I need suggestions on a car...

I am going to take a different position in my company where I will lose my company vehicle. Now I need to go buy a vehicle.

A couple things to consider.

1. I am single, no kids
2. I LOVE cars and want something fun to drive
3. Will be moving to ND, so AWD would be nice for the winters
4. want something that gets decent fuel economy (mid to high 20's on the highway)

So far I have been looking a 2009 CPO BMW 335 with x drive. They seem to have aout 35k on the clock and priced around 30k.

Does anyone have any other reasonable suggestions? What else should I consider?

Chrysler 300 AWD, Cadillac CTS AWD, Subaru WRX, Audi A6 AWD, to name a few

ETA: The only one I can offer my opinion on is the 300. Have a 2007 300C AWD - basically the Mercedes 4matic AWD system, no troubles, averages 25-26 when I use the cruise control, lead-footing it drops it down much lower. It's a big car, but it tracks and handles like a smaller car. Steering is good, but a little twitchy.

I was actually going to suggest an AWD 3 series. You could also get a very nice WRX Sti for that money.

While I am a GM Muscle Car die hard,.. I am going to have to say a Subaru WRX... Good fuel economy, AWD, 4-door, good looks, and a great power train.

STI all the way.

Are the roads plowed regularly in ND? I've never been to that state but if you live in an area where there is snow and the roads are not regularly plowed you will need something with a bit more ground clearance than a BMW 335xi or a Subaru WRX STi. AWD won't help you if you've got eight inches of snow on the ground.

Yes, the main roads are pretty well plowed back there. (I'm originally from SD so I know what I am in for lol)

I will also be living in Fargo, so city driving is my main concern, as well as interstate.

Not living in the country or anything.

Cool, then ground clearance isn't an issue with those cars. My family has owned a farm in rural NJ since the 1980s. The farm is quite a distance from any town, so plowing was not exactly a regular occurrence. Ground clearance made a difference in getting to/from the farm during the winter.

Same here. I'd remove any spoiler that comes with it. I like the clean/sleeper look.

Though, if you can swing it, an RS200 is no slouch...

I vote WRX too.

The WRX is a good top pick, and it, or one of its Subaru brethren, is most likely how I'd roll.

Another vote for the Subie.

I have not been a fan of Subaru but I'll give them another look. (I don't like the boxer engine sound)

Any love for Mitsubishi evo?

The new Ford Fusion looks very nice, will have an AWD option.

I'm no expert, but I am under the impression that Evos are a little better on the track whereas the WRX is better in terms of reliability and longevity. Personally, I also have a lot more trust for Subaru as a company. YMMV.

Not sure what happened to my image, but it was a BRZ.

I would be looking at the new Chrysler 300 AWD. Not sure if it has enough clearance for the snow but it does get high reviews. My only beef with it, is that its just a little to small for my needs.

V6-300HP
8 speed, AWD.
high 20s- low 30s mpg
supposedly a high level of sound deadening.
Pretty interesting suspension set up.
By far the sharpest looking car in that price range-to me. It almost looks like a Cadillac STS

Top Gear UK ran a comparo of the Mitsu Evo X and the Subaru WRX STi a few years ago. Basically they came out fairly close; Top Gear said the Evo was the better track car while the STi was the better daily driver. Incidentally, Jeremy Clarkson said the STi was "uglier than a war wound" and had "fewer luxuries than an Egyptian's lavatory".

Clarkson, when asked which one he would buy, replied that he would not buy either one. From memory he said he'd rather buy the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, which is a detuned Evo without some of the nice goodies like the Brembo brakes and upgraded suspension bits. IMO the Mitsubishi Ralliart is overpriced for what you get ... prices start around $29k around here and IMO that is overpriced. Yes it's AWD and got a DCCT transmission but it really should start in the $25k range to compete with the Subaru WRX. The Mitsu DCCT is described by Consumer Reports as being great for a track car but horrible at low speeds (e.g. parking lots, gridlock traffic) –– and which are you more likely to encounter? Last, they said the interior is very cheap (especially for a $30k car when loaded out) and there's lots of road noise.

Most of us will never see a track in our lives (I've only been on one) so why fret about a track day scalpel for a daily driver?

