Need DD recommendations

[qspring]

I'm looking to pick up a DD for work and Im having a dilemma on which cars to check out. I just started at a new company that discourages using company money to buy luxury cars. So no BMW, Audi, Lexus, etc, otherwise I would have picked up a 3 series. They are thinking more along the lines of Chevy, Toyota, Honda. The reason is that I'm in an industry where my supplier reps are not as well paid and showing up in a bmw might give off a negative impression. At the same time, I'm reluctant to drive a plain vanilla Camry, accord, Altima, etc. life is too short to drive boring cars.

The car would be used to take out suppliers, visit manufacturing sites, etc and serve as a on weekends family errand car.

Would like to hear some other cars to look into And why.

Here are some criteria and cars I'm looking at:

Criteria
- mid to full size sedan or SUV (all sizes)
- Decent gas mileage (no gas guzzler tax)
- Non luxury brand
- 30k-40k price range

Pluses
- factory incentives/mfg. financing incentives
- robust warranty
- Fun to drive

Cars on the list to check out
- Chevy Volt
- Mazda CX-5
- Chevy SS (apparently they can't sell them and have some interesting discounts)

Cars crossed off
- Toyota Highlander (already own)
- Toyota RAV4

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by qspring

I'm looking to pick up a DD for work and Im having a dilemma on which cars to check out. I just started at a new company that discourages using company money to buy luxury cars. So no BMW, Audi, Lexus, etc, otherwise I would have picked up a 3 series. They are thinking more along the lines of Chevy, Toyota, Honda. The reason is that I'm in an industry where my supplier reps are not as well paid and showing up in a bmw might give off a negative impression. At the same time, I'm reluctant to drive a plain vanilla Camry, accord, Altima, etc. life is too short to drive boring cars.

The car would be used to take out suppliers, visit manufacturing sites, etc and serve as a on weekends family errand car.

Would like to hear some other cars to look into And why.

Here are some criteria and cars I'm looking at:

Criteria
- mid to full size sedan or SUV (all sizes)
- Decent gas mileage (no gas guzzler tax)
- Non luxury brand
- 30k-40k price range

Pluses
- factory incentives/mfg. financing incentives
- robust warranty
- Fun to drive

Cars on the list to check out
- Chevy Volt
- Mazda CX-5
- Chevy SS (apparently they can't sell them and have some interesting discounts)

Cars crossed off
- Toyota Highlander (already own)
- Toyota RAV4

Honestly, I would see a Chevy SS as equivalent in value as a 320-328i and would still think you make too much money. Although a great and fun car, might want to look more along the lines of the new Malibu or Impala. Decent and not to flashy.

Another suggestion would be the diesel Colorado if you have a need for a pickup. 2wd model gets 30+ mpg highway so perfect for traveling to manufacturing sites.

Not many Roomy SUVs I can think of getting high 20s in mpg. Maybe a Tahoe v6 or explorer but that's mid to low 20s

[David70]

Originally Posted by qspring

Would like to hear some other cars to look into And why.

Here are some criteria and cars I'm looking at:

Criteria
- mid to full size sedan or SUV (all sizes)
- Decent gas mileage (no gas guzzler tax)

I have a car partially paid for by work and couldn't see driving the SS a lot of miles based on it's poor mpg. I think it has the worst mpg of any sedan even close in price (take out the RR, Bentley's, etc)?

I guess it is ok if comparing it to a full size SUV.

[Fundguy1]

A volt? Really?
How about a Passat or a hyundai genesis coupe or a mustang gt, or a Camaro SS, or a hyundai Sonata, Subaru Wrx, Golf GTI, mistubishi EVO, or a Jeep a grand Cherokee limited, etc etc etc. Volt? Really???

[Fundguy1]

If there were 894 car models to choose from, Volt would be number 892, or lower.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

A volt? Really?
How about a Passat or a hyundai genesis coupe or a mustang gt, or a Camaro SS, or a hyundai Sonata, or a Jeep a grand Cherokee limited, etc etc etc. Volt? Reallly?

The car would be used to take out suppliers, visit manufacturing sites, etc and serve as a on weekends family errand car.

I like the Volt and can't see what the Passat does better. You really believe the Camaro/Genesis Coupe/Mustang are good cars to take out suppliers?

