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mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/10/15 9:08 p.m.
etifosi wrote: Wow, can't believe we didn't bring up Lexus or Infinity offerings yet.

the G35 is not a bad car. Been in a couple and they can scoot

KyAllroad
KyAllroad Dork
3/11/15 7:39 a.m.

B6 Passat VR6 with 4motion. Much bigger rear seat space than most everything listed so far. Spring for the extended warrantee.

92dxman
92dxman Dork
3/11/15 1:57 p.m.

What about a Lincoln MKS/Ford Taurus? The rear seat looks decent size: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=19030&endYear=2016&vehicleStyleCodes=AWD4WD&modelCode1=MKS&showcaseOwnerId=100027438&startYear=1981&makeCode1=LINC&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=17000&showcaseListingId=389663046&mmt=%5BLINC%5BMKS%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=372535486&Log=0

These are really cheap: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=19030&endYear=2016&modelCode1=TAURUS&driveGroup=AWD4WD&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcaseOwnerId=69598&startYear=1981&makeCode1=FORD&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=15000&showcaseListingId=394851997&mmt=%5BFORD%5BTAURUS%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=388990735&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=19030&endYear=2016&modelCode1=TAURUS&driveGroup=AWD4WD&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcaseOwnerId=69598&startYear=1981&makeCode1=FORD&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=15000&showcaseListingId=394851997&mmt=%5BFORD%5BTAURUS%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=389428321&Log=0

11110000
11110000 Reader
3/11/15 4:24 p.m.

Volvo S80 V8 AWD.

Yamaha-tuned V8 with awesome soundtrack

Electronically adjustable suspension option

Capable AWD

Can be had with heated and cooled seats, lots of other tech toys

Get the best one out there for under $20K!

tjbell
tjbell Reader
3/11/15 4:44 p.m.
11110000 wrote: Volvo S80 V8 AWD. Yamaha-tuned V8 with awesome soundtrack Electronically adjustable suspension option Capable AWD Can be had with heated and cooled seats, lots of other tech toys Get the best one out there for under $20K!

the answer

sesto elemento
sesto elemento Dork
3/11/15 9:18 p.m.

We saw a fair amount of those volvo v8s come apart in glorious fashion. IIRC a new one was $14k

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/12/15 7:59 a.m.

The Volvo's of the generation you all are pointing me to I have seen have rust issues similar to the fords of the early to mid 2000's and the electronics in these things REALLY scare me. I was tasked with hunting down some electrical gremlins in a mid 2000's Volvo and it was more complex than I could ever have imagined. Way more complex then cars of similar vintage. Mind you car electronics are something that do not scare me. But this was a level of WTF that I just found irritating.

Why no subi? To small unless you get a really modern one and even then the rear seat room in less than good. Also this is New England and ever 3rd car on the road is a Subi. I also have been working on a project for the last 3 years that involves Subi's. I have had my fill of Subi's. I have literally been in the company of many thousands of Subi's at any given time for days and days over the last three - four years. I don't want to bring my work home with me. Great cars just don't want to see one in my driveway.

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/12/15 8:01 a.m.
tjbell wrote:
11110000 wrote: Volvo S80 V8 AWD. Yamaha-tuned V8 with awesome soundtrack Electronically adjustable suspension option Capable AWD Can be had with heated and cooled seats, lots of other tech toys Get the best one out there for under $20K!
the answer

I think the key here is that it is Yamaha tuned not Yamaha engineered.

11110000
11110000 Reader
3/13/15 4:07 p.m.

Well, Yamaha developed the heads and intake manifolding w/trick flaps. Depending on who you talk to, they may have assembled it as well.

There was an issue with the first model year of the V8, which only appeared in the XC90. One of the sealed bearings on the balance shaft could catch water and corrode, trashing the motor. This flaw was fixed late in the '05 model year, and all the S80 V8s were OK (model began in '07.) These motors are seeing really high miles without issues - there is a guy on Swedespeed with 2 V8s, each over 250K miles.

I completely agree that the Volvo electronics can be intimidating. It is a whole different level of obfuscation - but you get yourself a DICE tool and a hacked copy of VIDA and you're back in business.

etifosi
etifosi Reader
3/13/15 4:19 p.m.

I accept all of your reasons for not wanting a subaru, except the rear seat being small on '09 & up Legacy. I figured it was the common-ness, lack of cool bits to add yourself and the fact that they are soo exceedingly dull looking. Wife had the previous model and at least the front of the car had some attitude, but the new car is totally blah looking. It's quite a ripper & likes to run though!

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/16/15 5:26 p.m.

So I did it. I done lost my mind and went British. Ok Ford British. Picked up an 04 X Type. 3.0l AWD. The car is immaculate. I actually put a deposit on it almost a year ago and I actually thought the deal was dead. I had forgot about it. Well they called this am and said the snow had melted enough to so I could pick I up. We had not even agreed on a price. After a little haggling we agreed on a price and I went and got the cash and purchased it. I will probably start a new thread outlining my saga with this car as it started on July 18th 2014.

Storz
Storz Dork
3/16/15 5:57 p.m.

AWD Charger RT

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/17/15 7:14 a.m.
Storz wrote: AWD Charger RT

This is a great car. Test drove one this fall and REALLY liked it. Ergonomically it worked for me. The other thing i liked was that the dash / cabin seemed bigger. I don't know how dodge did it but everything was in reach and yet I did not get that closterfobic (sp) feeling I get with the wrap around dashboards in some cars. Also call me old fashion but I really liked having an analog clock. Not a big fan of digital.

unevolved
unevolved SuperDork
3/17/15 8:35 a.m.
dean1484 wrote: So I did it. I done lost my mind and went British. Ok Ford British. Picked up an 04 X Type. 3.0l AWD. The car is immaculate. I actually put a deposit on it almost a year ago and I actually thought the deal was dead. I had forgot about it. Well they called this am and said the snow had melted enough to so I could pick I up. We had not even agreed on a price. After a little haggling we agreed on a price and I went and got the cash and purchased it. I will probably start a new thread outlining my saga with this car as it started on July 18th 2014.

Wow. That sounds like it's got a backstory that needs to be told.

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/17/15 9:40 p.m.

Ya there is. I will post up pix in a new thread when I get a chance. Probibly not untill this weekend as I have way to many balls in the air at the moment to deal with the jag. And this brings the number of cars I have to six so there will be some thinning of the heard needed as well. One up side to it is my wife loves it. I am now worried that she will claim it as her DD.

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