rfrys

I'm thinking of getting rid of the TLS and taking the plunge into the 50K car market. I test drove all three yesterday witin 3 hours of each other. I didn't consider the RL, because I just don't like the way it looks. Some obserations:

Audi A6 3.2 V6 Quattro - First one I drove. Fit and finish is excellent. The interior is the nicest of the three, but the stupid MMI (similar to BMW I-drive) is very confusing. Interior materials are top notch and classy. Seats were the most comfortable of the bunch. Exterior styling is nice and conservative. Engine was the weakest of the bunch. It had some pep, but the car didn't do anything with the first 1/4 of accelerator push. Seemed kinda sloppy.

Infiniti M35x AWD - Sweet exterior styling. Although it sits a little high and is a little narrow, I love the look of this car. Fix and finish is excellent. Interior materials are nice, but no way as nice as the Audi. Small things like window controls just didn't have a 50K car feel. Seats were comfortable and firm. What I hated however, is the radio and a/c controls are kind of on a ledge in the middle of the dash. They are actually almost facing up, and slightly difficult to both read and push. Stupid design. Navi screen is huge though. Engine is sweet. Sounds great, very responsive and quite fast. Wouldn't miss the TLS all that much if I bought this car.

Lexus GS300 - Came in to this thinking I would like this the best. I was wrong. I think the front end of this car is almost perfect. It looks, well, bad ass. I have a problem with the rear though. Can you say chopped off? Overall, I do like the look of the car. Interior/Exterior fit and finish and materials are typical Lexus- first rate and flawless. All controls are well laid out and easily accessible. Seats are cushy and comfortable. Seating position is akward though. This car felt the smallest of the three, and a little hard to get in and out of. One weird note - the front dash is very high, which makes the front window seem smaller or narrower than normal. At 6'1", visibility seemed compromised. Navi does not allow you to change destinations while driving, the cd does not play mp3's, and there is no factory XM or Sirius options. I have also heard that Blootooth is a nightmare in a Lexus vehicle. Transmission was smooth as silk. Engine was ok, kinda the middle of the pack, but nothing exciting. No where near the performance and feel of the Infiniti. Overall, car wants to be agressive and sporty, but it's really not.

So, I went in liking the Lexus, but came out wanting the Infiniti. The Audi is the cheapest, and a nice middle of the pack pick. So the question....which would you pick??

PS - May have a '03 TLS SSM NAVI bone stock with 28K for sale soon.

MattT516

I like the M35X. The GS300 and A6 seem pretty underpowered to me, and the M-series seems to be a real winner in its class.

virtualbong

Why not test out the RL? That's pretty much in the same price range and looks better than the A6 and Infiniti IMO.

AS3.0CL

even if u don't like the exterior of the RL i fell in love with the ride and interior. i've seen a real nice black, with crome and gun metal rims and one with chrome rims, real sweet. i've been in the cars u have mentioned and drove them, but the RL is by far the best.

just drive it and see how u like it, exterior can be changed and altered to look badass. and navi in them is great

virtualbong

You can use the extra money from not getting the other cars to use to make it look awesome.

Sclass88

Here's my opinion...

Infiniti- If it isn't the M45 with the sports package, it looks like a females car. It does nothing for me.

Lexus- Female car. Like you said, it wants to be sporty but its a Lexus.. Lexus = Luxury

Audi- Ehh.. nice car but somewhat bland if you ask me

RL- Yes, it is somewhat bland in the rear but of the bunch, it is my favorite. Top notch interior, impressive navi, and comes loaded!!

Infamous425

sorry but the RL is the most female looking car out of that bunch. if im paying 50k i dont want someone coming up to me at some gas station asking if thats the new accord

psteng19

ROFL, it was Motor Trend that showed a picture of the RL when discussing the Accord.

Out of your 3, I would go:
1. M35x
2. GS300
3. A6

SeCsTaC

haha so true, the ext of the RL is so boring

rfrys

It's not that I don't like the look of the RL. I actually HATE the look of the RL.

RL

MAZDA3


No thanks. No style.

oonowindoo

wow never realized until now...

Fossil_TL

I would definately get the A6, it's such a fine looking car with classy feelings to it.
Also I think the Euro feel of the A6 is great, but if you like driving then definately get the M35x it's such a driver's car.

oonowindoo

___________________________________________

RL--- very boring and i am sorry its 300HP rating is a joke to me... TL is almost as fast or faster than a RL and if i am paying 50K for a luxury sedan i could careless about handling (as long as it s not a boat) because i am not planning to take it to the mountain and start drifting....

