What car for wife and future children

I think the time is coming in our lives to get rid of her 9-5. Its been a fantastic car for the 6 years we've had it, but I think its time for something a little more appliance-like. I want something less quirky than the Saab too. I'm looking for ideas here.

So the contenders: 1. Lexus LS430. The only real negative I see is that it is RWD and has a V8. They also aren't super easy to find around here with the later 5 speed auto. I guess all of the old people are holding on to them.

1. 3rd gen 08+ Toyota Avalon. Its a really nice appliance, and pretty easy to find in Limited trim with low miles and in great shape.

2. 3rd gen Acura TL: I found a really nice one locally, but its behind on service (timing belt, unknown status of transmission fix)

3. Something else? No vans, no SUVs. Miata is not the answer (for her). My plan is actually to get rid of her 9-5 and her 9-3 vert. Budget under $15k. Must have heated leather.

I.think the Avalon is a good, but boring choice.

Search Infiniti ¦ Infinity for examples of significant depreciation.

Boring is OK in this case. Appliance with luxury is the goal. Otherwise, I'd just get a Jag XJ8 or something German.

I had not really thought about Infiniti. M45/Q45?

No one does think of them!
G35/G37 sport sedan too.

A couple of guys at work have Avalons. One even replaced one that got totaled with another one. They are nice to ride in. The one that got totaled was one he bought from my daughter. Another guy has a Lexus ls400. Every time we ride in it I impressed. I have no problems with the Acuras except I hate the styling on some.

I'd go for the Avalon. It's the smart and safe bet. Plus, reclining rear seats are awesome.

When I was in your situation way back in 1990. I got a Miata and wife-unit got a Mazda 323. Daughter has grown up happy and well adjusted; she treasures the memories of driving around with Dad; in her car seat with the top down.

There is a MazdaSpeed6 sitting outside my apartment right now. I don't think the guy wants to sell it.

I was gonna throw in there a few odd balls. Volvo S60/V70/S80 would also work nicely and very comfy seats

The Volvos are nice but less appliance-like than the Avalon. I do like the previous generation Acuras, too. TL is nice, even the TSX. We love my wife's TSX. It's not large but it did well for 2 kids. It's not a stripper, but it's not luxurious either.

The Jeeza wrote: I was gonna throw in there a few odd balls. Volvo S60/V70/S80 would also work nicely and very comfy seats

I had a Volvo 740 Turbo and a V70XC. Both had verrry comfy seats, the 740 being a little better, but the newer Volvo still beat anything else. My parents had two Saab 9-5s and now have a 2008 Volvo S60. It's not as comfy as the older Volvos, but still very good. The problem with the S60 is rear-seat legroom: there isn't any. It's almost Scirocco-like in how you can practically stand a newspaper between the front and back seats with a normal-height 80-year-old driving.

(Not that many octogenarians are driving Sciroccos these days.)

Lexus ES300. Should be plentiful and they are pretty damn tough, plus they get better gas mileage than the LS400/430 etc. I would avoid Euro cars like the plague.

Interesting... my wife has taken over my 9-5 and prefers it to her Odyssey people mover appliance. She likes the combination of (slightly) quirky, comfortable, and fast.

Is the Lexus ES closer in size to the Avalon or the Camry? We have friends with one and the back seat seems roomy. The IS is too small.

I think the Infiniti G is a little too small, but we're going to check one out anyhow tomorrow.

Volvo is out because it is European.

Does anyone here have experience with the 3rd gen Avalon? Things to look for? Good/bad options to get?

In reply to asoduk:

Sorry mate...you just have to accept it...

Minivan.

Think of the time you tried to use the wrong tool for the timing belt alignment and thus took 5 hours longer to get it done. Just get the right special tool for the job.

Minivan

How much $$$ of yours can we spend? The more modern Kia Optima Or hyundai genesis are remarkably good and I really have not heard anything bad about them.

Just wanted to mention that LS430's were 5 speeds from 2001-2003 and went to 6-speed automatics in 2004 through 2006. If you like the idea of an LS but see RWD and V8 as downsides, the Avalon is a pretty good alternative, and likely cheaper too.

I was going to suggest '03 and up Lincoln Town car for a nice mixture of appliance and luxury that is nearly unkillable. And they're cheap too.

But then, RWD and V8 are not what you're after.

I honestly can't see any context in which a V8 and RWD could be considered a negative

asoduk wrote: Is the Lexus ES closer in size to the Avalon or the Camry? We have friends with one and the back seat seems roomy. The IS is too small.

Lexus ES is the exact same platform as the Camry.
The Avalon is larger than the Camry and has no exact Lexus counterpart.

Seems worth pointing out but the Infiniti G is standard rwd but also available in awd. True, you may find it small since it is a mid-sized sedan. The Infiniti Q or M series is a large sedan.

Lincoln MKS is the current large sedan and Town Car replacement.
Used prices are very reasonable in either fwd or awd; in either V6 or V6 turbo.

A car for future children:

...but it probably won't get you a wife.

The Lexus ES kinda flies under the radar but if looking for a comfy appliance that's not a bad thing. A friend has a M35 Infiniti, she loves that car. It and the Nissan Maxima might be worth a look, my mom has an '06 Maxima that's a tad pimpy for my taste but I have to admit it's nice.

In reply to The_Jed: Except the town car that my MIL owned had the worst seats ever installed in a car. I swear driving it was like getting hit in the spine with a bat. Literally could feel a support bar across my kidneys through the too soft padding.

If you are wanting luxurios appliance, I'd look at the Avalon. It's the Buick of the Toyota line. Oh wait, in that case look at a Buick.

I need to go drive the Avalon ASAP, and then find one that is not painted in a senior citizen color if we like it. If I could find one painted like that van, WOW! I found this one locally: http://summittoyotaofakron.com/Akron-OH/For-Sale/Used/Toyota/Avalon/2008-Limited-Car/36884344/

The only real negatives to the LS is that it looks older and the fuel economy isn't there. The ES seems like a really nice car and there are a ton out there.

I've never had anything American. The Ford Flex is appealing, but spendy. I've driven a Regal GS. Reminds me of my 9-3. Should probably look at the Lacrosse and Lucerne. Lucerne. How about the STS?

That Avalon is very nice. I even like the colour. You should look at the Buick Lucerne. It, too, is a bit boring but comfortable and reasonably priced. The old Lacrosses weren't that great, unless you got the Super version. 5.3 V8s are fun.