Daily driver recommendations
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Crown Vics and Grand Marquis had the same problem about 5-10 years ago.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,694
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From: Oregon
My vote is a 72 Lincoln Mark IV.. It was the first year of the Mark IV and had the chrome front and rear bumpers (like the Vette!). 460 under the hood. ***** house interior and a real TUNA BOAT! Don't get me wrong. Im a Chevy man from the get go, but.... 
Comfort plus! They are the pimp of all pimp cars!. Actually, i had one when my wife and I first got married! It was a great car! Check one out!
Comfort plus! They are the pimp of all pimp cars!. Actually, i had one when my wife and I first got married! It was a great car! Check one out!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
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From: San Diego CA
Those big boat cars are kinda scurring me now. I dunno if I'd ever be able to park em! I'm looking all over the spectrum at cars I could afford, if all goes well. Last night I was looking at cars based on the same platforms as the Impala and Malibu. I think out of all of the new cars that I like in my price range, that are also comfortable looking, the Pontiac G6 coupe is so far my favorite. From a distance it has the lines of an Infinity G35 (aka Nissan 350Z) but it's only ~$22k new and has a 100k mile powertrain warranty from GM. It comes with tons of cool features STANDARD and looks very luxurious. It is a Pontiac, after all, so I'd imagine it is probably pretty damn comfortable. Every other Pontiac I've been in has been nice and cush. The Buick LaCrosse looked ok but I wasn't overly impressed with the exterior and it didn't come with as many standard comfort features as the G6. Same with the Malibu and Impala, not as much standard. The Saturn Aura looked like a possibility, too, though. It had a rather low price for the features available, so that impressed me a bit. It'll all come down to me driving stuff, though.
Plus side to a new car, you don't have to smog em for 5 or 6 years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
St. Jude Donor '15
If you're going to look in the $20 - $25K price range, consider getting a certified pre-owned Cadillac with a 6 year (since first sale) / 100K total mile factory warranty. In that price range there are probably CTS, SRX, DeVille, and Seville units available in your area. Many have low miles. The CPO warranty is just like the factory - take it in at 90K with a broken power window and you get to drive a free loaner until it is fixed. Also, the CPO warranty is transferable if you sell the car before the 6/100 is up. They frequently also have low interest rate GMAC loans (2.9 - 3.9%) for CPO vehicles.
I'd avoid the 03 CTS with the 3.2 engine, but the others should give you few problems.
I'd avoid the 03 CTS with the 3.2 engine, but the others should give you few problems.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Kalway
the Pontiac G6 coupe is so far my favorite. From a distance it has the lines of an Infinity G35 (aka Nissan 350Z) but it's only ~$22k new and has a 100k mile powertrain warranty from GM. It comes with tons of cool features STANDARD and looks very luxurious. It is a Pontiac, after all, so I'd imagine it is probably pretty damn comfortable. Every other Pontiac I've been in has been nice and cush.
My friend's neighbor has a newer G6, and she's always complaining that everything inside is falling apart. Sure, it's warrantied, but she makes a lof of trips to the dealership. I think the Grand Am it replaced was of better quality than the G6. I have never driven one though, so check it out.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
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From: San Diego CA
Interesting stuff there C3 RV, thanks for the heads up on that. Didn't even think about that. I do like the looks of the newer caddys and they are soooo comfy! I'll definitely make sure to put those on my possibility list.
I do like the looks of the newer caddys and they are soooo comfy! I'll definitely make sure to put those on my possibility list.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Monroe Louisiana
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
My friend's neighbor has a newer G6, and she's always complaining that everything inside is falling apart. Sure, it's warrantied, but she makes a lof of trips to the dealership. I think the Grand Am it replaced was of better quality than the G6. I have never driven one though, so check it out.
Ruthie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
St. Jude Donor '15
Originally Posted by Kalway
Interesting stuff there C3 RV, thanks for the heads up on that. Didn't even think about that. I do like the looks of the newer caddys and they are soooo comfy! I'll definitely make sure to put those on my possibility list.
