The G-spot

[GoCougs]

If I didn't need AWD I could be up for a lot more choices. Such as it is only three make the cut right now (beyond of course another G37X):

Golf R - Those bastards are playing the artificial demand game again. Homie ain't gonna play that with an econo car.

Audi S4 w/out MMI - Pretty much the only poseur class car that can be had without the awful and distracting infotainment but the reliability issues are scary. Plus, knowing an all-new car is just around the corner (even though I think it looks awful and would buy it) rubs my snobbishness a bit wrong.

IS350 AWD - Highly unlikely but it's the only Japanese car I'd consider ATM. Don't like the looks, don't like the infotainment, bitterly disappointed in the 10-year-old power/drive train.

[ifcar]

I've forgotten your requirements, but if you're considering a Golf size, how about an Audi A3 or S3?

[12,000 RPM]

A Q50 with ~350 hp, DSG or 8sp ZF or M/T, adaptive suspension, Apple CarPlay, and a bit more character would be a nice package.

Agreed... if they put some knobs in the infotainment stack and sorted out the suspension that would be a compelling package. 335i 6MT with Bilstein PSS and LSD sounds pretty damn close

[Laconian]

The steering of the Q50 is abominable. Really, really, really bad. I tried driving it with an open mind, but it had the pure and natural feel of Hard Drivin'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6JC-HCNcio

[GoCougs]

I've forgotten your requirements, but if you're considering a Golf size, how about an Audi A3 or S3?

Car, 4 doors, AWD, good tranny, a fair amount of performance and limited infotainment intrusion or Apple CarPlay.

Not a fan of the A/S3. I'd just go with the S4.

[GoCougs]

The steering of the Q50 is abominable. Really, really, really bad. I tried driving it with an open mind, but it had the pure and natural feel of Hard Drivin'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6JC-HCNcio

Hahahahaha! I remember - shifter and vibrating wheel and all!

Q50 steer-by-wire is awful. The worst part for me was the steering would fight and do its own thing on long sweeping corners.

[AutobahnSHO]

Car, 4 doors, AWD, good tranny, a fair amount of performance and limited infotainment intrusion or Apple CarPlay.

Not a fan of the A/S3. I'd just go with the S4.

Legacy   

[Cookie Monster]

Legacy   

Less power, CVT, not a premium badge.

[Laconian]

H6 Regacy

[MX793]

H6 Regacy

Subie's H6 is simply not a very good motor.  Way behind the game versus everyone else's 6 cylinders in terms of performance and fuel efficiency.

[GoCougs]

I've just never cared much for Subaru. I would take a Camcord V6 waaaay before I'd take a Subaru Legacy.

[12,000 RPM]

Its only because they are the Camcord of the PNW

[afty]

The Legacy isn't sporty at all. Maybe if there were a Legacy STi...

[MX793]

The Legacy isn't sporty at all. Maybe if there were a Legacy STi...

There used to be a Legacy GT which was reasonably sporty as well as the 3.6R.  Current Legacy has no sporting intentions whatsoever.

[12,000 RPM]

Impreza is the new Legacy. Same wheelbase and more interior room than previous gens

[MX793]

The standard Impreza has no real sporting intentions either.  I saw somebody auto-x a previous gen regular Impreza and the body roll was like watching a Buick Park Ave.  Way worse than a stock Corolla of the same vintage.

[ifcar]

The current Impreza is an improvement. Probably still not autocross material, but certainly more fun than a Corolla on the street.

[12,000 RPM]

Yea the last Impreza was Tito bad. They made some improvements this go round.

[AutobahnSHO]

I've just never cared much for Subaru. I would take a Camcord V6 waaaay before I'd take a Subaru Legacy.

Except your wants were

Car, 4 doors, AWD, good tranny, a fair amount of performance and limited infotainment intrusion or Apple CarPlay.

Legacy has all of those, Camcord fails on traction.

I think the newere Legacy is boring, and definitely not sporty, and is far from luxury and lower on power.  Still underneath it wouldn't be any worse than the camcords

[Morris Minor]

MPG on the G37 - measured over two tanksful - city driving: 21.30.

[GoCougs]

I don't get that in the "X" - I'd be 18.5 - 19.0. I have to have a decent amount of freeway driving to break 20 mpg.

[12,000 RPM]

If I broke 20 in the Z it was either the stars had aligned (summer blend gas + no AC load), I did a road trip (26 MPG max) or I was a very very very very good boy.

[CJ]

Hahahahaha! I remember - shifter and vibrating wheel and all!

Q50 steer-by-wire is awful. The worst part for me was the steering would fight and do its own thing on long sweeping corners.

I thought I was going crazy when I noticed that.

[afty]

My lifetime average MPG in my G35 is 18.2. 

[Laconian]

Mine's probably about that, too. It is shockingly low compared to the EPA numbers. I can get in the high 20's on a road trip with no stops, but around town, the VQ just sucks gas.

[GoCougs]

The best I've ever gotten is ~26 mpg on an all-freeway drive but then again a good portion of it was at ~75 mph. My lifetime (or, over the last ~70,000 miles shows ~19.5 mpg)

My friends with other poser class cars report about the same mpg (19-20 mpg ave), and most of them are smaller, less powerful motors...

[Laconian]

Poser class, LOL. The M-B CLA immediately springs to mind.

[GoCougs]

The CLA is IMO the worst car extent. That title was previously held by the C class, but in a surprising twist the all-new version is probably at the top of the poser class now - the C450 is one sweet machine.

[BimmerM3]

Poser class, LOL. The M-B CLA immediately springs to mind.

My step sister just got one... but only because she works for MB USA and has access to some crazy cheap lease deal. What's even better is that her boyfriend/my best friend has a 335i that was heavily subsidized by his parents. Poser class cars for actual posers.

[GoCougs]

The Germans at the tops of the class - S4, 335i, C450 - have a compelling proposition but an IS250, C300 or A4? Jesus, how desperate does a person have to be to pony up for that.