trcox57

So I have been pondering this question for a while.
I gave my Audi A5 to the wife after we turned in her E350. My 997 is now my daily driver(temporary) but I tend to put 30000 miles a year on my DD so I'm pondering a couple of options.....
Criteria are ..I am a car guy, so a used Ford xxxx or VW Passat or something along those lines will get me bored even though it's a nice practical car. I like German cars, had all the others...
Kinda need 4 doors.
If I take the route of getting a larger "fun" car and sell the 997 I figure my budget is 50-55k. If I don't sell it then 15-20k.(I'd like to keep the 997...it's therapeutic and the most fun car I have owned)
I drive a lot and tend to prefer larger cars with great seats and comfortable interior. Maybe a used older S class/A6/A8.
One friend suggested an A4 with S Line interior...not a big car but..maybe.
Been looking at a Cayenne but 20k won't really get much there....unless I get rid of the 997 and go for the GTS or Turbo....(fun,big,comfortable)
I tend to keep cars if I like them so I don't mind reasonable maintenance bills to fix things and keep the car in good shape. My miles are 90% highway.
I'd rather have something large/comfortable/interesting that gets 20mpg vs something practical that gets 27 but boring....
I have a great mechanic shop that I trust...I'm not a wrench turner.
I don't have kids so most of my riders are my 80 year old mom on her bi weekly Sunday drive or colleagues from work driving from DC to Norfolk ...200+ miles...Perhaps a little confusing but any input kindly accepted.

Thanks!
TonyC

997C2

I have a Golf TDI as DD. Not the most powerful but fun to drive, good suspension and seats and fantastic gas mileage. Out of town I get easily 45mpg, with 13.5 gallons my range is about 600 mi. I got mine new for $23K! GL in finding a great car.

Quadcammer

just keep using the 997. Its only 3k miles a year.

trcox57

Thx but I drive 30,000 miles a year not 3,000.

Zeus993

If the roads are fun and there's not a lot of traffic why not use it as a DD? Alternatively if there is lots of traffic then pick up a nice Mini, GTI, even the new Ford Focus with the leather interior looks GREAT.

cairo94507

I have a '12 Kia Optima SX (turbo) for my DD. I added coil-overs, F&R sway bars and a strut tower brace and the car handles very well. Makes my DD a fun car.

Fred R. C4S

2013 A6 - big enough for four adults, all the amenities you could ever want and just over 26 mpg actual on the highway with cruise set at 75mph. Just over 300 supercharged hp when you need to scoot. Great GPS with live traffic updating and rerouting in large metro areas.

ksozay

15-20k - get an E39 M5 that's been well maintained. Great car, great fun to drive, all the options you may be looking for (space, options, etc.). I love my 997 but wish I would have kept the M as a daily driver.

Spyerx

I just shopped the A6 vs 5 series and much preferred the 5 series. I've had Audis and BMWs and prefer the way BMWs drive. I leased a loaded 2013 535 for no cash outlay and just over 20k for 3 years in November (they had some killer incentives running at the time). You're going to be hard pressed to do better than that, accounting for depreciation in a new luxury car. The issue is the mileage you'll be doing. There is always the used market... I actually preferred the drive of my E60 to the new F10, but overall the F10 is a better car. The issue with the E60 is maintenance. For a DD used I'd probably pickup a 528 with the inline 6, no turbos, and minimal fancy stuff to break (like active suspension, steering, etc). It's just not very fast.

If I had 20k to spend on a DD that I wanted to keep for a long time, I'd probably be looking at a Honda Accord. They aren't fancy, but they do drive pretty well, especially compared to the others in the space. And the Maintenance is CHEAP.

I'd personally skimp on the DD, save your $ there, that will make driving the p-car that much more special on the weekends.

deverest

I agree with ksozay an E39 M5 is perfect....Or look for an E60.... my DD is an E60 550i, super reliable, fun to drive and able to carry 4 adults comfortably. It took me awhile, but I even found a 6 speed manual.

zirrah

E39 540i sport.

MessyMarvin

I would stick with Audi or VW, I like the A4 idea. I prefer Audi over BMW myself. I had a GTI that was a blast as well as a Great DD.

nuclearfishin

Based on this criteria I'd recommend an older S500/550. I have an S500 and it's still extremely comfortable and QUIET. The glass is double the thickness all around which keeps the cabin really quiet and comfortable, especially on long trips where road/wind noise tend to grow tiresome. It has all the gadgets you'll ever need, the big V-8 will go 0-60 in about 6 secs, but it's the 20-100 that's more fun. Two cylinders shut down during freeway cruising for better gas mileage (I get 26+ on highway). The back seats are more comfortable than anything I've ever ridden in, and the car still looks fresh today. In your price range you should be able to get a nice 2006/2007 that will easily last a long time. GL with whatever you choose!

zirrah

Good suggestion. E500 is a good choice too, same reasoning and cheaper.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1

TommyV44

I'd still use the Porsche. It's the only car I want to be driving so why get a DD. When this one gets old just get a new one.

Life is short....drive the car you love!!!

Tom