If you couldn't afford a german auto....

rp911t

rp911t

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what would you get?

In all honestly, i would go straight for the Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan...but then again that is kind of pricey. Fully loaded it is around 36k... The exterior styling, i feel is just great. Love how it looks, just the interior sucks. Heck, if i couldn't get that i guess there is the new Volvo S40 T5...if not that then a Jaguar X-Type 2.5..then if not then..death...
 
jrt67ss350

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rp911t said:
what would you get?

In all honestly, i would go straight for the Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan...but then again that is kind of pricey. Fully loaded it is around 36k... The exterior styling, i feel is just great. Love how it looks, just the interior sucks. Heck, if i couldn't get that i guess there is the new Volvo S40 T5...if not that then a Jaguar X-Type 2.5..then if not then..death...
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I've looked at both of the Saab and Volvo in good detail. I agree about the Saab. Plus, it drives awesome - very solid. I actually like the interior. The engine is great - good power and the turbo is very smooth. I've also driven the new S40 T5. Cool styling, but not as much back seat room as the Saab. It has good power, but the accelerator is down right annoying. The accelerator is way too quick right off the line - it is pretty much impossible to accelerate smoothly from a stop. Once you have the car moving, the power flows smoothly (can't even tell it has a turbo - seamless power delivery), but it is annoying from a stop - I could not accelerate the car without jerking it from a stop during the entire test drive. Front seat support is awesome in the Volvo. It also is equally as pricey as the Saab, but Volvo is charging extra for things like the stability control that come standard on the Saab. Becomes more expensive than the Saab if it's loaded up. For some reason, Volvo decided not to put a turbo boost gauge in the cluster of the new S40 - previous turbo Volvos always had turbo gauges. A manual is not available in the Volvo yet but will be. If you get an automatic in the Saab 9-3 Aero, it includes shifters on the steering wheel that the Volvo doesn't have.

In the end, I think my choice would be the Saab, personally.
 
MrElussive

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TheBry said:
A bicycle or skateboard ;-) I think once you try (quality) German cars, you never go back. Even if it means buying used.
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That's probably true. I only drove German cars up to now, and although I don't regret the G35C at all (such a kickass drive), next time around I think I definitely wanna go back to the Germans.
 
T

TheBry

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MrElussive said:
That's probably true. I only drove German cars up to now, and although I don't regret the G35C at all (such a kickass drive), next time around I think I definitely wanna go back to the Germans.
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Yeah... the G35 does have a nice ride -- great engine. I test drove one before getting my B'mer and liked the ride... the fit and finish (and quality of dash materials) didn't match even what I had in my Passat at the time though. That was a bit of a disappointment.

I rode in the back seat of a G35 coupe for the first time yesterday in Denver. I was there on business and one of my business partners just got one. He insisted on driving us to lunch, and I picked the back seat. Just as with my first experience in the front seat, I was not impressed with the quality of plastics, and the headroom in the rear seat. Felt flimsy, and my head kept hitting the glass of the rear hatch. He's going to be annoyed to find smears where the gel in my hair rubbed onto the glass.

Overall, a nice car though. Just not sure the materials are good enough inside to command a nearly $40K sticker. The engine most definitely compensates for that -- nice growl, good power.
 
codex57

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If you mean new, then I'd settle for a IS300. Fully loaded, it doesn't even crack $30K (using market price and not counting taxes and stuff).

Or, possibly a WRX or the Saab version or the Legacy GT.
 
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sly

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bahnstormer said:
what are u talking about?
german autos are always affordable.

if u mean new, well then i'd
grab a subaru sti
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You can get a lease on decently equipped '04 325 for $295 a month for 36 months, 30K miles. That's not going to be too expensive for very many people. As a matter of fact when you include maintenance for no additional money, it's probably the best lease deal out there considering the quality of the car you are getting.
 
MrElussive

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sly said:
You can get a lease on decently equipped '04 325 for $295 a month for 36 months, 30K miles. That's not going to be too expensive for very many people. As a matter of fact when you include maintenance for no additional money, it's probably the best lease deal out there considering the quality of the car you are getting.
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True point. The only problem is that most people want options and a base model 325i doesn't come with anything, and you know how BMW is with options...that lease price can easily sky-rocket.
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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bahnstormer said:
if u mean new, well then i'd
grab a subaru sti
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I agree the New Saab's are very nice. A friend's wife traded in their Audi A4 for the 9 3 and loves it. It is a bit small, but the ride and all is very nice. I agree with the STI. That is a very nice (Fast) car. It handles like a dream too. I like a lot of the Subaru line. I still like my ///M better though.

I like the G35c as well. I didn't like the interior as much, but then again I wasn't use to it. I know I could if I drove it a couple of days it would wear on me. I test drove one and it was very nice and the sound was bad a$$.

There are many good choices out there.....
 
MrElussive

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The fact is, you can always afford a German auto. Whether your budget just doesn't exist, or you're down to economy-car price levels ($10K - $20K), there are new VW's and used BMW's/Audi's/VW's/MB's in your price range!!
 
K

KevRC4130

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hahahaha guys, I think you missed the point of the thread. Most of the cars you guys picked are still well over $30k, which means it's about the same price as a German car, just not made in Germany. I think he meant you need to pick a car that's like below $25,000. Oh well, that's just how I inturpretted it.
 
Ghost

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If I weren’t going to buy a German car (will probably never happen because as previously stated they are refined economical options in addition to the variety) I would say an Evo VIII or a STi. I love speed and practicality and these cars have plenty of both.
 
MrElussive

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Yeah, I'm curious for more specifics. Do we have a price range, are we limited to a certani type car (sedan, coupe, etc.)?

If you're asking us what cheaper, non-German alternative we'd want, my vote goes to the new Acura TL as an alternative to the 325i/330i models. For $34K or $35K loaded to the rim, you get a great sports car that provides uneblievable bang for the buck. As an alternative to the 325Ci/330Ci, I'd go with the G35 Coupe. Again, you get a lot of car for the money (not as much as the TL, though) and it drives really great (speaking from experience, of course).
 
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