Ideas for a $10,000-12,000 big, reliable, and cool sedan for long distance travel?

[XutvJet]

In just over a year, our daughter will be going to college and she got a scholarship to play volleyball. Although her matches will be televised, we want to attend as much as possible thus we will be doing a ton of driving for 4 years.

I have a 987.2 Cayman, F87 M2, and my wife has a 2020 4Runner. We've used the 4Runner exclusively for club volleyball travel for the last 3 years. Interior room is great as is it's winter weather capability, but the thing is chore to drive on the highway with road noise, wind blowing it around, 16-17 mpg, and constantly down/up shifting between 4th and 5th on even the smallest grades during windy conditions. Being the Midwest, the wind is stiff and ALWAYS blowing on the highways. My wife doesn't like the choppy ride of the M2 and I'm not sure routinely driving that car long distances on 19" rims and thin sidewall tires would be a great idea. The Cayman is obviously a no-go.

I've convinced her that we should get a used, big, reliable, and cool sedan for long distance travel. I'm not interested in SUVs. My budget is $10,000-$12,000. I'd loved something RWD and V8, but it's not necessarily a requirement. After a lot of research, I've identified the 2001-2006 Lexus LS430. With a 1" drop, front slip spoiler, and a set of spacers, it has an old school Benz appearance. Those cars are extremely reliable. I also like look the first gen LS400 and could consider a 2000 LS400. I'm a DIYer and I work on my cars and I'm not afraid of 20+ y/o cars assuming the car has a strong reputation for reliability and parts are still accessible. I love older Benzs, but I'm not sure which ones are reliable, if they are, would they still be reliable now considering their age and need to repair weird stuff? I love E39 530i but no way. My neighbor has two of them and is constantly battling with them.

I'm open to ideas.

[dailym340i]

Lexus or you could do Infiniti Q70, which appears to checks your boxes. I wouldn't want to have to repair a family hauler time and time again.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

I've identified the 2001-2006 Lexus LS430.

The bigger Lexus (LS/GS/ES) and Toyota (Avalon) sedans would be my go-to. Boring, reliable, quiet, comfortable. Unless you want to incorporate backroads and avoid long stretches of highway, I wouldn't even consider anything sporty.

The specified budget is pretty low, I wouldn't hazard an aging luxury product for long trips, "cool" requirement notwithstanding.

With that being said, I would look into newer cars (with a bigger budget) to get driver assistance tech. I really enjoy adaptive cruise control and lane centering assist in our family minivan for long trips.

[spazzyfry123]

I saw the thread title and came in here to suggest a Lexus LS. I had a '98 with about 300k miles that I sold to someone local that I still see running around time and time again. Tanks.

[DanG]

I would suggest a Mazda CX-5.

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by DanG

I would suggest a Mazda CX-5.

My wife has a 2016 and I've never owned a more reliable vehicle.

[Alfisti]

I asked something similar a while back and the answer is LS. Prices do reflect demand though.

https://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=2126763

[BlkGS]

Yeah the Lexus LS is the standard choice. A few other good choices...

Anything with a GM 3800. This came in a buncha Buicks and Pontiacs and maybe Caddy?
Lincoln Town Car or if you want a little more attitude (not really fast still) Mercury Marauder
The Caddy DTS towards the end of their run were really great bargains, fully loaded, really nice inside, drove great, still looks fairly modern... Big value there, and the Northstar was basically worked out by then
If you're feeling lucky, the E/S 500/550 with the older V8 is an option
Chrysler 300C is a good option too, charger is nice too but a littler firmer.
Acura RL would be nice if you can find one, not as spacious as the others.
Infiniti M45 or Q45 might work, not sure if any of those exist still. M35 might be a better choice.
The Phaeton was literally designed for what you're wanting to do, but I wouldn't recommend that to someone I liked at all...

If it was me, I'd get a Marauder or Town Car.

