What car?? $5500 budget

First time posting long time lurker on the forums, and been a subscriber of the magazine for years.

So Im looking for a winter/ part time summer car. I have a E350 van that I bring home every day so no back and forth to work,  and a 07 Mustang that I drive in the summer.  I usually drive this car about 5K-7K per year. Over the past 20 years I have had 02 focus new, 86 BMW 325e, 96 Jetta, 96 A4, 02 Celica,  99 9-5, 04 9-5 (been very happy with the size and amenities of Saabs over the past 10 years) 

The wive has a 15 Explorer so I don't want another SUV in the house, and this time Miata is not the answer. Audi has stabbed me in the back so not going there again. 

Looking for the reliable, comfortable, heated seats,  descent mpg, less then 200k miles, manual a big plus but not a deal breaker.

So far I have considered:  

10+ Taurus/Lincoln MKS

13+ Fusion/Lincoln MKZ

Accord/Acura TL

Lexus

Camry

Infiniti g35/37/m35

Maxima

Mazda 6---  but they tend to rust out bad in Michigan

Not much of a GM or Dodge fan.

Any other ideas like the Korean twins, Volvo, VW,  fill in the blank???? 

Anything on this list you would recommend? Any to watch out for or outright avoid??

Thanks

Jim

Budget is around $5500

If you can find a Lexus LS400 that would be my pick. My son has one and they are fantastic; the motors will do huge mileages.

VW Golf/Jetta with the 2.5.  Shockingly bulletproof. I had zero faith in the reliability when we bought it but it has been nothing but anvil solid.

I see you have Infiniti M35 on the list. In most markets, driver grade, older Infinitis like Q45s and M45 can be found with less than 130k miles for less than $5k. Sometimes significantly less. Look for a well maintained example. 

Powerful engines and a comfy ride but does call for Premium fuel. Generally just forgotten models that no one goes looking for. 

Your profile says Lansing. Some examples... 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/782207629467398/

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1070371120282301/

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/986160685382485/

In Infiniti-speak,X means awd. Lots of Infiniti awd sedans. Otherwise mostly rwd. 

Sonata/Optima

For the real bargain and comfort look for an Azera or Kadenza. 

In reply to JWhaite :

How about an XJR  Jaaaag? Could definitely get into it under your budget.  Not the best on fuel mileage though.

I've been considering selling it lately.

i'd avoid the taurus /MKS route, its proper E36 M3 ford. the MKZ/fusion is a mazda6  so its quite nice and because its not a mazda badge, its got 30-50more hp which is nice. the MKZ is a real treat with the right options. 

V50 T5 AWD manual 

Another vote for the Fusion/Milan/MKZ. My parents have been driving my sister's old Fusion as a runabout car and it's impressively quiet, comfy and dependable. Not exciting to drive, but certainly pleasant.

I had a similar pricepoint and interests a few months ago and ended up with an 08 mazda 3 hatch.  For what I'd consider to be an appliance vehicle I really enjoy driving it.

If you like the Saabs, why not continue on that path? I'd think $5500 would buy a nice example of a 9-3 Sport Sedan or Dame Edna 9-5  with a manual trans.

I also agree with the LS400/430 suggestion above, but they get the MPG that you'd expect from a V8/auto/RWD sedan and might be a budget stretch.

the big thing with the TL's in your price range is (assuming you're talking about the 3rd-gen) is the dash is all cracked on them... and if it hasn't cracked, it's going to crack.  also, the rear bank of cylinders is a bit of a pain to work on... and getting extended studs on the front requires pressing out the hubs from the uprights.

otherwise...

~260hp, 3500#s... the 6spd has a factory LSD and front Brembo 4-pot calipers, with 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension.  It'll get 30mpg on the highway and 22 around town.  And you can squeeze probably up to a 265 up front with some fender tucking/stretching.

If we're talking Lexus, a gs400/430 also falls in that price range. TSXs are also similarly priced.