Hello, folks,

Not sure if this has already been discussed, but would love to see what other car(s) you drive on a daily basis for your commute / family trips and etc.

I am looking to replace my old MB with a used sedan that is fun to drive, but also comfortable for stop-and-go traffic and can take 3 passengers in the back seat for under $30k. Any suggestion would be appreciated!

 

'12 Honda Odyssey to take the family out every weekend, otherwise my 911 daily.

 

I'm going to be shopping soon for a DD, something cheap yet decent as I save for 2nd 911. Looking at the Chevy Cruze or Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara.

 

For longer trips we usually take the Cayenne S, but for shorter runs and general around town use, we have an Audi A3 TDI. Nice looking IMO, well made, torquey, fun to drive, plenty of room for 2, plus 38 mpg minimum in our back and forth driving, 43+ on the freeway.

Edit: Just saw your need for 3 in the back seat. Doable but not for long stretches......

 

2010 Lexus HS250h. A big flop for Lexus (2012 is last year) but it's been a great experience for me. Back seat can handle 3 with a decent sized trunk. Fun to drive if you're not expecting too much.

Gets me in the carpool lane as a single occupant. Radar cruise, lane keep assist, Bluetooth audio and XM traffic are very cool. 35mpg all day long. Selling for $25-30K in the used market.

 

For Fam Dam (wife and 3 kids under 8), we use the 11' GL450. As a DD, I drive a 10' E550 4matic, which I also use to help wifey out time to time, pickup up kids, etc. The 550 is going back this winter and getting an S5. Since the kids are older and they no longer require the big bulky harnessed carseats, I can go back to a coupe!
How old are your kids?

 

Talk about heaven and hell!

 

Lexus GS 300 AWD

 

Golf GTI or TDI

 

I have probably the weirdest choices.
Porsche 911 10%
2008 BMW X5 4.8 20%
2002 ugly as hell beige 4 cylinder Toyota Camry bought for $5K- 70%

I drive 84 miles round trip daily just for work, then throw in fun stuff plus 2x a month 600 mile round trips to beach. With that kind of driving, the Camry, while extremely boring, just purrs along at 30 mpg and who cares if you run the wheels off of it.

 

Next family car will be something like c63AMG or M3.

Still have an Xterra that has been reliable and cheap to own, and easy to clean (especially with child messes). But we just don't use it off-road and in the snow as much as we thought we would.

 

Like Mike in CA, we've got an '06 Audi A3 for my wife to drive back and forth to work 50mi/day. It was our only car when we lived in Brooklyn with our eldest, and then only, son. Perfect city car! Small enough to park in tight spots and maneuver around, but large enough to take a toddler (and all his accoutrement) on week long vacations.

Now that we've moved out to the suburbs, we added a 2010 Honda CR-V for flexibility.

 

VW Passat TDi

 

Plenty of good choices out there and many personal reasons to choose one, but I can't help myself: BMW 335. Practical, comfortable, torquey motor, good mileage, almost as great handling as the Porsche...possibly the better overall car?

 

I have had a subaru outback turbo as my daily for the last 3 years and it is a ton of fun - awd - fast - hauls anything - and loaded it was 30k. Turing it this week and switching to a Pcar for my daily though I have an exceptional commute