Audi -- never liked it

Lexus -- never drove one but i am pretty sure it s the most reliable one outta 4

M35X -- i would just get a regular M35 RWD (unless u have pretty crazy snow in the winter)

Liftedoff420

man you guys are trippin about the RL looking bad....the comparison to the mazda is retarded they look almost NOTHING alike in real life

maybe im biased because when i was in japan they were called LEGENDS and many were done up very nicely....didnt mugen have a 600 hp legend?


if i was you it would either be the infiniti or the RL.....the back of a GS300 looks like the new hyundai sonata to me...and from what i read you didnt like the new Audis

what about an 2000-2002 m5?? THAT WOULD BE BADDDDDDASSSSSSS

chungkopi

RL doesn't look like mazda 3 in real life.


for looks

1. audi
2. RL
3. M35
4. gs300

MaximaPower

M35x gets my vote......i jus don't understand why lexus didn't put the 3.5L in their V6 GS

MJMeucci

I don't know how big of a deal it is to you, but there is an easter egg in the Lexus nav-system where you can override the system and you are able to enter a destination while in motion. I would go with the Lexus, but then again I do own a Lexus and swear that I will never buy another brand after owning a Lexus.

Liftedoff420

the back of the lexus just doesnt do it for me...looks very bad imo


hyundia sonata

MJMeucci

wow, that Hyundai looks good for a Hyundai, I think that we are going to see some great things from Korea in the coming years.

Minch00

I'd say the Audi, I love that car


No M for me unless it's the 45, and no GS for me period.

Liftedoff420

please get an m5
http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/91266964.html

and word about the hyundai...i like the styluing on that but dont think i could ever drive a hyundai no matter how good it looks, same thing with the saturn sky, nice looking car but the reputation of the retailer doesnt match up

F23A4

Consumer Reports agrees with you.

03typeS6spd

M all the way

cusdaddy

I'd go with the M35

rfrys

No BMW for me thanks. I'm not into visiting my dealer 5 times a year to get stuff fixed.

TSX Hokie

If I wanted a $50k sedan, I'd go S4 with the 6MT. Sure it's small, but it will be a much more engaging driving experience than the cars you mentioned. All slushbox sedans drive the same to me; mash on the accelerator, go forward.

Why even compare acceleration, handling, etc in a car where you are so detached from the road and engine that you can't even tell what the car is doing? Just pick the car with the most comfortable seats.

AS3.0CL

ok i know some of you say the RL looks bad. go to a dealership and see if they have a black one with 18' chrome acura wheels, with the deck lid. because to me with the stock tires it looks like shit but with the little stuff it looks nice as hell. or get the aspec package when it comes out, and maybe it will look better to you. and the handleing surpases the other cars by far. sh-awd

and about the 600hp mugan legand. they swapped a small but very high reving V8 into it and made it rear wheel drive.

03typeS6spd

rl is decent, but it doesn't have anything on any of the cars listed imo....

the only thing i like about acura now are the toys inside

Dan

Volvo S60R?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I test drove one of these about a month ago... fast as hell... and with the new auto tranny in the 2006 model, you don't lose much performance (previously the auto was a 5-speed and was over a second slower then the manual. Now it's a 6-speed auto and is less then .5 slower then the manual). That is.. if you need an auto. My biggest concern with the Volvo is long term reliability. Oh, and if you would go this route... wait a few months and get a low mileage resale. Resale sucks on these... so instead of spending over $40k-$45k on a new one you could get a low mileage (10k or less) for low $30k-ish and save yourself a ton of money. Also be advised that 2006 is the last model year these cars will be real Volvos b/c once 2007 MY rolls around you'll start seeing Ford engines in the Volvos.....

But out of the cars you drove I'd probably go with the M35. I wouldn't get the X though b/c, like you mentioned, I don't like the way it sits (too high). But seeing that you're in Maryland.. you may need the AWD. One thing I can't get over on the M is the HUGE ass tails. They just don't look right... and they look worse on some colors then others.

As a side note, I have seen several RL's that look sooooo hot. All you need is 35% tint and a new set of rims and you are styling. Anyone who would confuse a hooked up RL with an Accord is just an idiot, b/c they look nothing alike when the RL is done up all nice nice......

Minch00

I don't think your mom will let you buy anything, whether you like the brand or not

Sarlacc

03TL-S

I like the M35x the most out of the group. It has gotten the best reviews in its class. Although i do like the looks of the A6.