Mike has a Mercedes ML63 AMG, and he likes the combination of luxury and performance, but he doesn’t like the maintenance and the terrible fuel economy. He is looking to replace it but he is torn between a full on luxury cruiser or something more sporty. With a budget up to $30,000 what car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
The ML63 was an amazing choice, until 2022. I purchased this back in 2020 to replace my 328d M-sport wagon. I’ve typically had older cars, but working for a car company definitely gives you rose-colored glasses when it comes to new quirks and features. The performance and luxury, added to something I could tow my overly invested 240sx with was perfect. But a full tank is around $120, and it lasts at best, a week. I’ve also decided to sell my 240sx. Now that the market has made it incredibly easy for a company to just cut me a check for what I want, it’s time to replace it with... something. I’m open to cheap cars, up to about a $30,000 budget. (also we already own a miata)
I want At least somewhat decent gas mileage, better than the 10-11 I currently get. My girlfriend is moving into a car sizeable enough for road trips. so I’m looking for fun.
Where I am stuck is do I still with a luxo cruiser or go with something sportier. I’ve had a history of owning luxury sedans, and building VIP style cars. So I love LS400/430s. My absolute dream in that segment would be a V12 Century. Toyota reliability with opulence that made Mercedes at the time blush is a really big seller to me. On the other end, maybe a sporty car? After all I’m selling my daily and weekend car for something that can do it all. Mid 2010s Z4s always looked really great to me, and their I6 is very open to a little tinkering. I previously owned a 300zx TT, to me, one of the greatest designed cars from the era. But am I ready to spend a few weekends fixing it every year? probably not. What I will say is absolutely NO Subarus, terrible MPGs and questionable reliability.
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $30,000
Location: Michigan
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Luxury, maybe sporty, maybe both?
Doesn’t want: A Subaru
Expert 1: Tom McParland - A Little Bit Of Both
You like your luxury comfort and features but also want to lay down some rubber when the mood strikes. And given your history with the Mercedes I imagine you want to moderate your repair risk a bit with this next car. While Japanese luxury is usually a safe bet, they may not offer the fun you are looking for.
However, some of the Korean luxury cars offer a good balance of features, warranty, and a bit of performance. I would suggest a 2018/2019 Genesis G80 with the 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 motor. This car will pump out about 370 horsepower while returning a respectable 24 MPG on the highway. Inside you will find all the expected appointments of a modern luxury car in addition to an array of standard safety tech. In our review of the most recent version of the G80, we said that it certainly gives anything from Europe a run for the money for a much lower cost. While there are some substantial style differences between the 2022 and the 2018 models, the value score remains. You can nab something like this with under 40,000 miles for pretty close to $30,00.
Expert 2: Lawrence Hodge - Performance And Versatility
Since you’re used to something that’s nice sized, luxurious and fast, I present to you one of the last proper GT sedans on the market, the Kia Stinger.
Despite the what some may think of the Kia brand, no one can really deny how great the Stinger is. It’s got rear-wheel drive, a liftback body style, more than enough room for four adults and their things, and the best part, great performance. Skip the base turbo four model and move into the GT and you get a 365-hp twin-turbo V6 paired with an eight-speed automatic. Gas mileage won’t break your bank either, especially not with what you’re used to driving. You can expect to get 17 MPG city/25 MPG highway/20 MPG combined from that turbocharged V6.
Better yet, the older these things become, the cheaper they’re getting. This Stinger I found is a 2018 Stinger GT2, the top trim. It’s loaded with a red interior, a full suite of driver safety aids, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, and more. And at just $27,559 it’s well within your budget. You’d be stupid not to buy this thing.
Expert 3: Logan Carter - A Sleek Swedish Middleground
As a native Angeleno, I am terrified of the snow and think the perfect fit for you is akin to your 328d, just a fresher flavor. I think you would be well-suited to a Volvo V60 Cross Country.
Volvo’s design language is Scandinavian sleek and the brand carries a unique panache backed by decades of long-roofed wagons that are known to win hearts and minds. Moving away from the ML is going to be tough, but the V60 Cross Country’s style, Volvo’s legendary safety and seat comfort, capable dynamics, efficiency, and of course all-weather assurance should tick all of your boxes.
While Volvo isn’t known for producing the most dynamically engaging cars in the segment, it strikes a good balance between the teutonic quality and comfort that you admire in the LS400, and good road manners within your budget. Since it’s more wagon than crossover it offers a lower center of gravity than an SUV while maintaining a cushy ride and great gas mileage with an EPA estimated 22 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. Plus, it’s just quite the looker. There are some great choices near you like this striking one-owner Fusion Red Metallic 2020 V60 T5 Cross Country in Perrysburg, MI.
Expert 4: Daniel Golson - A Reliable Burnout Machine
Immediately the first car that came to my mind is the Lexus IS F. It’s got your Toyota reliability and build quality with a nice amount of luxuriousness, plus a fabulous 5.0-liter V8 that puts out more than 400 horsepower and happily revs to 6,800 rpm. One of my greatest automotive memories is of driving an IS F – I can confirm that it’s extremely easy to do an incredible burnout in – and that engine remains one of my favorite motors on sale in the LC 500. They’re more fun to drive on a canyon road than people give them credit for, too.
The only real downside is the gas mileage. The IS F was rated at 18 MPG combined and 23 MPG highway by the EPA, which is certainly better than your ML63, but it’ll be hard to resist putting the pedal to the metal at every opportunity, and the gas tank holds fewer than 17 gallons. Still, the IS F has an 8-speed automatic that will at least make it much more tolerable on the freeway.
Later model years got some added performance features and interior enhancements, but they’re still typically pricier than your budget allows. Even early IS Fs are a nice place to sit in, though, and it’s not hard to find one for under $30K that still has fewer than 100K miles on it, like this 2008 IS F. (I know it’s in Ohio, I’m sorry.) And again, it’s just a Toyota, so it’ll last forever. Just over 5,000 were sold in the US over its production run, so you’re guaranteed to have one of the rarer sport sedans around.