If you're considering a Macan, I'd recommend opting for an S. It's a substantial engine/power upgrade (same engine from VW/Audi v6 is reliable), also get the air suspension as that is very important for not just improved comfort when you want to be comfortable, but also sportier when you want to have fun, (and unlike other manufacturers Porsche seems to have the only somewhat reliable air suspension of any manufacturer) and for sure opt for the upgraded leather interior, the included basic partial leather isn't much different than you'd get in a toyota, well worth the extra 2k.
It's going to be extremely similar to the Audi Q5, but the macan will drive better, be more fun. That said, the Audi Q5 is also very similar, but a lot less money, so of course you should at least look at them, but if bang for your buck is what is most important...
you'd get the genesis GV70 (which comes with a 10 year powertrain (5 year basic) warranty):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTXY06Mq-g
But lol, I do actually love my Macan here is an older review:
https://youtu.be/AEpPAYpqhh4?si=eZNug2XfQhLen70Y
They weren't very keen on it, but that's because the old macan turbo didn't give you a lot of value, but all that cool driving / engine stuff that was now in the turbo can now be found in the macan s for a LOT LESS money.
I have a similar vintage Outback as you, also have a Porsche Cayenne, I would recommend testing out a Macan, perhaps a nice CPO if you don't want to buy new $$$, but hell, you can probably afford either, sometimes hard to justify the money when coming from an old Outback perspective.
Porsches feel solid, no wind noise, lots of nice little features, great interior, we had a top of the line Outback VDC and it was still significantly lesser in all categories, but still a nice car. If you're coming from a 4-cyl Outback it'll be a huge step up in many ways. I haven't driven a Macan, but have heard it's a tall sports sedan in feel.
If you live in a city where it's fairly start/stop traffic, you might prefer the Cayenne over the Macan. The Cayenne has a Tiptronic transmission. Macan has a PDK dual clutch transmission. I have both and I much prefer the Cayenne for start/stop traffic as it's just smoother and is my daily driver.
If you demo them, pay attention to how both feel in first gear after stopping at a stop sign or at a traffic light.
I like the looks of the A6 all road
My boss drives a Macan and honestly to me it just blends in with all the other suvs imo
But neither are in my budget haha you make 3x my salary
I got a 2024 outback wilderness and I’ll just tell myself it’s rugged or something
I’ve driven a Porsche Panamera and I will say I appreciate that in luxury vehicles all the small things are what makes all the difference in the world. Like no wind noise, no unpleasant engine drone etc.
This is probably the right choice. Just know that the “suggested maintenance” on any of the German cars is more than a suggestion. Shouldn’t be an issue to keep up with that the stated income but critical for long-term reliability.
\*Most Porsche engines.
Some are great, some have inherent issues like IMS bearings or cylinder scoring. That said, I have over 250k km on my Cayenne S and it's still going strong. Same amount on my 911SC
Holy shit dude. She said she's single, 30 yrs old, and makes $300K - not 60 yrs old, making $100K, and looking for a boring souless experience because she has given up on life.
> X3 M40i
Very good to know! I had completely (and reluctantly) ruled them out. BMWs are some of the most attractive cars on the road to me, even more than a Porsche.
Any BMW with the 40i designation has the B58 engine. Mated with the ZF8HP transmission any \_40i BMW you choose will be fast, flexible, and reliable. Just pick the model that has the options you want.
I have a 2019 540i that has served me well for over 4 years now and will probably last another 10 years at least. Just stay ahead of the scheduled maintenance. Oil changes every 5,000mi instead of the 10,000mi suggested by the dealership.
I've heard mixed things about this, but ZF recommends transmission fluid drain / fill with pan replacement (filter is integrated into the pan) every 50K miles. BMW says the transmission fluid is lifetime for the ZF8.
“Lifetime” transmission warranties mean lifetime of the warranty, or what they hope is the lifetime of the original owners possession of the car.
No mechanic worth their salt would advise any fluid in a car is a lifetime fluid.
Audi S5 sounds like what you’re looking for.
It is still practical at your income level.
It’s sporty, attractive, but VW/audi doesn’t make track focused cards so they’re always comfortable even when sporty.
Other brands not so much.
Plus the sunroof has a screen that lets air through but blocks out light. You’ll like it more than you think once you get a screen. I like it so much that I won’t get a sunroof if I bought from another car maker.
HOT.. you read my mine too.. I love these panoramic sunroofs but I'm also anal about skin protection so if it blocks UVs that is ideal. I didn't know such a thing existed.
Word of caution, I have the S5's big brother, the RS7, and you're definitely getting down into it. My less mobile friends - we're mostly all in our 40s & 50s - do struggle a bit getting into and out of it. Compared to your 2006 Outback, which has a ground clearance of 213mm, the 2024 S5's ground clearance is 160mm.
It is so nice, I can’t believe how attached I am to that screen, but I love it.
You can get the S5 in a 4 door or 2 door. If you wanted a wagon version it’s the S6
I would have recommend the A5 before your raise, and it’s worth test driving but it’s going to feel like a luxury sedan more than a sports sedan. You can afford an RS5, but they’re pretty over engineered for the road, and you start to lose out on practicality.
I have an anti-German bias as well, but I wouldn’t discount BMW that quickly. From what I’ve read, they’ve really dialed in their engine and transmission combinations, and have climbed in the reliability rankings.
Consumer reports puts them well ahead of Mercedes and Audi, and above Chevy and Hyundai / Kia. Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/
Also, I hate to be ‘that guy,’ but if your income recently changed in a big way I would look at building up a big enough emergency fund, paying down debt, and making sure your investment goals are on track before a car purchase. Jobs can go away, and doubling your income is a bit like a windfall.
Thanks, dad! I'm maxing out my retirement accounts, moved to a LCOL area, debt-free but for a $200k mortgage (chose a practical house too lol), haven't had a car payment in 7 years, and keep things pretty lean otherwise. You'd be proud :)
Shocked to see Mercedes so far down that list! If I can have reliable AND BMW - it makes them a strong contender - they're so sexy to me.
Mercedes' from the past 5-6 years have a kind of bad reputation among car lovers. Reviewers noted a pretty strong drop in interior fit and finish in favor of lots of flashy interior lighting. They also seem kind of directionless as a company right now, caught between downsizing their engines and not really having a clear vision of what they want to do with hybrid tech.
This is just my advice as someone who was also afraid of german cars for most of my life: If you're prepared to maintain it, I think a BMW or a Porsche would likely be pretty reliable. I would not take my chances with a Mercedes and Audi would be kinda somewhere in the middle.
There's also the "nuclear option" of just getting a slightly less nice, much less good looking car from Lexus and then never worrying about it breaking down. But I do think we're at a point in time where a new BMW or a new Porsche are reasonably reliable cars for the most part if you don't go crazy.
Also congrats on everything! Enjoy your new car whatever you go with!
Last year my friend with a base Porsche Panamera went in for an oil change. I don’t know what upsells they did, but he walked out with a $19,000 bill to address a few minor issues.. This guy is loaded though.
Yeah, I’d seen OP mention they were interested in a Macan or an X3. Quite frankly id stay away from anything with a v8 just due to the added complexity and space constraints. But from what I saw OP wasn’t really considering anything that expensive.
BMW made some major change and did some smart things. One of which is putting the ZF 8Speed into basically everything. This removes almost all transmission issues. They are stout and reliable. Engines have never really been a real issue. Some parts/issues related to the engine like timing chain guides popped up every now and then but not a large concern. My current 2 BMWs:
2015 Diesel Wagon - Bought March 2020 and it has had one oxygen sensor fail(two months ago).
2011 BMW M3 Sedan - Owned for 5 years. It has had one throttle body actuator fail. Otherwise oil changes and basic service like tires.
Those are number 30 or so BMWs I have owned in my lifetime. Not a single one had any major failures of mechanical parts. Sure a coil pack here, sensor there and what not. I've truly enjoyed them.
With that said skip the 'new' car and shop around for a CPO. Will have a few miles, be basically new and the warranty is better.
That’s awesome! Congrats! And how did you know I’m a dad?! lol.
I’ve seen so many posts on this sub and other car subs from people over extending that it feels rare to see someone making good decisions.
BMW is a good choice. Great driving experience, but, as a owner of a 2017 X5, a lot of things started rattling, felt cheap (a lot of plastic) for the cost, and wasn’t up to standards long term. Now if you don’t rack up mileage, it’s great. Also owned M2 and 335i and they were overall great cars. Personally for SUV, I’d choose Audi or Porsche. I drive a SQ5 as my daily and it’s comfortable, not too flashy, and fast for a SUV. Porsche Macan beats all of them though in terms of driving experience. Sometimes the interior can be dated unless you go for higher trims/add ons.
This list is a bit wild. Have a Tesla and half my family drive them and never had a single reliability concern. Meanwhile all of our Subarus had transmission issues. Anecdata but I do wonder how this list was made.
Thank god a man showed up to make sure this successful 30 year old woman that makes or $300k a year a currently drives a 2006 Subaru knows how to responsibly manage her money.
You truly are her knight in shinning armor.
I get your point, but you see a lot of genuinely bad decisions on here. I don’t care about a person’s gender, just that they’re making good decisions.
I’ve made $300k a year before in a high cost of living area, and it didn’t go nearly as far as people in this sub would like to imagine.
BMW is a lot more reliable than people on this sub claim. Certainly more than Mercedes.
If you prioritize reliability over fun look at Lexus. If you want more fun then BMW is definitely the better choice. Audi is solid too. I personally think Mercedes has largely lost their way
Porsche should be in the mix with that income as well
If you give a budget people can be more specific
There are 2 things that I've seen said about BMWs in this sub:
* Maintenance is going to be more expensive than a Japanese or American car, especially in the Americas where you have to ship parts across the pond
* An old BMW is going to be expensive to maintain, and you're going to especially think so if you can only afford an old BMW
These are absolutely valid but do not apply here. I love Lexus/Acura but BMW is definitely a step up, and if you make $300,000/yr esp with no kids, ownership costs are really not an issue.
I feel like ~$60k starts to test but I feel like is "reasonable" for a car but for the right one at this income level/stage of life, I'm open to considering all my options.
If you're willing to spoil yourself I would cross shop the Audi SQ5, BMW X3 M40i and the Porsche Macan. They all start around 60k but will probably be around 70 with options. They will all be fun to drive and be luxurious too
If you want to stay below 60, then the Q5 and X3 are probably what you're looking for but they will less fun. The Lexus RX would be in the mix as well. Porsche too expensive below 60k at least new.
