Wife wants luxury, I want reliability, help us get both!

There are SO many choices in the market you're looking at.  I shopped this market last year.  Wound up with a '13 G37, but kicked around and test drove so many different ideas.  I'm assuming you don't want anything too old, so for sub-10 year old cars, here are some ideas.  Fully trimmed out, many of these cars have more luxury than you'd think and won't have the German reliability issues.

Honda Accord EX-L V6, Toyota Camry, Infiniti G37, Acura sedan (several to pick from), Chrysler 300C, Kia Cadenza, Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon (newer ones are actually not complete snooze-mobiles), Lexus ES or GS, Mazda 6 Grand Touring

In reply to Klayfish :

Yeah, for those criteria in that price range I would absolutely NOT be looking at anything European.

Another vote for something Korean, Japanese or American. Buick Regal should fit the bill as well - nice cars actually, and depreciate like mad. Hyundai Azera if you want a land yacht - basically a Lexus ES350 with lower initial buy-in.

My wife cracks me up. I sent her a bunch of links based off suggestions here and I get the response, "what about Fiat 500X or L or a MINI Countryman?"

Only the Fiat fits the price range, but it's not a lux sedan like she originally alluded to. I'm going to kick some rocks in the parking lot for a minute.

My backup suggestion is Miata.

In reply to ProDarwin :

Gotta fit passengers plus 4 door equation.

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

To be fair I was describing the older Lexus and Acuras in my price range. Hideous was probably the wrong word, more like dated. That was always my biggest gripe with the Jetta Wagen, just looks like a 2001 car design. Interior was/is pretty damn nice though. The 500x is at least somewhat better looking than the L, but yes it isn't exactly a looker.

so, she's got a jetta wagon, and she just mentioned 500x and Countryman...

I think she wants a CUV, even if she mistakenly said "sedan".

2010+ Lexus RX then. Exterior has aged well,  fits 5, won't break. Easily found in the teens, especially if you don't want/need awd.   RX450H is the hybrid version. also super reliable, and a little quicker/quieter/ smoother.   

Duke said:

In reply to Klayfish :

Yeah, for those criteria in that price range I would absolutely NOT be looking at anything European.

quoted for truth.  don't say we didn't warn you.

Luxury+ reliability is spelled L-E-X-U-S. LS400.

Another vote for Lexus.  Others come close but Lexus is it.

captainawesome said:

My issues with most Lexus and Acuras are the hideous exteriors. The ones in our price range look super outdated. I know that's a silly excuse, but I'm sticking to it.

Good luck with that. 

Do you care about driving dynamics? If so, then you want a Lexus--either an LS for a large Yacht, GS for a mid-size sports sedan, or IS for a compact sports sedan. A step down in reliability and luxury, although better looking and likely more affordable, are the Infiniti G35/37, M35 and M45, and the Q45. 

Another step down in luxuriousness gets you to the Acura offerings--not sure there is really a bad choice there, and they all are nice to drive, but despite owning one for years I just never warmed up to them. 

Then you have your Hyundai and Kia offerings. Don't laugh, go check out a Genessis or K900. Not sure if they're in your price range yet or not, but they're excellent vehicles. Not quite up to Lexus/MB levels of luxury, and I can't quite put my finger on why not, but damn good. 

If you don't care about it being fun to drive and just want a nice place to be, you open up the Lexus ES (aka Camry), the Lexus CT200h (aka prius), RX (highlander), the Toyota Avalon, etc. 

I've had experience with almost all of the above. Never had any experience with the American offerings, so I'll forgo commenting on them, other than I really like the idea of the Lincoln hybrids. 

Klayfish said:

There are SO many choices in the market you're looking at.  I shopped this market last year.  Wound up with a '13 G37, but kicked around and test drove so many different ideas.  I'm assuming you don't want anything too old, so for sub-10 year old cars, here are some ideas.  Fully trimmed out, many of these cars have more luxury than you'd think and won't have the German reliability issues.

