What car--highway cruiser edition

Requirements:
- 25MPG at 80MPH
- Comfortable
- Somewhat roomy interior
- Quiet
- Under $2,500
- Low running costs (insurance, maintenance)
- Reliable

Preferences, but not required:
- RWD
- Leather
- Heated Seats - 28+MPG at 80MPH
- 1500lb towing capacity

I'm thinking that this list will spit out early Lexus ES's, Crown Vics and Grand Marquis, and possibly an Infiniti or two, but I figure I'd throw it to the hive to see what they say.

EDIT: No Acura's or Honda's. The seats do not jive with me; too short on the legs.

Buick Lesabre, Park Ave, etc w/3800 V6. Cheap to buy, runs forever, comfy and will hit 30mpg. 1500lbs towing should be possible. Sorry, FWD though.

97- 05 GM H-body (Bonneville, LeSabre, Oldsmobile 98 and LSS). V-6 models specifically. Dirt cheap to buy and really good highway cruisers. 25+ mpg easy even with the supercharged models. Seats like your living room sofa. Get one from a little old lady or an estate sale.

LT1 Caprice or roadmaster should get those highway numbers. Big comfy highway cruiser.

Saab 9000. Bonus points for an Aero.

This hits every requirement and preference except the 28mpg and I'm not sure about a tow rating, but I think it could do it.

you will be hard pressed to got 28+ MPG out of any of those options. realistically 24-25 max. The early I30's were good cruisers and cheap or the J30 if you want RWD.

Really you are looking 4 cylinder to meet those needs so meet your new friend the camry.

Lexus LS, GS, SC

Infiniti Q, J, or I (fwd)

Highly optioned Maxima (fwd)

Mazda 929

LT1 roadmaster

3800 powered buicks (fwd)

Volvo 700/900 series

Some of those probably won't get 25+mpg but should be in the ballpark.

thestig99 wrote: Saab 9000. Bonus points for an Aero.

Unicorn. I've seen pictures on the internet but have never seen one in the wild. Not sure they really exist.

nicksta43 wrote:

thestig99 wrote: Saab 9000. Bonus points for an Aero.

Unicorn. I've seen pictures on the internet but have never seen one in the wild. Not sure they really exist.

I see them daily. Expensive FWD euro sedan was a better seller in the frozen north I guess.

Welcome to your new car

This

nicksta43 wrote:

thestig99 wrote: Saab 9000. Bonus points for an Aero.

Unicorn. I've seen pictures on the internet but have never seen one in the wild. Not sure they really exist.

Saw one yesterday. Was in good shape, too.

Lexus LS400. 90's Toyota quality, total q-ship.

Infiniti G20 matches most of the list. Pretty much a big, luxury Sentra SE-R.

Under $2500 makes this rather difficult to hit a good choice.

Look for an old 2000CY 5 series with beat up sheet metal manual trans.

Merc Diesel.

I'd echo most of the choices on here, but one other that hits everything except RWD would be an older Toyota Avalon. They're the ultimate Buick...and you can't kill 'em no matter how hard you try.

LT1 fleetwood or a roadmaster.

Klayfish wrote: I'd echo most of the choices on here, but one other that hits everything except RWD would be an older Toyota Avalon. They're the ultimate Buick...and you can't kill 'em no matter how hard you try.

This might be the one I wasn't thinking of

If you grab a crown vic or marquis with the 2.73 rear end (civilian models) you should be able to hit at least 27 mpg highway cruising.

I wonder about the Acura Legend. I really like the first gen coupes.

Early LS400, Nissan Maxima, LT1 F body?

I second the Avalon vote. I'd be looking mid to late 90's Toyota/Lexus or Nissan/Infiniti. Lots of them came loaded with leather and you can probably still find well maintained ones, as they sold a ton. Reliable, low part costs and should come close to your mpg requirement. Just might have to search to find a good one at your price point (but that's what we do here, right?).

Well, the Panther cars are a good bet, but they're not going to get 25 MPG at 80MPH, more like 20-23. I can usually eek out 25MPG at around 76MPH, though.

Its not rwd but what about an Intrepid/300m? You should be able to get one in the price range. If not, i'd probably go with one of the GM yachts or even maybe a Buick Century.