go with the Audi A4. The Bimmer is a good choice but probably the most expensive on your list. The Mercedes is just too boring.
Here are some pictures:
and
They slap on a twin tail pipe, slightly different body, a couple of Lexus badges, nicer mags, leather, interior trims and a weaker engine and then want to charge you a few extra grand. Kind of like turning a SW into a $$$ independent, sounds familiar?
Here are some pictures:
and
They slap on a twin tail pipe, slightly different body, a couple of Lexus badges, nicer mags, leather, interior trims and a weaker engine and then want to charge you a few extra grand. Kind of like turning a SW into a $$$ independent, sounds familiar?
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Here's something for your imagination.steverino said:
Most 3 series come with vinyl seats, including the 325xi (they call it leatherette) for about $42.9K before taxes and PDI, unless you fork out an extra $10K for leather, only available when you move up to the 330 series. And then the leather is not that great a quality, unless you get the M3. For about the same money as the 325xi, you get the finest Italian leather in a Lexus, with a lot of other goodies thrown in for good measure, that is too lengthy to list here. The IS350's performance numbers are right up there with the M3, except the ride is probably a little more civilized. The IS350 lists at $48.9K; the M3 starts out at $84.5K... That's a lot of pooning money going to Deutschland!Let's see... for an extra $6K...
325xi = $42.9K, 215hp, 0-60 7.5sec.
M3 = $84.5K, 333hp, 0-60 5.2sec.
IS350 = $48.9K, 306hp, 0-60 5.3sec.
BMW = Expensive to buy + expensive to fix = Expensive to own.
Lexus = Cheaper to buy + seldom breaks down = Cheap to own.
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Buy the best engine and see if the rest of the cars fits you. For the kind of dough you are thinking of putting out you should get one of the best engines in the world.
I dont know much about higher end cars but for under 30k the best V6 in the world is the Nissan V6 3.5 VQ. Especially in the Maxima and Altima SER.
I am an average joe so I got myself a 06 Accord V6 6 speed. The J30 is a top notch motor with a awesome transmission. The rest of the car is like icing on the cake. Really do some research on which engine and tranny combination is the best out there in your price range.
I dont know much about higher end cars but for under 30k the best V6 in the world is the Nissan V6 3.5 VQ. Especially in the Maxima and Altima SER.
I am an average joe so I got myself a 06 Accord V6 6 speed. The J30 is a top notch motor with a awesome transmission. The rest of the car is like icing on the cake. Really do some research on which engine and tranny combination is the best out there in your price range.
That's for sure-BMWs are hilariously overpriced. They have done a brilliant job of convincing their customers that their cars are assembled by off-duty F1 mechanics-oh wait, the local dealer insists they are "technicians". Just wait 'til you are in a fenderbender, might be cheaper to write it off than fix it.Maury Beniowski said:
The Camry is equivalent to the Lexus ES series; a much larger car than the IS. While there are similar styling cues, the Camry and the IS are two very much different cars. The Camry is also built in the US, whereas all the Lexus products are built in Japan. That may explain higher prices for the similar platforms, but the trade-off is a better quality product IMHO. A close look at the Lexus lines reveals a much higher finish and attention to detail. It's definitely not like the Honda/Acura or Nissan/Infiniti transformations. In fact, Lexus is now marketed under its own badge in Japan and elsewhere to distinguish from the more mundane Toyota line, and are assembled in their own plant. Yes, there are identical modules used, but the assembly is where luxury lines diverge from the ordinary.wilde said:I would have recommened the IS 250 but after seeing the new Camry..... It's just another rebadged rip off. Take a look at the rear end, almost identical. So for the price of an IS 250 you should buy a Camry V6 which will give you 268hp and 248 lb ft as opposed to 204hp and 185 lb ft and some change. If you can't look past the Toyota badge then go with the Audi A4. The Bimmer is a good choice but probably the most expensive on your list. The Mercedes is just too boring.
