Learn me: 5-10 year old land yachts

Ok, maybe not so much a land yacht as a 70s caddy but what about the newer renditions from bmw, audi, mercedes and infinity.

I put 1000 miles on brand new bmw 528 this week through work and was curious if there are any "reasonable" cars out on the used market that are similar?

I dont know a thing about the $60k new market, but seeing a 2012 $60k automobile go for $20k-$25k after 40-60k miles has spiked my interest this week.

Anyone have any experiences with said cars? More specifically the f10 5series, newish A6 from audi or the latest from mercedes in equivalent size?

Pointers on:

1. Reliablity

2. Manual vs auto versions

3. Maintenance costs

4. Can a general mechanic do work on them or special tools/software required most of the time?

Paul

Anything that new and that german depreciated that quickly for a reason. Run away unless you have a warranty or hate your wallet and money. Now conversely, both Infiniti and Lexus have made some superb vehicles that fit your description and should easily meet your price tag.

Just buy the best W220 S500 you can find. It's relatively reliable, has surprisingly reasonable maintenance costs, and can even be worked on at home. Well, either a W220 or a Panther.

G_Body_Man wrote: Just buy the best W220 S600 (or S65) you can find. It's powered by the twin turbo V12 hand of God.

Fixed it for you.

I drove a Lexus 430 and a MB S500 back to back last weekend. Both were early 2000 cars tge Merc was by far the better car. The 430 felt cheap, tinny, and fragile where as the Merc felt solid and planted. The Merc I would bet was a 8k car where as the 430 was probibly a 5k car. Both were well maintained and both had about 80k on them.

Is there anything out there without a slush box? One reason I never even looked into mercs was because they havent produced anything but automatics for the last 10 years.

BMW 5 series and Caddy CTS are about the closest I can think of to land yachts with manuals.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say VW Phaeton. No manual, but W12 engine!

Sadly the Acura RL was never offered with a manual or I'd suggest the 2nd-gen

Though they're auto only, sounds like the Hyundai Genesis or Equus might be right up your alley. They're really nice luxo barges that depreciate in an awful hurry.

MKS Ecoboost.

Install some SHO suspension upgrades, and you are done.

Pretty much any of the big luxo barges are auto only. Some of the slightly older ones are possible to manual swap, but I've never really felt the desire in most of the ones I've driven. The big cars tend to just smooth everything out, so a decently programmed auto works out just fine (most of them seem pretty responsive and are pretty good at just doing what they need to, at least the older ZF boxes in BMWs and Jags I've driven and the newer Audi ZF 8 speeds).

I don't have any answers to your questions, but for some reason I've always wanted a 2003 or 4 Infinity M45. I think it was a Nissan Gloria in Japan. A C&D test in 2003 didn't like it as much as an A6, E320 or 530i. But they liked the 4.5 liter V8. Auto only.

Hyundai Equus is surprisingly nice to drive and be in. Those run mid 20's with mileage in the 50K range.

G8MikeGXP wrote: I don't have any answers to your questions, but for some reason I've always wanted a 2003 or 4 Infinity M45. I think it was a Nissan Gloria in Japan. A C&D test in 2003 didn't like it as much as an A6, E320 or 530i. But they liked the 4.5 liter V8. Auto only.

I came to post about this car..

If you go with a used German barge, buy it from CarMax and get the extended warranty. You won't have to worry when something expensive inevitability breaks.

I really like my XJR:

Slightly older and cheaper than you were looking at. It ran until 2003 in that body style.

E39 540i 6speed, surprisingly easy to find with a manual because something like 50% were sold with the 6speed. And the m5 differential makes it a riot (lsd and better gears)

I love that XJR but maintenance scares me more than the others for some reason.

I also love the idea of a e39 540 or ctsv if done right but the e39 is getting older and the first gen ctsv's are ugly IMO.

Getting a bit smaller but a VW CC would be another. Didnt they make a 3.6R? (vr6 4 motion 6 speed CC)

NickD wrote: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say VW Phaeton. No manual, but W12 engine! Sadly the Acura RL was never offered with a manual or I'd suggest the 2nd-gen

Dude, that's just mean. I had a phaeton and I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the repairs! Phenomenal car but the reality never quite made up for the fact it was a quirky German computer in the general shape of an automobile. Also stupidly rare, fewer than 300 in North Amarica. (Worth looking at an A8 with the W12 if you really feel the need for a 200mph sedan)

The Passat CC with the 3.6 4motion is excellent, but very midsize, not exactly a land yacht.

IIRC XJRs are also slushbox only.

KyAllroad wrote:

NickD wrote: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say VW Phaeton. No manual, but W12 engine! Sadly the Acura RL was never offered with a manual or I'd suggest the 2nd-gen

Dude, that's just mean. I had a phaeton and I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the repairs! Phenomenal car but the reality never quite made up for the fact it was a quirky German computer in the general shape of an automobile. Also stupidly rare, fewer than 300 in North Amarica. (Worth looking at an A8 with the W12 if you really feel the need for a 200mph sedan) The Passat CC with the 3.6 4motion is excellent, but very midsize, not exactly a land yacht.

I admit, I don't know much about the Phaeton, other than they were gorgeous and hopped the fast train to Depreciation Station. I would like to see one done up in full VIP style, laid out on air suspension over some real high-end wheels.

I bought an '05 (75k msrp) in '08 with a whopping 32K miles on it for $24,500. Today they go for 5-8 thousand I think.

I vote infinity M45. Haven't driven one, but if it drives similar to a G35 I would get it.

My xtype has treated me well. AWD is nice. Ride is somewhere between a Merc and a BMW.

Get the latest one you can find and look for leaks at the rear of the transfer case. Change all the fluids with quality synthetic (I use Ames oil) in the trans transfer case and rear dif. And drive. People are scared of these due to transfer case failure. Every one I have seen that failed had a leaking rear seal and when removed were dry.

I recommend putting any of these cars up on a lift two times a year just to inspect for leaks. Keep in front of them and jags will treat you really well.

Not alot of sporty in these cars but I have found them to be very nice place to be no matter if you are in the city or eating the miles up on the interstate.

go back a bit further... LS400... get a real nice one for under $4000, and it'll take the miles forever... put the remaining $20k in the bank