[Fundguy1]

I take out financial advisors in my bmw. It is my daily. 650 hp convertible. They love it. Maybe it's your area but I maybe see 1 volt every two months and everyone I know makes fun of them. Volt is a cheap gm with a crappy interior and electric. I have a Malibu rental right now. Loathsome car. Better than a volt though. Mid 30s mpg, bigger, more luxury. Passat is bigger, better handling, more luxurious, etc etc etc. Volts closest thing to a golf cart for the street you can buy. My parents have an accord. I've driven pretty much everything on your list. At least the accord is better than anything else you listed. But really, a volt?

[atxgt3]

Originally Posted by Joe240

Honestly, I would see a Chevy SS as equivalent in value as a 320-328i and would still think you make too much money. Although a great and fun car, might want to look more along the lines of the new Malibu or Impala. Decent and not to flashy.

He could still buy an SS and debadge it, everyone would think it's a Malibu.

[Fundguy1]

Challenger or charger with a scat pack.

[Fundguy1]

Yeah, I don't understand how on one hand he's looking at a corvette powered sedan, then switching to a golf cart. They are as opposite sides of the spectrum as possible.

[Alfisti]

Nissan Maxima ticks every box, done, go get one.

[BEM-S4]

If you don't mind used and VW is non luxury enough for you try to find a low mileage Phaeton. That's the ultimate stealth sedan.

[qspring]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Yeah, I don't understand how on one hand he's looking at a corvette powered sedan, then switching to a golf cart. They are as opposite sides of the spectrum as possible.

Believe me. I would love to get something fun. Just for reference the rest of the management team drive Toyota RAV4, camrys, and highlanders as their company car and have Porsches, bmws, and other high end cars at home.

Can't do 2-doors. But I will check out the challenger with SCAT pack. Any comments on how the automatic is on that? The Genesis sedan also sounds interesting. Hesitant on the Jeep Grand Cherokee- a friend had one that was always at the dealer for work. Tied in with with the transmission issues- I'd prefer to stay away for now.

The volt is a contender because I can drive to and from my facility barely touching the gas engine. I drove supremepower's car while they were working on my m4, and was impressed. Also, 0% apr for 60 months is a good deal combined with factory incentives. Yes, it's a grandma car.

I'll have to check out the Malibu and Impala. I saw those recently and they look nice.

As for the SS, well we all drive impractical cars and old habits die hard. To me its one of the few cars out there with a non-luxury/non sports brand that can fly under the radar with people who don't know much about cars.

[Fundguy1]

Then genesis sedan, sonata, passat, charger, gti, evo, wrx, accord, etc. I'd still put the volt way below all these. Camry and malibu too. As for the trans on gc or charger, no problem. They recalled the shifting mechanism but that's fixed on a new one. 8 spd auto if I recall. I had a 2012 and loved it.

[Fundguy1]

300 srt if you can swing it would also rock.

[Alfisti]

Almost all those vehicles scream boy racer or money. i cannot look past a well loaded passat or better yet, a maxima.

[Mavus]

Acura TLX, Caddy ATS an option? I don't consider these as luxury.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Smooth 330i

Acura TLX, Caddy ATS an option? I don't consider these as luxury.

those on mid to lower wages do, hands down.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Smooth 330i

Acura TLX, Caddy ATS an option? I don't consider these as luxury.

I got an ATS as a company car/daily, and I think accepted better than the Germans, but have had some customers make comments about it and wonder if it was a good idea. One of my dealers offered me a job (thanked him but wasn't interested) and he said first thing I would have to do would be to get a different car. Depends on the industry and what you do, many of my customers are older men and look at Cadillac as being luxury.

I think both Acura TLX and Infiniti Q50 fly low on the radar.

[FriskyDingo]

I'll be reasonable with my post-

Toyota Avalon, Acura TLX, VW Passat, Chevy Malibu would be the top of my list for such uses.

If your can wait, that new Ford Fusion is coming up. AWD, twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost with 325hp, sport suspension/brakes. Would make for a killer practical DD.

[sev1]

Accord Sport 6sp. It's too bad the v6 isn't available in 6sp on the sedan's otherwise that would be a lock. Also...Ridgeline.

[Spinnetti]

latest Camry "Sport" XSE? is pretty nice looking.. .that or the Accord and both top of the class in the usual quality measures...