Honda Accord EX-L V6, Toyota Camry, Infiniti G37, Acura sedan (several to pick from), Chrysler 300C, Kia Cadenza, Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon (newer ones are actually not complete snooze-mobiles), Lexus ES or GS, Mazda 6 Grand Touring

 

Are the newer ones in that price range? My ex-wife had/has a '15 Mazda 6 Grand Touring with the everything, and it is a damn fine car. Would knock down 40mpg on the highway. Huge trunk, back seats were big enough for adults to be comfortable more than a drive across town to get dinner, and even though I was in this months GRM in Say What for saying a luxury car shouldn't have an I4...........The way it was tuned and the 6 spd auto, had no problem getting out its way. But then again, a Mazda 6 isn't a luxury car, but it the interior is definitely much, much nicer than the price suggests.

The newer Mazda's have taken a huge step up in luxury-type interiors, even though I feel my '18 Mazda 3 I recently got doesn't feel as athletic, compared to the '10 Mazda 3 same ex-wife had before the 6. The newer one is softer and not as responsive. But I use it for commuting on surface streets, so it's not like I'm out doing canyon runs with it or anything.

Hyundai Equus is a underpriced luxury sedan. 

I would go s550 or similar,  but then again I’m not afraid of the Germans and I’m also not a fan of the typical Lexus/Acura/Infinity.  Some of the German luxury cars are more reliable than others and many are very DIYable If you want to do your own work.

I’ve also been impressed with the newer Volvo and Lincolns I’ve spent time in.

I have 5 or 6 twentyish year old BMWs and that is where my passion lies..but I also have an Acura. My 07 mdx has just over 160k of the hardest miles you could imagine, day in and day out I beat it to a pulp, towed dozens of bmws on flatbed trailers with it, hit canyon roads often, etc. Point being it has NEVER broken. Not ONCE. Scheduled maintenance religiously and thats it. I am sure I will see 300k on this thing. Do I love the acura? No. Haha if someone t bones me I won't shed any tears.

Point is....luxurious AND reliable you wanna go Japanese.

I bet a heavy suspension refurbish on a Lexus GS430 would be worth it and hit your goals on a lower budget than anything else.

Find a Kia Optima with the quilted leather seats. Amazing interior, good performance with the turbo motor, and typical Kia reliability.  In your price range, you are looking at a 50K mile example at worst. 

Newest Lexus LS4x0 you can afford. I know what I'm talking about here.

After painstakingly urging her to decide what she really wants, we are going to look at a 13 Ford Edge with some bells/whistles and only 79k miles. Also there's a loaded 09 Highlander with 123k miles. We are leaning toward the Edge as she had an 08 before that we were both fond of. The gas mileage on the Highlander isn't that great, and it's down considerably on power compared to the Edge. There are definitely some features the Highlander beats the Edge on interior wise. Third row seating, rear HVAC controls, rear screen for the kiddos, etc. We will see how it all shakes out.

In reply to captainawesome :

Show your wife this:

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Edge/2013/

Then, track down a used Lexus Rx350 or other Japanese Crossover.  Hurry!  There is still time   "The Lexus, flexes, from Long Beach to Texas."

Consider the nicest Lexus GXxxx you can find since you’re almost in SUV territory?

I’ve never driven an Edge, but I’ve never heard anything complimentary about them from those who have.

Fletch1 said:

In reply to captainawesome :

Show your wife this:

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Edge/2013/

Then, track down a used Lexus Rx350 or other Japanese Crossover.  Hurry!  There is still time   "The Lexus, flexes, from Long Beach to Texas."

I see that most complaints are about the door ajar light staying on? The rest all appear to be typical for any make and model. Not looking to argue, but if the site was named www.greatthingsaboutthecaryouown.com it would have the same type of data.

The problem with any of the Lexus stuff is they are all around 10 years old in the price range we are shopping with 125k+ miles on the clock, most in the 200+ range.