335i (similar perf #s to ss)

 

4 series BMW will be the 2 door, 3 series will be the 4 door (335i)
- Anything with an M will be north of 70k. A 335i for under 50k will be bare bones.
Acura TL
Chevrolet Impala -- Plenty of room but low on power/performance
Nissan Maxima
Cadillac ATS
Infiniti G series

 

Srt charger
Taurus sho
Regal GS Awd

There's some good options below 50 grand.

 

Forgot about the Regal GS AWD. If size is not an issue, that would be a fun car.

 

The STI is a great choice IMO. STG 2 will be pretty fast and fun.

 

Why is the SS off the list ?

 

Lol, because this one is obvious and at the very top of the list unless half brain dead (ok, maybe if gas mileage really matters that much).

I just wanted to rethink my options and after seeing the options people list above...there really isn't an option. None of those cars are close except maybe the 4 series (I do like it better as a coupe). The SS is the only one that you can save $7-8k and drop it down on a CARB legal power option. Then the SS wipes them all off the map including cars much more expensive.

I am just bouncing this off you guys to make sure I didn't miss another viable (performance oriented - think SS competition - option).

Thanks,


Genesis R-Spec.................. not a fan of the interior.
2015 STI........................... one heck of a drivers car, maybe the only real performance option other than the BMW
BMW 4 series?.................... tempting, some mod potential, great handling
Audi S4 / S3? .....................nice materials fit/finish, lacks soul
CLA AMG, nah.....................way too ugly, but fast
Acura TL ...........................can you really drive the pi$$ out of one?
Chevrolet Impala ...............low on power/performance - this is just silly
Nissan Maxima.................. good looking and a very understated ride, similar to the Acura TL above
Cadillac ATS ......................long story-too much for this thread. Not a Caddy fan
Infiniti G series.................. good cars, I lump this with the TL & Maxima
SRT Charger..................... can one be had for less than $50 w/similar options, I'd have to see the interior when driving and that would drive me nuts
Taurus SHO....................... not bad at all, a little large for what it is, needs to be faster. Lumped with the TL, Maxima, & Infinity
Regal GS Awd ....................I like it a lot, only needs more hp - similar to the others above but maybe a better drivers car. don't know...

I'm enjoying the exercise. It looks like the average Joe that really wants a serious performance sedan really only has a few options. There should be more. Based on this list and if a high performance ride was no longer desired the short list may look something like, Genesis R-Spec, Acura TL, Maxima, SHO, Regal.

 

The Chevy ss

 

If the planets had aligned differently and Ford and GM had not gone to the brink a few years ago, this may have been an option - 450HP Ford Performance Vehicles Falcon GT

 

Call me crazy, but I like the Turbo I6 much better than the V8. A great car that Ford never appreciated, the Falcon will be missed.

 

I have a G and it is definitely in a different league vs TL (lacks fun) and maxima(front wheel drive). Both maxima and Tl are good cars, but not driver cars. I'm leaning towars a 15 SS vs 15 g (q50), but I've been extremely happy w my g. I was looking at the 335 and g when I bought my 08 and g was more car for the money and 335 out of warranty is concerning.

I'm in your boat come 15 (need a 15 for work car plan reasons) and need to buy new. Here's my list with a goal of <$45k:
SS
Q50
A4 2.0t (s4 is $50k+)
328 (335 is $50k+)
New c-class looks impressive, but not sure a drivers car?
Practical (soulless?) choices: MDX, highlander, accord.

 

The mags all say the Q50s is just numb but it looks soooo good.

 

Used CTS-v......I looked at them as well.....otherwise , nada.

 

Mitsubishi Evo? 4 doors, AWD, sporty, mod-friendly, and can get one in either manual or automatic.

 

None of your cars tickle my fancy like the SS does. That's me not you since you asked for opinions. Why are you on this forum wanting to discuss your other choices makes no sense to me. So if you are not buy an SS why not take your dog and pony show on the road someplace else.
These are just my thoughts maybe others on here want to read about why they should look at the A4, son in law owned one big mistake small inside.
z51vett
Doug

 

I hear ya Doug.

All here clearly know how awesome the SS is and so do I. I can't wait to get into one but looking for a 2015.

