AWD Mid size Sedan (Not a Subi)

I have been looking around at varous cars latly and just wanted some fresh ideas. The basic want is AWD mid size sedan. My wants are something that an adult can sit behind the driver and have leg room. Prices are kind of flexable. I firmly beleave you get what you pay for but my mantra for the last couple vehicales has been getween 4-6 years old and less than 80K miles. As for the actual price it varies as a low millage 4 year old car will command a premium as compared to a 6 year old car with 80K so again that is variable. I don't want a SUV or CUV or any other "UV" type car. I want a mid size sedan with 4 doors and a trunk.

Another issue is that a MB or a BMW would be a tough sell. The reason is I am a consultant and these types of cars seem to give the impression that I am making to much $$$$ and / or I am over charging my clients. I hate having to explain my "nice" car to people when in fact there secretary is usually driving a new Honda that costs 2x as much as I paid for my used car.

I Really liked was the Charger I looked at. Space was excellent decent MPG while still close to 300HP when needed. Sable / Taurus. I was less impressed with the back seat room and the driving experience was very cramped for such a large car. Kind of felt claustrophobic they way the thing seemed to wrap around me. But at the rite price it would work. By the way the reason for the back seat space is two fold. First I do take clients around every now and then. Second my youngest is ten and he is just about to go in to a growing spree and I want to be able to hall the family around in comfort and not have to drive my wife's H2.

Anyway any suggestions would be great!!! I am sure I have over looked something or several other options that I am just not thinking of.

Thanks

Mazdaspeed 6.

Audi, but that may kick the BMW/MB hornet nest thing too.

btw, can I rant about that for a bit? you could be driving a 70k maxed out brand new suburban and no one would think twice you drive an expensive car. But roll up in a 10 year old corvette, and everyone thinks you're a high roller.

Volvo

300C? Dodge Magnum?

Those might be a bit big for a "midsize" but they have plenty of room. I'm not sure what image they portray now but I think you'll be fine as long as you don't get a black car.

It sounds like Fuji Heavy Industries Seven Stars Legacy is the car you need but don't want.

I think there is AWD Fusion

stanger_missle wrote: 300C? Dodge Magnum? Those might be a bit big for a "midsize" but they have plenty of room. I'm not sure what image they portray now but I think you'll be fine as long as you don't get a black car.

Whatever they use as transfer cases are pretty weak from observing the ones close friends have had.....

Mazdaspeed 6 or awd fusion/milan/zephyr/mkz are what I'd be looking for. Strangely enough, all of those are the same chassis.

Acura TL w/ SH-awd? 2004-ish RL?

How much of your money can I vicariously spend on this car anyway?

etifosi wrote: It sounds like Fuji Heavy Industries Seven Stars Legacy is the car you need but don't want.

Agree! When the wife bought her Legacy in 2013 the #1 criteria was room in the back seat for 3 adults. We spent a month driving 1 or 2 cars a week to see how they were for comfort, etc. So she went from a 2000 Buick LeSabre to a 2013 Legacy and really like it.

I am thinking Volvo also.......it doesn't carry the expensive German car stigma. Or a Subaru, even though you do t want one.

etifosi wrote: How much of your money can I vicariously spend on this car anyway?

Not really locked in as there is quite a range. A 2 year old AWD SHO with 10K on the clock would command quite a pile of $$$$$$ as it should. I would prefer to spend less. Closer to the 10-15K ranges is fine but I am not afraid of older cars for less $$$$. Like I said 4-6 years old and less than 80k miles is what I usually look for. I then drive them in to the ground or in many cases my cars have just turned in to a pile of FeO2 in the driveway. My current Ford Expedition is decomposing fast and will probably not pass inspection in august with out new doors, rockers and part of the cabin floor replaced back by the 3rd row seat. Since I don't tow much at all anymore I have decided to move back to a sedan. It makes parking in boston MUCH easier but I still want the AWD.

You all are probably going to laugh at me but I am going to look at a X type 3.0l AWD in silver with black leather interior and the premium package for really short $$$$. Like the look and it is basically a ford contour. The back seat is plenty big in it and it will not raise nearly as many comments as a similar BMW or MB will. I know about the trans issues these have and I am shopping them with that in mind.

Head over to www.fueleconomy.gov and use the "Find a Car" -> "Power Search" function.
If an awd car existed in the US then it got a EPA rating.
You can sort by cars w/ awd in an age range and see what returns.

