[craigawoodman]

OK, I am calling on all of the collective wisdom of the forum to provide some guidance.



My wife has an A5 convertible that she loves, but the kids are sick of the roof down and the wind, plus they are getting too big for the small rear seats and would like the option of more than 4 seats. So, she is thinking of replacing it with something more practical in a sedan (as I have a Q7 that has 7 seats, etc).



We are down to a BMW 528i (now a 4 cylinder engine) and an Audi A6 3.0 TFSi. Both are bloody expensive over here (and would most likely be demo's to reduce the initial depreciation), but nothing else seems to provide the size/quality we are looking for (it is meant to be a 5 to 10 year car - like all the rest that we get rid of after 3 years). I have two daughters, one nearly 12 and the other 9 1/2. They are both meant to be over 6 foot when finished growing, the eldest is currently around 5' 3" and needs an invitation for her clothes to meet her ankles.



So ignoring stuff we cannot buy (Cadillac's, Chevy's, and the full size F150 that I would swap the Q7 for) - what other suggestions are out there for options and the pro's and con's for these?



We no longer do 1,000km or 600km trips, with most of the longest trips we do more like 200km max. Runflats are also an issue for me as there are some long distances out here and crappy roads.



Fire in some suggestions.

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[tamathumper]

NO idea what's available to you down there - but when I was in the same boat as you, I owned about 6 Ford Explorers and then a Ford Expedition with the third seat just to fit the kids and all the crap they entail. Up this way, every soccer mom drives an SUV, as I'm guessing minivans are "passe"?

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[Chris Vais]

For what it is worth, I've owned 2 Audi A6 Avants over the past 20 years. They are fast comfortable and can haul 4 to 5 adults/teenagers in comfort. We had a smaller car, but as soon as our kid got to be a teenager, he was uncomfortable riding in the back because of the lack of legroom. We went with an Avant rather than with a sedan because the extra cargo space combined with a roof rack and box allowed us to take extended camping trips throughout the intermountain west here in the US.

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[blau]

The A6 3.0TFSI is an amazing car - my grandfather just bought one and leg room in the back is HUGE...but what's even bigger is the TRUNK space! He had an 08 535xi that he was replacing. After driving the new 535xi, Lexus GS350 F Sport, Mercedes E350, and the A6 - he said it was no comparison. The 2012 535xi felt lifeless compared to his 08 - they completely turned the suspension to mush.



If I were in the market and looking for something cheaper - I would definitely take a look at the VW Passat sedan...they make a V6 FSI version in Australia that could suit your power needs, and the interiors of those are very nice.



They don't make it in the states, but is the Ford Falcon too cheap of a car? Could also be worth a look - their quality here in the US has vastly improved in the past ~5 years.

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[94SilverCab]

My boss, with a similarly growing family, purchased an Acura RL...it had the best rear leg room. It was also tested as the best able to absorb an offset head-on collision.



JMHO,



Jay

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[968Syncro]

How about this one?



http://perth.craigsl...3147024301.html



"Holden Captiva 2010, STNSDN, silver, Automatic, air condition, 4wd, 6 air bags, registration expires on December 10, 2012

The car is in great condition, perfect for a small family, 4WD, 6 air bags"



http://en.wikipedia..../Holden_Captiva



After all, like tamathumper says: "Up this way, every soccer mom drives an SUV,"



Roland

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[durtkillon]

I've grown fond of our 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee over the years. It's boring and there are a million of them on the road, but we have over 175K insanely reliable miles and it doesn't burn or leak a drop of oil. The AWD is handy in the snow and the parts in the US are very cheap. At times I wish it would break so I'd have a reason to get a newer car. Now I'm curious how long the thing will last. The downside is that the V8 is a thirsty motor.

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[craigawoodman]

We looked at the Passet as we had a Jetta and loved it (the 147kW version). It is an OK car, but the rear seat is still really only a 2 1/2 seat width. There is a new VW CC (no longer a Passat) that has just come out - much better trim and finish, but if I sit in the back, my head is on the roof and I am only 5' 10". So solely for that reason, it is a no go - would have definitely been in the mix otherwise (3.6L V6, quattro - but it never snows here) - and there are almost no options - it comes with all of the fruit.



The Ford Falcon, is just not built well and the steering position and front seat have always been wrong. There is another version called Ford Performance Vehciles - FPV) that make Supercharged V8's and upgraded Turbo 6's - but you have the same issues. The Holden Commodore is not too bad, but depreciation just kills it, same for the Holden Caprice (LWB) version. Would love the 6.2L V8 - but possibly a bit big for my wife (she claims she has "ducks" disease - long body and short legs). There are also Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) versions that have the Corvette engine them - but my wife sees these as too big and same - depreciation is a killer.



Would be good if there was something bigger than the Passat, but we don't get it here.



