I have a mountain bike that is worth more than my eleven year old car. After years of late nighters, exam cram hell, and publication or perish prison, I landed an academic job and finally have some money to spend. My budget is 25 to 50 grand but I could go higher if I really liked something. Any suggestions ?

I have a keen eye on the Cadillac CTS-V Sedan, but it is at the upper end of my price range. Any owners want to comment ?

Don't know what the new BMW 5-series costs over there, but that's easily the best car I've ever driven. In its class of course

I am getting ready to finally trade in my 2000 Maxima after the holidays. I have my heart set on a gun metal 370z w/ sport package. I practically drool whenever I see one now. I can not wait!

Give a test to Hyundai Genesis....

I like the lines and insides of the Sonata's, my ex inlaws just bought one and it's sweet!

Anything you can pay for on cash, for starters.

Dodge.

Charger.

r/t

Dodge Challenger R/T

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2011/11/14/ford-unleashes-650-horsepower-2013-shelby-gt500

650 horses!!!

Drive a bit of class,try a Jaguar XF.
I loved mine,the 3.0 V6 diesel is a great engine.

*edit* you would probably prefer the petrol I think.

Don't start out the new job with a big car loan. Take 8-10k and buy a nice used Miata. If you've never driven one, thank me when you get back. Enthusiast car, like a mini-exotic. Very reliable and very inexpensive.
Save the new car business for a few years from now, if even then.

+1 joe


I looked at the Caddy CTS's too, and got a Dodge Charger and I love it. The new 2011's are remade with Italian influence on the body flares and interior. The 2011's also have a windshield that adds 5" over the previous design for better visibility.

My Charger is an R/T All Wheel Drive. Got the four door over the Challenger for convenience, and cause the wife complained about the old '92 Vette and getting groceries into the car behind the front seats.

I also paid for the lifetime extended warranty ($1800) so after the 5 year factory warranty runs out any repairs will cost just $100.


You guys see the new Escort Live! networking for radar detectors? Just purchased this for my 9500ix, as I've got a bet with the wife as to who gets the first ticket.
http://www.escortradar.com/


WC

Great advice about big car loan. Used car market might be worth a look. Find a nice car with low mileage and have a mechanic to check it before you buy it.

Don't take any loan on a car.

Put 400 monthly payment into a calculator over 30 years and see what you get. Be a millionaire or have a car loan. Your choice.

Honda Civic. I'm on my second and going on my third and I bought each one new and retired them at 220,000+ miles 8 years later with no major problem for only between $14-18K. Not so keen on the new physical look but the reliability and durability is what I go by.

v6,
boNes

Very reticent of that Kryptonite. We received more money in the sale of our previous townhouse than we thought we would, so looking into several options.

Bones, the Civic is what we are driving now, lol

A 30 year car loan?

Know what I would buy if I had a million bucks?

Get a van. It will give you plenty of room for your human neurological experiments.

I just bought a used (low miles) Golf GTI (2007). I love it to bits.

Yeah, my Honda Odyssey would be perfect for it.

I wished we'd paid off the mortgage a looong time ago, and that $32K + 9 years of maintenance for the '92 Vette (male mid-life crisis) would have gone a long way to paying that debt down.

But a couple years ago I needed a another car and the 2009 Charger came with a lifetime power train warranty. (With the new Dodges a bumper to bumper lifetime maintenance package can be had for ~$2,000.)

So I got out Excel and made a mortgage calculator and figured I could refinance and get extra cash for the new car, double the payment and pay the loan off in 8 years. I did not want a separate mortgage and a car loan. Used cars that I liked were $25,000 and I keep cars for ~12 years, so the lifetime warranty was a big selling point. And used car loans were about 8.6%.

Obviously cash for cars is *best*.

So there's six years left on the mortgage and I can back off of the extra payment (5 times) or occasionally pay more. It's a low interest loan, but at the rate I'm paying it off the interest rate doesn't matter much. We will save $190K on the 30 year loan and I got a new car.


That's a big answer to "what car to buy" but my plan is working out and figured I'd share the idea.

WC

As for a suggestion on a new car - get a blue one.

Why Blue ?

I tend to prefer bright red with something like silver alloy wheels. Fits with the WD persona

Going to take a test drive of the Cadillac and BMW this weekend. Also considering just holding my money for more investment and buying a used Honda to replace what I have. Undecided

No, UTR, not a 30 year car loan. Most people perpetually have some sort of car loan or payment is my point. The average car payment is about that. It's not a 30 year loan, it's what that number over decades turns out to be. Heck, now there are scumbag car companies selling not only leases (which are by definition perpetual car payments) but even things as absurd as 72 month financing. That's six years!!! Seriously. I mean, come on!

Anyway, I'll admit I'm the exception, but I think people spend their future millions without realizing the exponential impact of saving and compounding gains over decades.

Yeah, the new Chargers are nice.

My wife wouldn't go for it, but for some reason she found the Magnum appealing. So that's where my r/t came from, I love that car.

It's a bit wallet lightening at the pumps, but it makes up for that in doing absolutely everything I want to do and then some.

We have a few LX drivers at work ranging from a Magnum non SXT, an SXT Magnum, my R/T, an SRT8, and an SRT8 Charger. Lots of fun on meeting days, it's like a cruise night.

Sad, but true. Most people buy and trade so often they never see the light at the end of the financing tunnel and just give into keeping a car note indefinitely. Last new car I bought was in '99, I'd rather not do it again.

There's nothing like paying pure cash for a car! But then I'd rather have a car budget than a car note. Cars can be a lot more fun than just basic transportation.