Wife is going to make me get a 4 door car since we are planning on having kids. Price range is around 30k. Ive only been able to come up with a couple realistic options. Was curious if any of you had other suggestions.

The only comparable vehicles i can think of are:
-3.2TL
-G8 GT (maybe wait for the GTP)
-Charger R/T
- Could pick up a used M5 for that much but im not that big into the BMW image.
- No WRX's or EVO's. Done that before and dont like the "hey look at me" factor.
- A Maxima i guess but they arent really comparable sport wise with the above.

Really kinda leaning towards the G8 at the moment but by no means stuck on anything.

5/5/2008 9:09:16 AM

why wouldnt a maxima compete with a TL? how about the altima 3.5? G35 sedan?

I was going to suggest a WRX/Evo just from the thread title How about a de-riced one?

4door and sporty is a bmw specialty.

5/5/2008 9:18:15 AM

cts-v

5/5/2008 9:24:36 AM

^^the maxima would compete with the TL but not the others.

as far as the EVO / STi. ive had an STi before, didnt like it that much

cts-v is a good thought, but similar to the BMW in the image it portrays. Odd for a 28 year old to drive a caddy or bimmer in my opinion. I make good money but dont necessarily want everyone i work with to know it, if you know what i mean.

5/5/2008 10:18:47 AM

so you want something sporty

but not something so sporty that its ricey

or so sporty that you can tell its expensive

we're talking middle of the road sporty

5/5/2008 10:22:01 AM

G35/7

5/5/2008 10:35:17 AM

here's a sporty "family car"

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 10:39 AM. Reason : tags]

5/5/2008 10:39:25 AM

CTS-V
Last body style factory de-riced STi
New G8's pretty cool also. However if you want sporty, it's going to come with at least a little bit of the "hey look at me".
Ahmet

5/5/2008 10:44:25 AM

With gas prices @ $4.00 and rising + recession + a kid on the way, I would go with a 4 banger. You'll regret it if you don't. One of my co-workers just traded in his Charger R/T for a Chevy Aveo.

The new WRX body style looks homo. You won't get the "hey look at me" factor. You might get the "oh, it's one of those hippy hybrid cars honey".

5/5/2008 10:44:29 AM

BMW 3 series!

5/5/2008 10:45:47 AM

If it were me,I would get a 4 cyclinder family beater then a cheaper used and older sports/sporty car to play around with. I know I'm not putting my kids (when I have them) in a nice car that they are just going to puke/spill/whatever on.

5/5/2008 10:55:27 AM

I'm with beethead on this one. You can pick up a ~2005 Audi S4/S4 Avant for around 30k, fits all your requirements unless it looks "too expensive".

If gas mileage isn't a big factor though, my choice at that price point would be:

2003 Audi RS6. You can find them for low 30's if you try... Awesome car... just might fail on the "looks too expensive" category though.

5/5/2008 11:03:44 AM

g35/7 sedan

they are rear wheel drive

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 11:04 AM. Reason : 

5/5/2008 11:04:33 AM

Quote :

"Could pick up a used M5 for that much but im not that big into the BMW image."

That and the RS6 are silly, impractical suggestions. He's looking for a car for around $30k, but I doubt he wants to pay for the maintenance of an (originally) $80k off warranty car.

If you don't mind the gas mileage my vote is for the G8 (you mention waiting for the GXP but thats not gonna be in your budget). If mileage is a concern I say the A3 2.0T. Used Audi S4 is another great pick, but gas mileage could be an issue.

5/5/2008 11:11:59 AM

g8 hands down if you want performance with a low key image. a brand new gt stickers for under 30k. you can't beat that, even with a big stick.

i don't see any point in waiting for the gxp unless you have to have a manual. the added performance over the gt isn't really going to be usable in day to day driving, and it's going to come with the added price and more prominent image.

i wouldn't let gas mileage be a big concern as has been suggested. you're not talking about huge differences between the cars mentioned. if you can buy a $30k car yet are struggling to fuel anything more than a 4 cylinder, priorities need to change.

5/5/2008 11:49:12 AM

good suggestions, thanks

audi's unfortunately fall into the "looks too expensive category". i would just rather avoid the comments from the people that work for me everyday. Not worth the hassle. I.E. the plant manager drives an Audi, lol.

good call on the G35/7, hadnt thought about that.

^? any idea what the GTP might go for when it comes out this summer? mid to upper 30's?

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 11:53 AM. Reason : ..]

5/5/2008 11:52:43 AM

^^kind of what ive been thinking. the new GT also does have AFM (company i used to work for produced these ) but gas mileage according to the sticker is comparable with the v6. That being said mileage isnt a big concern.

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 11:57 AM. Reason : ..]

5/5/2008 11:56:21 AM

yeah, the numbers i've seen are 17/24 for the gt. hardly any significant difference.

i'm not sure for the gxp msrp. i haven't seen any projected numbers, but i haven't really researched it either. i would ASSume mid 30's based on the base v6 and gt prices. you've also got to consider the potential for dealers to be marking them up or at least not coming off sticker at all until they've been out a while. a high end model like that is going to draw attention also.

the infiniti g series is a solid bargain also, but to me that says luxury as much as some of the cars you've declined considering.

5/5/2008 12:06:00 PM

If I see an Infiniti G35 i don't see it as a step down from an Audi A4. In my eyes an S4 is a step up but I doubt your co-workers would know the difference.

