SAAB 95 wagon < 2011. Have driven saabs 30 years. Very dependable, comfortable and although GM had a heavy hand last 10 years they somehow managed to not #### it up too badly. The wagon is large enough to cart around the Porsche.

 

I'm looking at a VW GTI, we already have an SUV. Test drove one a couple weeks ago, its sufficient enough. May even look harder at the TDI golf with these gas prices.

Ken

 

Have had a 335i and e92 M3 and would agree that BMW does make great "drivers" cars in comparison with the rest. That being said, I am somewhat partial to the safety aspects of an SUV. X5s drive great but are terribly unreliable. The new X3 is also awesome but in my opinion a little on the "mini SUV" side.

I test drove a Jeep SRT8 and FX45 with the wife yesterday. The Jeep has all of the bells and whistles of the premium brands and offers brutal acceleration, a sports car stiff ride, as well as good handling and breaking - the lows are on-center steering precision and the fit and finish. The FX has a much better fit and finish, BMW-like steering feel, as well as good handling and breaking - it's by no means slow but feels so in comparison to the Jeep.

I have a bad habit of buying a car and then trading it in if it lacks soul. For example: I recognize that the M3 is probably one of the all time greats but to me, its almost too well sorted to put a smile on your face over time - my 335i with a tune always seemed to provide an unexpected level of performance that I loved. The 911 Turbo is the perfect blend to me - uncanny performance but has just enough of that "out of control" edge to keep it entertaining over time. I'm afraid the FX lacks the soul...

There are plenty of other cars I would prefer (all of them German) but for the money, it's hard to find anything else as much fun as the Jeep.

 

Here's a link to Forbes recent study of "worst cars on the road", something to at least consider when looking for a daily driver.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/f...the-road-list/

My experiences:
> I've owned several Jeeps and dependability was bottom of the barrel. Makes me sick how much $$ was put into replacing parts every month. Maybe every Jeep I had was a lemon, but I doubt it.
> Making up for it, I've owned my '97 honda accord for most of its life, and nothing has ever broke (it's almost spooky how reliable it is). Still silky smooth and runs a like a champ to this day. No experience with recent Honda's but the old ones last forever. When I bring it to the dealership for scheduled maintenance, the used car guys always try to buy it off of me for their personal car, how funny.

 

used toyota 4runner /thread

if you have a hard on for doing mods/saving money/not being unoriginal...convert the 4runner to e85 and profit

 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is bullet proof and a blast to drive. It is a truck so expect a truck. Like all model lines, some are good, some not so much like a Cayanne. The JGC SRT8 handles pretty well and has really good brakes. With a Preditor CMR tune and some goodies the acceleration is brutal for a truck. Some of them run 11's with stock block and heads.

also NOT in this list :

--CC

 

I go back and forth on the safety aspect of SUVs - yes they ride higher (helping in an impact) and have more weight and mass to distribute impact force but are also more likely to roll and are less manuverable.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

I would stay clear of the SRT8 due to dismal fuel economy. I just do not see the point in having a vehicle that gives 10mpg city as a daily. Does the wife really need to be doing 0-60MPH in 4.6s with the kids? I also think a daily driver should have a comfortable ride and not something super stiff like the Jeep. But I guess everyone has their own preferences for a "daily driver". To me, for comparisons sake, it is like saying you would rather have a GT3 RS for a daily driver than a Turbo.

 

Definitly see your point but I would be driving it most of the time (10 miles per day or less). I'm looking for something fun under 30k and its narrowing down to either a SRT8 Jeep or a e90 335i. The wife gets the Touareg.

 

That was one fast piece of balsa wood!

 

bob

 

Is fuel consumption a variable in the equation to find a daily driver?

Because if it is, a lot of soccer mom's out there should reconsider if their SUVs and minivans fit the bill.

 

Not really worried about it only because I don't put many miles on the car.

 

45 mpg on the highway with ease! Fun around town and pretty zippy. Diesel fuel near me is cheaper then regular. Euro styling and not seen often. Plenty of room. I love it.

 

How about an Audi? I really like my A6 4.2. In fact, I'm on my second one. Very safe, awd, holds 5 comfortably, large trunk, plenty of power, great road trip car, good gas mileage and for whatever reason, they didn't hold their value really well. You should be able to find a very clean, low mileage one that's ~ 3yrs old for ~ $30K. Best,