A hot value right now is the Lincoln MKS which was offered in awd. It is the new Taurus twin but can often be bought cheaper than the Taurus. Of course, then you have to explain "Lincoln" to your customers.
A Caddy CTS could be nice too.

Does a "Buy American" image benefit you with your customers?

I don't think being American is as important as the perceived $$$$$$ spent.

Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan should give a "working man" image.
Go with the Milan for added depreciation.

Don't be too sure about the Jag not bunching peoples panties....

My boss (who is not LEGALLY insane) had a guy go to Florida to find a new car for us to use at the agency. Guy came back with a 1998 Jag XJ Vanden Plas that he "picked up cheap". Boss got the car lettered & I'm driving it while I wait for my Ford Racing 2v PI intake to arrive so I can fix my beloved Town Car.

We have had multiple calls from clients who have seen the car on the road and are indignant because we spent soooooooo much money on a fancy car!

The car has beat Florida paint and body sanding marks all over it, but people see the dual round headlights and chrome Leaper and think "Well lah-dee-dah, a Jag-wire!"

SWMBT (she who must be tolerated/mom-in-law) has a CTS sedan, '13 I think. It has NEVER seen 20mpg per tank & 6'3" me was not happy in the back.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Head over to www.fueleconomy.gov and use the "Find a Car" -> "Power Search" function. If an awd car existed in the US then it got a EPA rating. You can sort by cars w/ awd in an age range and see what returns. A hot value right now is the Lincoln MKS which was offered in awd. It is the new Taurus twin but can often be bought cheaper than the Taurus. Of course, then you have to explain "Lincoln" to your customers. A Caddy CTS could be nice too. Does a "Buy American" image benefit you with your customers?

LOL Bugatti Veyron was the answer.

etifosi wrote: SWMBT (she who must be tolerated/mom-in-law) has a CTS sedan, '13 I think. It has NEVER seen 20mpg per tank & 6'3" me was not happy in the back.

Da Boss has a 3.6 CTS-4. I think he's seen a high of 22ish but normally it's like 17-18mpg. Supercharged Bonneville got more MPG and had bunch more power.

rcutclif wrote: btw, can I rant about that for a bit? you could be driving a 70k maxed out brand new suburban and no one would think twice you drive an expensive car. But roll up in a 10 year old corvette, and everyone thinks you're a high roller.

Some of that has to do with utility. A Suburban can be a family car, a Corvette cannot, so for most people of parenting age it means you have enough money to own three cars.

Of course a 10-year-old 'Vette and a 10-year-old E46 still amounts to less money than that Suburban, but...

etifosi wrote: Don't be too sure about the Jag not bunching peoples panties.... My boss (who is not LEGALLY insane) had a guy go to Florida to find a new car for us to use at the agency. Guy came back with a 1998 Jag XJ Vanden Plas that he "picked up cheap". Boss got the car lettered & I'm driving it while I wait for my Ford Racing 2v PI intake to arrive so I can fix my beloved Town Car. We have had multiple calls from clients who have seen the car on the road and are indignant because we spent soooooooo much money on a fancy car! The car has beat Florida paint and body sanding marks all over it, but people see the dual round headlights and chrome Leaper and think "Well lah-dee-dah, a Jag-wire!"

Up in these parts these don't seem to attract much attention. More of a novelty than they are considered big $$$$$

etifosi wrote: Don't be too sure about the Jag not bunching peoples panties.... My boss (who is not LEGALLY insane) had a guy go to Florida to find a new car for us to use at the agency. Guy came back with a 1998 Jag XJ Vanden Plas that he "picked up cheap". Boss got the car lettered & I'm driving it while I wait for my Ford Racing 2v PI intake to arrive so I can fix my beloved Town Car. We have had multiple calls from clients who have seen the car on the road and are indignant because we spent soooooooo much money on a fancy car! The car has beat Florida paint and body sanding marks all over it, but people see the dual round headlights and chrome Leaper and think "Well lah-dee-dah, a Jag-wire!"

Just tell them the car was cheep it was the 6 transmissions that were expensive.

captdownshift wrote: Volvo

Other than the X70 that I think is UGLY are there other AWD variants I should be looking at as I really like the old bricks.

Saab 9-3xwd comes in 2.0T or 2.8T which both get good gains from a reflash. Theyre pretty rare but for your needs