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I need a new daily driver

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pauleyman

DSM Wiseman
9,298
3,541
Nov 19, 2011
oklahoma city, Oklahoma
We're all car guys here. I need a new daily driver. As much as i want to play around with my 4 runner I just don't need something that big and such crappy gas mileage.
What do you guys drive? I'm really looking for maybe something more luxury and buy somethin broken. BMW?? Am I nuts? The average owner is afraid of it. i"m not afraid of anything.
I will not daily drive a DSM again so no suggestions for DSM. It isn't that I don't love them I just hate the fact that we have gotten to the point we cannot get parts. i want something newer that I can maintain.
Bring on the suggestions. Subaru? Porsche? Mercedes? Saab? I asked this because I stupidly read up on 3 series BMW when I saw a pretty nice example for 2k$ with a bad camshaft. Apparently a known/common problem and looked to be a pretty easy fix.
As you can see I'm trending towards cars people are likely afraid of when they break. Absolutely nothing domestic. I just hate them all.
 
I can't find any cheap toyotas unless they are completely trashed. Unless the car market gets back under control at this point I'm lookin for a broken car I can fix.
If I don't find something i may just spruce up the 4runner. 4runner is such a niche car also I was hoping to sell it and get enough to pay for a project plus parts. then I end up with something cosmetically nicer for not much cash out of pocket if any. 5k or so?
 
The 2013+ Infiniti G37/Q40 is absolutely bulletproof mechanically, they are extremely reliable and decent fun. The VQ37 and the whole driveline have no major flaws, so you'll basically just be doing routine maintenance. A low mileage version will last you a very long time. Fuel mileage sucks in winter stop-and-go traffic and short trips in freezing weather, but they're pretty efficient on the highway and are a genuine bargain luxury car. I've had my 2013 since the beginning of 2018, it's needed nothing but front stabilizer links (it's now at 62k miles). It could use a valve cover gasket , and salt ate away at the exhaust and the body a bit, and seized a caliper, but those corrosion problems don't apply to Oklahoma. The 2008-2011s had a faulty metal gasket in the engine that could lead to oil loss and a blown engine - buy one of those and swap in a 'fixed' engine if you want a cheap project.
 
I’d recommend something that uses prestige to sell when new. Think lexus, audi, or yes, bmw. Their resale drops much more quickly than utility cars (toyota, Subaru) because the utility stays strong after prestige has worn off. For instance, a 2006 lexus is300 is now worth around $4-5k, but has the durability of a camry. It’s a rwd platform with power/weight ratio of a stock dsm. And you can fix it with toyota parts!
 
Ford Edge Sport. 2015-2018 models specifically. Bulletproof engine, absolutely a pleasure to work on, in stock form are “quick” and will run forever. I have tuned mine and on 93 octane alone with nothing else it has run 12’s. 30mpg Highway. It’s got almost 100k miles, 60k of which have been tuned running 12’s and boosting everywhere and I have had to do 1) a rear end that was 100% my fault. Put the car on e50 and borrowed some very sticky tires and exploded it quite fantastically. Literally everyone else with a tuned edge has never had an issue. 2) rear shocks, brakes, and fluid changes. That’s it. And anything I’ve had to do was an absolute joy. Like they designed the car to be worked on.

The 2019+ Edge ST’s suck ass though so avoid them. Idc if you said you hate the domestic stuff or not, my vote is 2015-2018 Ford Edge sport. Love mine.
 
Ford Edge Sport. 2015-2018 models specifically. Bulletproof engine, absolutely a pleasure to work on, in stock form are “quick” and will run forever. I have tuned mine and on 93 octane alone with nothing else it has run 12’s. 30mpg Highway. It’s got almost 100k miles, 60k of which have been tuned running 12’s and boosting everywhere and I have had to do 1) a rear end that was 100% my fault. Put the car on e50 and borrowed some very sticky tires and exploded it quite fantastically. Literally everyone else with a tuned edge has never had an issue. 2) rear shocks, brakes, and fluid changes. That’s it. And anything I’ve had to do was an absolute joy. Like they designed the car to be worked on.

The 2019+ Edge ST’s suck ass though so avoid them. Idc if you said you hate the domestic stuff or not, my vote is 2015-2018 Ford Edge sport. Love mine.
you have my attention. Why only those years? what happened in 2019 up?
 
you have my attention. Why only those years? what happened in 2019 up?

