Moving up in life and my '04 Ralliart has been paid for years ago. I'm ready for a new ride, looking to lease. I've gone through this dilemma for the past few months and wondered if you guys would like to take a crack at it. It doesn't have to be super practical as my family and I can ride together in our Mazda CX-7

Here's my basic requirements. Gotta be under $50K and/or lease not much over $500 with 5K down, Needs to have a very nice interior (luxury level or close), needs to be sporty (hopefully around 300HP). Japanese or German origin. Needs to have some semblance of back seats (I have a 3 year old).

Here's my finalists in order from best to worse as far as my feelings. I'm open to suggestions.

EVO X GSR Loaded - $38K
+++ Awesome performance, price and practicality. Unique.
----- Economy interior, I'm already bored as is with my lancer.


Infinity G37 Journey Coupe RWD Automatic - $42K
+++ Great interior, performance is good, nice lease deal
----- Too many of these on the road already, wife doesn't like the exterior much.


Infinity G37 IPL - $49K
+++ better exterior, better performance, more unique than a G37 coupe.
----- Getting a bit pricey here, wife still doesn't like the looks

Lexus IS 350 $45K
+++ Fantastic interior, decent performance, wife would like a Lexus
----- Little on the pricey side, not very edgy and way to many on the road already

Nismo 370Z - 40K
+++ Price is reasonable, great performance, wife and I think it looks F'ing hot.
----- Cloth seats, no back seats is probably the nail in the coffin.

BMW 335i 45K
+++ Excellent balance of luxury and performance, No maintenance costs
----- We already had a 3 series, interior is too similar. We weren't that excited by it.

 

Evo X GSR - seems like you're growing out of full-performance vehicles and would trade some of it for comfort, so I'd say no to the X honestly

G37 (any) - I honestly think these are overrated. They just feel too much like a Nissan (hell they use the exact same key-fobs). The interior has a goofy design/layout. And the exterior is pretty dull to me. Nothing about it impresses me enough for the price tag

IS 350 - The SST has spoiled me and I can't stand the transmission in the IS series. Also, for some reason I didn't like the interior in the 2011's. I absolutely loved it before, but when I looked at a new one recently, the whole car seemed pretty mute and dull

370Z - Just go take a test drive and you'll see how uncomfortable it is. A definite NO

BMW 335i - just dull styling, and it seems like you're already bored of it

Why not an Audi? Audi's are the only cars that seem to attract me over the 40k price range. They look so unbelievably sexy (even a normal A4 makes my head turn) and refinement makes me drool.

Anyway, this is just my opinion, gl with the search

 

Ford Taurus SHO. It's not German/Japanese, but why limit yourself to a specific country of origin? 365 HP, tons of interior space, quick (especially with the performance package), very nice interior and tons of options, 17/25 MPG. $40-$45k MSRP, but can probably get it for less. Only downside is no manual trans.

Or, like mentioned above, take a look at Audi. Right now I'd take them over a BMW.

Or there's the Mustang. A kid can fit in the back seat just fine.

 

^...

Taurus SHO's (any Taurus model) are huge cars.

It sounds like an Audi A4 or S4 can fit your bill.

 

is 250 or 350 hands down, interior in these things are beautiful, alot of creature comforts. **** it was the first time i have ever sat in let alone even knew their was such a things as air conditioned seats. my buddy just had one and got rid of it to get the IS-C. i would recommend looking at them first

 

New Mustang GT 5.0 FTW. Those cars have come a long way and rock in terms of gas mileage.

 

If you want best bang for the buck, especially on a lease... then I'd recommend the Hyundai Genesis sedan with the V8. 385HP and loaded with goodies! Take the time to test drive one, you will not be disappointed.

 

Oo, forgot about the Genesis, that's a good one.

 

im with the audi too.

just had a brand new A6 as a loaner and it was fantastic!!!

3.0 Supercharged V6, loaded w/nav/sirius/dvd, surprisingly good gas mileage, plenty of room, paddle shifters, good aftermarket (if your gonna lease prob not).

gl!