I don't have any doubt about buying an SS as it's very clear it's in a league by itself.

Sometimes I'm not aware of everything out there and I was only curious if I've missed something else. There is generally an older crowd here relative to all the other message boards I've been to and I apreciate the wiser perspectives here.

None of your cars tickle my fancy like the SS does. That's me not you since you asked for opinions. Why are you on this forum wanting to discuss your other choices makes no sense to me. So if you are not buy an SS why not take your dog and pony show on the road someplace else.
These are just my thoughts maybe others on here want to read about why they should look at the A4, son in law owned one big mistake small inside.
z51vett
Doug

 

all of those you will spend a **** ton on maintence. go with the SS the LS3 is easy to fix if something goes wrong.

 

Just a heads up, the 4 series is pretty deeply discounted right now. My sticker on a 435i was $60,150 and I got it at 55K. The back seat is better than you would expect.

Don't discount the 428i. I went with the 435i but it was a HARD decision. The 428i has a great motor and with an 8 speed it is almost always in the sweet-spot.

I saw you are in SoCal. Being the cheap ******* I am, I priced it from about 50 different dealers and Valencia BMW was the cheapest, did all the pricing by email and got me in-and-out in 30 minutes. I can get you the Internet sales persons contact info if you want.

Joe

 

I've driven several of the cars listed and honestly I think they all come up short in one way or another.

BMW/Merc/Audi options and repairs are going to put them out of the range quickly. The CLA looks grew on me and that motor is amazeballs but the cost to own.... pass

The STi is a fun car but incredibly stiff and wears the "boy racer" hat which does not interest me, and 38k is a bit much, also prone to ringland failure, check iwsti forums several have failed already, too bad they won't get off the cast pistons and go forged.

Charger or 300c will be other closest matches. But I don't care for either one.

Tarus SHO is a performance barge, just too big Ford should have put that mill in the Fusion really and they would have had a contender.

The Infinity Q50s may be a decent compromise.

 

Well technically it is "possible" to get two teenagers into the back of an M235i. That's a pretty fun car and MSRP is right around $50k loaded.

I'll probably never buy a post-E36 BMW again though.

 

One thing I always consider is depreciation. It is the single biggest item involved in the cost of ownership. The higher end cars (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Cadillac, etc.) will have huge depreciation on the order of $600 to $800 per month. If the G8 GXPs and the '05-'06 GTOs are any indication, and GM pulls the plug on the SS altogether, you might see depreciation on the order of $100 - $150 per month. That is darn near like driving a free car.

 

This worked for me: Buy the SS because it's a great V8 supercar. Drive it when you want to smile a lot. For daily duty, I picked-up a VW Passat TDI that gets 47mpg average. I saved enough gas money using the VW instead of the SS for the lame daily grind, that it almost makes my 2nd car payment. Crazy logic, but it works for me.

 

This worked for me: Buy the SS because it's a great V8 supercar. Drive it when you want to smile a lot. For daily duty, I picked-up a VW Passat TDI that gets 47mpg average. I saved enough gas money using the VW instead of the SS for the lame daily grind, that it almost makes my 2nd car payment. Crazy logic, but it works for me.

My first new car that I bought was a 1977 Mazda GLC with 48(Thunderin')hp. It would barely get over the "grapevine" between here and Bakersfield, but got nearly 40 mpg. This was during the 2nd "gas crunch" and we were rationed gas as well. I hated it!!! I don't care how much sence it made to have it. My next new car, while I still owned that one, was an '81 RX7, and I loved that one! I've had a "Sporty Car" ever since then. To save gas, I drive less, if I need to.

 

may I suggest.....

a Caprice PPV 9C3 (Detective model)

I think this appears in another thread--re-posted here (more pix)

2011-2013, 2014 is not so friendly as a civilian car due to interior changes

2011 were all 6.0 (L77) AFM/Flex Fuel - 355 HP

Sticker was around $31K, plenty out there now for $20K or less, many with very low miles.

Leaves you plenty of mad mod money....and a HUGE back seat for those boys.

 

Yep that GLC was a stinker but it saved Mazda's but when it came out

 

Tru Dat...After the '78 RX4, an Cosmo's were done, Mazda only had GLC's and RX7's for about a year.