hemants

Background : Went from 2001 A4 1.8T to 2002 TL Type S. Love my type s with comptech sways, tokico illumina shocks, and H&R 50103 springs. But I'm turning 40 and it's time for something new. A4 was traded in for Minivan.

Test drives thus far :

A6 3.2 and 4.2
BMW 550
Merc CLS500
Acura RL
Lexus GS450h, IS350, GS430, GS300AWD
Infiniti M35X, M45, G35X

Other planned test drives :

S4 tiptronic
CLK63 cabrio
CLK63

Some observations :

Best kick = BMW550, GS450h no contest, I'd bet the GS is faster

Best handling = A6 4.2, GS300AWD, Acura RL -> I guess I like the way AWD handles even on dry

Best steering = BMW 550 by far

Ergonomics = OMG BMW sucks so bad - can't even put air on my feet without the stupid joystick, RL, GS seem most intuitive

Styling = Merc wins here for me, Audi A4 and A8 look nice, A6 leaves me feeling "nice family sedan", Lexus is nice but lacking umph, the bangled 5 has grown on me, I like it now, which is a complete 180 (still hate the 6)

The active suspension is not available in the GS450h in Canada, without it the car handled like a buick. too bad, otherwise this could be the car for me. Maybe aftermarket sways would help?

IS350 has nice zip but engine note is boring and car is "good enough"

G35X is definately the best in this class. Handling, comfort are well balanced. Too bad the exterior does nothing for me. And I think I need an AMG, S, or M car to get me through my crisis.

When will the Japanese create supertuned brands??? I know the IS500 is coming but will it say "holy crap"???

SiGGy

Good choices, the only one I find totally boring is the RL. That's not a midlife crisis.

You can pretty much guess the IS500 will be an automatic.

Have you considered a used E55? that screams midlife crisis

hemants

I've definately considered the E55. But I think I'd take the CLS55 over that.

Still trying to get my head around driving a soft top convertible through the winter as well. Otherwise a CLK55 cabrio might be good.

I really wish the SL500 had a back seat - hardtop convertible would be ultimate. Only volvo makes one with a back seat and it's FWD.

Beltfed

You're all over the map price range wise.

srika

SC430? oh wait, did you want usable back seats?

fast-tl

Yeah, don't you need to lay out parameters, so you'll know what to shop? Or is price no object, Mr. Crisis?

I saw you need a back seat, otherwise a Vette is the standard midlife crisis answer! I plan to have my crisis a little early, though. I see far too many 70 years olds in Vettes!

derrick

Hemant,

Definitely consider importing your car from the US. If you're looking at Lexus, check out meadelexus of Michigan. They sell cars to Ontarians all the time. In fact, they advertise in the Windsor Star EVERY DAY. It's crazy how much you will save by importing.

I will buy my next car (if exchange rates remain the same) next year. I'm talking about C$5000+ on anything over C$40k. Only small headaches are dealing with RIV (registry of imported vehicles), a trip or two to Canadian Tire (they certify your car as 'road legal' in Canada ... DRLs, etc), then e-test ... trip to get your plates + sticker ... you're done.

Don't worry about the non-sense of only being able to import cars that are 6 months old. My friend bought a brand new Honda Oddysey as well as a Volvo S40 from Michigan and saved C$10k total for both cars. We are fools in Canada to put up with all this extra tax as well as manufacturers trying to bleed us for 'Canada-spec' autos.

F23A4

....seems like the only thing missing is a reference to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

taitando

Yeah, where exactly are you on pricing? If you're looking at at the MB CLS, that's a starting price of $66,900USD without options. Throw in some basic options, and the car is looking at $80K on up. If I had that amount to blow, I'd probably get an RS4 as a mid-life crisis car.

GldCrzy

so if the car didnt come with the drl's what do they do? i might have my lude shipped up to me sometime in the next year and was always curious about that. do you know if they care about the car being modified also?

