Luxury commuter car?

[Morris Minor]

My commute is about an hour each way through stop start traffic. Many idle hours in the car have led me to speculate on what the ideal commuter car would look like. You see, I want all the luxuries but I don't want the bulk and expense of a large luxury car. Imagine a Nissan Sentra, or Ford Focus, or Toyota Corolla but with a six speed auto, heated & cooled seats, climate control, silence, decent sound system: the amenities, in short, that you'd expect to find in a Lexus LS 460, but in a small sedan with respectable fuel economy.

My Pilot is too big, too unwieldy and drinks too much gas. I drove the G35 Coupe into Atlanta today; it's nice, but demands too much in heavy traffic - I don't wanna deal with a manual transmission. A couple of weeks ago I brought in the Scion tC. It has the requisite lack of mass but does not have the luxuries.

Would there be any profit in a super luxury small(ish) car? Do refinement and coddling demand engines with more than four cylinders and two liters?

[68_427]

Buick Regal?

[CALL_911]

My mother's commute is the same way. She picked an Audi A4. She loves it.

[mzziaz]

Do you get the A3?

[68_427]

Do you get the A3?

Yes.  Even TDi

[Cookie Monster]

I would love a 320d for your type of commute.

[Vinsanity]

I thought such an idea would be silly until I started slogging though real rush-hour traffic. Now, it doesn't seem so bad. The Lexus HS was a potential strong candidate for this type of car until it turned out to have so-so mpg and disappointing driving dynamics. Audi A3 TDI is a good one. What can our resident Canadians tell us about the Acura Civic Hybrid?

[68_427]

Lexus CT200h?

[Vinsanity]

Lexus CT200h?

ugly stick on wheels.

a diesel C-class would be a nice choice, though

[2o6]

C30. Jetta Wolfsburg.

[CJ]

C30, GTI, etc.

[sportyaccordy]

What are your must haves? It's a tough call but I think the 1st gen TSX would best serve your needs. Relatively luxurious, spacious enough, great driving dynamics, relatively engaging (but economic) powertrain, and most importantly CHEAP. You could probably find a relatively low mileage one for 15K no problem.

[Jon?]

Buick Regal?

+1.  Reliable, cheap to keep up and drives pretty well if you can find a GS in decent shape.

[68_427]

+1.  Reliable, cheap to keep up and drives pretty well if you can find a GS in decent shape.

I was thinking new one. 

[2o6]

+1.  Reliable, cheap to keep up and drives pretty well if you can find a GS in decent shape.

That interior doesn't seem very luxurious......in comparison to the cars we're recommending.

[CALL_911]

What are your must haves? It's a tough call but I think the 1st gen TSX would best serve your needs. Relatively luxurious, spacious enough, great driving dynamics, relatively engaging (but economic) powertrain, and most importantly CHEAP. You could probably find a relatively low mileage one for 15K no problem.

That was my other suggestion. My sister has one, it's a great little car.

[2o6]

You might be able to get a deal on an S40. Not many people warmed up to them.

[CJ]

You might be able to get a deal on an S40. Not many people warmed up to them.

Are you kidding?  They're everywhere in these parts.  EVERYWHERE.

[Morris Minor]

What are your must haves? It's a tough call but I think the 1st gen TSX would best serve your needs. Relatively luxurious, spacious enough, great driving dynamics, relatively engaging (but economic) powertrain, and most importantly CHEAP. You could probably find a relatively low mileage one for 15K no problem.

That's a good choice; maybe a little skewed to "sporting luxury" rather than "luxury" but very nice, a classic from the golden era when not all Acuras were so ugly that one had to avert one's eyes.

[Vinsanity]

S40's seemed popular enough, but I did see some pretty good deals out there last time I looked.


Also, somehow I thought this was just a theoretical exercise but if Morris is looking, maybe a Lincoln Fusion Hybrid might be worth a gander. It's just the same old story, being a fully-equipped Ford, but it manages to look like a winner compared to the Lexus HS.

[68_427]

S40's seemed popular enough, but I did see some pretty good deals out there last time I looked.


Also, somehow I thought this was just a theoretical exercise but if Morris is looking, maybe a Lincoln Fusion Hybrid might be worth a gander. It's just the same old story, being a fully-equipped Ford, but it manages to look like a winner compared to the Lexus HS.

It has standard heated and cooled seats too.  Something Morris mentioned in his OP.

It also starts at the same MSRP as the base FWD car.

[Raza]

GTI or Golf TDI.  DSG (I think the TDI has a DSG as well, but I'm not sure) available, great fuel economy, and many of the amenities you can get in a 3 series for 15K less.  Great fun with great efficiency too.  If you want a solid feeling car that isn't a luxury car, it has to be Volkswagen. 

[BimmerM3]

GTI or Golf TDI.  DSG (I think the TDI has a DSG as well, but I'm not sure) available, great fuel economy, and many of the amenities you can get in a 3 series for 15K less.  Great fun with great efficiency too.  If you want a solid feeling car that isn't a luxury car, it has to be Volkswagen. 

I was going to say Jetta TDI, but that works too.

[Submariner]

I would love a 320d for your type of commute.

+600

Of course, to get features like SatNav, power seats, Xenon headlights, etc, it could get pricey. 

[Tave]

I drove the G35 Coupe into Atlanta today; it's nice, but demands too much in heavy traffic - I don't wanna deal with a manual transmission.

The new G37 coupe is available with a 7-speed auto, as is the 2009 model.

[sportyaccordy]

We need to know the price cap and if it has to be new.

[goldenlover1101]

Definitely A3 would be my choice given your requirements.

[Morris Minor]

S40's seemed popular enough, but I did see some pretty good deals out there last time I looked.


Also, somehow I thought this was just a theoretical exercise but if Morris is looking, maybe a Lincoln Fusion Hybrid might be worth a gander. It's just the same old story, being a fully-equipped Ford, but it manages to look like a winner compared to the Lexus HS.

Yes, this is a theoretical exercise. 10/10th handling and blinding acceleration aren't as important as insulating the driver from the tedium of overcrowded roads. I was trying to visualize something about the size of Corolla but without the "built down to a price" feel.

[2o6]

Yes, this is a theoretical exercise. 10/10th handling and blinding acceleration aren't as important as insulating the driver from the tedium of overcrowded roads. I was trying to visualize something about the size of Corolla but without the "built down to a price" feel.

Jetta.

[CJ]

Golf TDI fits your criteria, I believe.