They switched to an idiotic 8 speed transmission that was so terrible they had to tune one of the gears completely out of the transmission for 2021+. It would rob all power and make it feel like the car downshifted but also upshifted. Everyone hated it. Plus they’re heavier and way more nannies. And I hate the lack of an actual shifter(the ST’s have a radial knob for a shifter).

Sports are lighter and the 6 speed is tough AF.

And those years because the 2014 and older edges had a completely different drivetrain and engine, and are much slower. The 3.7 that’s in the older edge sports requires you to basically remove the engine and the entire front case/entire timing assembly to change the water pump that frequently goes bad on those engines.

The 2.7 has no such issues. :)


Pretty much even the base model edges from 2015-2018 are packed with features. Heated and cooled leather seats, automatic parking/parallel parking assist, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, gigantic ass moonroof, yadda yadda yadda. I’ve towed a dsm with my sport as well and the trans temps were fine. Repeated or super long dsm towing excursions I’d upgrade to an aftermarket trans cooler and dedicated gauge but power wise it’ll absolutely do it and you won’t even feel it.


Plus cops, ricers, and dudebros in diesels don’t even give you a second glance.
 
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Audi A4 Quattro, or the A8 Quattro or the VW version the Passat or the Passat Wagon with the awd V8, the wagon would be a real sleeper.
 
Can't really go wrong with a Subaru. Unless we're talking about their new trash. I use the term trash loosely because opinions will vary as usual but I'll never own one 2015+. I'm a sucker for the EJ25. My 2005 Impreza RS was one of my favorite daily drivers. Gas mileage was fair and it never gave me issues on the daily commute. It had the notorious axle seal leaks and worn shifter bushings but all those were easy fixes for me. And since parts interchangeability is insane for those, parts are readily available pretty much everywhere. With 185k on the dash the engine still ran like it was new despite poor maintaining from the previous owner. 2nd gear would grind on occasion, but Subaru is not to blame for that. The previous owner ignoring the axle seal leak was to blame.

Definitely my favorite daily driver was my 2010 WRX Limited SPT. I didn't mention that one first though because you brought up gas mileage. Once I turned the boost up and tuned it, I was lucky to get 14mpg. But stock they get like 20-24 or something close. Plenty fast enough stock too. I just enjoyed the 0-60 time being in the 3's a little too much.
 
Funny you mention 2015+. I've looked hard at new foresters and outback. Whats the problem?
I love my 2004 outback 5 spd but jeez it's slow and mpg isn't great.
 
Funny you mention 2015+. I've looked hard at new foresters and outback. Whats the problem?
I love my 2004 outback 5 spd but jeez it's slow and mpg isn't great.
Too many mechanical functions switched to electronic, damn near everything is made of plastic, heavier emissions control, got rid of the Recaro style seats, and the CVT is shit if you get an auto. That's aside from the cars looking just like any other average vehicle on the road. One wouldn't kill me as a daily, but I would find no pleasure whatsoever in driving it. I personally like to pull my handbrake vs pushing a flashy button and waiting for my electronic calipers to wind up. Same goes for most other functions of the vehicle. But hey, maybe I'm just a grumpy ass who thinks some old shit is better than the new.

Way back we also had a 2003 Outback 5 speed. It wasn't the fastest thing ever but with the EJ25 it had plenty of torque and is far from the slowest cars I've ever driven. Hell my 4g37 Eclipse would be car lengths behind in a quarter mile race haha.
 
You ever look into some of the BMW x series suv? Living in PA I learned DDing something with low ground clearance isn’t cool. My mom has an x5 that works well. It’s awd maybe 20 mpg if your lucky.

My wife DDs a Nissan Rogue which isn’t a bad throwaway car IMO. Again awd and like 30mpg. The CVT trans though is skeptical though.

I DD my 95’ ranger and 16’ 5500 Cummins with a flatbed. I do not recommend a 5500 for DD though. Rides like a brick and like 13 mpg. But she loves to haul heavy and does it well for me.

Me personally I could never not DD a truck anymore. Just my lifestyle I guess. Hard for me to really suggest something for you without really knowing you though.

-Daniel
 
How do you guys feel about a hyundai equus? I happened upon a 5.0l v8. I'm a litle skeptical as this is likely a low production car and that motor seems to be used only in that car. Makes me wonder about parts availability. 400hp for less than 15k is appealing though.
 