Check out the Top Gear UK review:






Consumer Reports video review of the Mitsu Lancer Ralliart here.

Yep, and aesthetics are the reason I voted for the STI over the Evo. I don't care for the looks of the Evo at all.

Any opinions on AUDI S4?

I know a guy who might be selling his 2008 S4.

The v8 might be a bit thirsty but other than that it'd be perfect.

Thoughts?

BTW: the WRX. I don't like. Personal preference I guess. (looks, sound, luxury or lack thereof)

I'd guess the S4 is a car with maintenance/ upkeep costs well above average.

RWD.

The 3-series X is a good choice.

I'd also look at the Infiniti G37x and Audi A5/S5.
They're all AWD and have decent performance. However, the reduced ground clearance might be an issue in a North Dakota winter. Even with AWD and snow tires, the ground clearance from a 3-series, G37, or Audi A5/S5 is too low for anything over 8"-10" of snow. You might need a 4WD pickup truck/SUV.

One thing if you live in Fargo having an SUV for winter is nice because if there's a lot of snow the drifts and piles of plowed snow on boulevards get so high you can't see oncoming vehicles in a car. Plus the roads are super salty. I'd get your dream car but then get a beater SUV for winter. I want a BMW really bad but one sucky thing is that if it's still under warranty the nearest dealership is 4 hours away in Minneapolis.

This dealer issue is what made me really consider Audi.

I do also plan on getting a second vehicle (4wd pickup) for a second vehicle.

Yeah there's one small luxury import place, Valley Imports, here that carries Audi and Mercedes, I think they also have a service center. It's hard being into cars in ND, there just aren't many luxury cars on the roads here, probably a combination of the winters and the fact that a lot of people are underemployed.

In that case, get a 4wd Tacoma, and an EVO X.

So?

Put on a good set of winter tires and it will be fine.

People seriously overestimate their need for AWD/4WD when proper tires and a competent driver make all the difference.


If the OP really wants a do it all vehicle than the previous gen (post 2003) subaru forester with the turbo and a manual is the ideal vehicle.

0-60 in 5.3 and the quarter in 13.8 in a compact wagon form factor is hard to beat.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/subaru-forester-25xt-road-test

FWIW I've basically driven nothing but RWD in the snow since I got my license and have had to tolerate RWD in the snow. It can be a lot of fun, but if you're trying to move from a stop in traffic where other people are driving 4WD/AWD vehicles, it can be a pain. Even with snow tires, the front tires aren't doing anything and are just sitting. I've seen FWD get stuck in the snow as well, but FWD tends to be more stable than RWD in the same conditions. Although, even with RWD I've been able to pass 4WD pickups and SUVs on I-94 when it was unplowed with about 8 inches of snow. The tracks left by pickups really helped so I can maintain 50-55 MPH. When I started plowing new road in my car, I had to slow down a bit and it was bare knuckled driving WITH winter tires.

Given a choice, I'd go with AWD or 4WD on a vehicle with better ground clearance if you will encounter lots of snow. You can split the power more evenly, rather than overload 2 wheels when accelerating. As always, braking is going to be the ultimate equalizer in snow regardless of 4WD/AWD/2WD so the right tires definitely help.

For a good weather car, the choices are limitless.

2013 Ford SVT F-150 Raptor SuperCrew.

Don't forget the new Golf R. Not quite as fast as an Evo or STi, but still reasonably quick and AWD, and pretty nice inside. Plus it's a hatchback, so it's easy to fold down the back seats and throw your guns and gear back there for a range trip.

I found a 2008 Audi S4 with manual trans.

A little harder on fuel than I would care for, but I like V8's.

Any thoughts on these? Any Pitt falls?

Other than the fact that I wouldn't touch a used VW/Audi with a 10 ft pole?

Not to mention since it is an S4 it probably wasn't driven gently.

The V8 S4 may be more reliable than the turbo 335i. The G37x, Volvo S60R are also decent cars to look at. I would steer clear of volvo, just because I had one I didn't like.

You may want to reconsider car vs truck; I had an S4 for years here in WI, and it was impossible to keep it nice. Winter was hell and tore up a nice car. I bought a Nissan Frontier to beat up and may look for an RWD sporscar later on. Whatever you get there, buy some snow tires.

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