What's the car equivalent of the Hundy?

[jerryb]

that's funny, if you hung out on F chat or rennlist or pelican, all those dudes had lx470s of that era also, or LC.
The best time ever to buy cars was 2007-2010. Money was extremely cheap. I miss those days.

iF you were under 35 YO a 5 or 7 series was, is a fun second car. OVER 35-or 40 I have to agree on the LS. The 2007 GS was very boring to me. But the 740 il was much more fun to cruise in.

Of course having two big ass cars means you need a third toy. lol, pick your 20k toy. BUY the E39

 

[RND1]

@RND1 : I think you're heading in the right direction checking out the LS and GS. Both, to me, have as close to the LC's tank like build quality and uber-hushed driving environ as anything else on the road (car wise). As much as I love old Subies (along with everyone else here in greater New England), they are a bit tinny and don't have the buttoned up, solid feel of our LCs or many Lexus cars/trucks.

Also, are all LC owners the same?! Seriously though, I've been eyeing an E39 M5 for quite some time, is there some unwritten rule I missed?

I agree that Subies don't have that same swiss bank vault feel of an LC. The LS, merc S class, Audi A8, and BMW 7 seem to have that heavy tank-like feel like our 100's. Of those, I think the LS wins hands down in the long-term reliability and cost of ownership.

Interesting that several folks voted for Volvo. My only experience with the brand is through friends who all had reliability problems after 100K and very high cost of maintenance (dealer) - one had an S80, another V70, another XC90. I'm staying away from Volvo even though I love their seats and their safety.

Many of us have an LC and a M car in the garage. It's just a great combo. I think @Austin Hot Shoe has an e39 M5 too!

 

[lt1fire]

most newer volvos i've had contact with through friends don't seem to be super reliable..... the older ones seem like they will run forever though

 

[hickuptruck]

Sports car equivalent of the Hundy: Acura NSX
Wagon equivalent of the hundy: Volvo V70R

 

[084runnerltd]

E60 M5 is a blast, last of the N/A and a V10! I daily drive it in the summer and it has been reliable.

However I would think, even with winter tires, a rwd, 506hp car might not be the best in the snow.

This is my fourth Bimmer and I have not had any reliability issues....but I know how quickly that can change and how expensive it can be.

Good luck in your search....perhaps a Audi A7....

 

[ChuckB]

Another Volvo fan here and wagon freak in general. Grew up with a '81 245, '87 244 and '93 940 all in the driveway at the same time. My first car was the '81 245, classic maroon/tan brick. The old X40 cars are tanks.
Dabbled with a Saab 9-5 SE wagon for a while, nice car. However, Saab does make Volvo look reliable.
Currently running a P2 V70 D5 (diesel and manual!!) Euro spec car. Has 320k kilometers on it, and while it has some issues, its driven daily.

That new V90 is very nice, but too expensive currently.

I'm looking seriously at the VW Alltrak (6 spd), used V60, Buick Crosstrek (never thought I would say that...), BMW 328d/330iX, A4 Allroad and MB E-class wagons as possible cars for the wife.

Love the E39 M5. Former 993 owner as well .

 

[stock]

Our Honda Ody is getting a bit long in the tooth so we're thinking of replacing it with a sedan since we have the Hundy and our kids are getting older so the need for 2 large vehicles is slowly diminishing.

So, is there a car equivalent to the 100 - built like a tank, uber reliable, seating for 5, aging gracefully, holding it's value, and gets decent fuel economy (20+ mpg)? The natural choice seems to be the LS (fuel econ?) but can't picture my wife wanting to drive one of those - seems to be reserved for chairman of the board types.

Perhaps an AWD 5 series BMW? Think it fails in the reliability category?

EDIT: Also needs to be capable in the snow - LS430 is RWD only right?

I think you just have issues with names. "Hundy" Honda "Ody"....

 

[krice118]

OP said Aging gracefully - subarus are out. Just BC subarus are reliable and have AWD does not make them the car equivalent of the 100...

 

[spaber05]

@ChuckB : I love the look and feel of the new AllTracks, they're basically a more upscale Subaru Outback in a better looking shell if you ask me. They drive REALLY well and feel very solid. Time will tell how they hold up.

While I realize it's not a wagon, I'll add a Mazda CX-5 to that list (or CX-9 for that matter). Their interiors are incredible and feel like they belong in an Audi or Merc rather than a $30k Mazda. I've recommended several Mazdas to clients of mine and all are very happy with the decision.

@RND1 : I too have heard mixed reviews on Volvos (both new and old). My cousin has a mid-2000s XC70 that has one foot in the grave already and I think it's only at 150k or so. Granted, it spends it's life in/around the salt so take that into account, but if nothing else it's just another data point. I'd still for an LS or new-ish GS, the GS350s are very sharp looking cars.