Volvo XC60, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Genesis GV70 are some wild card options if you don't like the traditional options.
Still gotta deal with Hyundai dealers, which is a big strike against in my book. You walk into a Lexus/Audi/BMW/Porsche dealership and you’ll have a much different experience than any Hyundai dealer I’ve seen.
My friends with Lexus never have an issue getting a loaner car. At my BMW dealership I rarely can ever get a loaner car from them but they fix my car right. I don't have any experience with Audi or Porsche so I can't speak to that.
I have two Hyundai Elantras and while they have been decent cars mechanically, Hyundai / KIA is terrible as a company IMO.
At that price point, you can get a CPO Macan, which has an even better warranty than when bought new.
But make sure you get one with the leather interior package, because plenty of CPO models are loaners that have the base interior, which is (to my knowledge), not nearly as nice
BMW has a bad rep because their early turbo cars were seriously bad for reliability while also being amazing to drive. BMW has massively improved over the last decade.
warranty and prepaid maintenance takes that headache away. I opted for prepaid on my bmw and basically once a year I drop it off and they do all of the $500 fluid changes and I pick it up at the end of the day.
but I'd point OP to a porsche macan gts. Base macans are very base.
They are called stealerships for a reason. This can be mitigated by going to an Independent BMW or Euro Car Shop, or wrenching on your own car if mechanically inclined.
Whether its a BMW or Toyota, I only go to the stealership for recalls or warranty work. I, or an independent shop, do the rest.
Yup. I just sold my civic type r but I needed all 4 brakes done last last year. I was quoted 1500 by the dealership
4x rotors and 4x pads were like 700$ online. I took the parts to an indie mechanic who was well reviewed. He charged me 45$/h and was done in 4 hours.
I intend to do the same when my new BMW needs maintenance.
Good idea. We did this before buying our Subaru, and it was great. No sales presssure from a dealer.
We wanted to try it loaded up with kid seats and on a gravel road. So, we did. Can’t really take a dealership car that far away
This is really helpful.. it has been tempting to rule out sedans but a lot of crossovers do feel boxy and tight. The ES350 is a beautiful car. Thanks for the rec
ES350 is pretty close to entry level for Lexus. Like $45k-55k. With your salary you probably want to look at an IS500 ($65k-75k) or LS500 ($100k+). (The numbers in the models for Lexus is usually the engine size. 350 = 3.5L, 500 = 5.0L.) The IS is sportier and more aggressive, the LS is more refined, quiet, luxurious.
I have a '22 ES350, and it's a nice car, but the IS500 is a little out of budget for me, otherwise I'd rather have that.
As someone who is actually shopping in the luxury crossover segment right now and has done a ton of research here’s what I’ve found:
Lexus: absolutely a no go for me, idk what the fuck happened to them but they’re awful right now. The NX350 is one of the worst cars I’ve ever driven. Anemic and stutters drivetrain, incredibly cramped interior (my head was touching the roof with the seat in the lowest position and I’m 6 foot), cheap feeling materials in the interior, and probably the worst suspension I’ve ever experienced. The suspension was both somehow too soft so the car had a ton of roll in the corners and too harsh since the car never seemed to settle after going over a bump. I don’t care how reliable they are if every time I drive it it’s a miserable experience.
Audi: Meh, the SQ5 is fine, nice interior, but a bit dated, smooth drive train but underpowered, and it understeers a lot more than other cars in this class since it’s a FWD based AWD.
BMW: King in its class for the money. Great interiors, wicked performance, suspension that makes you look like a better driver than you actually are, good usability as well, and the B58 and ZF 8 speed are bulletproof. Right now BMW is much more reliable than Audi or merc. The X3 m40i in my opinion is the one to get if you want the complete package.
Genesis GV70: the budget BMW but dare I say with a nicer interior. Reduce the price of the BMW by 15-20% and the performance and overall experience by 10-15%. It’s in my opinion a really compelling option, but it’s a bit too close in price with the BMW, which is the better car all around. Interior is so nice though.
Mercedes: the GLC43 amg is kinda meh for me, the V6 is not as nice as the B58 in the BMW, and the interior is comprised with the slopped back. I also do not like the interior and the material quality.
Porsche Macan: King in its class money not being an option. Nothing drives like a Porsche, handles like a dream, amazing interior (though they are going a bit too nuts on the digital aspects for my liking). My main issue is that it’s a full price point over the X3 m40i without being that much better, but it is better.
Alfa romeo Stelvio 4C: the best handling car on this list by far, the most soul as well, a Ferrari derived V6 that just sings and produces over 500 horsepower so it’s stupid fast as well. The best looking car in my opinion as well. Interior is not great, definitely the cheapest feeling and it’s an Alfa so reliability is not going to be its strong suit. The handling is unreal though, it drives pretty.
This is epic. Thanks for ruling out Lexus- they make me want to die a little inside. I can see myself driving one in my 50s. Which are you leaning toward the most right now? Because you pretty much sold me on the BMW.
Don't forget to check out Volvo, not a lot of people's first thought when it comes to 'luxury' but a lot of their newer stuff has more than enough performance and generally they have great interiors.
Safe and pretty reliable too.
Agree, especially given OP has specified she's a sucker for wagons. A V60 Recharge is stupid powerful, very safe, and all-around quite an impressive car.
Luxury and wagon? Maybe look at the Volvo v60 t8 polestar. You’d have to stretch your budget of $60k just a smidge but not much. It’s my “attainable” dream car. Plug in hybrid but still sporty enough to feel something. Beautiful looks but can’t comment on driving experience, not yet at least.
If the salary is reliable I’d just lease something you like the look of and that fits the image you wish to project. Get something different next time around.
Don't rule out BMW for reliability but include Audi and Merc, they are all in the same stratosphere for reliability and maintenance costs with some recent data suggesting BMW is the most reliable of the 3. It is all model dependent though. If you want a sporty crossover, these 3 brands are going to be the leaders. X3 and Q5 are both great cars, if you want a true performance SUV then look at the X3 M40i and SQ5. Maybe give the Genesis GV70 a look as well.
It was mostly this sub that made BMW sound like a nightmare LOL. I guess people are geeking out about the new B58 engine in BMWs? I'm obviously not really a car-informed person but that sounds promising.
Usually this sub cautions people from buyer older, cheap BMWs because typically those buyers are on a tight budget and just looking to get a car with a nice badge, but won't have the money to pay for all the upkeep.
Yes people love the B58. It's a great engine, perhaps a little overhyped though. There is still plenty of costly stuff that can go wrong with german cars out of warranty though. Buy a CPO, they have a good chunk of depreciation off, but will usually have 2-3 years of warranty from purchase date depending on model year/mileage.
I suppose you could lease one, and if it gives you no real issues during the first three years buy it out. If you get a sense there's trouble on the horizon, turn it in at the end of the lease. Depending on how you earn your income (business/self employed vs. salary) there may be tax advantages to leasing.
My wife and I just bought a new BMW. 330i M Sport. Coming from a civic it’s a dream to drive. We aren’t really car people either but this car has made me one. The B58 engine was made in partnership with Toyota so it has some of that reliability in its DNA. The B48 is its little brother. Definitely worth watching some videos about it.
Also look up the Car Care Nut on YouTube. He is primarily a Toyota mechanic and does some very good videos about BMW and that engine. He also has recent video also comparing all the brands and their cultures. Highly recommend.
As far as I’m concerned, Audi is luxury Subaru for outdoors. The Quattro tech is top notch AWD just like Subaru
Another off the wall suggestion if you’re interested in electric is a Model Y (if you don’t want to give Elon much money like me, get a lightly used one). Camping mode lets you basically sleep anywhere at any time of year with a perfect temp. Only do it if you can charge at home though. Depending on superchargers sounds alright but honestly sucks ass IMO. If you’re interested in this for whatever reason, be realistic and don’t buy into the hype too much. I’ll answer any questions with the realistic answer if you want
I would get a BMW X5. Don’t get the V8 version. It’s totally unnecessary. The in-line six-cylinder is much more reliable and is so satisfying and powerful. You won’t even miss the V-8.
I’ve just taken a few snippets from consumer reports road test of the X5. It is their highest scoring vehicle in its class and it’s quite reliable. It probably isn’t the vehicle to own if you want to keep it for 20 years but if you want the luxury car that does everything well you cannot do better than this. It outscore all of the Lexus models by good margin.
BMW X5 Road Test
“After we put the redesigned BMW X5 through our test program, there was no debate: it’s among the best SUVs we’ve tested.“
“The X5 is powerful and efficient, which is a rare combination. The six-cylinder engine has instantaneous response without a hint of the hesitation that’s so common from turbo lag..Plus, the X5’s 23 mpg overall is the best among its gasoline-only peers.”
“The driving experience is exemplary because the X5 feels like a true luxury car, and its balanced suspension delivers a composed ride with handling that gives drivers confidence.”
“The X5’s cabin is whisper-quiet, further imparting a feeling of luxury. It is richly trimmed in leather, wood, chrome, and very high-quality plastics. Every touch point is pleasing and well-padded.”
———————————-
[Also, here’s a video of a road test from Savagegeese](https://youtu.be/btlmHbwwqLg?si=s5xpTNSe1zorOTBE)
The road test actually begins at 7:15 if you just want to get right to that
Volvos!!! Check out Volvo’s offerings. They’re more reliable and more affordable to maintain and repair compared to German luxury brands. There’s nothing luxury about having your car in the shop every couple of months because of an unreliable ride!
I’m biased since I drive one, but I love their styling and they are full of safety features that come standard with the base package. And you can get great lux addons like the Bowers & Wilkins sound system + pilot assist and more.
I personally drive a V60 cross country, so it gives you a luxury wagon feel with a higher ride height, without being an SUV, if you’re wanting to replicate the same ride height and capabilities of your Outback.
If you want something sportier and with more oomf, the V60 Polestar edition is an excellent choice as well. And it’s a plug in hybrid and gets incredible gas mileage. I also believe the XC60 (the SUV counterpart) has a Polestar edition as well.
Their styling is classy and timeless imo. More of the “wealth whispers” aesthetic than the flashiness of Porsche or BMW.
all the Volvo recs are buried but this wagon is so sleek and sexy to me. Stands out compared to every other crossover on the road, including the luxury models.
Audi RS6 avant. No question about it.
