Another, ANOTHER, another, what car post

Well here we go again, for once I am stumped, or more to the point worried about my next vehicle choice. Here is my situation.

I have now had two Japanese co-workers mention I need a nicer car. It has been mentioned that I am being looked at for management by the Japanese, (I work for a Japanese owned company.) That being said if I am to continue my upward mobility I need to find a ride that will show something I have never shopped for in a car, status. The Japanese are all about ritual and appearance, so I need to head these statements seriously if I want to continue with my company.

I have spoken to my wife about it and she suggests a BMW, or an older, slightly classic BMW or Mercedes that has been restored. She has style, grace and feel for me and what I like but she does not have the experience in the business since.

This will be a used car as I won't spend tons of money on a car. To cheap.

Thanks in advance for everyones help.

EDIT It needs to be four doors, I will be driving them around when they come for visits.

Japanese company, Japanese car.

It does not get any classier than this, and it easily fits a budget and is even nearby!:

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/2362935540.html

tuna55 wrote: It does not get any classier than this, and it easily fits a budget and is even nearby!: http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/2362935540.html

ROTFLMFAO!!!

Now that is funny.

The Japanese only hold a handful of Japanese cars as prestigious. I don't find any of them fun. Toyota Royal Crown (Lexus GS), and Lexus LS, all the other ones are pretty much run of the mill Toyota. I could go Infinity G sedan but I am not sure how the Skyline would translate in the responsibility factor.

Acura, maybe

Mercedes r107. The japanese have a huge club and they really do up their cars. You can't find a car that gives the "made it" look for cheaper. Get a 500sl euro for around 5-6k and be done with it. This was the car made to push japanese econo boxes off the road in the 80s.

If you really want to brown nose you get a toyota avalon as the perfect choice. It has all the amenities of a lexus but with the cost of a camry, which would be the most logical choice.

Awesome cars just one more thing has to be four doors. My bad on not mentioning it previously. I need to be able to drive them.

Mike's list of cool and classy cars that are somewhat affordable (being really generous with this one):

I don't know that any would fit the bill, but some to think about.

The obvious answer (well to me at least because it is the only luxury car I would buy)

I hate all Japanese luxury cars in every way shape or form.

Did someone seriously just post a Phaeton under the word cheap?

Hey I have this crazy idea, it's called "Do whatever the Bezerkley You Want" and it goes something like this;

You figure out what you want to do, and then you do it, and the Japanese dudes you work with can go suck eggs.

Vigo wrote: Did someone seriously just post a Phaeton under the word cheap?

I said I was being really generous with the term. Besides that, you can get them for 15k--this was once a 60k car.

mtn wrote:

Vigo wrote: Did someone seriously just post a Phaeton under the word cheap?

I said I was being really generous with the term. Besides that, you can get them for 15k--this was once a 60k car.

I think the problem with the Phaeton is the status thing. It still says VW on the back and your average idiot won't know that it is actually a luxury car.

Okay, a crash course in Japanese politics. The key here is picking up a car that is nicer than those below you. However, it is also important not to pick up something nicer than those too far above you. you will want to look at what some of the newer managers or senior engineers drive. You also want to pick a car that is respected for solid engineering as this your field (Jags probably don't scream goof engineering). Cars that fit the bill nicely would be:

Lexus IS or GS series, Infiniti G35,M45,I30, Acura TL type S or TSX, Volvo s40 (solid budget choice if you pick 2005+), BMW 3 series.

You have a Maxima now? What year/trim model?

How about an e28?

< $15K all day long... I may be biased, but it's a nice car that makes a good impression. Lots of rear seat room too.

Think they would appreciate an old Cressida in beautiful shape with custom suede interior with some gangster JDM VIP rims?

There's a thriving US-style hot rod scene in Japan. But that's probably not the answer .

I was really thinking (as opposed to the one I actually posted above) a classy older Jap car - like a 240Z or something like that. Classy in the sense that you have taste, and also in the sense that you'd be driving a landmark. I'd actually argue that the 240Z, for example, was probably the best example of Japanese car influence on the US.

sanman wrote: Okay, a crash course in Japanese politics. The key here is picking up a car that is nicer than those below you. However, it is also important not to pick up something nicer than those too far above you. you will want to look at what some of the newer managers or senior engineers drive. You also want to pick a car that is respected for solid engineering as this your field (Jags probably don't scream goof engineering). Cars that fit the bill nicely would be: Lexus IS or GS series, Infiniti G35,M45,I30, Acura TL type S or TSX, Volvo s40 (solid budget choice if you pick 2005+), BMW 3 series. You have a Maxima now? What year/trim model?

1997 Maxima SE She has seen better days, 180K and about as Kided out as she can get. It has been nice but no prestige.

Yeah I am looking for the middle ground I just don't know how to find it. Most of the Japanese management is in Japan. Only our President is a Japanese here. All of the engineers/accountants here drive stuff they can't get in Japan.

Popular cars that I have seen in Japan are the Royal Crown, Accord (our TSX) upper management drives Lexus LS and Mercedes E/S class. The issue is they all drive NEW ones, thanks to Japanese tax laws.

Right now I like

BMW 5/X5 Mercedes E/S/ML Infiniti G/M Audi A6

Sorry but the Phaeton would be laughed at, even though they are a very nice car

Eh, you should probably get a newish 5 series or something along those lines. I also think you may be coming to the wrong area for advice. These guys probably will not appreciate a "classic" anything.

Ehhh ehhh????

sanman wrote: Cars that fit the bill nicely would be: Lexus IS or GS series, Infiniti G35,M45,I30, Acura TL type S or TSX, Volvo s40 (solid budget choice if you pick 2005+), BMW 3 series.

+1. All of you posting old, high-end European cars don't understand. The car still has to be new enough so as you don't 'look' cheap. I'm afraid this sort of car purchase will go agaisnt most of the GRM car-buying creedos.

Personally, I would pick the Acura. Mainly because it's the only one with a useable back seat that's available with a manual transmission (I would not ask anyone I wanted to impress to ride in the back of a 3 series).

Depending on how many miles you have to drive each year, this could be a classic example of when leasing may be favorable. Not so much because you want to save on monthly payments, but just for the fact you can pretty easily change cars every 2-3 years.

FlightService wrote: Right now I like BMW 5/X5 Mercedes E/S/ML Infiniti G/M Audi A6

I think the best political move with that list is the Infiniti. If you are not sure about where the car comes from, you are best leaning toward the home country. I think, at least.

Acura TSX.
Fun with a stick shift
Good on gas
4 doors and proper sized for Japanese co-workers (not seen as trying to hard with something like an old LS400)
It is fwd but fun with a stick shift which makes up for the rwd of the big cars that only come in automatics.

Or Lexus is300 which will give you rwd but crappy mpg.

I think I would be sporting a Mercury Marauder, just a wolf in P71 clothes.