[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

My mom used to have a GLK350 AWD. It was legitimately more reliable than even the Toyota's we've had (and my whole family are huge Toyota people).

Bought it almost new and sold it with 150k miles on it without one single issue whatsoever. Still had the original tires and brake pads at 115k, no joke. Fantastic car.

I've always liked the GLKs... they have that boxy look that was really unique. Then they quickly dropped it and copied the Q5 and lost their personality with the GLCs.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Just returned from a week in PHX... wouldn't wish it on my enemies. It's just okay for a couple months of the year, but still exurban sprawl everywhere.

Sedona, Prescott, Flag... yeah, those are great year round living!

Exactly, there's a few months where it's not above 90 every day. The air quality is horrid too. Nice to visit in peak winter months, but apart from that, it's absolutely horrible. I warned my parents when they moved to Apache Jct, but after a few years they couldn't take it and moved away. Places like Prescott and Flag get snow, but it's literally gone in a few hours due to sublimation and it's just temperate most of the year, vs. a couple months. Still gets cool enough at night in the summer to not have to run AC.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by MaC-N54-E82

Add the Subaru Crosstrek to that list. Great MPG and solid with the 2.5 turbo.

Uh, wut? Which Crosstrek trim is turbo?

[John @ BSPK]

Great thread. Given your size constraint, I’d get a new CUV. This isn’t a car you want to deal with. This is your convenience car, I would prioritize newer, comfort, and reliability over fun to drive.

If you can be flexible on the size I have some other recommendations but given the size I might look at the Dodge Hornet, Kia Seltos, or VW Taos. None of those will get a ton of love here but ~30k new (probably will sell for less), decent styling, warranty, etc. Could be interesting options.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by RM7

Exactly, there's a few months where it's not above 90 every day. The air quality is horrid too. Nice to visit in peak winter months, but apart from that, it's absolutely horrible. I warned my parents when they moved to Apache Jct, but after a few years they couldn't take it and moved away. Places like Prescott and Flag get snow, but it's literally gone in a few hours due to sublimation and it's just temperate most of the year, vs. a couple months. Still gets cool enough at night in the summer to not have to run AC.

I honestly don't understand the hate. I've been there many times year round and I absolutely love it out there. I'll take a 100 degree day out there over a miserably hot and sticky 85 degree day in Chicago.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by John4C

Great thread. Given your size constraint, I’d get a new CUV. This isn’t a car you want to deal with. This is your convenience car, I would prioritize newer, comfort, and reliability over fun to drive.

If you can be flexible on the size I have some other recommendations but given the size I might look at the Dodge Hornet, Kia Seltos, or VW Taos. None of those will get a ton of love here but ~30k new (probably will sell for less), decent styling, warranty, etc. Could be interesting options.

I think that's the best route - something I don't have to worry about. It starts up without trouble and just works.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

You're right, life is too short... that's why I bought an M3.

Then honestly, i'd just drive the mother fucker. Let's be honest, great car but will never be a classic due to having ahead like a bashed crab... so drive it and forego the hassle and cost of a 3rd car. It's not a sports car right, the entire point of a M3 is you don't need a second car, that's the compromise and why it weight 4000lbs.

You're gonna drop 30K @ 6% (even if you pay cash there's opportunity cost of that money), running costs, insurance, hassle...... just drive the M3.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Then honestly, i'd just drive the mother fucker. Let's be honest, great car but will never be a classic due to having ahead like a bashed crab... so drive it and forego the hassle and cost of a 3rd car. It's not a sports car right, the entire point of a M3 is you don't need a second car, that's the compromise and why it weight 4000lbs.

You're gonna drop 30K @ 6% (even if you pay cash there's opportunity cost of that money), running costs, insurance, hassle...... just drive the M3.

Well there's other issues. It's RWD so not great in the snow... and my wife can't drive manual and has no desire to learn. So if I need to take the SUV she'll be stranded at home, with kids.

