What do you drive?

[SCarolinaCy]

For me and considering all models
Fit/Finish
Lexus
Acura
Infiniti
BMW
Never owned a Mercedes or Range Rover. Range Rovers have pretty horrible reliability ratings but I love their interiors. Some of the nicest leather.

My Infiniti has a lot more stuff but if I kept it for 100k miles I would expect Acura/Lexus to hold up better. We have friends with a 10 year old Honda Pilot that has 150k miles that looks brand new and not one squeak.

Bang for the Buck
Infiniti-They live and die by one model which they got right, the G37 sedan. Two good SUV's. Everything else is kind of blah.
Acura-Acura is doing it right with their SUV's but their sedans are just not competitive.
Lexus-GS is nice, new IS 350 is nice.
Mercedes
BMW-Always about 20% overpriced compared to Japanese. Their best models seem to be the cheapest models (1,2,3,and 4 series). M series are wonderful but again way overpriced IMO


Most boring
Lexus (Except the F models)
Acura
Infiniti

The brand that is finally getting it right seems to be Cadillac. Nearly bought a used CTS-V but the interior still seemed pretty junky for that level of car. I was impressed by the ATS that I sat in though. The big 3 have been nailing it on their powertrains for a number of years but some still have some work to do when it comes to interior quality in the luxury market.

One of the best cars I owned was
1997 Lexus ES 300 140k mileage
Traded it in for (one of the worst cars I ever owned) -a 2002 Lexus ES350-kept it less than one year. (Trans sluggish.)
Bought 2004 G35 Infinity -one of the best cars I owned 135k mileage.
Traded it for a 2013 G37 (One of the worst cars I have owned.) (Trans sluggish/noisy).

IMO, Brands change key components/designs as cost savings, and they are not as good as the originals. I do not like the move to 7 and 8 trans gears-- For in town 20-50 mph driving, constantly changing gears. I used to think the 2004 G35 was a sporty car, now the G37 is comfy, but clunky.

My wife has a Mazda 3 hatchback-it is a FUN car to drive-smooth trans, quiet, drives like a go cart. I am 6'2, I see a lotta comments here that tall people are wanting big cars,,not me.

 

[cycloneted]

Red 1975 Corvette Stingray, t-tops, ISU plates. Looks like this, but with ISU plates. Under 50K miles.

 

[dmclone]

I I do not like the move to 7 and 8 trans gears-- For in town 20-50 mph driving, constantly changing gears.

IMO, this really depends on the car. Infiniti has really struggled with getting their 7 speed auto programming. The 2008 G35 I had didn't have that trans but my 2011 M56x does and it can struggle at certain speeds. A lot of software updates but people continue to complain about it. I don't really notice it, I just leave it in sport mode and don't really have issues. On the other hand I had a Dodge truck with an 8 speed and it was flawless. Also had a VW with a DSG transmission and it was my favorite auto trans.(6sp) It was lighting fast. Although I did find it annoying that after you put it in park it would roll another foot.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

Anyone driving the Nissan brands with the CVT transmission? Rogue or Murano? Comments?

 

[tm3308]

2012 Ford Escape XLT. Easily the best vehicle I've ever owned; rides pretty smooth, definitely looks sharp, and gets very solid gas mileage now that I've stopped speeding everywhere I go.

 

[WIB]

Silver 2004 Grand Prix GTP. Just like half of Iowa does

 

[IcSyU]

Anyone driving the Nissan brands with the CVT transmission? Rogue or Murano? Comments?

Girlfriend has a 2012 Rogue with the CVT in it. We've had no issues with it.

 

[mywayorcyway]

Anyone driving the Nissan brands with the CVT transmission? Rogue or Murano? Comments?

We have an '09 Murano with the CVT. I was nervous about buying it because I don't know if they have all of the kinks ironed out yet, but after six (?) years I hope so. We did have some warranty work done on the transmission just a couple of months ago...it took three or four seconds for the transmission to engage from park. I suppose I can't tell if it is slipping when driving. Seems fine now.

It is weird to drive at first, but after I was comfortable with it I liked it. Very smooth, no shifting, my only complaint is it isn't quite as responsive when you romp on it as you get with a traditional transmission. I suppose that is to be expected given the setup, and it's a minor complaint. It's not like I'm drag racing with it.

