My company car is going by by soon and I've got to get myself a new set of wheels. I've been out doing test drives of many different rides but I just can't decide! Would like to hear some thoughts from the group.

1. Audi A3 - This would be base ish model, no nav or anything like that. Just 18's, LEDs and Audi advance key. Likes; Quick, Great size for the city, reasonably decent on gas, AWD. Dislikes; might be a touch too small, iffy if my golf clubs will fit in the trunk.
2. Acura TLX SH-AWD Tech - Likes: Familiar (i had a 05' TL), lots of features, Honda reliability, size is probably as big as I'd go in a sedan. Dislikes: Front grille, 9AT, Sort of wish it was a turbo with a bit more grunt.
3. Ford Edge Sport - Pano Roof, Nav, 21's. Likes: Really fast for it's size, lots of tech, good interior, lots of space. Dislikes: Size would be a little big for driving in the city.
4. Focus ST/ VW GTI - Both fantastic cars, but might be a little too small.

5. Fusion Sport - this is a bit of a dark horse, none are available yet to test drive, but given it's got the same engine as the edge it's going to be a rocket. Could be impossible to get any kind of a deal on too since its just launching.

What do you guys think? I'm so conflicted right now. FWIW I'm single live DT in a condo and have to park in an underground. Thus fueling my size anxiety with the edge.

 

I voted for the ford edge sport. Seems to me like the golf/a3/st are too small for your needs and the edge is a HELL OF A LOT of bang for the buck. Also that new twin turbo V6 is a beautiful engine.

 

Define why and what would make a car too small?

 

What packages does the Ford have? "Packages" are just an excuse for the manufacturer/dealer to nickel and dime you.

 

id like to be able to carry a set of clubs without having to fold down a seat. In the ST the seat bolsters were so big I felt like my thighs were being squished together. Which on the test drive was fine but on hour long drive could be a deal breaker. I'm about 265 now so am a bigger guy.

 

canadian touring package (pano roof and nav) and that's it. I skipped 401a which is all the fancy electronics.

 

So why are some of these cars even on your list? I sometimes do the same thing, where I consider a certain vehicle even though I KNOW it is the wrong car for me, but keep considering it because I like certain things about it. No offense but 265 is HUGE for the bolsters in the st and gti...I can't imagine the ball sweat.

 

lol no offence taken. They were on my list because they are great cars. I drove both and they are fun to drive and the dynamics are great.

 

No I mean I understand that, but they seem way too small for your needs. I guess what I am trying to say is don't buy a car that you probably know won't work because you like certain aspects of it.

 

I would rule out the A3 as well. Unless they changed the seat design in recent years my friends old one has serious side bolsters.

 

Out of those choices. Probably the Ford Edge sport.

 

Just for the record- Honda reliability is a term from 2 decades ago that doesn't hold true anymore. It just doesn't. No one wants to admit it though. Don't kid yourself in thinking they are as reliable as they used to be. You can't keep throwing tech into a car without a) cutting costs elsewhere, and b) expecting none of it to fail.

So are you expecting these packages to be free? You do realize that features don't fall from the sky, right? Having one or two packages isn't nickel and diming. Doing what Porsche does with packages and accessories and upgrades is.

 

Look into a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Out of what you listed, I'd get the Edge Sport simply for your own sanity in having space in the car.

 

About six weeks ago I saw a Ford Edge without any chrome, blacked out headlights, big 21" wheels, I think... Looked super nice!!! I guess that was the sport, and that's the only I've I've seen, but I couldn't stop starring at it, literally...

The Edge has has really good reliability ratings since its debut in 2007, well, I was looking them up a lot a few months ago and never read of anything bad...

Edge has got my vote!!!

 

What's your budget? You have an interesting mix of vehicles... Based on your size and potential for hauling room, I'd instantly take the A3, ST and GTI out. If you really wanted to, you could make them work. But I think you'd be happier with the likes of a bigger sedan (like the TLX or Fusion), or SUV.

Do you want or need AWD? I see you in Toronto, but that doesn't mean you need or want it. Hell, you could do just fine with FWD, or RWD even. It's the people who've never owned RWD cars that blow them out of proportion for winter driving. For many stock cars, it isn't exactly easy to drift them and they don't constantly careen out of control.

the more we know, the better we can suggest what to get!