As for the wear and tear thing... it's not about resale for me or the potential for it to be a future classic. The M3 is a special car to me. I've had 3 cars on my "realistic" bucket list to own in my lifetime since my early 20s:

M3
911
458 (will obviously be used unless time travel is invented)

So while I may have waited nearly a year from order to delivery for this M3, you could say I've waited at least 15 years for it. It marks the beginning of me achieving my dreams. So for that I'd like to hold on to it for a while and keep it in great condition as long as I do.

[p0p]

How I see it
For 2023 you are already spending close to 200K just in cars; why the 25k cap?
Get a car you, wife, kids, guest ect. can enjoy. Because $$$,$$$ dose not seems like an issue. But I also guess everyone priority is different.

@times I do feel like my 2020 x7 is too big and wish I had the 2018 X1 (with Dinan Sport ). The little monster has been up and down the East cost many time. In 3 years we put about 75k miles without issues, but going though tires. I have 3 BMW and it's not an issue for me/us; ill always have one to drive
My wife: when she has to go into work once or twice a month takes my 340i (don't tell her about sport + mode, she already drives too fast)

IMHO if it was me I'd buy used since it's going to be used less and will most likely be another BMW.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by p0p

How I see it
For 2023 you are already spending close to 200K just in cars; why the 25k cap?
Get a car you, wife, kids, guest ect. can enjoy. Because $$$,$$$ dose not seems like an issue. But I also guess everyone priority is different.

@times I do feel like my 2020 x7 is too big and wish I had the 2018 X1 (with Dinan Sport ). The little monster has been up and down the East cost many time. In 3 years we put about 75k miles without issues, but going though tires. I have 3 BMW and it's not an issue for me/us; ill always have one to drive
My wife: when she has to go into work once or twice a month takes my 340i (don't tell her about sport + mode, she already drives too fast)

IMHO if it was me I'd buy used since it's going to be used less and will most likely be another BMW.

I guess the $25k cap is more to emphasize this is only a utility "as needed" type of car. So while I don't mind splurging for our main cars, this 3rd, almost backup car should be something that's cheap and gets the job done reliably and will likely only be used for ~3k miles a year - mostly in inclement weather where we wouldn't be enjoying driving anyway even if it was a "fun" car.

I'm definitely not opposed to looking at used cars. And I think as we get deeper into the summer months we should see the pricing get back down to normal levels where it actually makes sense to buy a used car again.

[StradaRedlands]

I still need to emphasize the E84 35i with some winter tires... Sure it won't be as reliable as a Mazda, but it'll be mostly fine. More importantly you will hopefully enjoy driving it every time. It's going to be at least a seven year old car with X miles on it, but won't feel like such a different animal from the rest of the fleet. Obviously I'm projecting as it's a car I want myself, but hey, still my opinion!

I have a Mazda3 that I dailyed for a decade before my E90, and while it's a great car, it literally feels like a toy when I occasionally drive it.

Life is short, money comes and goes. Get something fun.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Well there's other issues. It's RWD so not great in the snow... and my wife can't drive manual and has no desire to learn. So if I need to take the SUV she'll be stranded at home, with kids.

As for the wear and tear thing... it's not about resale for me or the potential for it to be a future classic. The M3 is a special car to me. I've had 3 cars on my "realistic" bucket list to own in my lifetime since my early 20s:

M3
911
458 (will obviously be used unless time travel is invented)

So while I may have waited nearly a year from order to delivery for this M3, you could say I've waited at least 15 years for it. It marks the beginning of me achieving my dreams. So for that I'd like to hold on to it for a while and keep it in great condition as long as I do.

OK I am gonna be a bit cuntish.

Mate, sell the M3 then. Take that money and buy a well sorted 997.2. You're caught between two worlds here when you're clearly spelling out a case for a dedicated sports car.

Get a Golf or whatever, sell the beaver and buy the sports car you really want. I feel like you're paying the price (both $ wise and hassle wise) for having three cars but not getting the benefit of a proper sports car.

