I love when I get to drive the new one...I debated for a half second about selling the challenger for a trailhawk model....

 

I'm glad you didn't...your car and color combo are something you'd miss. Especially with all the high res shots you've taken of it, you'd regret it within a month.

 

If/When I have to sell the TL or S2000, I'll just close my Flickr Account.

 

Buying the week of July 24th.

 

hence i didn't

 

Nice...solid 3 weeks to do research.

 

Damn, just Brock. Wasn't worth going back.

But now, I have to ask what defines an SUV? I have seen a lot of pictures put up in this thread of cars being called SUVs and comments about how well they handle. That's because they aren't SUVs. They are sedans with a hatch and a lift.
(Not talking about Jeep products although I'm sure it applies to some models.)

 

You calling me a liar?

Okay, fair enough...it's a crossdressover then?

 

 

Jeep cherokee (not grand) is a sedan with hatch and lift, unless you get the trailhawk.

but I freaking love how my wife's limited drives.

 

Is a wagon a SUV? I used to think a SUV was built on a minivan chassis and typically taller then a wagon.

 

I am of the opinion that an SUV is built on a truck chassis/frame. As such, it handles and drives like a truck. Still, I proposed a question because I am sure there is a good debate on the topic.

When I think of an SUV, I think of a Sequoia/4-runner/FJ, JGC, Explorer/Expedition/Excursion, etc. Audi and BMW don't make SUVs. Benz does.

 

Interesting topic for another thread...but its hard to say cause all the big SUVs that were truck chassis are now switching to car...Pathfinder for example.

 

So the Touareq/Q7 is a crossover? Just curious. What about a Range Rover (excepting the Evoque)? Mercedes GL?

 

The Chevy SS goes for RWD and 14mpg city. Not really sure what this is good for in the real world. I'd love to have one but for a toy car and a sedan toy car just seems wrong.

Cue system is terrible in every sense of the word.

OP, I'd recommend checking out the Impala LTZ too. Just had one for a rental and it was fantastic. Great tech, lots of space, 30mpg, very comfortable, and not all that expensive.

 

What makes Cue terrible?

 

The Touareg/Q7/Cayenne share the same platform that appears to be built specifically for this application. From the information I can find, it is a unibody crossover.

The Range Rover uses a body-on-frame design that is used most commonly for heavy duty applications. It is considered a true SUV.

The GL-class is built on a modified unibody chassis from the M-class. It is a crossover. The G-class on the other hand is a body on frame SUV.
Unless they changed the seats from 2010, it is NOT comfortable. Those seats are terrible. You can feel the cardboard under your ass within 2 hours.

 

CUE is like iDrive. The old versions suck but it's been improving over the years.

So who knows what version of it sam has used. But as a tech guy I used the 2013 version and it's fine. Works well. Some stuff could have been laid out better but it's not horrible. Easy enough to navigate and figure out.

 

I will say that it's pretty and other than not being able to crank the volume quickly with it, I have no real foundation for my criticism of it.

 

I think he was referring to the new generation (2014), not the turd launched back in the mid 2000s.

 

Cool

 

Where's Tim?

 

Story.

 

The new Genesis gets my vote.

 

Like many cars and systems within cars it's all up to the user but I just found it to be not all that user friendly, very much like the 1st gen iDrive. I also don't like the capacitive buttons and find them annoying. I like to have some sort of tactile feedback that I am on the right button before I press it. Accidentally brushing up against them can activate buttons without intending to. FWIW, the best in car system right now is, oddly enough, from Chrysler. It's fantastic.

I tried it in a 2013 rental ATS.

The 2014 model is brand spanking new. The one before that is a giant pile of shit.



2013 ATS. You get the hang of it after a while, I had it as a rental for a week. The part that irritates me the most is the capacitive buttons but that's all relative. The Lincoln MKZ has the same deal and it's equally as irritating but the look of the MKZ is

Yes, the previous generation is a POS. I wouldn't recommend that to even my worst enemy.

 

As mentioned before, get a loaded Accord. For under $30,000 you get a sedan with a lot of tech, good steering feel, reasonably quiet and rather comfortable and you have $20,000 left in your pocket. I looked into everything up to $60,000 and couldn't remotely justify those cars, especially the RLX. The Accord is THAT good. I was also quite impressed with the Mazda 6.

 

But a Honda

 

I will agree with this, the 9th gen Accord Touring is fantastic. As long as you get the one without the wretched CVT, you're good to go.

 

World's Largest Engine Company not good enough for ya?

Hell, do what I do, buy an Accord AND something fun (used) and still stay under $50,000

 

There is nothing wretched about the CVT, I have it and absolutely hate CVT's.

The CVT in the Accord is done properly and reminds me why I don't like most automatics. No gaps in torque, smooth operation and no rubber-band effects.

Having said that, the 6 speed auto in the V6 is done properly as well. And that engine is astounding for the price bracket.

 

Just seems boring to me.

 

I wanted to say that the current Uconnect is constantly reviewed as one of the best in car systems...but then you know, I keep carrying the fan status.

But I didn't mind using CUE at all.

 

Also. Was reading a bunch of car mags last night on my next issue app. One reviewer was raving about their long term ats. Dude just loved it.

 

I couldn't stand it when I drove one. I just can't get past the no shifting, I know it's in my head but I just don't like it. The V6 is fantastic and now that they've figured out how to make a transmission for it that doesn't implode after 100k miles, it's definitely the way to go for me.

I'm about as far from a Chrysler fan as it gets and even I love the UConnect system.

Car is fantastic with the 2.0T. The rental I had was with the shitty 2.5L engine, it was far from enjoyable but the driving dynamics and handling were great. Not quite E46/E90 3 series level but pretty close. After having that car, I went and test drove the 2.0T which was awesome but I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much for a small Caddy when there are others on the market for the same or less. When you option up the 2.0T AWD with the performance package, it ends up very close to a 328i Sport which begs the question of why not go with the BMW?

 

^^^I bet our rental was the 2.5L also...probably easier to maintain than the turbo. The car is too heavy for so little displacement.

 

BRO

!!!!!

I'm feeling lazy but was exciting one of your requisites? I forget...
Honestly, the new Accord is pretty fucking sexy. I'd get it, then again, I'd rather the TSX or TLX if my range were 50K.

Okay, found your problem. Your price range is too big. With 50K you open up to too many viable and awesome options.

 

Because as a former bmw fanboy...and still a huge fan of the older models...I say their are others who do just as well or better then bmw without carrying the price tag associated with the name.

And sometimes its nice to standout with something different other than the millions of 3 and 5 series you see everywhere.

 

The ATS beat the 328i in its comparisons in the car mags as well (IIRC). Seems like a decent car.

 

Explorer is unibody..

 

Sarlacc, funny you say that...when my stepdad was test driving to get his 09 TL...we hit the BWM dealership first. NOTHING stood out to us except "M" trim or at the very least _35i trim...and that was way past his budet.