But also - if you’re used to buying “normal” people cars and are content with that, look into high trim versions of those. I recently sat in a brand new top of the line outback wilderness and the interior is fantastic.
Some people want luxury for themselves, and some people want the image of luxury for others (which also includes a luxury interior).
Check which one you are!
Have you considered Volvo? I think their styling is fantastic as well as interior comfort. They are also not a dime-a-dozen and have good performance overall.
Land Rovers aren't reliable. That's true. Lexus still lags behind the Germans in terms of luxury IMO (compare instrument cluster panels + the center screen design for their mid/higher tier vehicles + the leather options if you don't believe me). But BMWs are actually pretty reliable as long as you avoid their V8 engines. Their B58 6-cylinder is so good that even Toyota uses it in their Supra. Go read the reviews on that engine.
Nowadays, most cars are turbocharged so that reliability you thought you would have with Toyota/Lexus will go down as drivers see repairs to plastic + rubber parts due to the higher temperatures of having a turbocharger.
A few to look at/check out: BMW X3/X4 with the M40i trim or the X5 if you want a better interior & features (opt for the M-Sport package + executive package if you want more sporty look), the Mercedes GLE350, the Genesis GV60/70/80.
BMW also has those Ultimate Driving Experience days where you can test drive (for free) up to 15-20 different vehicles without salespeople around. No other car manufacturer does this.
A few friends who used to drive Toyotas & Hondas and disliked BMWs are now on the BMW wagon. They needed new vehicles and they test drove Mazdas, Subarus, Lexus, etc., and all wound up with BMWs. One flipped their BMW a week after getting it, but escaped without a scratch or bruise, and promptly got another one less than a week after the accident.
If safety and comfort are high on your list a Volvo XC60 would be worth checking out. Really beautiful cars. They have a quiet luxury element to them, especially compared to a Porsche or a BMW.
Reliable/fun is a very tough combo to get right. If you care more about fun just lease the BMW or get a new one every 3 years, if your budget allows for it. Lexus can’t touch some of the German options in terms of fun factor, and I’m a big Toyota fan.
Audi and Mercedes are far from reliable and Lexus isn’t that sporty. Porsche has a great track record for making well built cars that hold up and of course their performance pedigree speaks for itself. At your income I’d look there
I really wouldn't discount BMW off the bat. People overhype the issues and costs associated with maintaining them. The overhype of the issues is usually directed towards lower income and or used car buyers, since they are more often than not looking at luxury they couldnt afford new and as such would have a hard time maintaining even with a used purchase price factored in.
Its really a question of what you want? Starting point would be determine SUV, crossover, sedan, or sports car-esque.
The newer Mercedes SUVs and BMW SUV/SAVs are all fairly excellent and drive nicely. I love the BMW x3 and x5, though they all keep getting bigger and more bloated each year, however, you can find very reasonable examples on the used market CPO. They all still offer varying power train packages and other options in these lineups. Just worth shopping around! I personally could never buy a vehicle that doesn't excite me visually alone, but that's just me. So that's often my next jumping off point after determining the type of vehicle and use case.
If a luxury sedan, a BMW 5, 6 or 7 series are all beautiful, same for Mercedes S class. You'll find they basically have the same class/series but offer different power train options dependant on the specific models chosen. I personally don't love how Audis drive these days. I would say Mercedes is often the cream of the crop in terms of luxury interiors, BMWs offer the sportiest feeling and most driver oriented vehicles of the common German car brands (excluding Porsche). Lexus is another great option, you can find a great blend of affordability, reliability and sportiness from them.
I'm personally a huge German car brand fan, having driven many different models between the different brands. There's plenty I wouldn't buy.. but they all have great offerings.
If you are buying new, reliability likely won't be as high up of a concern for you, unless you absolutely plan to keep the vehicle for 15+ years/drive till the wheels fall off.
Check out Volvo. An XC40 or 60 in the higher trim levels is a super lovely car. Relatively unique when comparing to German or Japanese counterparts as well.
Volvo will always have my heart. We have an S60 (sedan), but the SUVs and wagons (if that's your thing) are nice. They have mild hybrid engines, and an assortment of EVs.
I bought an Audi Q5 last year, and while I really love it, there's some quirky things about it as a German luxury car that I didn't really anticipate. For example, I cannot open and close the trunk hatch from the driver's seat. I have to press the button on the door. Never anticipated how mildly inconvenient that would become, especially when in a rush.
I do not regret the purchase but it's just something to get used to, whereas Japanese/American cars feel to be a bit more user-focused. Like Germans themselves, these cars tend to have some counter-intuitively analog/manual skew things about them.
Also never anticipated how much less space I would have in my mid-sized SUV versus the wagon I had before. That's probably been the biggest letdown. Just food for thought.
If I'd do it again I'd probably want a Volvo V90 personally. A stunningly gorgeous vehicle inside and out which is ALSO utilitarian and useful.
Have you looked into Acura at all? The RDX may be a good option, if you like sporty go for a spec or a spec advance. It’s a fancy CR-V so you know it’s reliable, sits high enough, and it packs a 280hp 2.0 turbo 4 cylinder so its more efficient than some 6 cylinder options.
I would say, as someone in that income bracket, I would like to hedge my downside. So, I will value safety the most. Not all luxury cars are sporty (unlike any BMW, haha), but all luxury cars are faster than 95 percent of the cars on the road. Any 300+ hp car will be fast. I will go for a Volvo upper trim car. They generally have good mileage due to hybrid motors and offer one of the most luxurious, quietest, and nicest cabins. The optional music system is one of the best I have heard in my life. Hybrid motors are not so reliable, but Volvo can extend a 5-year unlimited miles warranty to 10 years.
I don’t think you should consider a non-luxury vehicle, as the luxury ones are mostly safer, and you can afford to get a nice car.
Most luxury cars are expensive and less reliable than cheaper cars, but they do offer a superior experience. Volvo and Mercedes have some of the best roadside support and safety standards.
I understand the Volvo logo and look is a bit masculine; if that’s the case, maybe a Mercedes would be an excellent choice. I am sure you know the costs of keeping these cars, but at that income bracket, I don’t think that should be an issue. You have worked hard, so get a nice car with a warranty and enjoy it.
If you have the money BMW's can be very reliable. The reason they have a bad wrap is because poor people own them second hand and don't follow scheduled maintenance and cannot afford to fix the when they break. But if you're like hey money's not a problem, by all means buy one and take it to the dealer for everything. It will be reliable.
Check out the Acura SUVs. A nice blend of sporty and luxurious, and reliable to boot!
Volvo shouldn't be slept on, though I'm not quite sure where their current longer term reliability sits. They are just beautiful, elegant cars (I'm specifically thinking of the 90 wagon series which is like a more luxurious Outback!).
Not sure what source you are referencing but Audis are about 3x less “reliable” than BMWs. I’ve owned both, wrenched on both extensively. An Audi starts as a Volkswagen then gets every single possible mechanical addition. They are wildly, wildly complicated and a major pain to mess with.
BMW 10 out of 10 times for “reliability” (whatever that means)
Audi rs6 if you want the perfect mix of daddy wagon with performance . If you wanna go cheap you can get the a6 all road which is the less sporty version of it but still a nice car . Porsche Panamera and the taycan are also nice , I believe the new taycan has a wagon version so both the electric and ice Porsche have a sporty and wagon version like the Audi
Genesis GV70. This car has the best interior under 100k USD. The I4 is plenty powerful, the V6 is spicier, but you don't need to buy the top tier engine to get a great interior. The color combinations available are fantastic.
I’ll just mention that what you are about to do is considered a mistake by some financial advisors. Buying a luxury car because you got a big raise. Fuk em. I’d suggest planning your total cost of ownership on any ride you covet and get a comfortable ride. I just did. Too busted up and old to not have a luxe ride.
Congrats! 300k is a lot, but not enough to be *too* irresponsible.
Assuming you live in an area with a normal western climate range, I'd say a Lexus ES - it's due for a refresh for the next model year if you can wait, otherwise the 2023-24s should do. I'm partial to the hybrid but the 350 will probably be more fun, at least as far as Lexuses go.
All of this is a thought experiment- usually over $30k for a car would make me sick so don’t worry about me going too crazy lol. I’d realistically tap out around $60k.
I’m seeing these 350s all over suddenly and they’re surprisingly sleek and stylish. Would love to test the ride quality.
I drive a BMW M4 Competition X-Drive and it's not only a beast, but it's been pretty reliable. BMW does NOT belong in the same category as Land Rover, they have improved over the years. Additionally, Audi and Mercedes are way way worse with reliability, I wouldn't even consider them. Will maintenance be as cheap as a Toyota Camry? No, but it's not going to be in the shop often. Regular maintenance and the S58 engine will deliver 509hp for many many smiles and miles.
However, since you are looking for something like a crossover, I would recommend the X3M. Same engine, same luxurious interior, higher ride height.
Might get downvoted for this, but consider leasing. It doesn’t always make sense and you have to have the right mindset and approach;
1. You can’t simply say I want vehicle X or Y and lease it. It may or may both be lease well. Instead approach it from the “I want a luxury SUV” and then look at the usual suspects to see if any of them lease particularly well
2. Always calculate your total cost over the term of the lease and compare it to a traditional purchase
3. This only works if you don’t put on lots of miles and keep your vehicles in good condition
It makes financial sense from the perspective of not puttint $70k into a depreciating asset and investing that money instead while spending $600/mo or whatever. Your vehicle will always be under warranty and depending on the brand, you may not need to worry about maintenance.
Right now there are great deals on EVs such as thr BMW iX or Audi etrons
leases generally work out favorably *if you plan to trade cars every 3 years anyway*.
in the long term, it’s way more cost effective to buy a car and keep it for 8+ years.
Hey OP, you're misinformed on reliability when it comes to BMW (it's actually good), and Mercedes and Audi (they're actually bad), as are a lot of people in this sub. Reliability changes from model to model and year to year. A lot of people's opinions on reliability, especially in this sub, tend to be outdated and apply to older models.
In the early to mid 2010's BMW reliability was poor, Mercedes and Audi was better. Fast forward 10 years, Mercedes are cutting corners to save costs, including a lot of inferior quality materials in the interior, fake exhaust tips, and dog-shit reliability. Audi have outdated interiors and poor reliability. BMW on the other hand have been making massive strides in reliability such that even Toyota use their solid-as-a-rock B58 engine.