I turned myself inside out deciding between two cars (Wife's SUV is Car 1) or three cars. Two would mean I'd DD a Mustang or E92 M3, even in winter. Three cars would, and does, mean i keep my Saab Wagon I have had for some 12 years and add a 997.2 Cab. Other than interest rate rises making me cringe, i'm happy with the decision to go dedicated sports car.

I will also freely admit, maybe i am pushing you this way because, and I say this with all due respect as you're one of my favourite dudes on this board, but mate, the G80.......... head only a mother coud love.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I honestly don't understand the hate. I've been there many times year round and I absolutely love it out there. I'll take a 100 degree day out there over a miserably hot and sticky 85 degree day in Chicago.

So many Chicago people talk like Chicago has unbearable humidity all summer long. It’s just not the case. I LOVE Chicago summers. Mostly the humidity is pretty low. When it does get somewhat humid it only lasts for like four days at the most. I grew up in west Texas where it is very arid. Only slightly more humidity than Arizona. So, my tolerance for humidity is very low. I actually moved to Chicago not only because I love the city, but I just got tired of the long, hot summers in Texas. Texas summers start in April and don’t end until October. No one spends much time outside in the summer in Texas or Arizona. Everyone and their grandmother is outside in Chicago during the summer. I love all the festivals that happen in Chicago. Those do not happen in Texas or Arizona. My sister lives in Phoenix and she tells me all the time that they do everything they need to do outside in the early morning. One aesthetic thing about Arizona I can’t stand is that every single house and building is some shade of tan stucco with a red tile roof. Every single one!! Whenever I’m there I’m constantly thinking, “can’t you at least paint some soft desert shade of blue or green?”

Low humidity and heat can still be pretty nice and comfortable up to about 110. But once it goes over that it’s just a blast furnace.

edit: one other thing I was surprised to discover about Chicago is the number of convertibles I see here in the summer. With the top down in the middle of the day! If you have a convertible in Texas you only drive top down early in the morning or in the evening after the sun sets.

End rant. Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I will also freely admit, maybe i am pushing you this way because, and I say this with all due respect as you're one of my favourite dudes on this board, but mate, the G80.......... head only a mother coud love.

Maybe an entry for the unpopular opinion thread, but I love the look of it. It looks so aggressive and mean.

Dedicated sports car is in my future, but wouldn't really work well for my current situation. My kids are little and I shuttle my daughter (and soon son as he gets older) to/from school. I don't want to buy a 911 now for the couple times a month I'd be able to find an excuse to leave the house when my wife isn't working a weekend. I'd want to be able to properly enjoy it and drive it multiple times a week, and I'll have better opportunity to do that once the kids are older and more independent. But currently, I work during the week, my wife works many weekends, and kids are little.

I'll put it another way - the genesis of this 3rd car idea isn't to have a daily driver and then my m3 be my weekend fun car. If that were the case, then I'd probably go straight for the 458 while it's still considered a somewhat recent and modern ferrari (I can always buy a brand new 911). The genesis of it is something to drive in occasional inclement weather that would be safer than a RWD performance car, and an automatic that my wife can drive so she isn't stranded at home anytime I might need to take the SUV out. For all other driving duties I would be using the M3.

Besides, I'll continue to stress that this is a bucket list car for me... don't take that away from me, beaver snout and all

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

So many Chicago people talk like Chicago has unbearable humidity all summer long. It’s just not the case. I LOVE Chicago summers. Mostly the humidity is pretty low. When it does get somewhat humid it only lasts for like four days at the most. I grew up in west Texas where it is very arid. Only slightly more humidity than Arizona. So, my tolerance for humidity is very low. I actually moved to Chicago not only because I love the city, but I just got tired of the long, hot summers in Texas. Texas summers start in April and don’t end until October. No one spends much time outside in the summer in Texas or Arizona. Everyone and their grandmother is outside in Chicago during the summer. I love all the festivals that happen in Chicago. Those do not happen in Texas or Arizona. My sister lives in Phoenix and she tells me all the time that they do everything they need to do outside in the early morning. One aesthetic thing about Arizona I can’t stand is that every single house and building is some shade of tan stucco with a red tile roof. Every single one!! Whenever I’m there I’m constantly thinking, “can’t you at least paint some soft desert shade of blue or green?”

