Luxury commuter car?

[GoCougs]

How does an IS250 do the job better than an A4?

It is smaller and more refined.

[2o6]

It is smaller and more refined.

The IS and A4 are virtually the same size, and the A4 has more room. The A3 is smaller than both, and it's still very nice inside.

[GoCougs]

The IS and A4 are virtually the same size, and the A4 has more room. The A3 is smaller than both, and it's still very nice inside.

The IS is ~6" shorter and ~2" narrower; it is materially a smaller car.

The A3 may be nice but it is not luxury.

[2o6]

The IS is ~6" shorter and ~2" narrower; it is materially a smaller car.

The A3 may be nice but it is not luxury.

That would work very well. Loaded it with options it would make a decent economical gentleman's conveyance.

[Raza]

It is smaller and more refined.

Smaller and less refined, you mean.  With a worse interior. 

[CALL_911]

Smaller and less refined, you mean.  With a worse interior. 

+1

Where the hell did you get that from, Cougs?

[sportyaccordy]

+1

Where the hell did you get that from, Cougs?

Germany was our enemy in WWII

[Morris Minor]

I challenged the service manager at the Infiniti dealer today to try and think of a SMALL (Corolla size) luxury commuter car. He was stumped... could not get beyond the perception (which IMO is a largely American perception) that small 4 cylinder cars are cheap.

[CALL_911]

Germany was our enemy in WWII

So was Japan.

[sportyaccordy]

So was Japan.

Well Germany's role in WWI/II is the source of Cougs' beef

[GoCougs]

+1

Where the hell did you get that from, Cougs?

(German) 4 cyl = much less refined than a (Toyota) V6.

I prefer the looks of the A4 but and have never been a big IS fan but I cannot deny that the IS is higher up the luxury/refinement ladder than the A4.

[CALL_911]

(German) 4 cyl = much less refined than a (Toyota) V6.

I prefer the looks of the A4 but and have never been a big IS fan but I cannot deny that the IS is higher up the luxury/refinement ladder than the A4.

You'd be surprised at how smooth the 2.0T is.

Hell, I found that the A4's interior felt better than the IS's too. That goes for the B7 and B8.

[Payman]

(German) 4 cyl = much less refined than a (Toyota) V6.

I prefer the looks of the A4 but and have never been a big IS fan but I cannot deny that the IS is higher up the luxury/refinement ladder than the A4.

Are you serious?

[Payman]

If you can wait 2 or 3 years, or whenever we get it, Alfa Romeo Guiletta.

[2o6]

If you can wait 2 or 3 years, or whenever we get it, Alfa Romeo Guiletta.

I think that car is ugly.

[GoCougs]

You'd be surprised at how smooth the 2.0T is.

Hell, I found that the A4's interior felt better than the IS's too. That goes for the B7 and B8.

It's decent don't get me wrong but it's still a 4-cylinder.

I find Audi interiors a bit stark.

[CALL_911]

It's decent don't get me wrong but it's still a 4-cylinder.

I find Audi interiors a bit stark.

It's quite smooth. It's probably a bit rougher than the Toyota 2.5L, but not by much (yes, I've been in an IS250). I'm pretty sure it's a good deal quicker as well.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about the interior bit. I, personally, found the IS's interior kind of cheap. I like the A4's interior.

[r0tor]

The lexus/toyota bashing is really getting old for me... Drive an is250 with the sport package and get back to me.  The 350 has some serious balls.  I'd love to drive an is-f one day....

Its damn solid, good handling,  sporty, and refined car that you also don't have to worry about breaking your bank after the warranty is out like its german counterparts (and yes I love the a4 and most audi products)

[sportyaccordy]

It's decent don't get me wrong but it's still a 4-cylinder.

I find Audi interiors a bit stark.

It's probably the best 4 cylinder in production. It's less thrashy than the VQ, more tractable than the Lexus 2.5, and while it's obviously not on the level of the better 6es in refinement, it's about as good a performer (if not better with its meaty low end torque).

I agree that German small cars have stark interiors, but outside of that Audi still has the best interior in class by an appreciable margin. If Morris lives in the snow belt the Audi's definitely worth consideringq

[Morris Minor]

If Morris lives in the snow belt the Audi's definitely worth consideringq

I live quite a long way south of the Y'all Line.

[SVT666]

It's probably the best 4 cylinder in production. It's less thrashy than the VQ, more tractable than the Lexus 2.5, and while it's obviously not on the level of the better 6es in refinement, it's about as good a performer (if not better with its meaty low end torque).

I agree that German small cars have stark interiors, but outside of that Audi still has the best interior in class by an appreciable margin. If Morris lives in the snow belt the Audi's definitely worth consideringq

It doesn't have a big H stamped on it so it's crap.

[Raza]

The lexus/toyota bashing is really getting old for me... Drive an is250 with the sport package and get back to me.  The 350 has some serious balls.  I'd love to drive an is-f one day....

Its damn solid, good handling,  sporty, and refined car that you also don't have to worry about breaking your bank after the warranty is out like its german counterparts (and yes I love the a4 and most audi products)

I rather like the IS.  Although, the only IS with a manual available is the IS250, and those motherfuckers won't stock them here.  Only IS250 AWD models, since in this climate, people only want AWD .

Even if I could find one, it's still cramped for its class (which isn't an issue for me), with an interior that isn't quite up to Audi standards (but isn't bad, if a bit plasticky).  And not to mention that it's heavy (3400 or so) and the 250's engine doesn't exactly propel it forward.  0-60 in 7.9 seconds puts it well behind the class's other entry level cars (even the C class manages it in 7.1 and the four cylinder A4 in 6.4/6.6).  I considered it as a replacement for my Jetta, but in pretty much every way, it's a downgrade.  I like the IS, but for the enthusiast, there's only the IS-F, and that's even only if you can accept not having a stick. 

[Mustangfan2003]

I'd have a luxuay commuter car once I get the bugs worked out.

[Northlands]

I think the IS , A3 are both good suggestions. TSX ( non uglified used version ) would work. Too bad you guys don't get CSX's down there. There's a Corolla sized luxo-commuter right there too.

[Autobahn]

Would you consider a C 220 CDI or 320d or A4 TDI if they were available?

I second the A3 suggestion, I think if you don't put huge wheels on them, they are pretty decent ride wise...

[Vinsanity]

Would you consider a C 220 CDI or 320d or A4 TDI if they were available?

I always thought that a diesel C-class would make a neat little company car for a traveling businessman.

I second the A3 suggestion, I think if you don't put huge wheels on them, they are pretty decent ride wise...

I also always thought that the A3 would look cool lowered on some nice, polished, deep-dish, mesh-pattern 20"s

[68_427]

Comfortable, small, and cheap.

[2o6]

Comfortable, small, and cheap.

Old, unreliable, and craptacular.

[MX793]

Old, unreliable, and craptacular.

Old?  They made them through 2008.

And most of the significant reliability issues were with the first couple of years of the car ('02-'03).

[sportyaccordy]

I think the IS , A3 are both good suggestions. TSX ( non uglified used version ) would work. Too bad you guys don't get CSX's down there. There's a Corolla sized luxo-commuter right there too.

Hell, a Civic EX-L with navigation is basically a badge + camshaft away. In fact, I would say damn near any mainstreamer with heated leather seats and navigation (stock or aftermarket double DIN) is probably not far off from a 'true' luxury car. An old Infiniti I30 w/an aftermarket in dash navi unit would probably run you about 5-6K altogether, and not be far off from something newer as far as performance or reliability