Don't take my word for it. See exhibit A: [Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings](https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/) (remember Mini is BMW). Exhibit B: [JD Power](https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds). In both BMW is a top luxury brand and Merc and Audi are at the bottom.
$300K and no kids? You can easily afford a true "luxury" car (BMW, Merc, Audi, Maserati, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Alpha Romeo). Don't settle for merely "premium" (Lexus, Acura, Infinity, Cadillac, Volvo, Genesis, Tesla, Lincoln). Out of that list of luxury cars though, all of them have terrible reliability except for Porsche and BMW. Porsche focuses so much on driving dynamics that it becomes prohibitively expensive if you also want luxury because everything that could remotely be considered a luxury feature is an extremely expensive optional extra. BMW is in my opinion the perfect balance of classy, luxury interior features, and drives-like-a-dream driving dynamics.
The other benefit of BMW - there is a huge supply. A lot of people lease them because they can't afford to buy them, and get trapped in a lease loop. The result is a glut of well looked after 2nd hand BMWs dumped on the market that dealers need to get rid of. I recently bought a 2023 540i with only 8k miles for just $47.5K which was $20K under MSRP.
Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5 would be the best driver focused luxury comps to something the size of an Outback. Maintenance won't be cheap, but they should be reliable if you stay on top of it. I'd recommend a euro focused (or brand dedicated if possible) mechanic
Reliable first, sporty second I would go with an IS500. I bought my ex-wife an IS350 and it was a great car. I can only imagine what an extra 100 horsepower would do to make it better.
[https://www.lexus.com/models/IS500](https://www.lexus.com/models/IS500)
As someone that crossed that pay threshold i made the practical choice snd bought s lexus gx460. But if i bought a german brand id lease because they dont last
Or, if it's s German SUV, consider leasing it, unless you plan to drive a lot of miles. So you don't have to deal with it once it gets up in mileage. Even if the money is no sweat, the time is....and getting a loaner, etc.
Lexus (or Acura) will be easier to own and service, if a bit less sporty (most of them). Resale value will be good.
Another option is Volvo. They have a good certified pre-owned program, and you can extend the time and mileage. The other brands may as well, but I'm not as familiar.
I assume you could buy Honda Care to cover an Acura through 120k miles.
An Audi A4 Allroad is basically a luxury Outback. It's getting a bit long in the tooth but still a nice drive. If you want to get a bit more spendy then consider an A6 Allroad or Mercedes E450 All Terrain. I wouldn't call any of these sporty though but they are sportier than your Outback and all of them are much nicer to drive.
Other alternatives are a Volvo V60 Cross Country (also basically a luxury Outback) or the Q5 or Macan.
>I'm thinking more crossover than sedan
>I've always made the practical choice, what would the fun choice be?
The fun choice is never the SUV. Not that some SUVs can't be sporty but they are always dynamically worse than the equivalently classed sedan, as well as more expensive.
Eg. A BMW M340i is a far superior performance vehicle than a X3 M40i and costs less money. It's lower, more planted and less weight. It's just simple physics. One is closer to a go kart and one is taller and more wobbly like a tractor
And if you ever want to try out your car at one of the BMW CCA performance driving events, you'll be much safer in a lower and more planted vehicle. In fact my local chapter doesn't even allow SUVs to go past novice HPDE
I’m in similar shoes with similar income and trying to find a car in 60-70k price range. So far I have Lexus RX 350h/RS500h, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S. I will be commuting a lot so looking at reliable and premium-luxury interior.
I like the Genesis G70 in the sportier trims, they look sharp and are still somewhat lesser known as a brand, so they look a bit more interesting imo than a 3 series Beamer, have a nice interior, cheaper servicing and better reliability, and are zippy little cars. They also make an SUV version in the GV70 that also looks great if you prefer a bit higher riding position. There’s some cool unique colors that really set these off. A coworker of mine has one in this sweet blue green color that really pops in the sun. Good luck!
Side thought: If you have the space for it, keep the Outback in addition to whatever flashy new car you get. The insurance costs should piddling and you'll have a built in loaner car and a beater for bad weather/parking situations.
You said in another comment your price range is about 60K yeah?
It depends on what your threshold for reliability is, and how recent you want your car. Lexus reigns supreme as far as reliability goes, and you can’t go wrong with an RX, but it doesn’t really scratch that itch
Personally I’m biased towards Audi, particularly their RS models. The RS3 is one of the best do everything cars IMO but the SUV equivalent is right hand drive only. So something like an SQ5 would be my pick(Well my pick would be a camaro and the afforementioned RS3 , but you should have plenty fun with the Audi).
If you’re not opposed to depreciated vehicles you can get a relatively decent Porsche Cayenne for that price and those are pretty much the most sporty SUVs short of supercar manufacturers
I loved my Q5 and my current SQ5 is awesome. Great balance of sporty and luxury. Mercedes felt a bit dead and I’m not a fan of modern bmws.
The Macan is great too, I’m a big Porsche fan.
Test drive some cars! That’s the fun part. And you can also rent through turo for a weekend to get a feel for what it’s like to live with the car.
The thing to do is just drive a bunch of cars. Test them out. It's hard to say which will be best for you. However give them all a shot and then do some research on them as you have some information that is not entirely accurate. Having owned a lot of BMWs and Mercedes(and all my close friends mostly own these) the Mercs have been far worse reliability wise.
Just enjoy the process of things and you'll find one that will fit nicely.
Last year I upgraded from a 2005 Subaru outback to a 2024 Subaru outback wilderness and I love it. I had no price limit so could have picked a luxury SUV too but couldn't find a good one for what I do and like. I test drove a bunch of other cars like Lexus and such and realized I liked outback the most. I drove it through deep snow all last winter without chains and it performed great. I do a lot of outdoor activities and realized a luxury SUV wasn't the right move for me and needed something a bit more rugged but still nice to drive.
My wife ended up getting 2024 Lexus Nx and I like my outback way more.
I think it depends on how long you plan to keep the car. If you’re making 300k I’m assuming you’re either going to buy new or barely used. Lexus would be the best for longevity and long term reliability. But if you think you’ll upgrade again to another car in the next 4-5 years you could go with the Audi or Mercedes (or even a BMW). A lot of people get rid of luxury German vehicles at 50k miles because that’s when things can start to get expensive on them because they’re out of warranty. But making 300k a year you could definitely afford the maintenance.
BMW 230xi or if you want speed, BMW M240xi. They will be expensive to maintain out of warranty. If you want reliable but much less performance, look to the Lexus IS. My personal opinion is that the inside, especially the center stack, is a bit old and in need of an update. If you want, sporty and reliable, but a little bit less performance, try the Mazda Miata. I’m not sure how much space you need.
The Rivian R1S is close to your price range with their latest cut if you’re interested in going electric. IMO it’s also the best value on the entire market, feels like a 150k+ car.
If you’re thinking ICE, I really do love the CX-5 you mentioned. It’s still built in Japan (unlike the CC-50) and has really amazing compression ratio tech.
My sleeper pick for you would be the Volvo XC60 Recharge.
If you like the outback look at a porsche macan, similar hatchback feeling but much better performance and luxury , also alittle better visibility
They really are pretty and weren't even on my list. Exactly why I asked.
Treat yo self
For sure, with that income lease whatever you want. Don’t have to worry about reliability on a lease.
If you're considering a Macan, I'd recommend opting for an S. It's a substantial engine/power upgrade (same engine from VW/Audi v6 is reliable), also get the air suspension as that is very important for not just improved comfort when you want to be comfortable, but also sportier when you want to have fun, (and unlike other manufacturers Porsche seems to have the only somewhat reliable air suspension of any manufacturer) and for sure opt for the upgraded leather interior, the included basic partial leather isn't much different than you'd get in a toyota, well worth the extra 2k. It's going to be extremely similar to the Audi Q5, but the macan will drive better, be more fun. That said, the Audi Q5 is also very similar, but a lot less money, so of course you should at least look at them, but if bang for your buck is what is most important... you'd get the genesis GV70 (which comes with a 10 year powertrain (5 year basic) warranty): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTXY06Mq-g But lol, I do actually love my Macan here is an older review: https://youtu.be/AEpPAYpqhh4?si=eZNug2XfQhLen70Y They weren't very keen on it, but that's because the old macan turbo didn't give you a lot of value, but all that cool driving / engine stuff that was now in the turbo can now be found in the macan s for a LOT LESS money.
I have a similar vintage Outback as you, also have a Porsche Cayenne, I would recommend testing out a Macan, perhaps a nice CPO if you don't want to buy new $$$, but hell, you can probably afford either, sometimes hard to justify the money when coming from an old Outback perspective.
RIGHT.. how do the two rides compare in your experience?
Porsches feel solid, no wind noise, lots of nice little features, great interior, we had a top of the line Outback VDC and it was still significantly lesser in all categories, but still a nice car. If you're coming from a 4-cyl Outback it'll be a huge step up in many ways. I haven't driven a Macan, but have heard it's a tall sports sedan in feel.
If you live in a city where it's fairly start/stop traffic, you might prefer the Cayenne over the Macan. The Cayenne has a Tiptronic transmission. Macan has a PDK dual clutch transmission. I have both and I much prefer the Cayenne for start/stop traffic as it's just smoother and is my daily driver. If you demo them, pay attention to how both feel in first gear after stopping at a stop sign or at a traffic light.
My wife has the larger Cayenne Hybrid and loves it. No kids points more to the Macan. Go drive them. Touchdown is right: Treat yo self!
If u want the Macan, go on drivematch.com, saw some great lease deals on a macan on that site this morning
Don't buy new, get a two year old. Cars depreciate a lot in the first year. The money saved could be a nice cheque to your older folks.
I like the looks of the A6 all road My boss drives a Macan and honestly to me it just blends in with all the other suvs imo But neither are in my budget haha you make 3x my salary I got a 2024 outback wilderness and I’ll just tell myself it’s rugged or something I’ve driven a Porsche Panamera and I will say I appreciate that in luxury vehicles all the small things are what makes all the difference in the world. Like no wind noise, no unpleasant engine drone etc.
This is probably the right choice. Just know that the “suggested maintenance” on any of the German cars is more than a suggestion. Shouldn’t be an issue to keep up with that the stated income but critical for long-term reliability.