I would buy another one.

 

[JSmoove]

2003 BMW (E46) 325i with 162k miles. Alpine White with Beige interior. - Daily Driver
1986 BMW (E28) 535i with around 200k. Alpine White with Pacific Blue interior - Fun project car

 

[amishclone]

Horse and buggy of course!

 

[GWad]

MB E350 4Matic - The best car I have ever owned.

 

[BoxsterCy]

IMO, Brands change key components/designs as cost savings, and they are not as good as the originals. I do not like the move to 7 and 8 trans gears-- For in town 20-50 mph driving, constantly changing gears. I used to think the 2004 G35 was a sporty car, now the G37 is comfy, but clunky.

Try being a manual transmission guy in the new world order of automatics. Not sure what I will do when I need to replace the '04 Audi A4. It's REALLY hard to find them with manuals these days. Plus, like the G35, they keep getting a like bigger each year. Might have to opt for an A3 which isn't even offered in a manual unless I move to Germany. It reminds me of the how Accords turned into big Buicks and the Civics are now the size Accords used to be. I think the new A3 sedan is the size of the old '99 A4 I used to own. Not good stuff IMHO.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Try being a manual transmission guy in the new world order of automatics. Not sure what I will do when I need to replace the '04 Audi A4. It's REALLY hard to find them with manuals these days. Plus, like the G35, they keep getting a like bigger each year. Might have to opt for an A3 which isn't even offered in a manual unless I move to Germany. It reminds me of the how Accords turned into big Buicks and the Civics are now the size Accords used to be. I think the new A3 sedan is the size of the old '99 A4 I used to own. Not good stuff IMHO.

I really really miss driving a stick. I felt like I had more control...

 

[TruClone]

2012 Silverado LTZ. Love it!

 

[colbycheese]

A bicycle 75% of the time.
Ride a bus 20% of the time.
The other 5% of the time I drive a 2006 Ford Fusion 4 cyl 5 spd. I've only had to buy 4 tanks of gas for the car in 2014 so far.

The wife drives a 2014 Ford Focus hatchback

 

[boone7247]

Anyone driving the Nissan brands with the CVT transmission? Rogue or Murano? Comments?

I have a 2013 Pathfinder, have had no issues after they had a recall for a software update. Before the update would make a humming sound at idle, but now nothing. Overall we really like the Pathfinder, although I would say the radio could be a little bit better, but that is cause I was to cheap to by the premium package.

 

[dmclone]

It's tough for sports car fans these days. Many of the transmissions of today are faster than manuals, which is a new concept. Ferrari doesn't even make manuals any longer.

The company line from Ferrari, as well as other speed-obsessed automakers, is that a manual transmission hampered the abilities of their supercars. In other words, you simply aren’t fast enough, or smooth enough, to get the most from your car. Sequential and dual-clutch transmissions change gears faster than any mortal possibly can, which is why guys like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso squeeze a paddle instead of flick a lever. By sacrificing the manual at the altar of speed, drivers can lap faster and accelerate quicker, while the marketing department eliminates the chances of the nut holding the wheel screwing up the performance tests the glossy magazines live and die by.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

It's tough for sports car fans these days. Many of the transmissions of today are faster than manuals, which is a new concept. Ferrari doesn't even make manuals any longer.

Yeah, but it was a lot easier to swap out a clutch plate than to rebuild/install a tranny...

 

[dmclone]

Yeah, but it was a lot easier to swap out a clutch plate than to rebuild/install a tranny...

Agreed but about everything is harder to service/fix today.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Agreed but about everything is harder to service/fix today.

Yeah...
Hubby refers to himself as a "shade tree mechanic". He's rebuilt engines, done all kinds of stuff under the hoods, but not anymore. There are too many bells & whistles on cars nowadays, too much that is controlled by computer chips. A new car can cost close to what his first house cost (30K)...and it costs a fortune to maintain/repair the bloody things. Even routine maintenance in your driveway is nearly impossible; he had to make a special tool just to be able to change the oil in my 2001 Lumina.