CarMax isn't a requirement, but they do offer a few advantages. I get family pricing on the cars and warranty. They will also bring the car to me, rather than me wasting a ton of time and money kicking tires.
CarMax isn't a requirement, but they do offer a few advantages. I get family pricing on the cars and warranty. They will also bring the car to me, rather than me wasting a ton of time and money kicking tires.
Datsun1500 wrote: Im asking because that A4 is pretty far from an M5
Really, A4 is only 12 letters and 1 number from M5. It's not that different! 
I've researched the B8 A4 wagon quite a bit and I think they can be an engaging car. Without some serious work it's not going to be nearly as satisfying as your M5 from an acceleration standpoint (see: CTS-V wagon for that).
The car you linked is a non-sport A4 which will probably be way too floaty. The sport package and S-line cars have a different steering wheel, different seats, shocks, springs (0.75" lower), and larger sway bars shared with the S4. Buy a sport or S-line wagon and throw in a chip. The stage 1 chip adds about 50 hp/70ft lbs
Renault Fuego is the answer.
poopshovel wrote: Renault Fuego is the answer.
Lol
I'd stay away from the Germans if you want to avoid similar issues as the M5. I've just never had any luck with mine. My e36 was the same way as your M5 - except I kept it 3 more years until the warranty expired. Over $7k in repairs from break downs not counting the maintenance that I did myself. My e30 wasn't as bad as I sold it 6 months after buying it... I found the A4 Avant wagon with manual trans uninspiring to drive and also plagued with a bunch of stupid sensor issues and a $1k+ timing belt maintenance to deal with.
I'd definitely keep the Cadillac in the running but I'd also add the Infiniti G35/7 or even the M35/7.
Regarding the Benz, I've heard of fewer things going wrong with them comapred to the equivalent BMW but that's just hearsay - or lack thereof...
Regarding the Maserati Quattroporte, that thing is dead sexy and soooooo nice to be in. My uncle has one. He had to replace the clutch rather early but hasn't had many issues beyond that. No idea what the maintenance is like though. Wish I felt comfortable with taking the risk on that car. Then again, I don't need a 4 door sedan.
I've been really happy with my '11 S4. Comes in either the floppy paddles or a real manual. Really nice inside and makes ~475hp with a pulley and a tune
Do you need 500hp? Or is seating for 4.5 more important? Do you need a luxury/sport car or would a nice sedan do? Why fight? I saw a post somewhere above where you said S2000 and something else for the mrs instead.
Buy whatever makes you happy, then send the wife out for whatever makes her happy. If you have a recent M5 then two reasonable cars are no stretch.
Done.
I would be happy with a Gen-1 CTS-V, but I only want to pay about 15-18k. When I bought the M5, I figured it was at the bottom of the depreciation curve and would mostly hold it's value over time. I'm not so sure about the CTS-V.
Considering we have people on this forum who have bought one for $5000, an 18k one is NOWHERE NEAR the bottom of its depreciation curve. I think they will bottom out around 7-8k for 'normal' examples barring any weird issues.
This is too expensive, but it is like 2 miles from my house.
http://m.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=389634158&zip=35216&endYear=2015&pageLayout=list&sortBy=distanceASC&startYear=1981&engineCodes=8CLDR&searchRadius=75&mmt=%5BCAD%5BCTS%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D%20needsclick%20recursive
Just go all fancy and stuff and buy a new Tesla S.
If that made you gag then I can only recommend the G37 sedan manual. Not a barn burner out of the box but can be enough fun to make you smile.
Advan046 wrote: Just go all fancy and stuff and buy a new Tesla S.
Don't I wish! I have a friend who has one, they are amazing.
Advan046 wrote: Just go all fancy and stuff and buy a new Tesla S. If that made you gag then I can only recommend the G37 sedan manual. Not a barn burner out of the box but can be enough fun to make you smile.
This is all my mind kept coming back to. Either that or get 2 cars.
Datsun1500 wrote: The 05-08 Audi A6 had a 4.2 option. That car can be found for $15k with @70k miles. That leaves a lot of cash left over. It was a $70k car new!
I love VWAG but you couldn't pay me to own anything with a timing chain 4.2 in it.
And yeah, I'm the guy who was/is seriously looking at buying something W8 powered.
Cadillac CTSV definitely the best comparable car. If you don't mind less performance the ISF but it tends to carry a price premium for its rarity and name.
I'd go CTS-V personally. Be patient and hopefully another will come along at carmax. I completely understand wanting a warranty for the wife's car. I've overpaid a couple of times to get the wife exactly what she wants and I don't care one bit that I did. It was WELL worth it.
CTS-V or IS-F sounds like the answer
Are you financing? If so, using a credit union?
We buy all my wife's cars through the CU to use their warranty company (Route 66). I guess it would be more ($$) than your situation with CarMax, but it expands your options. I think they will do full bumper-to-bumper on cars up to 6 years old with under 75k miles or thereabouts? We ended up needing it for a bunch of work on the wifes' C240 and it covered everything, no questions asked (valve cover gaskets, motor mount, ac compressor).
Oh, and I vote for the IS-F (wife also had an IS350 up to ~100k and that was a reliable/fun car).
So much craziness in this thread. Ha ha ha.
Ok, I've been talked out of the A4.
Currently leader: 09 with 33k miles
Not my favorite color, but I'm kinda running out of room to be picky.
My vote is the G8, especially GXP.
BradLTL wrote: Ok, I've been talked out of the A4. Currently leader: 09 with 33k miles
I'd pull the trigger on it before it gets sold. I don't hate the color and a low mileage CTS-V with a warranty sounds like a winner.
For the record i find the gen 2 ctsv to actually be plausibly comparable to a super 5 series whereas i dont feel the same about the gen1. That red one looks nice!
Vigo wrote: For the record i find the gen 2 ctsv to actually be plausibly comparable to a super 5 series whereas i dont feel the same about the gen1.
Precisely.
G8 doo ett:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=60477&endYear=2015&modelCode1=G8&sortBy=distanceASC&showcaseOwnerId=0&startYear=1981&makeCode1=PONT&searchRadius=50&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BPONT%5BG8%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=387808326&Log=0
You'll need to log in to post.