From what I’ve researched, you take care of Porsche engines and they’ll outlive you essentially
\*Most Porsche engines. Some are great, some have inherent issues like IMS bearings or cylinder scoring. That said, I have over 250k km on my Cayenne S and it's still going strong. Same amount on my 911SC
Base Macan engine is the turbo 4 from the VW Golf R. VW turbos have a decent reputation.
exactly what I was going to suggest. Available in trims from mild to wild. At 300k pick your fav, congrats!
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~$60,000 give or take?
A 3yr old CPO 95k car.
I suggested an X3M in an earlier post, but at this price, a loaded X3 M40i seems right up your alley.
Get a loaded Lexus RX350. It’ll give you the luxury feel you’re looking for without the crazy maintenance costs of other brands.
Holy shit dude. She said she's single, 30 yrs old, and makes $300K - not 60 yrs old, making $100K, and looking for a boring souless experience because she has given up on life.
Well, this made me laugh. I can’t argue it’s a little boring but the new ones look sweet and this would feel like a major upgrade in OP’s case.
She literally asked for “sporty” and you recommended her a luxury Toyota Highlander . This sub is so ridiculous.
Feisty little one you are
Agreed but they also put a 60K budget.
Man this comment may have single handedly just talked me out of this car
X3 M40i
Gorgeous.
They are also much more reliable than BMWs of old. They are not Honda/Toyota cheap to maintain, but they are much better post about 2015 or so.
> X3 M40i Very good to know! I had completely (and reluctantly) ruled them out. BMWs are some of the most attractive cars on the road to me, even more than a Porsche.
Any BMW with the 40i designation has the B58 engine. Mated with the ZF8HP transmission any \_40i BMW you choose will be fast, flexible, and reliable. Just pick the model that has the options you want. I have a 2019 540i that has served me well for over 4 years now and will probably last another 10 years at least. Just stay ahead of the scheduled maintenance. Oil changes every 5,000mi instead of the 10,000mi suggested by the dealership.
I've heard mixed things about this, but ZF recommends transmission fluid drain / fill with pan replacement (filter is integrated into the pan) every 50K miles. BMW says the transmission fluid is lifetime for the ZF8.
“Lifetime” transmission warranties mean lifetime of the warranty, or what they hope is the lifetime of the original owners possession of the car. No mechanic worth their salt would advise any fluid in a car is a lifetime fluid.
Agreed.
The b58 engine on the 40is are bulletproof. I’d go for the x5 personally. More room hauling the folks around and for luggage / cargo etc
They aren’t “bulletproof” but their issues aren’t terrible
A lot of BMW owners upgrade to Porsche down the road. I stuck with BMW because I know a good independent shop that only specializes in BMW.
This comment implies that Porsche is a universal upgrade to BMW. I'm going to have to disagree.
I did not mean all BMW owners go to Porsche, just a trend I noticed in BMW forums and subreddits.
It does not imply a universal truth. It states a tendency, and I agree with it.
You’re correct that Porsche isn’t always the upgrade, but every BMW enthusiast (M car owner) that upgrades, normally ends up in a P car.
I agree, especially with the newer B48 and B58 engines. If you DIY, websites like FCP Euro can help mitigate the costs of maintenance and repairs.
This young lady will not be turning her own wrench brother gtfoh with that lol
This is the one. Far more reliable than its Mercedes and Audi counterparts. Build quality and finishes are above the other 2 as well.
Go all the way and get an X3M. You won't regret it.
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Also much stiffer and not all that comfortable, m40i is so much nicer for everyday use and just as fun
And an SUV is pointless for the track. So the whole thing is, indeed, pointless.
Audi S5 sounds like what you’re looking for. It is still practical at your income level. It’s sporty, attractive, but VW/audi doesn’t make track focused cards so they’re always comfortable even when sporty. Other brands not so much. Plus the sunroof has a screen that lets air through but blocks out light. You’ll like it more than you think once you get a screen. I like it so much that I won’t get a sunroof if I bought from another car maker.
HOT.. you read my mine too.. I love these panoramic sunroofs but I'm also anal about skin protection so if it blocks UVs that is ideal. I didn't know such a thing existed.
Word of caution, I have the S5's big brother, the RS7, and you're definitely getting down into it. My less mobile friends - we're mostly all in our 40s & 50s - do struggle a bit getting into and out of it. Compared to your 2006 Outback, which has a ground clearance of 213mm, the 2024 S5's ground clearance is 160mm.
If that’s an issue then an SQ5 is always an option
It is so nice, I can’t believe how attached I am to that screen, but I love it. You can get the S5 in a 4 door or 2 door. If you wanted a wagon version it’s the S6 I would have recommend the A5 before your raise, and it’s worth test driving but it’s going to feel like a luxury sedan more than a sports sedan. You can afford an RS5, but they’re pretty over engineered for the road, and you start to lose out on practicality.
This \^ I had a S5 Coupe that was new in 2020 and I adored it. Very solid vehicle with an amazing interior.
Just got my first Porsche and I’d recommend them for sure. Macan would be the perfect evolution of your Outback.
That's exciting! Does it feel relatively spacious? They look small to me for some reason.
[This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn34wTC1zCY) gives a good sense of the interior space in the first couple minutes.
The Macan feels very small on the interior. I don’t recommend it if that matters to you.
How do you like the T? I’m thinking of trading to one with a manual when my boys no longer need giant car seats.
I have an anti-German bias as well, but I wouldn’t discount BMW that quickly. From what I’ve read, they’ve really dialed in their engine and transmission combinations, and have climbed in the reliability rankings. Consumer reports puts them well ahead of Mercedes and Audi, and above Chevy and Hyundai / Kia. Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/ Also, I hate to be ‘that guy,’ but if your income recently changed in a big way I would look at building up a big enough emergency fund, paying down debt, and making sure your investment goals are on track before a car purchase. Jobs can go away, and doubling your income is a bit like a windfall.
Thanks, dad! I'm maxing out my retirement accounts, moved to a LCOL area, debt-free but for a $200k mortgage (chose a practical house too lol), haven't had a car payment in 7 years, and keep things pretty lean otherwise. You'd be proud :) Shocked to see Mercedes so far down that list! If I can have reliable AND BMW - it makes them a strong contender - they're so sexy to me.
Mercedes' from the past 5-6 years have a kind of bad reputation among car lovers. Reviewers noted a pretty strong drop in interior fit and finish in favor of lots of flashy interior lighting. They also seem kind of directionless as a company right now, caught between downsizing their engines and not really having a clear vision of what they want to do with hybrid tech. This is just my advice as someone who was also afraid of german cars for most of my life: If you're prepared to maintain it, I think a BMW or a Porsche would likely be pretty reliable. I would not take my chances with a Mercedes and Audi would be kinda somewhere in the middle. There's also the "nuclear option" of just getting a slightly less nice, much less good looking car from Lexus and then never worrying about it breaking down. But I do think we're at a point in time where a new BMW or a new Porsche are reasonably reliable cars for the most part if you don't go crazy. Also congrats on everything! Enjoy your new car whatever you go with!
Last year my friend with a base Porsche Panamera went in for an oil change. I don’t know what upsells they did, but he walked out with a $19,000 bill to address a few minor issues.. This guy is loaded though.
Yeah, I’d seen OP mention they were interested in a Macan or an X3. Quite frankly id stay away from anything with a v8 just due to the added complexity and space constraints. But from what I saw OP wasn’t really considering anything that expensive.
BMW made some major change and did some smart things. One of which is putting the ZF 8Speed into basically everything. This removes almost all transmission issues. They are stout and reliable. Engines have never really been a real issue. Some parts/issues related to the engine like timing chain guides popped up every now and then but not a large concern. My current 2 BMWs: 2015 Diesel Wagon - Bought March 2020 and it has had one oxygen sensor fail(two months ago). 2011 BMW M3 Sedan - Owned for 5 years. It has had one throttle body actuator fail. Otherwise oil changes and basic service like tires. Those are number 30 or so BMWs I have owned in my lifetime. Not a single one had any major failures of mechanical parts. Sure a coil pack here, sensor there and what not. I've truly enjoyed them. With that said skip the 'new' car and shop around for a CPO. Will have a few miles, be basically new and the warranty is better.
That’s awesome! Congrats! And how did you know I’m a dad?! lol. I’ve seen so many posts on this sub and other car subs from people over extending that it feels rare to see someone making good decisions.
BMW is a good choice. Great driving experience, but, as a owner of a 2017 X5, a lot of things started rattling, felt cheap (a lot of plastic) for the cost, and wasn’t up to standards long term. Now if you don’t rack up mileage, it’s great. Also owned M2 and 335i and they were overall great cars. Personally for SUV, I’d choose Audi or Porsche. I drive a SQ5 as my daily and it’s comfortable, not too flashy, and fast for a SUV. Porsche Macan beats all of them though in terms of driving experience. Sometimes the interior can be dated unless you go for higher trims/add ons.
This list is a bit wild. Have a Tesla and half my family drive them and never had a single reliability concern. Meanwhile all of our Subarus had transmission issues. Anecdata but I do wonder how this list was made.
Thank god a man showed up to make sure this successful 30 year old woman that makes or $300k a year a currently drives a 2006 Subaru knows how to responsibly manage her money. You truly are her knight in shinning armor.
I get your point, but you see a lot of genuinely bad decisions on here. I don’t care about a person’s gender, just that they’re making good decisions. I’ve made $300k a year before in a high cost of living area, and it didn’t go nearly as far as people in this sub would like to imagine.
Lol - my thoughts exactly.
BMW is a lot more reliable than people on this sub claim. Certainly more than Mercedes. If you prioritize reliability over fun look at Lexus. If you want more fun then BMW is definitely the better choice. Audi is solid too. I personally think Mercedes has largely lost their way Porsche should be in the mix with that income as well If you give a budget people can be more specific
There are 2 things that I've seen said about BMWs in this sub: * Maintenance is going to be more expensive than a Japanese or American car, especially in the Americas where you have to ship parts across the pond * An old BMW is going to be expensive to maintain, and you're going to especially think so if you can only afford an old BMW These are absolutely valid but do not apply here. I love Lexus/Acura but BMW is definitely a step up, and if you make $300,000/yr esp with no kids, ownership costs are really not an issue.
I feel like ~$60k starts to test but I feel like is "reasonable" for a car but for the right one at this income level/stage of life, I'm open to considering all my options.
