Exploring replacement car options
#1
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.
#2
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.:-)
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.:-)
Last edited by peterv8; 03-17-2018 at 08:46 AM.
#3
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.
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.
Last edited by SinF; 03-17-2018 at 09:11 AM.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Naperville, Illinois USA
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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 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.
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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.
#16
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.
Last edited by pdupler; 03-17-2018 at 08:48 PM.
#20
My wife also has a 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid she uses as her commuter. She absolutely loves the thing. She has had zero problems whatsoever with it, and it gets 40 mpg pretty much non-stop. PLUS, here in Utah if you drive a Hybrid you get free access to the HOV lanes regardless of number of occupants (permit required). That alone is a big plus.