I do like the looks of the newer caddys and they are soooo comfy! I'll definitely make sure to put those on my possibility list. 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by sly vette
If you are in a Saturn showroom again, look at their roadster. I think it's called the Sky.
Very nice car for the price.
Good luck and get well.
Very nice car for the price.
Good luck and get well.
I'm still liking the G6, though. The list of standard features makes me go "ooooooh look!" and it's based on the same platform as the Malibu, which was named as the most reliable car made. I'd probably go with the G6 GT Coupe, 224hp 20 - 30mpg, neat looking, and probably as comfortable as a caddy. However, my mind is never made up until I've driven and actually physically seen my options.
Funny how this has swayed from old reliable beater to new and neat Daily Driver Wagon.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
St. Jude Donor '15
[QUOTE=Kalway]I'm still liking the G6, though. The list of standard features makes me go "ooooooh look!" and it's based on the same platform as the Malibu, which was named as the most reliable car made. I'd probably go with the G6 GT Coupe, 224hp 20 - 30mpg, neat looking, and probably as comfortable as a caddy. However, my mind is never made up until I've driven and actually physically seen my options.
QUOTE]
Make sure you take a good, long test drive in a G6. I found it to be uncomfortable. Also, I like the concept of the G6 coupe, but I don't like the look of the back end compared to the sedan.
You mentioned the Malibu. I test drove that when it first came out and found it to drive quite nicely - better than the last generation of the Impala which I drove the same day. But the looks turned me off. (So now they made the Impala look like it - go figure.)
You previously mentioned the Buick LaCrosse. I found that to have a floaty suspension except in the CSX level. However, at that price you could just about be in a Lucerne CXL.
QUOTE]
Make sure you take a good, long test drive in a G6. I found it to be uncomfortable. Also, I like the concept of the G6 coupe, but I don't like the look of the back end compared to the sedan.
You mentioned the Malibu. I test drove that when it first came out and found it to drive quite nicely - better than the last generation of the Impala which I drove the same day. But the looks turned me off. (So now they made the Impala look like it - go figure.)
You previously mentioned the Buick LaCrosse. I found that to have a floaty suspension except in the CSX level. However, at that price you could just about be in a Lucerne CXL.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
[QUOTE=C3 RV]
Please don't get a Malibu. I have worked on a lot of those in the last year. All had the same problems, and all suffered from large engine problems. I am convinced the smaller V6, maybe 3100? and the 4 bangers were designed poorly.
Originally Posted by Kalway
You mentioned the Malibu. I test drove that when it first came out and found it to drive quite nicely - better than the last generation of the Impala which I drove the same day. But the looks turned me off.
Please don't get a Malibu. I have worked on a lot of those in the last year. All had the same problems, and all suffered from large engine problems. I am convinced the smaller V6, maybe 3100? and the 4 bangers were designed poorly.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Please don't get a Malibu. I have worked on a lot of those in the last year. All had the same problems, and all suffered from large engine problems. I am convinced the smaller V6, maybe 3100? and the 4 bangers were designed poorly.
I'd get at the minimum the 3.5L V6 and preferrably, if available, the 3.8L V6. If I can afford it I'll get the 3.6L DOHC V6. I needa take a look at the Saturn Aura, it seems to be getting good reviews and the price is very inviting. It's also available in the DOHC 3.6L.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Sandy TX
I FOUND IT!!! The perfect car for you. After reading your growing list of criteria, I spent about 17 hours researching and came up with this car on E-Bay. The PERFECT blend of old "heavy metal" with new performance/reliability/mileage. This car is YOU, my man!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-Ma...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-Ma...QQcmdZViewItem
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Ok in all honesty I think that car actually looks pretty freaking cool! Very unique and would probably be really fun for autocross. It doesn't exactly meet my specifications for my new daily driver for a few reasons. One being that it's too tiny and wouldn't be too comfortable for me to drive for long, if I end up with back problems for a long time. 
The other being no warranty! 
I want a nice long warranty because I don't want to have to have two cars that I gotta pay for parts for.
The other being no warranty! I want a nice long warranty because I don't want to have to have two cars that I gotta pay for parts for.