Exploring replacement car options
As hopefully spring is around the corner I might be looking at options to replace my 2010 Lexus. So the cars I will be looking at will be a size step down because there are only 2 of us. I will be keeping the XKR for our cruising and weekend excursions. So here are my candidates. Jaguar XE , Lexus IS , Alfa Romeo Giulia and maybe the new KIA stinger. Would like AWD and even manual transmission. So for you gearheads what are some of your thoughts. Also any other candidates in this size range. Just fishin so far.
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All are nice cars but I'm weak for Alfa Romeo and the Guilia is sooooo Beautiful. The new Kia Stinger is really nice looking but I expect it to be to "Asian". The Lexus is nice too but not as good looking as an Alfa Romeo!:-)
I will for the fun of it go to a Kia dealer and testdrive the Stinger for the fun of it cause it is a nice looking car.:-) https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...f5f18ddc50.jpg |
I can't imagine driving KIA, I know they addressed their reliability issues from 90s era, but this is all I can think of when looking at the brand. It is also very downmarket unless you are looking at Genesis. G80 Sport is really good value and not tarnished by KIA brand.
Alfa is a gorgeous car, but I expect it will be disastrously unreliable. Past Alfas (e.g. Spider) were always challenging to keep running. Lexus is for people who don't like cars or driving. Uninspired drive, ultra-upscale interior. Really good reliability. I personally really like BMW M2, Volvo S60 Polestar and Jaguar XF Sportbrake. |
This past fall, I gave away my 1999 Lexus ES300, and because my wife wanted to have ‘at least one reliable car in the house’ I bought a 2014 Lexus IS350 AWD (the first year of the current gen 3 IS). The car drives great, and in ‘sport’ mode it feels very light and lively. Really fun to turn off the traction control and do some four wheel spin donuts in an empty snow covered parking lot. So, no complaints, been great so far. |
The Alfa is a great car. Used Maserati’s are great values (they tank
More than Jags) so a Ghibli is viable. I go Alfa at that size. The Alfa/Maser reliability issues are as outdated as Jags. |
Are American cars off the table Jagtoes? I'd recommend looking into Cadillac
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Originally Posted by Sean W
(Post 1860597)
Are American cars off the table Jagtoes? I'd recommend looking into Cadillac
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Alright now no laughing, but the most comfortable car I've ever sat in was the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. Didn't test drive it because I wasn't in the market and I didn't want to get the Salesman's hopes up so I just sat in it. It was ridiculously comfortable.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...cdb1e04307.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...a3702447f3.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...cbd63e49d7.jpg |
Originally Posted by Sean W
(Post 1860635)
Alright now no laughing, but the most comfortable car I've ever sat in was the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. Didn't test drive it because I wasn't in the market and I didn't want to get the Salesman's hopes up so I just sat in it. It was ridiculously comfortable.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...cdb1e04307.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...a3702447f3.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...cbd63e49d7.jpg |
Buick..................
.......... I told my Mom I'd say nothing at all........... |
Originally Posted by Cee Jay
(Post 1860645)
Buick..................
.......... I told my Mom I'd say nothing at all........... |
The wheels on the Giulia are too small. Like roller skate wheels.
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I have a top spec XE and it's a great handling car, strong pull from the engine, and great safety features. Trunk is a little small, the brakes are nothing to write home about. If you could score a deal on Giulia Q would be my first pick, then XE, or if you want to lease a Ghibli has some strong offers. I wish the XE had the Ghibli brakes and transmission tuning.
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I drove a Giulia recently: very precise, tight, and crisp steering. Build quality better than expected, certainly in terms of fit/finish.
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Originally Posted by Sean W
(Post 1860635)
Alright now no laughing, but the most comfortable car I've ever sat in was the 2017 Buick LaCrosse.
I drove the Alfa Giulia too just out of curiosity to compare with the XE. Alfa is better looking but that's all its got. XE is hands down a much more comfortable and refined small sedan. I sure wouldn't want to drive an Alfa on a long road-trip as I found the seat squab way too short, no thigh support. I've owned a Lexus LS400 (destroyed in accident, replaced with X308). It was the same thing as the Buick, with seats four inches wider than I am. But on the other hand, Lexus didn't inspire you to take a corner fast enough to slide across the leather either. I only bought it because I'd had Supras and Landcruisers before and so when I wanted a luxury sedan, a Lexus seemed logical. If it hadn't got wrecked, I probably wouldn't have kept it long anyway. The X308 turned out to be much more comfortable, much more fun to drive and probably nearly as reliable as I had no issues with it till it started getting really old. I wound up buying a low mileage XF, sticking with the Jaguar brand. I love the interior and the seats in the Portfolio trim are very comfortable to me. I've finally gotten the Spires comfort suspension installed and looking for some wheels/tires with more sidewall. Buick came closer than anything to the x308 ride (altho nothing built in the last five years comes very close), but those Buick seats were a non-starter. Obviously, comfort is very subjective, but overall, probably one of the most important factors in car choice, particularly for a daily driver. |
I had a Hertz Buick Encore earlier this year for a few days and I was relatively impressed. It is not like the Buicks of old. Why not take a look at the S60 Volvo? I've heard a lot of good things about it. Let us know what you decide to do.
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Originally Posted by ralphwg
(Post 1861510)
Why not take a look at the S60 Volvo? I've heard a lot of good things about it. Let us know what you decide to do.
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On a pedestrian car front, we have owned a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid since new. I think we have put $900 into the car outside scheduled maintenance in 8 years. Not a lot of cache, but plenty of creature comforts.
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Originally Posted by dsd
(Post 1861740)
On a pedestrian car front, we have owned a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid since new. I think we have put $900 into the car outside scheduled maintenance in 8 years. Not a lot of cache, but plenty of creature comforts.
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