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I've been a proud owner of a 540ia since '99 but it's time for an upgrade.  IMHO i feel the 5 series, while design wise slightly long in the tooth, is the best luxury sports sedan.  is it expensive?  yes.  is the interior dated?  yes.  but damn does it drive well and it has an exterior strength that is very masculine without being over the top.

the problem is, i just don't want another 5 series.  i just want something new.  When i sit in the 2008 5 series i feel like...wow, i am sitting in my same car ive had for almost 10 years.  

So...what do i get?

so far my top choice is the new Jaguar XF Supercharged. the exterior is a little too smooth/subtle but the interior is gorgeous and it drives pretty well (not bmw, but pretty good).  

not a fan of the lexus or infiniti.  

audi a6 looks like an a4 (not a bad thing, just not a great thing).

mercedes e class is too old a look and i don't like the whippy mercedes drive.

mercedes cls class is pretty nice but it's expensive for what it is.  plus, don't love the drive since it is basically an e class with a sloped hood.

thinking about some sport SUV's like the porsche cayenne but Im just not an suv guy.  

also in somewhat desperation i looked at the audi s5 which drives well and looks pretty darn good but the interior is just too cheap looking for a $60K car.

anything coming out for 2009?  

any other ideas?

thanks!  

Well, hmmm...

You've been through most of the competition here already.  Haven't left lots of suggestion options so I'm gonna shoot WAY outside the box just to get the brain moving:

What about a bit bigger?

Volkswagen Phaeton - Unique (When's the last time you saw one?) and an amazing value for money cause they didn't sell.
Granted... there's a VW badge on the hood, but our big thing is "Toss out the badge and buy the best car for you".  If nothing else, it's an underappreciated car.

Again... I'm way in left field here.  I know.

How about the Audi A8?  The Standard Version (Not the long wheel base) isn't much bigger than 5 Series.  Definitely has a great look and different than the A4/A6.  Quattro gives a different driving feel, too.

Heck... take a Pontiac G8 for a spin.  Not suggesting it's able to run with the BMW, but if you're wanting something different than you've had, well... it would be a new feeling.  

The 5 Series is such a great car in that segment, I suspect you may have to go bigger or smaller to shake up your options.

Don't know your price cap, and if a used car is out of the question.  Luxury stuff depreciates so fast you can get great deals on a 1-3 year old anything. We recommend it.

Random Thoughts here...  

What about a Saab? It may not be as exciting as a 5-series, but I always forget about the brand unless I drive one. You certainly won't see lots of them on the roads and I'll bet you can get a great deal on a new one.  

Wow.  The S5 interior is cheap?  You're the first person I've heard say that.  I think it's georgeous.  Anyway, regarding the topic at hand, I didn't see you mention the new Cadillac CTS.  It's been getting great reviews from everyone.  It looks great, performs well, and the interior is the best in a Cadillac so far.  Something to consider...  

I was in a similar quandry, having just inherited 4 "new to me" daughters, I needed more back seat than my Audi TT 225 Quattro Coupe offered.  I settled on a 2004 VW Phaeton. What a great car!  I just completed an Atlanta to Raleigh round trip and can't remember a better driving experience (other than my former 550 Maranello).  

Important thing to remember with the Phaeton is to get a good warranty.  The car is very reliable, but there are occasional gremlins that pop up and they can be expensive.  I got the VW Real Driver Platinum warranty and have had no problems so far.  All claims my dealer has submitted have been paid with no issues.

Overall, a really great car.  

i have been going through a similar process of elimination over the last 2 months and am weary of my 5-series.  a great car but can't bring myself to order another one and the exterior design doesn't speak to me anymore.  last week i finally settled on a new audi s5.  i thought the interior was light years ahead of anything else out there in this price range, but that's a matter of personal taste.  i also found a coupe to be a new and different choice for me. drove the new Jaguar but couldn't get past the front end styling. what about the new bmw crossover?  

Is the Cadillac CTS out of the question?  I have had mine about 3 months and can not get enough of it.  MOTOR TREND picked it at the 2008 COTY; that's got to be worth something.  Beautiful interior.  This is my 2nd CTS.  Bought the '03 for the tail lights.  Bought this one for the grill (that was before I saw the tail lights at night.  ***

Anyway, I think it's a great car & as everyone here in Houston has either a Lexus, a Mercedes or a BMW, I find myself 2 beats outside the mainstream.  Just about where I want to be.  They notice me.  I think it's enviously.  

I have a question. I read a lot of reviews touting the Buick LeSabre and Buick LaCrosse as one of the best cars in their class. We all know that GM makes the same cars in their Pontiac and Chevrolet line. Why is the Buick rated higher in almost every Consumer and Car Magazine.  What is the real difference between the same model in other GM cars. Perplexed!!!!!


Dick Landis
dlandis888@aol.com