Why not an A4?

hello,

as an Audi owner i would say expensive to run, soft top convertible, not all that reliable and parts/service can be difficult and costly.

(the parts are made by magic gnomes who eat gold leaf and poop fairy dust. YMMV.)

i will NEVER sell mine.

Any thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?

The previous generation Lexus IS350C is a complete snoozebox, with a big fat ass because they couldn't be bothered to properly engineer it to fit a hard top. If you just want a reliable driving appliance with a retractable hard top, buy an SC430. That car is also rolling Novocaine, but it's more luxurious and possibly the most reliable car ever made.

The G37 convertible is just big and fat. Some 4200 pounds worth of fat actually, so it's only marginally more fun than the Lexus. With the top down, the trunk is nonexistent, so you'd better be able to fit what you want to bring with you in the back seats, and hope it doesn't get stolen, or have fun doing the hokey-pokey with the top and your luggage. I also don't like listening to the roided out VQ37HR in the Infiniti G37 sedan. With the top down... yegh. Did I mention the G convertible shakes like an old Saab over broken pavement?

The Audi A5 Cab is equally heavy, but unlike Infiniti, Audi's chassis engineers actually know how to do their jobs. It's a rag top, but a well insulated one, and that means better styling than the hard tops, and a trunk that you can actually put things in. As a former Audi owner myself I know what the service experience is like, but in the last few years Audi's reliability has actually gotten pretty good, so hopefully you won't have to visit the service desk too often. Either a CPO or a thoroughly inspected car is a must though. Audis don't suffer foolish or neglectful prior owners.

The E90 gen 3 series was actually a pretty damn good car, in spite of the quality of people that may have bought them. Stay FAR away from 335is, but 2009+ 328s are holding up to a reasonable degree, though the equivalent A5 2.0T is doing better.

The G37 sedan is fine, it's definitely dynamically better than the convertible, doesn't have the storage issues or cowl shake issues, and mechanical reliability is excellent save perhaps the brakes. It's a little boring and the engine sounds like an old Soviet era tractor, but you could definitely do worse, like the IS250 for example.

The previous generation GS450h was the dumbest car ever made, which is why they sold about five of them. Take a GS350, cut the power down having the engine run Atkinson cycle, add the power back with an electric motor, along with several hundred pounds of weight for the batteries, which kill half of the already too small trunk. Any efficiency gained from having the engine run lean is immediately lost because the car has to lug around all that extra weight, which is why the GS450h is both no faster or more fuel efficient than the GS350. Which is why nobody bought one.

That car was also the second worst car in the segment at the time, ahead of only the "is this thing a joke?" Acura RL.

The previous generation Lexus IS350C is a complete snoozebox, with a big fat ass because they couldn't be bothered to properly engineer it to fit a hard top. If you just want a reliable driving appliance with a retractable hard top, buy an SC430. That car is also rolling Novocaine, but it's more luxurious and possibly the most reliable car ever made.

Meh...I looked at them. 6.7 seconds to 60...yawn. Trophy wife car. I'm not after a true sports car; if I was I'd probably just get a used Boxter and call it quits. But I do want to be able to whip around corners with the top down when nobody's looking

The G37 convertible is just big and fat. Some 4200 pounds worth of fat actually, so it's only marginally more fun than the Lexus. With the top down, the trunk is nonexistent, so you'd better be able to fit what you want to bring with you in the back seats, and hope it doesn't get stolen, or have fun doing the hokey-pokey with the top and your luggage. I also don't like listening to the roided out VQ37HR in the Infiniti G37 sedan. With the top down... yegh. Did I mention the G convertible shakes like an old Saab over broken pavement?

I don't mind the size; I'd actually prefer something with a little meat on its bones for a cleaner ride, but it looks like that's out the window. I expect a little stiffness from a car that's fun to drive, but if it's that bad, I'm out.

The Audi A5 Cab is equally heavy, but unlike Infiniti, Audi's chassis engineers actually know how to do their jobs. It's a rag top, but a well insulated one, and that means better styling than the hard tops, and a trunk that you can actually put things in. As a former Audi owner myself I know what the service experience is like, but in the last few years Audi's reliability has actually gotten pretty good, so hopefully you won't have to visit the service desk too often. Either a CPO or a thoroughly inspected car is a must though. Audis don't suffer foolish or neglectful prior owners.

Meh...sounds too risky. I've heard nightmare stories of Audi repair costs. Also probably more than I want to spend, and while looks aren't my first criteria, Audis just look plain ugly to me. It's odd, because they look fine up close, but on the road they look like marshmallows with wheels. Except the R8, obviously.

The E90 gen 3 series was actually a pretty damn good car, in spite of the quality of people that may have bought them. Stay FAR away from 335is, but 2009+ 328s are holding up to a reasonable degree, though the equivalent A5 2.0T is doing better.

How do you feel about the new 4 series? Any first hand experience or stories from anyone you trust? You're obviously well-informed.

The G37 sedan is fine, it's definitely dynamically better than the convertible, doesn' t have the storage issues or cowl shake issues, and mechanical reliability is excellent save perhaps the brakes. It's a little boring and the engine sounds like an old Soviet era tractor, but you could definitely do worse, like the IS250 for example.

Really? Darn...I really want a drop top. I know it makes me kind of a sucker, but I want to suck up all the Cali sun I can while I'm still here ^_^ My first car was an old Sebring convertible my dad passed down to me, so I'm basically spoiled.

The previous generation GS450h was the dumbest car ever made, which is why they sold about five of them. Take a GS350, cut the power down having the engine run Atkinson cycle, add the power back with an electric motor, along with several hundred pounds of weight for the batteries, which kill half of the already too small trunk. Any efficiency gained from having the engine run lean is immediately lost because the car has to lug around all that extra weight, which is why the GS450h is both no faster or more fuel efficient than the GS350. Which is why nobody bought one.

Well that's that.

What do you know/think about the G350?

That car was also the second worst car in the segment at the time, ahead of only the "is this thing a joke?" Acura RL.

Yeah the specs on Acuras make me wonder why the fuck anyone buys them instead of a Honda. If they made a V6 accord Si convertible, I'd be all over it, no questions asked.

So the G37 has a rough ride and isn't fun...well that sucks to hear. Even the AWD version?

Anything non-Audi you'd recommend? If you wanted what I'm after, what would you get that can be had used for under 30k?

I'm telling you, get a hardtop convertible. Unless you are the type who somehow doesn't ever worry about driving around LA and getting your top slashed and whether you should leave your top up or down when parked trading soft top safety for interior theft, environmental wear or having your seats slashed. Of course, having a soft top up doesn't necessarily prevent those things either!

As for the G37 being a sports car, that's pretty funny imho but to each their own. Anyhow, I'd go for a hardtop Miata or a future hardtop Alfa/Miata. Both too small for you it sounds but actually are sports cars and not fat whales with a V6 or V8 trying to compensate. In the fat whale category I'd go BMW retractable hardtop if I could lease it with service included.

There's also a new TT coming soon. But Audi if you have issues with that.

If you care about ride quality, Infinity is a no brainer over Nissan. If you also care about reliability and a quality interior that will withstand wear over time, anything other than Nissan/Infinity. I can't think of a Luxury brand that falls to pieces faster. Not even Lincoln or Cadillac.

Oh, get a hardtop convertible!! You're utility levels will increase and stress levels will decrease logarithmically.

Oh, Lol @ Mustangs and their hood flutter. Ridiculous.