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So I am in the market for a new car. I have driven old used cars my whole life (98 protege, 99 altima). Now I'm driving a 2012 sonic that I bought as a commuter car (put 150K miles on it in 3 years).
Now that my commute is over I was looking to get something nice. I have been comparing the entry level luxury compact cars.
I have driven:
Infiniti q60
Cadillac ATS
Lincoln MKZ
Audi A4
I have yet to drive:
Mercedes C300
+/- Alfa Romeo giulia ti (with all the reliability issues I'm not sure)
I wasn't a huge fan of the infiniti, the a4 I liked better than the cadillac.
I really liked the MKZ thought it was extremely comfortable and loaded.
I was wondering if you guys have any opions on the MKZ black label vs the A4 vs others. I'm looking to keep it at $50k max or so.
I would suggest Mercedes More reliable than Cadillac, Lincoln, Alfa R and Audi.
A bit close to Audi. But, C-class are not that reliable, try joining those respective forums and see what they(the current users) have to say.
Or get a 1-3 year old E-class. E350 or E550(if you want 400hp).
I currently have '14 E350 4m Lux, it had 44k miles on it, 2 more months of factory warranty and got it for less than 28kUSD, OTD. Sticker price is 68k+ fees/taxes etc.
If you're up for it, prefer to buy vehicle with 'factory warranty', rather than CPO, because, with CPO, you cannot buy Extended Warranty from the Manufacturer(atleast that is how, for Merc.).
I used autotrader for my search/find.
Good luck.
PS. I do not work for autotrader. I do not get paid by autotrader either.
I don't do a lot in this segment of the market so my info will be really jaded toward my own preferences. I will tell you that this is a crowded segment and there are lot more choices than what you have listed that, quite frankly, I would put ahead of your list on almost every criteria. Here's a list of the top 20 in this segment from another source.
In the price point equivalent to median annual salary nationally, you need to look for what you really like. If we are to assume you will keep this for awhile, and it is something you have waited for, then get out there and find what fits you, what you enjoy driving, and what you will still be happy with several years down the road. As with all luxury brands and models, they will depreciate quickly so buying a year or two old while still under factory warranty may allow you to move up a level of luxury and avoid the kick in the teeth on depreciation.
I'd check out a '15 Genesis 5.0 v8 sedan. You can pick one up for $25-$28k with less than 35k miles on it and still have 7 years of warranty remaining. I prefer Ibiza blue but black and white are also decent. The greys and red are meh and beige is uggo.
Consider a CPO.
Depreciation on some of these is breathtaking, especially the MKZ and the Volvo S60, which was not listed.
Less money, more warranty.
Quote:
If you're up for it, prefer to buy vehicle with 'factory warranty', rather than CPO, because, with CPO, you cannot buy Extended Warranty from the Manufacturer(at least that is how, for Merc.).
MB CPO is a factory warranty and it can be extended.
The problem I have with it is that without paying to extend, it is stupidly short compared to other luxury cars.
I'd check out a '15 Genesis 5.0 v8 sedan. You can pick one up for $25-$28k with less than 35k miles on it and still have 7 years of warranty remaining. I prefer Ibiza blue but black and white are also decent. The greys and red are meh and beige is uggo.
The 10/100,000 drivetrain warranty is only in effect for the first owner. But if the upper price range is $50k, OP can get a new one.
But a used Merc E Series or Used Audi A4. The Audi A4 depreciates like a rock....consider a 1-3 year old one.
Just keep in mind maintenance on these cars are not so cheap. It would be best to find a local guy who works on these cars to keep your operating costs down.
Find a car you like,google the hell out of it. Reviews especially. Reviews are on so many sites,
edmunds,kbb,nada,cars.com,even amazon.
Thats what I do when I buy cars.Used or new.
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More reliable than Cadillac, Lincoln, Alfa R and Audi.
