Opinions: Best Used Freeway Cruiser for $15k? MB? BMW? Jag? Caddy? ...?

Kids? Plural??

Anyway, a 5 series BMW wagon would haul all the family and their junk.

Was there ever a 7 series wagon?

 

Get the S320 not the S500. The smaller engine still has enough kick, but more importantly, it doesn't have the hydraulic suspension of the big boat which if you own one long enough will need some rather expensive work done to it.

 

On further review, for that price I'd buy a really nice 1962 Lincoln Continental 4 door.

 

The Deville is the only way to go.

You will be amazed how the miles just roll by.

I have done a lot of miles in late model devilles. For pure highway crusing the germans have nothing on the deville and that fat v8.

 

2001 Deville should be in your price range with less than 50k miles on the odometer. These are wonderful all-weather cars that are very reliable, powerful and roomy.

 

Just to let you know, on the S class, the seats are great for long trips. Turn the heat on them and you can go 12 hours without any discomfort in the fall/spring...

 

Audi A8
Had 2 of them that I drove up to 128k and 140k miles. AWD and 300hp with great interior. Buy one just off a certified lease and that just had the major service and you are good to go.

 

Lexus LS400
Very realiable, lexus flagship.

 

go with the caddy! very comfortable car, great engines, and for some reason i think they are really attractive in black...

 

i'll start this way: i very much enjoy driving my evo, and would have it no other way.

after having said that: its a 55 mile trip down to crystal cove, if i dont take out my wallet, it is quite painful to sit. i have gone about 2.5 hrs straight through, after the initial a$$ killing, it kinda subsides (maybe i lose feeling) for another hour or so, then as you near the destination, it hurts again. but that seems to be a psychological thing. if you are driving that much, i wouldn't reccommend an evo (because oil changes, $80 at the dealer, arent too friendly on the pocket, along with other expenses incurred (however i'm probably just anal about keeping it nice) )

maybe a 560SEL ('88ish) that is the p!mp cruiser

 

Yeah SELs make good highway cruisers

 

I vote for a nice XJ6 or XJ8. Comfortable, quick, and classy! As far as I know they are pretty bulletproof too. If you stretched just a little bit you could get a nice XJR like this one below...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Jaguar-XJR-Black-Navigation-Alpine-LIKE-NEW_W0QQitemZ4598068190QQcategoryZ31848QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I tell people that Crown Victoria is a great car. You can get a 2002/2003 for around 12k. They can go on forever and people get out of your way.
Are they cool? Heck no. But as far as basic commuting appliance there is not much that is better.

D.

 

My STS was a great car. Fewer repairs needed than on any BMW or MB that I have owned. I have owned an MB wagon and they are nice also but the Caddy STS was much nicer for longer cruising.

 

Taking into account the ridiculous depreciation of Caddies...I'd probably go with one of those.

 

I've got thousands of highway miles on a later mode E320 and really enjoy driving the car. You do get a sense of quality, solidity and stout that you don't get with the GM or Japanese models. It's comfortable, well loaded and very reliable. Then then the cachet of the three pointed star guiding your way. Jaguar? Been there, done that. Beautiful cars, but not even on the same level as MB quality and reliability. Cadillac? Well, if you want a sub par product and are willing to settle, go for it. My vote goes for any MB you can afford.

 

That would be my suggestion too

 

Former Caddy owner here.
All I can say is, I hope they are more reliable cars now. Mine gave me problems all the time. I have driven newer Cadillacs and I would much rather have a high-end Acura or a BMW 740.

If you want to feel like you are sitting on a large leather couch floating down the highway, you can't beat a Caddy.

 

hard to beat those tank-like older S class Benzes.

 

I can absolutely confirm their reliability. My father has one as his winter car; nothing breaks. While there are more engaging driving experiences, nothing will match an LS for a reasonable, comfortable and trouble-free car.

 

I love the E38s. Get a 750iL instead because it's more reliable and still in that price range. Get it with 18" M-parallels, navi (multi-functional display more like it), and silver on black leather. James Bond style

 

i don't mean to throw cold water on the discussion, but you can get a nice used, low-mileage accord for $15K that'll take anything you can throw at it and then some for the next many years.

bmw and jag and mb are gonna have much higher maintenance costs and downtimes.

it ain't stylin', but damn it gets the job done!

doody.