French cars are not big enough and it seems that someone on the production line was always on holidays when they were put together - so something is not going to work.



Mercedes Benz just seems a bit to old and dowdy. Would love a C63, but too expensive (even second hand) and the rear seat room is limited.



Tried to push a second hand Audi RS6 avant - but my wife is a leadfoot and would only have here licence for about 5 minutes in that. Same for a second hand S6 with the V10 engine - but now starting to get a bit old in the tooth and not sure about servicing.



Panamera's are just plain stupidly priced over here and only 4 seaters and probably too ostentatious for my wife (she is a country girl and hard to keep shoes on).



She drove the A6 today and the quick feedback was very positive compared to the 528i - goes better, etc. Lexus over here is an old golfer's car and we have only just got the GS released. Infiniti has only just entered the Australian market and only has three dealers on the East coast.

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[tamathumper]

Does VW sell the EOS in Australia? The back seat is a bit "deep" and it's a two-door, but it's got the Turbo 2.0L, is great on gas, and has a "neat" factor your wife might like with the hardtop with working sliding sunroof.



Infiniti is going the way of the dodo over here. At least in my part of the country... I just don't see very many of them on the roads any more.

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[craigawoodman]

The EOS is available over here, but it is only the size of a Golf (which is smaller than the A5). There is the Mercedes E250/250 convertible - bigger, but still the issue of two doors and kids getting in and out. Wife loves the convertible, but hates the kids whinging (don't they spoil your style?). We were driving with the roof down and my eldest daughter in the back sulking at the wind - and I started dancing in my seat in the front to a good song and it drove her nuts - she could not stand me embarrasing her driving down the freeway in front of nobody we knew. I am going to love being uncool.



I tried to sell a Golf R - but too small in her eyes. Even the Jetta is now too small.



Why are women so hard to please?



Only consolation is if the A5 goes, it might be easier to justify a manual 968 Cab if one ever comes up for sale over here.



Even proposed keeping her car as a toy and getting something small - no dice. She is even willing to give up on her motorbike (Ducati Monster 798) at this stage.



The Commodore/Caprice is due for a model update early next year - so big depreciation. A4 is too small as well. Toyota's are just boring.

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[Rap]

I was in an EOS the other day and unimpressed. I have an Infiniti G37xs. Second one and love it. I suspect the smaller one is good also!

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[rhudeboye]

2007 2008 Audi A8

lots of leg and head room front and back. Great power. The CPOs up on this end can be had for about 35K

Just a thought.

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[craigawoodman]

Rhudeboye - Agree on the A8, but it might be a bit big. Even the 2010 model over here is not bad value (for the 3.0L diesel), as it has taken a massive depreciation hit. The S8 with the V10 engine would be good, but these are about as expensive as the new model. We seem to get a lot of the A8L models with even more rear legroom. Would not buy one new, but would consider one second had - the first year's depreciation is something like $100k.

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[rhudeboye]

I forget how expensive cars are down there.

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[craigawoodman]

Got to love our Government and their taxation system. If only we were allowed guns.

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[robadams56]

I personally drive an F-150 supercrew as a daily driver but my wife's ride is a Ford Edge. We've had it 4 years and absolutely have been thrilled with it. They are much more roomy inside than they appear and can haul 5 easily with room. The engine is surprisingly powerful and the vehicle will accelerate surprisingly fast. I don't need to say anything else. Just go drive one.



Testimonial - I had a friend whose Lexus ih400 was totaled by a hail storm. She and her hubby ordered a new one but they rented a Ford Edge until it arrived. They cancelled the order and bought an Edge.



Good luck on your decision.

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[tamathumper]

I don't think the Edge will be available in Australia until 2014, if at all. They have the "Ford Territory", but I don't know how similar that is.

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[craigawoodman]

We don't have the "Edge" but would prefer the F150. It s***s me that you can buy a fully loaded F150 for around $50k, but here a Toyota Hilux 4x4 crew cab is more than that (a smaller version of the Tundra - which we cannot get here). It will be interesting to see what happens in two years when Mining companies stop buying the Toyota 78 Series vehicles (as they do not meet a 5 Star crash rating). I would have a full sized pick-up in a minute, but the small ones we have over here are simply gutless and crap.



The Ford Territory is not a bad car, but is now getting a bit long in the tooth. Given that it is also a SUV and we have the Audi Q7 (for the 7 seats and its towing capacity) my wife does not want another 4x4 or SUV.



I think she would love a Corvette and know she would have a Mustang tomorrow - damn how much legroom is in the back for the kids, but an imported and converted to RH drive Mustang (500hp version) is well over $100k. She has always wanted a 65/66 Mustang.



So it has to be a "car". I tried to get her to look at a wagon/estate and she sees this as too "soccer mum" and dowdy. A people mover would get me shot. Then I have to balance what she might be able to keep her licence in as well, given her lead foot.

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