Low humidity and heat can still be pretty nice and comfortable up to about 110. But once it goes over that it’s just a blast furnace.

End rant. Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

The difference might be that I live in the suburbs of Chicago and not Chicago itself - and I don't really make it out to the city all that often, so I don't ever really take advantage of any festivals and events anyway.

But trust me I'd take a 100 degree arizona day over an 85 degree Chicago day 10 times out of 10. I've been to Phoenix multiple times in the summer and I just like it better.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

The difference might be that I live in the suburbs of Chicago and not Chicago itself - and I don't really make it out to the city all that often, so I don't ever really take advantage of any festivals and events anyway.

But trust me I'd take a 100 degree arizona day over an 85 degree Chicago day 10 times out of 10. I've been to Phoenix multiple times in the summer and I just like it better.

I will definitely agree with you on the point of living in the suburbs. I absolutely hate Illinois and don’t understand why anyone subjects themselves to this state in the absence of living in the city. I tell people I don’t live in Illinois. I live in Chicago, which happens to be in Illinois. The odds are pretty high that I will eventually get taxed out of Chicago and return to Texas. As a state I do love Texas!!

I also find it so interesting that 3/4 of Illinois’ population lives in Chicagoland and how it runs the whole state. There are a mere 3,000,000 people in the rest of Illinois making it run.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I will definitely agree with you on the point of living in the suburbs. I absolutely hate Illinois and don’t understand why anyone subjects themselves to this state in the absence of living in the city. I tell people I don’t live in Illinois. I live in Chicago, which happens to be in Illinois. The odds are pretty high that I will eventually get taxed out of Chicago and return to Texas. As a state I do love Texas!!

I think I read somewhere that we have the 2nd highest cumulative taxes in the country behind New Jersey. And we have nothing to show for it... the state is consistently broke.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I think I read somewhere that we have the 2nd highest cumulative taxes in the country behind New Jersey. And we have nothing to show for it... the state is consistently broke.

I have to admit one of the reasons Chicago is such a fun place is because they spend money like drunken sailors building fun stuff.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I honestly don't understand the hate. I've been there many times year round and I absolutely love it out there. I'll take a 100 degree day out there over a miserably hot and sticky 85 degree day in Chicago.

A 100+ day, sometimes up to 120 or more (asphalt so hot it melts), for months on end, with little to no shade? I have friends that live there and attempt to do outdoor stuff in the summer, waking up at 4am to try and get on the trails by 5-6 and be off by 10, because it's just too hot to be out by then.

Screw that, the weekend is for sleeping in, not waking up at 4am.

[MaC-N54-E82]

Originally Posted by RM7

Uh, wut? Which Crosstrek trim is turbo?

My bad, the sport and limited are now powered by a 2.5L 4 vs previous 2.0L. Was thinking it had a snail for some reason.

[AWDtoRWD]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

This is what I'm considering for my criteria:
<$25k
4 doors
Preferably AWD, but will also consider FWD
Automatic
<180" in length (would like something small)
Somewhat reliable

Any suggestions?

I'd suggest a Subaru sedan. Legacy or WRX would be great to pull that x7 out of the snow.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by RM7

A 100+ day, sometimes up to 120 or more (asphalt so hot it melts), for months on end, with little to no shade? I have friends that live there and attempt to do outdoor stuff in the summer, waking up at 4am to try and get on the trails by 5-6 and be off by 10, because it's just too hot to be out by then.

Screw that, the weekend is for sleeping in, not waking up at 4am.

Eh... I get up early anyway. My brother in law lives there and loves it. I mean at least you can still do outdoor stuff in the summer. What outdoor stuff can you do in negative degree weather in Illinois? Doesn't matter what time of day or night, your ass is stuck indoors or you risk frostbite.

And... trails? What are those? Are those hiking spots with nice, natural scenic areas with mountains? All we got is flat land