Here are some pictures:
and
They slap on a twin tail pipe, slightly different body, a couple of Lexus badges, nicer mags, leather, interior trims and a weaker engine and then want to charge you a few extra grand. Kind of like turning a SW into a $$$ independent, sounds familiar?
Yes, but now we're friends.wilde said:You and I have been down this road before.
Actually, I'm looking at that IS350, and have been spending a lot of time in the showroom. Took one out for a spin, and it's a mighty sweet machine, with the emphasis on mighty. But, it's a sedan, and the price will have to improve dramatically before I make a move on it, since I prefer a coupe. Since it just came out, the dealers are only offering little crappy things like cargo nets and all-weather mats, which doesn't cut it for me. So, I gotta wait. Still when you stack up that IS 350 against the ES350, the bigger car really stands out value-wise. But it's a boulevard cruiser, so when I'm ready for that kind of car, I might as well go for the 2007 LS. The dealer tells me that model will have a get this, laser guided automatic parking system, which teams with the already offered laser cruise control system. Literally, the car will park itself. Go figure...wow, thx for all the input. I am not buying this car in north america, but rather getting the car in asia(its where i work now). Unfortunately, IS350 is not available here. Here is a break down of the best deal i can get, prices are all in forgein currency. They are all fully loaded (ie includes all the optional features available)
Lexux 06 IS250 - 1.71M
BWM 325 - 2.10M
M.BENZ C240 2.6 Classic - 2.20M
Audi A4 2.0 TDI - 1.60M
would this change your opinion ?
Lexux 06 IS250 - 1.71M
BWM 325 - 2.10M
M.BENZ C240 2.6 Classic - 2.20M
Audi A4 2.0 TDI - 1.60M
would this change your opinion ?
I'd have a hard-on drivin' any of them. You really can't go wrong.
I'd still go with the Lexus. And hey, it's the cheapest.
Bonus!
I'd still go with the Lexus. And hey, it's the cheapest.
Bonus!
Missingone - I got you beat. My truck is now 20 yrs old. LOLMissingOne said:With my 16 year old pickup truck in mind, I was going to vote for "other cars in the same class". But I decided the truck really isn't in that class. It's much more useful.
Buying in a foreign country situated in Asia for instance, means you're paying for ridiculous import duties. It might be cheaper to buy it here and ship the car to your location. The Lexus LS which costs C$85.7K in Canada, costs about C$223K @ 34THB : C$1.00, or more than double as much in most SE Asian countries, like Thailand in this example or Singapore. Other car values are proportionally priced, but the cars are equipped differently, with a lot of North American standard equipment not available in those countries. The import duties vary little from country to country, as they are usually are there to protect or prop up fledgling locally made car brands.shak said:
Here is an Expat chart from Thailand that shows relative prices, and models available.
Expat Motors, Bangkok
The IS250 is still an excellent car, for overseas anyway. If I was overseas now, I doubt if I would go for a hot rod, as the roads can be quite a challenge at the best of times, especially away from the big cities. But I would still want a more comfortable car to keep the pollution, noise and extreme heat where it belongs, outside. Those factors alone, quickly alter the requirements for a new purchase from performance to comfort, under those extreme conditions. Driving in the tropics is a completely different experience for the driver and passengers, unlike here. If you tried to boot it in Jakarta or Bangkok, you'd find your brakes wear out pretty fast.
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You've got two all wheel drives listed and of those two the A4 is the only choice....the bimmer xi models are problematic, the Mercedes is boring but a nice car.
My choice would be between the Audi and the Lexus, and then it's a matter of personal preference.
I own an Audi and other than the dealer service I can't say anything bad about them and the A4 is a proven performer plus the TDI engine is bulletproof, gets great mileage, and is good for 750000km.
My choice would be between the Audi and the Lexus, and then it's a matter of personal preference.
I own an Audi and other than the dealer service I can't say anything bad about them and the A4 is a proven performer plus the TDI engine is bulletproof, gets great mileage, and is good for 750000km.
