I feel like my needs aren't out of the ordinary, but finding a package that actually delivers is proving difficult.

in order of need:
hatch or comparable dog storage (wagon, van, suv is fine)
engaging to drive
comfortable
some level of performance
interior quality (I HATE buzzy/rattle filled plastics)

Car to replace: model S 75 rwd

Cars I've tried:
Stinger GT awd and rwd - leader of the pack but just not very exciting
bmw 440i grancoupe - numb steering and general soft/vagueness but great motor
bmw 435i grancoupe m sport - slightly less soft/numb/vague than 440i non-msport, surprising amount slower than 440i
audi s7 - super quiet and comfortable but the air bag suspension was very lazy. I might look for another one because the one I drove was burning oil so maybe the car just wasn't maintained. pulls like a freight train
macan base - complete turd
macan gts - nice place to be and if it was just a little lower, it would be great. the v6 sounds awful though, even with the sport exhaust
panamera hybrid (but not phev) - heavy, slow, boring

7/17/2020 5:54:54 AM

https://youtu.be/H5zD4apVL7Q?t=87
turd? It sounds like the current crop of Porsche engines.

That's surprising about the Stinger... I thought all the magazines loved it.

How about an E-class wagon? lol. I've never been in one, so I don't know how "sporty" the suspension is.

7/17/2020 8:41:18 PM

I've been searching hard for an e63 wagon. It was my top choice when I started my search, but less than 150 were ever made.

I drove the s5 sport back. I was very surprised at how good the handling was. It was easily the best of all that I've driven

7/18/2020 11:07:12 AM

How about an RS Avant?

Of course, my real answer is that dogs don’t belong in nice cars.

7/18/2020 11:10:46 PM

This is not difficult. Get yourself an AMG, M, RS, or SVR wagon (or hatchback sedans) or SUV. Or the models just under those top dogs.

Also, you say "engaging to drive" but also "van is fine"... LOLWAT.


[Edited on July 19, 2020 at 3:49 AM. Reason : Also Porsche hatch/wagon/SUV -- not base models. If you rich, Ferrari FF/GTC4Lusso.]

7/19/2020 3:44:16 AM

the ferrari ff/gt4c lusso is the ultimate prize, though I may get the maserati suv with the ferrari v8 at some point. for now I'm trying to keep it to 50ish. I drove the s7, which is the only wagon hatch sedan in the US under 50k (of the brands you listed) and like I said, it's a floaty old man ride. It's way more A8L than sport-anything. the minivan I was speaking to was the r63 amg, which is even rarer than the e63 or the damn ferrari enzo for that matter.

I'd LOVE an rs6 avant, but they only came to america in 2020 and are outside the budget.

I'll keep driving things and just pass the feedback along since:
1. no one posts or starts threads anymore
2. magazine/youtube info vs actual driving is radically different

Quote :

"Of course, my real answer is that dogs don’t belong in nice cars."

if you look at the inverse of this (dogs belong in shitty cars) there's an overlooked implication, which is false.

dogs don't drive cars, therefore they need a driver. if I must drive my dog, I must drive in a shitty car.

I'm not driving a shitty car.

[Edited on July 19, 2020 at 1:52 PM. Reason : d]

7/19/2020 1:51:39 PM

my brother has a benz wagon. thing is slick. i'd rather have that over an suv any day.

7/19/2020 6:44:28 PM

^^ eh. Even when i had dogs, they didn't ride around town with me. screw that.

7/19/2020 11:21:40 PM

how do you get to the vet? the dog park? bring them home for the holidays? take them to the mountains? etc

7/20/2020 12:02:26 AM

Duke seems to be some weird exception with dogs. I'd just ignore those comments. Or maybe his dog is just a complete slob/disaster, lol I love using my GTI to transport my dog. All I do is put down some seat covers, and periodically vacuum out dog hair. Pretty easy.

Not sure what your budget limit is (assuming it's same for new/preowned). Your requirements sure do make things a little tricky. It would be a lot easier if US buyer (or dealer stocking) preferences didn't suck so much - so many more wagon options.

Of course the base Macan engine is a turd - it's a shitty 4 banger for badge whores. Are GTS's or Turbo models within your price range? How about a lightly used Cayenne GTS?

7/20/2020 10:32:56 AM

Yah my dog goes almost everywhere i go. they make all types of products to capture hair dirt slober w/e.

[Edited on July 20, 2020 at 11:01 AM. Reason : and most dogs love riding around town with you if the weather is ok ]

7/20/2020 10:56:55 AM

budget is 50k give or take. if the vehicle is special enough that my cost to own is ~10k (depreciation and repair only, not consumables) over 3-4 years, I'd spend more.

7/20/2020 11:32:24 AM

I drove the macan gts and its MUCH better, but at 50k the motor just didn't do it for me. even with the sport exhaust (might have been aftermarket) it sounded terrible and while the turbo lag was barely there, the on-set of boost was quite underwhelming. too many compromises for 50k imo, but to each their own.

[Edited on July 20, 2020 at 1:05 PM. Reason : how does lotus make a camry v6 sound so good and everyone else fails]

7/20/2020 1:03:44 PM

anyone ever bought a car on carvana? their pricing is actually spot on for both my trade and purchase.

7/22/2020 7:54:18 AM

Why aren't you interested in a used Cayenne?

7/22/2020 1:08:23 PM

have one (for another week or so), less engaging than the tesla.

drove the e63 (5.5L v8tt) amg sedan today, just to get a feel for a wagon I found on the other side of the country. that thing is a blunt instrument. the steering feedback is great, but the transmission is slow, and somehow it puts down the power worse than the lower powered S7. I also got to drive an S7 with the sport diff and sport suspension and it was infinitely better than the base airbags. The S7 is what I'll go with, especially with how great audi is about extending warranties. I'm able to buy 4 years and 36k of bumper to bumper warranty for 3k, MB doesn't offer anything similar and has far worse reliability and part cost. I'm sure I'll lose more value on the S7, but I bet I do better in cost of ownership. with the 15k difference in price, I'll get the warranty, exhaust, tune, upgrade the stereo, and still have enough for a new motorcycle.

I'll bump this in a couple years when the rivian is out, when maybe the ranger raptor is in america, and sport turismo panameras and e63s wagons (4L v8tt) are much cheaper

7/22/2020 11:56:32 PM

Sounds like a solid plan.

7/23/2020 8:48:44 AM

you're going to miss your tesla after spending a couple weeks with whatever you get
imo

7/24/2020 9:17:49 AM

i'll miss the ease and accuracy of the infotainment and not having to warm up anything. that's about it

[Edited on July 24, 2020 at 3:32 PM. Reason : and summon for tight parking spaces]

7/24/2020 3:29:28 PM

had precisely 0 occasions where I've missed the tesla so far.

11/4/2020 9:32:43 AM

[Edited on November 5, 2020 at 11:14 AM. Reason : ]

11/5/2020 11:12:52 AM

well you came from an older model S..not much to miss.

11/23/2020 6:28:33 AM

the model S is a better car than the 3. more room, more power, better control layout, better interior, etc. I didn't have AP2.5 or AP3, but those aren't exactly life changing over previous autopilot hardware. teslas aren't driver's cars, they're the most utility and capability offered in the various segments they've entered. even the roadster, if it ever shows up, will be faster and quicker than any car I've owned and I still won't want it.

11/23/2020 10:50:01 AM