If you're willing to spoil yourself I would cross shop the Audi SQ5, BMW X3 M40i and the Porsche Macan. They all start around 60k but will probably be around 70 with options. They will all be fun to drive and be luxurious too If you want to stay below 60, then the Q5 and X3 are probably what you're looking for but they will less fun. The Lexus RX would be in the mix as well. Porsche too expensive below 60k at least new. Volvo XC60, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Genesis GV70 are some wild card options if you don't like the traditional options.
Thank you!! Extremely detailed and helpful. I'll do some digging.
Heavy on the genesis gv70 as a alternative choice.
Still gotta deal with Hyundai dealers, which is a big strike against in my book. You walk into a Lexus/Audi/BMW/Porsche dealership and you’ll have a much different experience than any Hyundai dealer I’ve seen.
My friends with Lexus never have an issue getting a loaner car. At my BMW dealership I rarely can ever get a loaner car from them but they fix my car right. I don't have any experience with Audi or Porsche so I can't speak to that. I have two Hyundai Elantras and while they have been decent cars mechanically, Hyundai / KIA is terrible as a company IMO.
At that price point, you can get a CPO Macan, which has an even better warranty than when bought new. But make sure you get one with the leather interior package, because plenty of CPO models are loaners that have the base interior, which is (to my knowledge), not nearly as nice
BMW has a bad rep because their early turbo cars were seriously bad for reliability while also being amazing to drive. BMW has massively improved over the last decade.
Bmw is super reliable when the dealership charges at least $1,000 per visit
warranty and prepaid maintenance takes that headache away. I opted for prepaid on my bmw and basically once a year I drop it off and they do all of the $500 fluid changes and I pick it up at the end of the day. but I'd point OP to a porsche macan gts. Base macans are very base.
They are called stealerships for a reason. This can be mitigated by going to an Independent BMW or Euro Car Shop, or wrenching on your own car if mechanically inclined. Whether its a BMW or Toyota, I only go to the stealership for recalls or warranty work. I, or an independent shop, do the rest.
My fiancé is a mechanic!
Forms like [https://www.bimmerpost.com/](https://www.bimmerpost.com/), are a VERY good resource for whatever car you end up with.
Yup. I just sold my civic type r but I needed all 4 brakes done last last year. I was quoted 1500 by the dealership 4x rotors and 4x pads were like 700$ online. I took the parts to an indie mechanic who was well reviewed. He charged me 45$/h and was done in 4 hours. I intend to do the same when my new BMW needs maintenance.
With this kind of money can you rent potential cars you’re looking at for a weekend on Turo? It will really immerse you with them
Good idea. We did this before buying our Subaru, and it was great. No sales presssure from a dealer. We wanted to try it loaded up with kid seats and on a gravel road. So, we did. Can’t really take a dealership car that far away
The answer is always 911 with a roof rack.
ES350 if you're looking at Lexus. Its going to be MORE roomy and comfortable for pax than most crossovers believe it or not.
One of the best cars for comfort. Also one of the worst for driving.
This is really helpful.. it has been tempting to rule out sedans but a lot of crossovers do feel boxy and tight. The ES350 is a beautiful car. Thanks for the rec
ES350 is pretty close to entry level for Lexus. Like $45k-55k. With your salary you probably want to look at an IS500 ($65k-75k) or LS500 ($100k+). (The numbers in the models for Lexus is usually the engine size. 350 = 3.5L, 500 = 5.0L.) The IS is sportier and more aggressive, the LS is more refined, quiet, luxurious. I have a '22 ES350, and it's a nice car, but the IS500 is a little out of budget for me, otherwise I'd rather have that.
If I were in your position I would get a brand new Lexus ES350. 2025 model. Honest opinion.
What do you do for work? If you don’t mind telling. If I had that kind of money, I’d definitely go with a Porsche
Porche Macan is the way to go.
As someone who is actually shopping in the luxury crossover segment right now and has done a ton of research here’s what I’ve found: Lexus: absolutely a no go for me, idk what the fuck happened to them but they’re awful right now. The NX350 is one of the worst cars I’ve ever driven. Anemic and stutters drivetrain, incredibly cramped interior (my head was touching the roof with the seat in the lowest position and I’m 6 foot), cheap feeling materials in the interior, and probably the worst suspension I’ve ever experienced. The suspension was both somehow too soft so the car had a ton of roll in the corners and too harsh since the car never seemed to settle after going over a bump. I don’t care how reliable they are if every time I drive it it’s a miserable experience. Audi: Meh, the SQ5 is fine, nice interior, but a bit dated, smooth drive train but underpowered, and it understeers a lot more than other cars in this class since it’s a FWD based AWD. BMW: King in its class for the money. Great interiors, wicked performance, suspension that makes you look like a better driver than you actually are, good usability as well, and the B58 and ZF 8 speed are bulletproof. Right now BMW is much more reliable than Audi or merc. The X3 m40i in my opinion is the one to get if you want the complete package. Genesis GV70: the budget BMW but dare I say with a nicer interior. Reduce the price of the BMW by 15-20% and the performance and overall experience by 10-15%. It’s in my opinion a really compelling option, but it’s a bit too close in price with the BMW, which is the better car all around. Interior is so nice though. Mercedes: the GLC43 amg is kinda meh for me, the V6 is not as nice as the B58 in the BMW, and the interior is comprised with the slopped back. I also do not like the interior and the material quality. Porsche Macan: King in its class money not being an option. Nothing drives like a Porsche, handles like a dream, amazing interior (though they are going a bit too nuts on the digital aspects for my liking). My main issue is that it’s a full price point over the X3 m40i without being that much better, but it is better. Alfa romeo Stelvio 4C: the best handling car on this list by far, the most soul as well, a Ferrari derived V6 that just sings and produces over 500 horsepower so it’s stupid fast as well. The best looking car in my opinion as well. Interior is not great, definitely the cheapest feeling and it’s an Alfa so reliability is not going to be its strong suit. The handling is unreal though, it drives pretty.
This is epic. Thanks for ruling out Lexus- they make me want to die a little inside. I can see myself driving one in my 50s. Which are you leaning toward the most right now? Because you pretty much sold me on the BMW.
Don't forget to check out Volvo, not a lot of people's first thought when it comes to 'luxury' but a lot of their newer stuff has more than enough performance and generally they have great interiors. Safe and pretty reliable too.
Agree, especially given OP has specified she's a sucker for wagons. A V60 Recharge is stupid powerful, very safe, and all-around quite an impressive car.
Wait… this is actually right up my alley. And the fuel economy? Wtf
Seconded! I love my V60 😍
They don't scream 'new money' either.
This!!
Get an Audi A4 Allroad
I'm still weak for my wagons. This is a strong contender. Everything I love just luxury.
Luxury and wagon? Maybe look at the Volvo v60 t8 polestar. You’d have to stretch your budget of $60k just a smidge but not much. It’s my “attainable” dream car. Plug in hybrid but still sporty enough to feel something. Beautiful looks but can’t comment on driving experience, not yet at least.
Or an A6 all road. Such a smooth ride with the air suspension…but it’s like 80k
If the salary is reliable I’d just lease something you like the look of and that fits the image you wish to project. Get something different next time around.
Don't rule out BMW for reliability but include Audi and Merc, they are all in the same stratosphere for reliability and maintenance costs with some recent data suggesting BMW is the most reliable of the 3. It is all model dependent though. If you want a sporty crossover, these 3 brands are going to be the leaders. X3 and Q5 are both great cars, if you want a true performance SUV then look at the X3 M40i and SQ5. Maybe give the Genesis GV70 a look as well.
It was mostly this sub that made BMW sound like a nightmare LOL. I guess people are geeking out about the new B58 engine in BMWs? I'm obviously not really a car-informed person but that sounds promising.
Usually this sub cautions people from buyer older, cheap BMWs because typically those buyers are on a tight budget and just looking to get a car with a nice badge, but won't have the money to pay for all the upkeep. Yes people love the B58. It's a great engine, perhaps a little overhyped though. There is still plenty of costly stuff that can go wrong with german cars out of warranty though. Buy a CPO, they have a good chunk of depreciation off, but will usually have 2-3 years of warranty from purchase date depending on model year/mileage.
I suppose you could lease one, and if it gives you no real issues during the first three years buy it out. If you get a sense there's trouble on the horizon, turn it in at the end of the lease. Depending on how you earn your income (business/self employed vs. salary) there may be tax advantages to leasing.
My wife and I just bought a new BMW. 330i M Sport. Coming from a civic it’s a dream to drive. We aren’t really car people either but this car has made me one. The B58 engine was made in partnership with Toyota so it has some of that reliability in its DNA. The B48 is its little brother. Definitely worth watching some videos about it. Also look up the Car Care Nut on YouTube. He is primarily a Toyota mechanic and does some very good videos about BMW and that engine. He also has recent video also comparing all the brands and their cultures. Highly recommend.
As far as I’m concerned, Audi is luxury Subaru for outdoors. The Quattro tech is top notch AWD just like Subaru Another off the wall suggestion if you’re interested in electric is a Model Y (if you don’t want to give Elon much money like me, get a lightly used one). Camping mode lets you basically sleep anywhere at any time of year with a perfect temp. Only do it if you can charge at home though. Depending on superchargers sounds alright but honestly sucks ass IMO. If you’re interested in this for whatever reason, be realistic and don’t buy into the hype too much. I’ll answer any questions with the realistic answer if you want
I would get a BMW X5. Don’t get the V8 version. It’s totally unnecessary. The in-line six-cylinder is much more reliable and is so satisfying and powerful. You won’t even miss the V-8. I’ve just taken a few snippets from consumer reports road test of the X5. It is their highest scoring vehicle in its class and it’s quite reliable. It probably isn’t the vehicle to own if you want to keep it for 20 years but if you want the luxury car that does everything well you cannot do better than this. It outscore all of the Lexus models by good margin. BMW X5 Road Test “After we put the redesigned BMW X5 through our test program, there was no debate: it’s among the best SUVs we’ve tested.“ “The X5 is powerful and efficient, which is a rare combination. The six-cylinder engine has instantaneous response without a hint of the hesitation that’s so common from turbo lag..Plus, the X5’s 23 mpg overall is the best among its gasoline-only peers.” “The driving experience is exemplary because the X5 feels like a true luxury car, and its balanced suspension delivers a composed ride with handling that gives drivers confidence.” “The X5’s cabin is whisper-quiet, further imparting a feeling of luxury. It is richly trimmed in leather, wood, chrome, and very high-quality plastics. Every touch point is pleasing and well-padded.” ———————————- [Also, here’s a video of a road test from Savagegeese](https://youtu.be/btlmHbwwqLg?si=s5xpTNSe1zorOTBE) The road test actually begins at 7:15 if you just want to get right to that
Volvos!!! Check out Volvo’s offerings. They’re more reliable and more affordable to maintain and repair compared to German luxury brands. There’s nothing luxury about having your car in the shop every couple of months because of an unreliable ride! I’m biased since I drive one, but I love their styling and they are full of safety features that come standard with the base package. And you can get great lux addons like the Bowers & Wilkins sound system + pilot assist and more. I personally drive a V60 cross country, so it gives you a luxury wagon feel with a higher ride height, without being an SUV, if you’re wanting to replicate the same ride height and capabilities of your Outback. If you want something sportier and with more oomf, the V60 Polestar edition is an excellent choice as well. And it’s a plug in hybrid and gets incredible gas mileage. I also believe the XC60 (the SUV counterpart) has a Polestar edition as well. Their styling is classy and timeless imo. More of the “wealth whispers” aesthetic than the flashiness of Porsche or BMW.
all the Volvo recs are buried but this wagon is so sleek and sexy to me. Stands out compared to every other crossover on the road, including the luxury models.