 

[lt1fire]

Kind of curious as to why so many are suggesting uber powerful BMW's? My family has had tons of these things and reliable is not something any of us will call them when comparing to a LC. Plus a 100 is not fast in any way shape or form.... it may be the slowest SUV that was available in the early 2000s. To me the LC is is the best at what it was made for Off Roader that is uber reliable. Just as the LC was made to be reliable, luxurious and comfortable which it is the best at for that year. So I still tell the OP a LS is what they need.

So with that said i'm also going to suggest a CTSV Wagon

tons of power, reliable and if something does brake on the motor it is cheap to fix, tons of room, etc.....

 

[bucfl]

The wife has been wanting a 100 but as much as she drives I think the gas would be $100 plus a week. Maybe a GX460/470?

 

[RyanStl]

When Im back in the market for a sedan I'm going to be looking for the newest, nicest LS or GS I can find. I've also entertained the idea of getting an 80's Merc diesel, but that one won't pass the wife test.

 

[crimsonaudio]

most newer volvos i've had contact with through friends don't seem to be super reliable..... the older ones seem like they will run forever though

Exactly my experience - lots of electrical problems and such, to the point that one neighbor took a bath on a year-old car just to get it out of his garage.

No matter what, I keep circling back to older (proven) Camrys and Lexus LS models - it's not that they're Toyotas, it's that they've proven themselves to be incredibly well-built and reliable.

As always, YMMV...

 

[SlowBuild]

Our 2012 XC60 is starting to come apart at only 80k. Nothing serious but it needs some suspension work and has trim pieces coming loose. My Toyota trucks have gone twice as many miles before that happened. It's a nice car to drive and my wife might want to replace it with another one soon but it's not a long term car equivalent to the LX470.

 

[JPS]

Honda Accord, by far.

 

[bucfl]

Honda Accord, by far.

Gotta say we bought my wife a 2010 Acord certified used like 5 years ago and it’s mint. With 30k on the clock and now has just over 60. A transmission firmware update and airbag recall.

 

[Kabanstva]

Honda Accord, by far.

Curios why? I've ridden in most generations Accord from 95+ and never thought it resembled a 100 series at all.
I think most people are mentioning an LS because it's got the same philosophy behind its build (big engine, very undertuned with a goal of longevity over offering tons of power out of the box, easy to work on, great fit and finish, great ride comfort and low noise level, etc., both large vehicles.)

 

[LX470Mack]

Mercedes Benz W140 or Lexus LS430.

 

[JPS]

Curios why? I've ridden in most generations Accord from 95+ and never thought it resembled a 100 series at all.
I think most people are mentioning an LS because it's got the same philosophy behind its build (big engine, very undertuned with a goal of longevity over offering tons of power out of the box, easy to work on, great fit and finish, great ride comfort and low noise level, etc., both large vehicles.)

Im thinking in terms of reliability, resale value, and safety. My mom has a 1992 Honda Accord with 300K miles sitting next to an 2006. My neighbor bought an accord the same year, sold to a lady down the street and it is still running. Its not flashy, or doesn't do many things better than other vehicles.... except get you from point A to point B in a boringly reliable fashion. It's to MPG and commuting what the LC is to off road capability balanced with ride comfort.

Out of all the cars I've owned or driven(Mercedes, BMW, etc.. I've personally never owned an Accord), its probably the best... by a margin. If I could go back and do it over again, I would have had one a long time ago. When I think of the 100 I think of a reliable beast, with a few Japanese quirks that I would bet my life on, I think of the same way about an Accord.

 

[Kabanstva]

Im thinking in terms of reliability, resale value, and safety. My mom has a 1992 Honda Accord with 300K miles sitting next to an 2006. My neighbor bought an accord the same year, sold to a lady down the street and it is still running. Its not flashy, or doesn't do many things better than other vehicles.... except get you from point A to point B in a boringly reliable fashion. It's to MPG and commuting what the LC is to off road capability balanced with ride comfort.

Out of all the cars I've owned or driven(Mercedes, BMW, etc.. I've personally never owned an Accord), its probably the best... by a margin. If I could go back and do it over again, I would have had one a long time ago. When I think of the 100 I think of a reliable beast, with a few Japanese quirks that I would bet my life on, I think of the same way about an Accord.

I still don't see it. Most Japanese cars can claim reliability but really few have a V8, the smoothness of the UZ drivetrain, size, and comfort. Accord does not have any of these attributes aside from reliability. Even a Camry is closer to a hundy than an Accord which always had stiffer less comfortable suspension and seats, more vibration from the drivetrain and haunted with transmission issues for many generations.