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Member6655

As I have just gotten a new job, I will be driving 20k miles a year on my new car. I am 24 and an Automotive Engineer, so I know everything about cars I'm just not very good at these decisions, considering it is my first.

At 24 years old with this sort of job, you can guess I want something fun, gorgeous, kind of fast, Automatic, preferably AWD but I would love to hear suggestions.

I have looked at almost every car from the Subaru BRZ (awesome, cheap, reliable, but too small to drive that much) to an ATS sedan (gorgeous interior, luxurious but not too great on reliability. I am open to any suggestion. I am currently considering the Audi A5 (CPO 100k warrenty with 19k miles for 27k), G37xs coupe, ATS sedan (~24k%). I have looked at every car there is and im not crazy over any car. I am leaning towards the Audi but im just afraid buying the Audi is a risk.

My list of all cars I have considered are: Mini Cooper, BRZ/FR-s, Veloster Turbo, Infiniti Q50 and everything above. I know Honda's and all jap cars are the reliable ones, along with Americans, but I am not really crazy about any of them.

What would you suggest? A5 CPO for 27k? The fast G37 for 23k(ish)? Any suggestion is appreciated!

Thanks!

Priorities: Exterior styling / Reliability & durability / Audio & nav systems

Preferred Bodystyle(s): Sedan / Coupe

Car Needs: Daily commuter / Long trips / Client-facing / Fun toy

Primary Driver(s): Tall driver

Need minimum of 4 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 35000
Maximum age: 4 years

Maximum price: US $ 27000

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Response from Garibaldi

5:59 am February 23, 2016

Response from Garibaldi

6:03 am February 23, 2016

Response from dfbolles

8:42 pm February 23, 2016

I am a big Audi fan and currently own 2. You can't beat them for interior, fit and finish, and performance however, I trade often so don't experience problems that might come after more miles. I have also owned 3 infiniti's and feel that they are a great value. super performance and didn't have one single problem with any of the 3.

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Response from mwcten

8:36 am February 24, 2016

You're an automotive engineer - I would suggest driving something that exemplifies good automotive engineering. Something that pushed the envelope for performance, styling and reliability over what had existed before. Not the newest and most expensive incremental improvement on last years model; or; because of your budget, the newest and most expensive incremental improvement from four years ago. Know your automotive past or you will be doomed to repeat its mistakes in the future, right? Stand up for a car the automotive industry has gotten right and drive it. And if you're an automotive engineer you should be able do some basic stuff on your car, and doing that will likely help your hands-on automotive knowledge and thus your career. Buy a high milage NSX. A Lexus SC300 or IS300. A last gen Prelude. Maybe even the G35/37. I don't know; those are the cars I think were well done, and which I might drive if I were in your industry. You may not value reliability and low-cost as much as I do, though, so maybe there are some German or American cars you appreciate as well. IMHO, the fit and finish of a car with a blown engine is irrelevant.

What about driving something cheap for a few years and getting a Tesla when their used prices drop?

On the other hand maybe you should mess with people and drive a Pontiac Aztek. It would certainly be a conversation starter. Drive something bad for a while as a kind of visceral experience of how your industry can go wrong.

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Acura NSX
Lexus SC
Pontiac Aztek

Response from mkaresh

1:07 am February 25, 2016

I also like how the ATS drives, and also wish its reliability was better.

The A4 and A5 look good in our survey back to and including the 2011 model year. The 2010 used to look better than it has recently. The A5 you're considering is likely to be good until it turns six, at which point I believe the CPO warranty ends. After that it becomes more of a gamble. They are gorgeous.

The G37 tends to be a good value for what it costs used. It could be your best bet.

Have you considered the current VW GTI?

Less expensive possibilities include the Kia Forte Koup and Scion tC.

I'd check insurance rates before buying anything, to avoid an unpleasant surprise.

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Infiniti G
Audi A5 / S5 / RS5
Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI

Response from MDooner

9:10 am March 2, 2016

Response from NormT

7:55 am July 26, 2017

The 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS is a really good deal under $20K or $6,000 less than your target. The handling and braking is not matched by others and AWD is really good with a rear bias.

If you run Premium fuel of 92 octane or so and have the sparkplug and ecu update the car takes to aftermarket tuning well and with AWD just hooks and scoots.

The 2014 Regal AWD had Haldex4 AWD and has won over journalist like Consumer Reports saying to skip the Benz, BMW, and buy the Buick.

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Buick Regal
Cadillac ATS
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