Too many mechanical functions switched to electronic, damn near everything is made of plastic, heavier emissions control, got rid of the Recaro style seats, and the CVT is shit if you get an auto. That's aside from the cars looking just like any other average vehicle on the road. One wouldn't kill me as a daily, but I would find no pleasure whatsoever in driving it. I personally like to pull my handbrake vs pushing a flashy button and waiting for my electronic calipers to wind up. Same goes for most other functions of the vehicle. But hey, maybe I'm just a grumpy ass who thinks some old shit is better than the new.

Way back we also had a 2003 Outback 5 speed. It wasn't the fastest thing ever but with the EJ25 it had plenty of torque and is far from the slowest cars I've ever driven. Hell my 4g37 Eclipse would be car lengths behind in a quarter mile race haha.
I’ve got a 2017 Impreza, the new global chassis. It has a mechanical emergency brake and the cvt functions well. I use the downshift paddles to engine brake to a stop, to save the brake pads.

For OP,
The eyesight system works fantastic. Adaptive cruise and auto high beams are great. I love my LED headlights at night that steer around corners. The chassis tuning, for an economy car is fantastic. I had an evo 9 before this car and the new Impreza is much better balanced. Maybe less overall grip, but better balance.

The only failure since new, currently at 72k miles is a Pcv valve and battery. The gas mileage isn’t great. The power is unimpressive. The spark plugs are difficult to change.
 
I own 23 cars currently. I can tell you, you take the good with the bad. With every 1 person that is the "best car I have ever owned" is another that will never buy another. I can say, my family's main daily are a toyota highlander and a toyota corolla. I can say after a running a shop that does 50 to 70 cars a day for 12 years, Toyota hands down is the lowest maintenance. Anything you inevitably buy if you want something "fun" is going to require repair. I agree, dsms are getting harder, which is why I've hoarded 9 of them LOL. Another fun car yet slightly luxurious, yet cheap. Little older 3.8 genesis. Fun powerband and cheapish parts. A lot of them are older people owned and don't get the abuse the g series infiities get day in and day out.
 
I love my 4 runner but at 315k it's just about to the end of it's life unless I through bigger stuff at it. Burns coolant at cold startup. Paint is trash. Leather is trash. Recently developed some trans flare issues. Unsure about that one. I just keep driving it. The day it quits I shop or fix.
 
Lexus is250 or 350 if you want the 302hp V6, the 250 can be had in awd and stick shift even and its a Toyota so it will last and last and leave you alone. Subaru stuff is trash as far as reliability, my close buddy works as a tech at Subaru and they stack up engines literally every day of the week, head gaskets, rod bearings, unimpressive horsepower, bad fuel economy for a slow car just doesn't work.
 
My primary daily since 2020 has been a 2016 Outlander GT. I’ve just been doing basic maintenance and it’s never let me down. Gets the job done from going Point A to B, groceries, road trips, and maybe some light hauling. I should’ve got a truck but at the time I didn’t need one. Now I need a truck LOL
 
How do you guys feel about a hyundai equus? I happened upon a 5.0l v8. I'm a litle skeptical as this is likely a low production car and that motor seems to be used only in that car. Makes me wonder about parts availability. 400hp for less than 15k is appealing though.

This. Most people don’t even know what this is, but it launched their Genesis brand. My brother has owned his Equus 5.0 for a year now and loves it. No mechanical or electrical issues as of 78k miles. Comfortable ride and quick. The air shock system is something to watch and although the gas mileage will beat your 4Runner, it may not be what you consider good.
 
I drive a Saturn as my DD. It is NOT luxurious but is very reliable and good on gas. I bought a 1999 Infiniti I30 four years ago for $1000. It now has 393k on it and runs like a dream, nice and luxurious and room for 4 comfortably. It has been a very reliable car and we take it almost everywhere. It gets 19/28 mpg. What kind of budget?
2002 Infiniti Q45 - 143K miles!! - cars & trucks - by dealer -... (craigslist.org) $4800 Norman - It is close to you at least.
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Porsche or BMW definitely get my vote for the daily driver! I absolutely love my Turbo Cayennes but the gas mileage is rated in SPG, not MPG! (smiles per gallon vs miles). You simply can't beat the driving experience and comfort of a German engineered car.
 
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