[Alfisti]

Problem with Town Cars is they were often airport limos and smell like a Calcutta sewer

[StradaRedlands]

A W212 E Class would be great and hit your price point. E350 for better mileage, E500 for V8 rumble rumble sound. Same motor plus/minus two cylinders!
The M273 is a workhorse of a motor that feels and sounds great.
Transmission conductor plate is the only real weak spot.
It will have significantly fewer oil leaks than BMW motors!
Our GL450 only had to have the expansion plugs replaced a couple times, and that is a super easy DIY. Avoid the air suspension, which may be standard on the E500???

[LH44]

LS400 or any Sacco Benz with a V8.

[RM7]

Honda Accord.

[ash_schwin]

Originally Posted by RM7

Honda Accord.

That was going to be my answer as well, but I am biased since I have an accord as my DD for my daily 125 mile round trip commute.

Lexus LS are super cool though so as long as you are ok with a bit more thirsty V8, that would be a fantastic highway cruiser.

[b7rk]

Perhaps a Ford Mustang, if you don't need rear seats. I find higher trims very comfortable, comes with V8, Fastbacks limit wind noise, RWD, easy to find parts / to service, if issues, spacious front.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by ash_schwin

That was going to be my answer as well, but I am biased since I have an accord as my DD for my daily 125 mile round trip commute.

I've put the 3rd gen Acura TL/TLS on the list. One of my favorites. Hard to find clean examples though, but they are out there.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Yeah the Lexus LS is the standard choice. A few other good choices...

Anything with a GM 3800. This came in a buncha Buicks and Pontiacs and maybe Caddy?
Lincoln Town Car or if you want a little more attitude (not really fast still) Mercury Marauder
The Caddy DTS towards the end of their run were really great bargains, fully loaded, really nice inside, drove great, still looks fairly modern... Big value there, and the Northstar was basically worked out by then
If you're feeling lucky, the E/S 500/550 with the older V8 is an option
Chrysler 300C is a good option too, charger is nice too but a littler firmer.
Acura RL would be nice if you can find one, not as spacious as the others.
Infiniti M45 or Q45 might work, not sure if any of those exist still. M35 might be a better choice.
The Phaeton was literally designed for what you're wanting to do, but I wouldn't recommend that to someone I liked at all...

If it was me, I'd get a Marauder or Town Car.

No Caddies, 300Cs, or M45/Q45. Reliability ain't hot with the those cars. Phaeton, no freaking way. Junk. The RL is nice, but pretty damn boring. The M35 ain't bad, but not a fan of the styling.

Now a Marauder. I'd perhaps up the budget. My wife would love it too. I'll need to read up on the reliability of the 4.6 DOHC motor in that car.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by DanG

I would suggest a Mazda CX-5.

Excellent cars, I don't want an SUV. My son has a 2020 Mazda 3 hatch. Stellar car.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Excellent cars, I don't want an SUV. My son has a 2020 Mazda 3 hatch. Stellar car.

How about a Mazda 6 then?

[ShocknAwe]

Lexus. Or an E60 5er.

[2heeldrive]

Congratulations on your daughter's scholarship!

For a comfortable and reliable road cruiser, I would suggest an Avalon, aka the "Japanese Buick".

And, if you hate it... you could always give it to your daughter.

[c1pher]

Toyota Avalon Hybrid? I went 600 several times on a tank of gas with mine.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

No Caddies, 300Cs, or M45/Q45. Reliability ain't hot with the those cars. Phaeton, no freaking way. Junk. The RL is nice, but pretty damn boring. The M35 ain't bad, but not a fan of the styling.

Now a Marauder. I'd perhaps up the budget. My wife would love it too. I'll need to read up on the reliability of the 4.6 DOHC motor in that car.

If you just don't want a Caddy or 300C because you don't want to be associated with the takeover crowd or whatever, that's fair. But reliability is good on them, especially the later years of each generation. The 5.7 Hemi is a stout motor, and the NAG1 is just a 722.6 MB transmission so also bulletproof.

Marauders are sick, and basically bulletproof too. I see one at work from time to time. Sometimes he parks next to the guy with a 1st gen 300C SRT8. That's a pretty cool pair there lol.