5/5/2008 12:15:30 PM

I really like the G35/37 and 3 series. I'm not a huge fan of the S4/A4 just because one of my friends has one and I wasn't that impressed with it.

I know it's not at all comparable to the other cars, but a 4 door civic Si is somewhat sporty, 4 door and friendly on gas. Plus it's a honda so it will never die.

5/5/2008 12:30:13 PM

^its also overpriced as hell at just under $30k. I mean for the same price you can have a 361hp V8 sedan (G8 GT).

5/5/2008 12:43:26 PM

Quote :

"audi's unfortunately fall into the "looks too expensive category". i would just rather avoid the comments from the people that work for me everyday. Not worth the hassle."

4 Door GSR Definitely would avoid those comments......hell maybe they would give you a raise

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 1:12 PM. Reason : .]

5/5/2008 1:11:50 PM

Quote :

"I'm not a huge fan of the S4/A4 just because one of my friends has one and I wasn't that impressed with it."

has one what? those are two very different cars.

5/5/2008 1:30:57 PM

A4 2.0T
Fully Loaded Accord V-6 EX
Toyota Camry
G8 (i don't think i'd buy a GM car but i must admit the G8 is pretty hot)

For the price of a G35 I would rather just go with a 3-Series as i trust the BMW badge a lot more quality wise than Nissan

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 3:25 PM. Reason : a]

5/5/2008 3:23:41 PM

^neither one of those Japanese cars is even close to "sporty as possible".

5/5/2008 3:24:46 PM

dude its a chick; she wouldn't know the difference.

This guy at work had a wife who kept nagging that she wanted a 5-series. He bought her a 3-series and slapped a 5-series badge on the back. Apparently she didn't even notice till some guy friend of hers pointed it out like 2 years later lol

5/5/2008 3:28:18 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_XC70
I am a fan of this for a sporty/family car. At the bottom of the wiki page it categorizes volvos cars, V70 falls into sporty and estate categories.

[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 4:29 PM. Reason : two pence]

5/5/2008 4:26:11 PM

^^well the original post says "wife is going to make me". Thats not the same as "wife's car". Either way he said he wants sporty so who am I to argue

5/5/2008 4:32:25 PM

I gotta say that man is on to something. The new Volvos are pretty nice looking and would make a good "wife" car

5/5/2008 4:54:19 PM

The S60R is a sweet wagon, however it was discontinued after 2007. Could be a nice used pick up though.

5/5/2008 4:56:59 PM

four door and sporty

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

5/5/2008 6:12:06 PM

There is no reason to spend 30k man, I have a 05 GTP on the lot now that you can take home for $9800.



[Edited on May 5, 2008 at 6:35 PM. Reason : Better pics coming.]

5/5/2008 6:34:30 PM

Friend of mine is considering buying an S60, I drove one of the 2.5T models and it was reasonably peppy. I imagine the R with the hotter engine and tighter suspension would actually be a fine sports sedan, and that is one comfortable interior...S60R might be a very worthy addition to your list.

5/5/2008 6:41:46 PM

^^

5/5/2008 6:47:41 PM

why worry about what people think?

5/5/2008 7:30:55 PM

CTS V FTMFW. i miss mine

5/5/2008 8:05:05 PM

Tr00

5/5/2008 8:34:21 PM

Went and checked out the G8 this afternoon. Definitely a sweet looking car, at least as quick as the firebird. Comfortable. Wasnt too sure about it from the pictures because it looked like it sat high off the ground, but it doesnt at all. It has a great stance. Will have to get used to the more up right seating position. They have a black on black, loaded coming in from customs i might take off their hands, well see.


One way or the other I guess the firebird is for sale. 97 formula convertible, black, any takers? lol


^^and yes it does matter what other people think to an extent. Taking that into consideration can help make your business life alot easier, expecially if you have people working for you, as i have learned.

5/5/2008 8:48:42 PM

I'm not a huge fan of GM products in most instances (though thats changing) but this car (G8)really impressed me when I sat in it at the Auto Show the other month.

5/5/2008 8:52:59 PM

i don't know what you guys are talking about...

my camry is STRAIGHT BALLER



but for real though, aside from picking something that goes as fast as 30k can get you, you might want to consider crash safety ratings and also how easy it is to get in and out of the back seat. you don't want to be swearing your car up and down every time you have to put the kid in the car. not that there has been much talk about the charger since OP, but those things look like they have cramped back seats. it might just be the windows that make it look that way though.

5/5/2008 8:56:32 PM

they have pretty good rear seat room, though compared to others in their class (i.e. G8) they're a little tight.

5/5/2008 9:11:19 PM

i thought the rear set had pretty decent room.

5/5/2008 9:14:34 PM

Subaru Legacy GT

5/6/2008 2:55:47 AM

740 GLE

5/6/2008 3:51:28 AM

E90 330i, 3L, 255hp

mid to high 20s

5/6/2008 4:07:20 AM

^^^the scooby may not be a bad choice
should be plenty of aftermarket for it





[Edited on May 6, 2008 at 5:52 AM. Reason : ^^^]

5/6/2008 5:51:26 AM

S4/A6

5/6/2008 7:36:15 AM

if you buy anything German GET DEEP DISH RIMS

5/6/2008 8:22:19 AM

That 330i is da sexy. I want one now!

5/6/2008 9:21:33 AM

Good Lord people, I think its pretty freakin obvious he's not going to be modding this car.

5/6/2008 9:23:06 AM