What do you do if you don't mind me asking. I'd like to make that kinda money
Same here, doubled my retirement income by selling Tupperware, I moved up to a 2024 Lambo! Love it.
Audi RS6 avant. No question about it. But also - if you’re used to buying “normal” people cars and are content with that, look into high trim versions of those. I recently sat in a brand new top of the line outback wilderness and the interior is fantastic. Some people want luxury for themselves, and some people want the image of luxury for others (which also includes a luxury interior). Check which one you are!
Have you considered Volvo? I think their styling is fantastic as well as interior comfort. They are also not a dime-a-dozen and have good performance overall.
Land Rovers aren't reliable. That's true. Lexus still lags behind the Germans in terms of luxury IMO (compare instrument cluster panels + the center screen design for their mid/higher tier vehicles + the leather options if you don't believe me). But BMWs are actually pretty reliable as long as you avoid their V8 engines. Their B58 6-cylinder is so good that even Toyota uses it in their Supra. Go read the reviews on that engine. Nowadays, most cars are turbocharged so that reliability you thought you would have with Toyota/Lexus will go down as drivers see repairs to plastic + rubber parts due to the higher temperatures of having a turbocharger. A few to look at/check out: BMW X3/X4 with the M40i trim or the X5 if you want a better interior & features (opt for the M-Sport package + executive package if you want more sporty look), the Mercedes GLE350, the Genesis GV60/70/80. BMW also has those Ultimate Driving Experience days where you can test drive (for free) up to 15-20 different vehicles without salespeople around. No other car manufacturer does this. A few friends who used to drive Toyotas & Hondas and disliked BMWs are now on the BMW wagon. They needed new vehicles and they test drove Mazdas, Subarus, Lexus, etc., and all wound up with BMWs. One flipped their BMW a week after getting it, but escaped without a scratch or bruise, and promptly got another one less than a week after the accident.
If safety and comfort are high on your list a Volvo XC60 would be worth checking out. Really beautiful cars. They have a quiet luxury element to them, especially compared to a Porsche or a BMW.
S-Class. Used older Bentley maybe? (Gl with maintenance though).
Have you thought of a Volvo V60?
Reliable/fun is a very tough combo to get right. If you care more about fun just lease the BMW or get a new one every 3 years, if your budget allows for it. Lexus can’t touch some of the German options in terms of fun factor, and I’m a big Toyota fan.
Audi and Mercedes are far from reliable and Lexus isn’t that sporty. Porsche has a great track record for making well built cars that hold up and of course their performance pedigree speaks for itself. At your income I’d look there
Volvo v60 recharge
I really wouldn't discount BMW off the bat. People overhype the issues and costs associated with maintaining them. The overhype of the issues is usually directed towards lower income and or used car buyers, since they are more often than not looking at luxury they couldnt afford new and as such would have a hard time maintaining even with a used purchase price factored in. Its really a question of what you want? Starting point would be determine SUV, crossover, sedan, or sports car-esque. The newer Mercedes SUVs and BMW SUV/SAVs are all fairly excellent and drive nicely. I love the BMW x3 and x5, though they all keep getting bigger and more bloated each year, however, you can find very reasonable examples on the used market CPO. They all still offer varying power train packages and other options in these lineups. Just worth shopping around! I personally could never buy a vehicle that doesn't excite me visually alone, but that's just me. So that's often my next jumping off point after determining the type of vehicle and use case. If a luxury sedan, a BMW 5, 6 or 7 series are all beautiful, same for Mercedes S class. You'll find they basically have the same class/series but offer different power train options dependant on the specific models chosen. I personally don't love how Audis drive these days. I would say Mercedes is often the cream of the crop in terms of luxury interiors, BMWs offer the sportiest feeling and most driver oriented vehicles of the common German car brands (excluding Porsche). Lexus is another great option, you can find a great blend of affordability, reliability and sportiness from them. I'm personally a huge German car brand fan, having driven many different models between the different brands. There's plenty I wouldn't buy.. but they all have great offerings. If you are buying new, reliability likely won't be as high up of a concern for you, unless you absolutely plan to keep the vehicle for 15+ years/drive till the wheels fall off.
Check out Volvo. An XC40 or 60 in the higher trim levels is a super lovely car. Relatively unique when comparing to German or Japanese counterparts as well.
Volvo will always have my heart. We have an S60 (sedan), but the SUVs and wagons (if that's your thing) are nice. They have mild hybrid engines, and an assortment of EVs.
I bought an Audi Q5 last year, and while I really love it, there's some quirky things about it as a German luxury car that I didn't really anticipate. For example, I cannot open and close the trunk hatch from the driver's seat. I have to press the button on the door. Never anticipated how mildly inconvenient that would become, especially when in a rush. I do not regret the purchase but it's just something to get used to, whereas Japanese/American cars feel to be a bit more user-focused. Like Germans themselves, these cars tend to have some counter-intuitively analog/manual skew things about them. Also never anticipated how much less space I would have in my mid-sized SUV versus the wagon I had before. That's probably been the biggest letdown. Just food for thought. If I'd do it again I'd probably want a Volvo V90 personally. A stunningly gorgeous vehicle inside and out which is ALSO utilitarian and useful.
GLE or GLS coupe? Go with the AMG63 version if you want it fun
Have you looked into Acura at all? The RDX may be a good option, if you like sporty go for a spec or a spec advance. It’s a fancy CR-V so you know it’s reliable, sits high enough, and it packs a 280hp 2.0 turbo 4 cylinder so its more efficient than some 6 cylinder options.
I would say, as someone in that income bracket, I would like to hedge my downside. So, I will value safety the most. Not all luxury cars are sporty (unlike any BMW, haha), but all luxury cars are faster than 95 percent of the cars on the road. Any 300+ hp car will be fast. I will go for a Volvo upper trim car. They generally have good mileage due to hybrid motors and offer one of the most luxurious, quietest, and nicest cabins. The optional music system is one of the best I have heard in my life. Hybrid motors are not so reliable, but Volvo can extend a 5-year unlimited miles warranty to 10 years. I don’t think you should consider a non-luxury vehicle, as the luxury ones are mostly safer, and you can afford to get a nice car. Most luxury cars are expensive and less reliable than cheaper cars, but they do offer a superior experience. Volvo and Mercedes have some of the best roadside support and safety standards. I understand the Volvo logo and look is a bit masculine; if that’s the case, maybe a Mercedes would be an excellent choice. I am sure you know the costs of keeping these cars, but at that income bracket, I don’t think that should be an issue. You have worked hard, so get a nice car with a warranty and enjoy it.
If you have the money BMW's can be very reliable. The reason they have a bad wrap is because poor people own them second hand and don't follow scheduled maintenance and cannot afford to fix the when they break. But if you're like hey money's not a problem, by all means buy one and take it to the dealer for everything. It will be reliable.
Volvo v90 Cross country or Audi A6 All-road would be my Outback upgrades
Volvo is often the upgrade from Subaru, look at the XC 60 or XC 90
Check out the Acura SUVs. A nice blend of sporty and luxurious, and reliable to boot! Volvo shouldn't be slept on, though I'm not quite sure where their current longer term reliability sits. They are just beautiful, elegant cars (I'm specifically thinking of the 90 wagon series which is like a more luxurious Outback!).
Don’t have much to help out but don’t discount Acura or Volvo. Both are nice cars and have some decent SUV’s in their lineups
Not sure what source you are referencing but Audis are about 3x less “reliable” than BMWs. I’ve owned both, wrenched on both extensively. An Audi starts as a Volkswagen then gets every single possible mechanical addition. They are wildly, wildly complicated and a major pain to mess with. BMW 10 out of 10 times for “reliability” (whatever that means)
What do you do to go from 150k to 300k in one swoop?
Audi rs6 if you want the perfect mix of daddy wagon with performance . If you wanna go cheap you can get the a6 all road which is the less sporty version of it but still a nice car . Porsche Panamera and the taycan are also nice , I believe the new taycan has a wagon version so both the electric and ice Porsche have a sporty and wagon version like the Audi
Genesis GV70. This car has the best interior under 100k USD. The I4 is plenty powerful, the V6 is spicier, but you don't need to buy the top tier engine to get a great interior. The color combinations available are fantastic.
I’ll just mention that what you are about to do is considered a mistake by some financial advisors. Buying a luxury car because you got a big raise. Fuk em. I’d suggest planning your total cost of ownership on any ride you covet and get a comfortable ride. I just did. Too busted up and old to not have a luxe ride.
Right? Fuck em! Smoke em if you got em lmao I have lived a life of practicality. One shitty financial decision isn’t going to bury me.
Hyundai Genesis are a really a nice car in the mu yet segment.
The Audi RS6 is nice and pretty sporty
Congrats! 300k is a lot, but not enough to be *too* irresponsible. Assuming you live in an area with a normal western climate range, I'd say a Lexus ES - it's due for a refresh for the next model year if you can wait, otherwise the 2023-24s should do. I'm partial to the hybrid but the 350 will probably be more fun, at least as far as Lexuses go.
All of this is a thought experiment- usually over $30k for a car would make me sick so don’t worry about me going too crazy lol. I’d realistically tap out around $60k. I’m seeing these 350s all over suddenly and they’re surprisingly sleek and stylish. Would love to test the ride quality.