 

Honda isn't this bullet proof golden company with impeccable reliability and quality? Kia and Hyundai cars are all garbage. Bush is still in office.....I love the constant regurgitation of honda and toyota are reliable and everyone else is not.....

 

These days, anything is "almost" bulletproof, but take that with a grain of salt...

But really, almost every vehicle I've had some sort of access to hasn't had any notable problems by the owners...

In fact, even today's worst vehicles are still miles ahead of what we had years ago...

Hate to say it, but who's got some of the nicest non-luxury interiors today, hmm, Dodge/Chrystler...

And look at other companies, people keep buying these vehicles...

Look at how many 10-year-old vehicles are still running, and think back to 2006, when a 1996 anything was old as hell, and so forth...

The past few years the average age of the vehicles registered on the road is, I think, 11.4 years here in the U.S....

That being said, can we really go wrong anymore?

It's that, or in the mid-2000's automotive quility hit a peak, then declined to what itbis today, and those 10-year-old, well, 11.4-year-old vehicles are still running strong, then after they've finally gone away from abuseive drivers wrecking and beating on them, will 11.4 be considered old again...

To me, however, a vehicle isn't old until it is at least about 20, and I still consider the 3rd gen TL "new", or is that just me...

It all comes down to maintenance and pattern failures, what one does, and what got affected...

Just look at it like this and you'll be sitting pretty!!!

 

That's my point. All brands are pretty damn reliable these days (bar most german offerings) but you have the same people saying over and over that only toyota and honda are reliable and everyone else is crap, which is B.S.

 

I voted Fusion Sport, second choice would be the Edge.
I'm more of a car than SUV guy.

 

In terms of budget I need to keep under $40K CAD. AWD isn't a must, all my cars have been FWD and I've never had an issue in winter, if it were to be a RWD I would just slap some winters on and call it a day.

 

I voted GTI.

I think people are blowing the weight thing way out of proportion. The ST was just uncomfortable because it had big bolsters.
My old coworker has a MK6 GTI that he loves - and he is significantly larger. Bring your clubs to the dealer and see how they fit in the hatch. The hatchback is the biggest reason I'd vote GTI over A3.

Maybe Tiguan? They've been on the market for a while, so you could probably get a deal on either new or CPO. And they appear a bit smaller than the Edge.

How about something like a Cadillac ATS? I don't know what they go for.

 

The Edge sounds like the best fit for your situation

 

I drove the GTI it was fine in terms of comfort, dynamics were great. Just a tad small on the inside which is why I thought A3 would strike that balance. Cadillac I looked at briefly, the center stack being all high gloss pisses me off so I ruled it out. Also I've had 2 gm's back to back and haven't been impressed with the quality or the local dealership experience.

 

GTI

I've driven two, one of them being tuned, and they're a blast. The smaller size will make it easy for parking and I've never felt cramped inside of one, even when in the backseat.

 

^ Isn't everything roomy compared the the S2k?

 

Sat in the ST again, def off the list, way to bolstery.

 

Yes

 

I love the full leather Recaro seats in my ST, and the bolstering fits me pretty nicely. Then again, I am about 100 pounds lighter than you.

I really like the idea of the Fusion Sport, otherwise I think the Edge Sport is awesome! And you'd probably get used to the size after a while.

 

Edge sport

 

Yeah, I'm thinking Edge Sport also. Or the Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk, like SamDoe has. It's bigger, but not too big.

 

Take any test drives?

 

Focus ST.

 

So...if you want small, how about a BMW M2...?

Have you considered a MINI...?




Otherwise, if off your list, I like the A3.

 

Well I went into the Ford dealer to seal the deal on the Edge sport, and sure enough it was too good to be true. They quoted me a price and when I went in to sign the paperwork they said no way in hell they could honor it, yada yada yada finance manger screwed up etc. After that fiasco the realistic price put it outside of what I wanted to pay. With this I went into the audi dealer and signed a deal on an A4. Took delivery today and am loving it.

 

Okay we need pics and specs on the A4!

 

If that's all i had to choose from..........fusion.

 

Congrats!

The digital display on the new Audis are fuggin awesome.

 

Interesting quote from capitalist you. Are you sure this is what you want to stand by? Don't you mean that Hillary will give you all packages above base for free?

 

Keep your idiotic, uniformed, and uneducated political views in the R&P sub forum where they belong.