Fibonacci

If you want to import an F430 from Michigan to ease you midlife crisis, I'll be happy to deliver it for you - no charge!

ludachrisvt

iTrader: (2)

The CLS 550 is out now. They got rid of the bullshit active steering and bumped it by 86Hp! GO CLS!

derrick

Hemants,

The weather was great out the past few days ... any more visits to GTA dealerships? Or are you gonna wait for the 2007 releases of some models? I enjoy living vicariously through you and Gav ...

If you decide on an AMG / M / S / RS ... definitely buy one used. I cannot justify the added cost of these limited production cars in Canada compared to the US counterparts.

hemants

Price range is probably less than $80k USD.

That would mean a new CLS 550 or a used CLS55.

I'm also seriously considering a cabrio - like S4 Cabrio or CLK cabrio. But is the CLK a girl car? Hmmmm

Oh, and I want it to be an auto - crazy I know but i drive in stop and go so auto tranny is my preference (also a bit of wife factor).

If money was no object I'd by the new CL coupe - hot sex on wheels....

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Why spend that much money on a car? I mean, just b/c you can afford something still doesn't make it a smart purchase. Maybe it's just me... but I've totally changed my outlook on cars and I put my money into appreciating assets instead of depreciating ones (and yes, this is a fairly recent thing... only last year we owned 4 cars for two people!).

Why not just get a low mileage pre-owned Lotus Elise, Porsche Boxster S, Corvette C6, or something like that? Perfect for a mid-life crisis and costs half as much as the price range you posted, maybe even less.

F23A4

If you can haggle this down by $5k, it will be within that price range.

derrick

Hemant -- I think you've been holding back on some of those stock tips ... Best of luck with your choice. For that much cash, I would seriously advise just leasing that car for 3 years ... drop only 1/2 of that on lease payments and invest the rest on something else. (I hope you own a business so you can recoup the lease payments on your income taxes ...)

juniorbean -- Lotus just started selling in Canada ... the Canadian dealership that has exclusive rights for distribution (Gentry Lane) are dicks (based upon what I've heard) so I would avoid them like the plague. Plus ... Hemant prefers an auto tranny. So to the Lotus. I would also recommend a Porsche since it does have the 'tiptronic' option ... you find some for relatively cheap (by Canadian standards). But if Hemant thinks a CLK is a girlie car ... what about a Boxster?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Good call, didn't check his location and forgot about the auto thing.

Oh and BTW, CLK is a girlie car... Boxster (as long as he gets the S) is not. Actually, I very rarely see chicks driving Boxsters regardless of the version. They seem to prefer the Soltice, Miata, 3-Series convertibles, and of course, the CLK...

Ashburner

G6 Hardtop convertible Invest the rest!

derrick

juniorbean ... no doubt the CLK is a chick car as are the Miata, 3-series 'vert ... but I may have to disagree about the Boxster. Where I live, there are at least 3 females I see driving around in a Boxster (not sure if any are an S or not) regularly. Only have seen 1 guy in a Boxster. Maybe my area is a poor sampling of the 'typical Boxster' driver is.

Well, perhaps we can agree among the Porsche enthusiasts, the Boxster is the most girly of the bunch (even more girly than a 928 ... )

fastcarz3

hey if ur thinkin about the lexus gs go with the 430 dont listen to ppl when they tell u it suck in the snow. i got the 300awd its great in the snow but its slow as shit and the transmission is def not performance oriented.

hemants

Boxter even the S wouldn't cut it, only two seats and I'd rather have a used C4S cabrio.

But it seems a shame to buy a tiptronic porsche.

CLK 320 is definately girly but a black on black AMG might do the trick.

I hear you on saving money - part of me thinks that now that the 550 is out, a used 545 would be bargain. The bangled 5 exterior is growing on me but the interior still sux as does idrive. Can't even put AC on your feet without going through joystick menus.

Used RS6 might be nice or a used E55 if I want to be "budget conscious" lol.

I know it's a silly thing to spend that much on a car but everything i've ever done in my life has been practical - i need to do something mildly emotional/illogical if u know what i mean.....

I don't know how long the sun will shine but right now, I'm making good hey and i'm frugle with everything else...