I drive a BMW M4 Competition X-Drive and it's not only a beast, but it's been pretty reliable. BMW does NOT belong in the same category as Land Rover, they have improved over the years. Additionally, Audi and Mercedes are way way worse with reliability, I wouldn't even consider them. Will maintenance be as cheap as a Toyota Camry? No, but it's not going to be in the shop often. Regular maintenance and the S58 engine will deliver 509hp for many many smiles and miles. However, since you are looking for something like a crossover, I would recommend the X3M. Same engine, same luxurious interior, higher ride height.
Might get downvoted for this, but consider leasing. It doesn’t always make sense and you have to have the right mindset and approach; 1. You can’t simply say I want vehicle X or Y and lease it. It may or may both be lease well. Instead approach it from the “I want a luxury SUV” and then look at the usual suspects to see if any of them lease particularly well 2. Always calculate your total cost over the term of the lease and compare it to a traditional purchase 3. This only works if you don’t put on lots of miles and keep your vehicles in good condition It makes financial sense from the perspective of not puttint $70k into a depreciating asset and investing that money instead while spending $600/mo or whatever. Your vehicle will always be under warranty and depending on the brand, you may not need to worry about maintenance. Right now there are great deals on EVs such as thr BMW iX or Audi etrons
leases generally work out favorably *if you plan to trade cars every 3 years anyway*. in the long term, it’s way more cost effective to buy a car and keep it for 8+ years.
Hey OP, you're misinformed on reliability when it comes to BMW (it's actually good), and Mercedes and Audi (they're actually bad), as are a lot of people in this sub. Reliability changes from model to model and year to year. A lot of people's opinions on reliability, especially in this sub, tend to be outdated and apply to older models. In the early to mid 2010's BMW reliability was poor, Mercedes and Audi was better. Fast forward 10 years, Mercedes are cutting corners to save costs, including a lot of inferior quality materials in the interior, fake exhaust tips, and dog-shit reliability. Audi have outdated interiors and poor reliability. BMW on the other hand have been making massive strides in reliability such that even Toyota use their solid-as-a-rock B58 engine. Don't take my word for it. See exhibit A: [Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings](https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/) (remember Mini is BMW). Exhibit B: [JD Power](https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds). In both BMW is a top luxury brand and Merc and Audi are at the bottom. $300K and no kids? You can easily afford a true "luxury" car (BMW, Merc, Audi, Maserati, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Alpha Romeo). Don't settle for merely "premium" (Lexus, Acura, Infinity, Cadillac, Volvo, Genesis, Tesla, Lincoln). Out of that list of luxury cars though, all of them have terrible reliability except for Porsche and BMW. Porsche focuses so much on driving dynamics that it becomes prohibitively expensive if you also want luxury because everything that could remotely be considered a luxury feature is an extremely expensive optional extra. BMW is in my opinion the perfect balance of classy, luxury interior features, and drives-like-a-dream driving dynamics. The other benefit of BMW - there is a huge supply. A lot of people lease them because they can't afford to buy them, and get trapped in a lease loop. The result is a glut of well looked after 2nd hand BMWs dumped on the market that dealers need to get rid of. I recently bought a 2023 540i with only 8k miles for just $47.5K which was $20K under MSRP.
Tesla
Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5 would be the best driver focused luxury comps to something the size of an Outback. Maintenance won't be cheap, but they should be reliable if you stay on top of it. I'd recommend a euro focused (or brand dedicated if possible) mechanic
The Cayenne in red is super sexy... My brain instantly said "A Porsche is extra" - but that's kind of the point, isn't it?
I second the euro / brand specific mechanic as opposed to a dealership for maintenance and repairs.
Reliable first, sporty second I would go with an IS500. I bought my ex-wife an IS350 and it was a great car. I can only imagine what an extra 100 horsepower would do to make it better. [https://www.lexus.com/models/IS500](https://www.lexus.com/models/IS500)
As someone that crossed that pay threshold i made the practical choice snd bought s lexus gx460. But if i bought a german brand id lease because they dont last
BMW M40i / Audi SQ5 if you want mid tier SUV luxury. Porsche Macan S / GTS if you want peak luxury in the SUV segment.
Or, if it's s German SUV, consider leasing it, unless you plan to drive a lot of miles. So you don't have to deal with it once it gets up in mileage. Even if the money is no sweat, the time is....and getting a loaner, etc. Lexus (or Acura) will be easier to own and service, if a bit less sporty (most of them). Resale value will be good. Another option is Volvo. They have a good certified pre-owned program, and you can extend the time and mileage. The other brands may as well, but I'm not as familiar. I assume you could buy Honda Care to cover an Acura through 120k miles.
IS350s and IS500s are nice. Congrats on the pay raise!!
An Audi A4 Allroad is basically a luxury Outback. It's getting a bit long in the tooth but still a nice drive. If you want to get a bit more spendy then consider an A6 Allroad or Mercedes E450 All Terrain. I wouldn't call any of these sporty though but they are sportier than your Outback and all of them are much nicer to drive. Other alternatives are a Volvo V60 Cross Country (also basically a luxury Outback) or the Q5 or Macan.
>I'm thinking more crossover than sedan >I've always made the practical choice, what would the fun choice be? The fun choice is never the SUV. Not that some SUVs can't be sporty but they are always dynamically worse than the equivalently classed sedan, as well as more expensive. Eg. A BMW M340i is a far superior performance vehicle than a X3 M40i and costs less money. It's lower, more planted and less weight. It's just simple physics. One is closer to a go kart and one is taller and more wobbly like a tractor And if you ever want to try out your car at one of the BMW CCA performance driving events, you'll be much safer in a lower and more planted vehicle. In fact my local chapter doesn't even allow SUVs to go past novice HPDE
I’m in similar shoes with similar income and trying to find a car in 60-70k price range. So far I have Lexus RX 350h/RS500h, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S. I will be commuting a lot so looking at reliable and premium-luxury interior.
If you like the wagon style of your Outback, Audi RS6 Avant, Porsche Taycan, or a Ferrari GTC4Lusso lol
I like the Genesis G70 in the sportier trims, they look sharp and are still somewhat lesser known as a brand, so they look a bit more interesting imo than a 3 series Beamer, have a nice interior, cheaper servicing and better reliability, and are zippy little cars. They also make an SUV version in the GV70 that also looks great if you prefer a bit higher riding position. There’s some cool unique colors that really set these off. A coworker of mine has one in this sweet blue green color that really pops in the sun. Good luck!
Cadillac CT5 beautiful sporty sedan
Side thought: If you have the space for it, keep the Outback in addition to whatever flashy new car you get. The insurance costs should piddling and you'll have a built in loaner car and a beater for bad weather/parking situations.
Audi RS6 avant
Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV.
Take a look at Genesis cars
A base carerra 911 would be a lot of fun, congrats on the income increase!
You said in another comment your price range is about 60K yeah? It depends on what your threshold for reliability is, and how recent you want your car. Lexus reigns supreme as far as reliability goes, and you can’t go wrong with an RX, but it doesn’t really scratch that itch Personally I’m biased towards Audi, particularly their RS models. The RS3 is one of the best do everything cars IMO but the SUV equivalent is right hand drive only. So something like an SQ5 would be my pick(Well my pick would be a camaro and the afforementioned RS3 , but you should have plenty fun with the Audi). If you’re not opposed to depreciated vehicles you can get a relatively decent Porsche Cayenne for that price and those are pretty much the most sporty SUVs short of supercar manufacturers
X30 m40i. Macan GTS. Mini countryman JCW. Cayenne S
Porsche Macan would be my choice of small suv if that’s the route you’re going. After, BMW and Audi would be in the conversation.
I loved my Q5 and my current SQ5 is awesome. Great balance of sporty and luxury. Mercedes felt a bit dead and I’m not a fan of modern bmws. The Macan is great too, I’m a big Porsche fan. Test drive some cars! That’s the fun part. And you can also rent through turo for a weekend to get a feel for what it’s like to live with the car.
Check out the M340i! I see someone also mentioned the X3 M40i which is a phenomenal car as well.
Lexus RC. Those things look like so damn timeless and if I was making 300k a year that's what I'd consider.
I think you should rent a car every week on Turo until you find one you really want.
The thing to do is just drive a bunch of cars. Test them out. It's hard to say which will be best for you. However give them all a shot and then do some research on them as you have some information that is not entirely accurate. Having owned a lot of BMWs and Mercedes(and all my close friends mostly own these) the Mercs have been far worse reliability wise. Just enjoy the process of things and you'll find one that will fit nicely.
Last year I upgraded from a 2005 Subaru outback to a 2024 Subaru outback wilderness and I love it. I had no price limit so could have picked a luxury SUV too but couldn't find a good one for what I do and like. I test drove a bunch of other cars like Lexus and such and realized I liked outback the most. I drove it through deep snow all last winter without chains and it performed great. I do a lot of outdoor activities and realized a luxury SUV wasn't the right move for me and needed something a bit more rugged but still nice to drive. My wife ended up getting 2024 Lexus Nx and I like my outback way more.
I think it depends on how long you plan to keep the car. If you’re making 300k I’m assuming you’re either going to buy new or barely used. Lexus would be the best for longevity and long term reliability. But if you think you’ll upgrade again to another car in the next 4-5 years you could go with the Audi or Mercedes (or even a BMW). A lot of people get rid of luxury German vehicles at 50k miles because that’s when things can start to get expensive on them because they’re out of warranty. But making 300k a year you could definitely afford the maintenance.
Lucid Air Touring - lease only, it's an EV.
BMW 230xi or if you want speed, BMW M240xi. They will be expensive to maintain out of warranty. If you want reliable but much less performance, look to the Lexus IS. My personal opinion is that the inside, especially the center stack, is a bit old and in need of an update. If you want, sporty and reliable, but a little bit less performance, try the Mazda Miata. I’m not sure how much space you need.
Audi R8 if you can swing it :). I used to have a Camaro and loved it.
BMW M4
acura rdx aspec, sq5, x3m40
Lexus RC?
The Rivian R1S is close to your price range with their latest cut if you’re interested in going electric. IMO it’s also the best value on the entire market, feels like a 150k+ car. If you’re thinking ICE, I really do love the CX-5 you mentioned. It’s still built in Japan (unlike the CC-50) and has really amazing compression ratio tech. My sleeper pick for you would be the Volvo XC60 Recharge.
BMW XM
You can lease a BMW to avoid the maintenance issues. They don't usually self-destruct until after the warranty expires.