Choices, Choices, Choices...

[JFryauff]

Ooooh, my first poll!

I have been half-heartedly looking around at used cars to replace the wagon, and thought I would seek some unbiased opinions. I love the wagons room, ride, comfort, etc...but I am just looking for more. I am not opposed to a used car, but it has to meet ceratin criteria, especially with a new baby on the way. It has to be 4-door, reliable, easy to work on, manual trans., fun to drive, and safe! I was looking at some new cars, but nothing (within my price range anyway) has really peaked my interest. Here are a few I am going to look at next week...

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero


2.3t Inline 4cyl/5-speed
250hp/258ft-lbs.

2003 VW Passat W8/6-speed



W8/6-speed 4motion
270hp/273ft-lbs.

2001 BMW 325xi


2.5 Inline 6cyl/5-speed
184hp/175ft-lbs.

2001 Audi A6


2.7t V6/6-speed
250hp/258ft-lbs.

1998 BMW 540i



4.4 V8/6-speed
282hp/324ft-lbs.

All have around 50,000 on the clock, and are well within my price range. I plan on some mild tuning, and 300+hp on most of them is easily achievable. Maintenance is another big concern of mine, as I plan on doing 90% of all work myself, the last thing I want to do is spend all that money I am saving on stupid expensive parts. I have owned FWD, RWD, and AWD in the past; through all seasons, so drivetrain is not a huge selling point for me. I love the idea of having a big'ole gas guzzling 8cyl. to romp around with, but the maintenance cost and the fact that they are gas guzzlers make me a little hesitant...just a little though Turbo reliability is another issue to content with, especially with the Audi, I do not know post 2000 turboed Saab's track records all that well. I have done as much reasearch as I can do in a few days time, which is hard as people are so quick to complain unprovoked, but rarely sing the praises unless asked...and that is the major problem with "forum" researching I trust most of you guys though (except Dave :P ), so lend me some of your knowledge, cause I am mentally drained.

[Handeye]

Get the W8. The six-speed is a rare bird, it has 4mo, and I even like the color.

[vdubjunkie37]

I think if I were you I would stay away from the W8. Don't get me wrong, I love them and with a manual they are even better, but they are a pain in the ass to work on. Everything is jammed into the bay. And the engine is kinda rare which makes parts prices higher.

If it were me, I'd probably go for the 540. I don't know why, but I just think those cars ooze class from the exterior styling. But they are probably costly to maintain and repair too.

I really like the 9-5 too though. My girlfriends mom has a 9-5 Wagon and it is really nice. She's had it for about a year with no problems too. I think hers has somewhere around 30k on it, maybe more I can't remember.

As for the A6, I don't really like them. They feel big while you are driving.

The 325, I can't really give any input on this one because I've never been in one.

So to fit all of your categories that you listed, I'd probably say the 9-5.

[mk-4gasm]

325 is crap, their slow and feel cheap...the other cars are a much better deal...I say get the W8 or the a6

[TT225]

I like all of those cars. The 325 isn't bad IMO but compared to the other cars and you wanting to get upto 300hp, i would count that one out. The W8 would be real nice but what someone mentioned earlier, parts are less available and it's pretty tight in the engine bay. The saab isn't bad, but i think the 5 series, A6 or W8 are your best choices. Your up around the 300hp already, there's plenty of room for the kid and all the stuff that you'll have to haul around, and they are good looking cars.

[mk-4gasm]

Yeah my buddy graham(DishedTurbo) got an A6 with a chip and can pull on his brothers supercharged 325

[ARRRRRRRR32]

id say either the 540i or the W8.

[duke]

W8

[gdogg16]

Don't get the saab. They're infamous for trans failures and retarded engineering. Plus, they're loaded with GM parts.

[shedpress]

540i is my vote...it seems like the right thing to do. I can totally see you in that car, Joshy! Good luck on your search.

[Fourt1thirty]

9-5: If it breaks down you're f'd. Used parts don't exist and new parts aren't easy to come by. Probably worth its weight in steel in ten years.

W8: See above... except it only applies to the engine.

325: Back to back drives with a B5 S4 says I'll take the B5 over an E46 any day. Ever so slightly more sporty but way less refined. It's almost outclassed here.

A6: 2.7t... you're way more familiar with this motor that the others. It REALLY is two 1.8ts V'd with a cylinder missing off each. The valve covers on 30vs almost always leak. 290awhp is a chip and exhaust away but just like a 1.8t high boost chipped cars eat turbos. 2001.5 is when they upgraded the turbo oil lines on the 2.7t and the turbo failure problem lessened but didn't go away. They also upgraded the throttle body boot which is prone to fail. Audi shitty resale value means that you get a lot of car for the money and they've already taken a hard dive so they're dropping slower now.

540: BMW finally figured out the V-8. The M62b44 had real iron cylinder liners. Pretty nice car all around. Biggest issue is that if you ever want to do anything to the engine besides look at it you're going to spend LOTS of money.

That said I voted A6. The 540 and A6 were more or less a tie with the A6 coming out on top because there are some cheap mods out there. B5 S4s are getting down to the low teens on your side of the country but I don't know if there's enough back seat room for your families liking.

[JFryauff]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the comments/info. I am kind of leaning towards the A6 and 540i at the moment, I have an appointment to go see all the cars this week, and that will obviously help me more. I'll have a detailed report on the conditions of each vehicle shortly. Thanks again.

[Straz85]

Originally Posted by JFryauff

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the comments/info. I am kind of leaning towards the A6 and 540i at the moment, I have an appointment to go see all the cars this week, and that will obviously help me more. I'll have a detailed report on the conditions of each vehicle shortly. Thanks again.

Well? Where's the follow-up Josh?? Watcha getting? Can we cover it with stickers like we did to the Passat?