Hi Guys (the five of you that will actually see this thread),

I'm looking for something to replace the TL. It runs like a champ but is showing it's age cosmetically and I'm leaning more towards an automatic ( :barf: ) due to the type of driving I find myself doing lately (i.e. stuck in traffic)

Here are my requirements:
~ $20k-ish. Used, don't really care about the miles as long as it is a vehicle known for reliability. Cheaper would be better.
~ Should look "newer" than a mid 00's TL lol
~ "Luxury Brand" or something that has a pretty decent interior if not a luxury brand. I recently sat in a '12 camry that actually felt pretty on-par with the TL interior wise, but exterior is already dated
~ Sedan and not too underpowered or crappy to drive

My thoughts:

I like the IS350 but they are hard to come by in Colorado since they weren't AWD until 2011. IS250 are plentiful, but still kinda expensive in this market. Also a little slow for my tastes.

2nd Gen TSX - There are a handful of 3.5 V6 ones in colorado, that would be swell. My wife's old TSX also ran great and was cheap to own. I imagine maintenance goes up with the V6. We drove a TSX wagon that felt noticeably peppier than my wifes, despite having a pretty much identical drivetrain.

I have also checked out the '12 TL 3.7 SH-AWD and it seems like a winner except it's a little larger than I would like (buying a new house with a garage that's much smaller than what I'm used to)

I have also driven a few other cars: CTS 3.6 seats are rock hard and hurt my ass. Hyundai 2.0t not as peppy as expected and has some cheapness factor going on in the interior. Subaru Legacy OK interior but ugly as fawk exterior and pretty slow.

Any suggestions, anything I'm not thinking about? I remember Corey got a Buick, I wonder how that's working out.

:dunno:

 

Last-gen RX350? It's Xanax on wheels, but I figure they'd be plentiful?
Otherwise... Buick Verano, Lincoln MKZ / Zephyr, Infiniti G sedan are the first that come to mind.

 

We've already got an RX350, lol. But my wife gets weird when I take it to work. And it makes me feel like a post-menopausal housewife.

I'll check out the Lincolns, thanks for the suggestion. I'm not real keen on the Infiniti G due to previous Infiniti ownership experience (Nissan QC is pretty hit-or miss it seems).

 

wife? woah there batamn slow down, when did this happen? I'd vote for the tsx, i love those little things.

 

like 2.5 years ago

I like the TSX too, just for the simple honda factor. Maybe I could get a 4banger and turbo it :rick:

Or the other option is to give the TL some serious TLC and keep driving it. But I think the clutch isn't long for this world and they are pricey to replace due to the dual-mass flywheel.

 

that tl is outdated bro.

 

TSX with V6 is a pretty quick ride, and of course Honda. I really like the SH-AWD TL.

You can pick up the Lincoln MK-S for next to nothing as their resale value is shit. They are available with the ecoboost and AWD and haul balls for a "lux" car. My grandma and mother in law both drive them, and they are pretty nice.

 

Went to carmax last night and checked out:

2104 Mazda 6: this car was really impressive in terms of fit and finish compared to other mazdas I've been in (and most other brands too). Absolutely gorgeous inside and out. 38mpg is cool and all, but I'm not sure how I feel about 180hp

2015 Ford Fusion: not bad but the center button area seemed really cheap. Maybe a titanium model would look a little more upscale. My wife liked this one the best. 2.0 ecoboost = easy power upgrades via cobb.

2013 Buick Regal: crossing this one off the list. Just didn't feel quite right.

MKS is just too damn big. But a 3.5 ecoboost in any "car" is tempting, even if it is a barge.

 

Mazda6 is beautiful. Ford Fusion...is a Fusion...

 

I also checked out a Mercedes C300 yesterday and the interior was almost identical to the mazda. I wonder if they intentionally copied :rick:

Phat, how are your mercs holding up? How are the maintenance bills?