Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

2013+ S4

2018 Accord 2.0T

2018 Stinger



Out of those 3, I would do S4, but I have such a sweet spot for them.

charliemike

I sold it in July, I think. Still regret it but I had to drop a shitload of money last year on a wedding and rehabbing a townhouse. Plus, living downtown in DC with three cars didn't make sense. Because of the three dogs and the fact that my wife has an Elantra GT, it didn't make sense to keep the Mustang.

I've been looking at the SHO. I like Fords (I had a ST and a Mustang). I'm definitely going to go used so I may go drive one. Thanks

TylerT

iTrader: (1)

Agreed the posts above, huge value for $.

charliemike

Unfortunately, I think they are all over $28K. I think the Accord is probably the only one close to that number. I rode in one and was really surprised how nice it was.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

3 cars in DC?
I couldn't even figure out which way the traffic was going based on time of day! I'd have a bicycle!

00TL-P3.2

Fusion Sport
Mazda6 6MT?
Mazda3 Hatch 2.5l 6MT
Mazda CX5
Golf/Jetta Sportwagen
Civic Sport

Not sure if that budget could get you into a 6MT 2.0T Accord Sport.
Lease a Stinger?

Bumping up in size, you could go to an EcoBoost Edge/Flex/Explorer

charliemike

I know. Fortunately, I lived where there was diagonal parking and not parallel but we've moved and now it's all street parking.

nist7

For what its worth I drove a 2017 Tauraus Limited as a rental recently and while trunk is huge, the interior is not as big as the car size is and the finish/quality you can tell was wearing quite a bit for just a 1-year old car...of course it was also a rental with about 10k miles on it so that definitely plays a part into it. Definitely test drive used examples to see how you like them. Of course I assume SHO's would be higher optioned and the bigger motor would override some of the negatives.

charliemike

I've been looking at both the Ecoboost Edge and the 2014 Edge Sport which has the 3.7L V6. They are definitely in the mix as they have a lot of the same safety and technology features I'm familiar with from my Mustang.

The Mazda 3 and GTI are both a little small for three dogs, even if it's very rare that we use it for that. I've looked at the Alltrack but VW has really fucked up their sunroofs and leaks abound.

I don't think I want to do another lease. I'd like to pay this car off and stop having payments for a while.

00TL-P3.2

Having the 2.7TT in my F150, I'd imagine the Edge Sport has to be a blast.

The CX5 is a nice driver, definitely drives more like a car than a 'SUV'. Shame the 6MT isn't available with the 2.5 though.

What kind of dogs?

nist7

This may be out of your budget but I've been salivating over the CTS Vsport sedans 2014+. 400+hp TT on a sporty and very well-received chassis. Only issues is most examples are going to be in the 30-35k range IIRC....maybe if you delayed for a year?

charliemike

I have an English Springer Spaniel, a Border Collie/Chow mix, and a Beagle/Lab mix. Sam, Tilly, and Buford (respectively).

Majofo

2G CTS-V

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I'd get one...they seem reasonably priced for what you get.

Majofo

No you wouldn't

00TL-P3.2

Coming back to this part. The desktop site always loaded a bit odd for me. Turns out, adblock+ was severely degrading Chrome performance. Turned it off, get a couple ads here & there (no pop-up ads) but it's sooo much faster.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

you did this trick to me once already and it fucking worked, ya dick!

nist7

Heck yeah man. Early V2 sedans available in the 30k-40k range!

Now just need to wait few more years to see if the V3 can be moved down into attainable range.......

Majofo

I've seen some V3s in the mortal range.

I've seen some V2s in the 20s.

But I'm sure OP wants something more refined

nist7

Just keep a light right foot and it'll be refined for sure!

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Who the hell buys a V2 sedan....

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Edge Sport or CX-5.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

The Cadillac is refined...
like a sledgehammer with a rubber sleeve over it.

Majofo

It's called a condom

TacoBello

Magnum sized, to boot.

charliemike

We went to the DC Auto Show yesterday and sat in just about every SUV/Crossover they had there and narrowed the list down to three SUVs:

Ford Edge Sport, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Murano.

The Murano is on the outside right now because Nissan doesn't have Apple Car Play. But it's all about the driving experience. The interiors for all three were good or great for the price level. The Mazda is even nicer in person than car magazines describe it.

We've increased the budget a notch to $32K. I'm hoping the diesel CX-5 comes out soon to drive it. Otherwise, it'll be a Grand Touring gas engine version.

Right now, my preference is Edge Sport, CX-5, Murano. Edge and Murano would be used; the Mazda as a new car.

We sat in the Alltrack and as much as I like the idea of a wagon, it's just far too much money for the quality of the car overall. Plus, the panoramic sunroofs have a chronic leaking problem VW hasn't fixed.

Sarlacc

I'd go with the all new CX-5, personally.

charliemike

The wife likes that the most and with the new G-Vectoring it's supposed to handle really well. I'm just concerned the 184hp is not going to be enough to make it feel like it has any guts.

I don't need a Grand Cherokee SRT-8 but I don't like pressing the pedal and feeling like nothing is happening when I need it.

SamDoe1

If you're open to another lease, check out the Volvo V90/V90XC. The lease deals on Volvos right now are epic and even more so if you have a Costco membership.

charliemike

That's really intriguing but we're looking to buy something this time.

Sarlacc

charliemike

We sat it in it and it's amazing. The Signature model is an incredible value for the money. It's just too big. We don't need all that room and with the parking situation here, it would be a royal pain in the ass to find spots to fit it a lot of the time.

But man, Mazda really stepped it up with that new version.

00TL-P3.2

The Edge definitely has the power advantage, love the EcoBoost 2.7 in my F150.
We looked at a slightly (pre-MMC) CX-5 prior to getting our Flex. I loved the car-like handling it had, but my wife didn't like it as much. Wonder if the 2.5T will make its way into the CX-5 eventually.
Not a big Nissan fan, personally. And the last Murano I had as a rental had a garbage CVT.

charliemike

It sounds like Mazda doesn't have any interest in adding the 2.5T but instead use their new diesel with it's 280lb-ft of torque for more punch.

I like the Edge Sport a lot too and look forward to driving it.

The Murano's CVT post 2015 is supposed to be much better, including simulated shifting. Most of the reviews I've read had no complaints. Thanks for the feedback on the 2.7T and the CVT!

00TL-P3.2

Assumption says the Edge is lighter than the F150, which is already quick with the 2.7
I believe there's a member here with a Livernois tuned Edge Sport. I know of the pre-2018 F150, that nets 400lb/ft of torque. Post-2018, the 2.7 in the F150 gets dual injection & makes 400tqe stock.

I'm starting to consider potentially replacing the F150, if the sunroof can't get fixed, I can deal with the box of rocks in the roof. Everyone getting new stuff makes for less research.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

What are you thinking?

00TL-P3.2

No idea really. The Stinger & G70 have my eye, but unlikely to be in the same price range as my F150 was when I got it.
Another F150, would be an easy swap. Maybe a Fusion Sport/ST or Mazda 6T.

Gotta have 4 doors & room for 2 carseats.

If they can just fix the pano roof in the truck, I'd be content to stick with it.

charliemike

We are going to test drive the CX-5 Grand Touring this weekend. Passat lease is up 2/25.

The Mazda seems like a very nice vehicle for the money but I don't know that I can bring myself to buy something that's just so pedestrian from a performance perspective. Turns out, my perceptions are wrong.

0-60 is like 8.1 seconds. 50-70 acceleration is 5.5 seconds.

Conversely, the Passat (which I felt like was adequate) is 7.7 to 60 and 5.8 50-70 ...

My brain is stupid.

Both are slow AF compared to my Focus ST and Mustang Ecoboost I had previously though.

00TL-P3.2

The CX5 should give a nice, agile ride too. Not sure what all has changed on them since the 2015 GT we drove.
I took a spin in a used 2015 Edge Sport, after dropping my truck off for service. Good power & a much better sound from the 2.7 than I have in the F150.
If we didn't already have the Flex, I'd steer my wife to looking at one.

charliemike

The CX-5 has had a major revision of everything with the update last year. Basically the chassis is the same but everything else is new.

We sat in one at the car show and for $30K for a FWD Grand Touring, with how stupidly expensive cars are now, it was about as good as one could expect for the step down from Audi/Mercedes, etc.

I'm definitely going to drive the Edge Sport. Wife likes the Mazda more at this point so I want to get that out of the way first.