Modern engines that are relatively fun & reliable?

[Quattro Pete]

Requirements:
- sedan or wagon, not too huge/heavy
- available with manual trans
- can do 0-60 in 6 seconds or less
- 2-3 years old
- good handling
- not horrendous fuel economy
- upscale interior
- engine/drivetrain is good for 150K+ miles without having to do any unusual maintenance such as DI valve deposit cleaning every 10K miles.

Cars I sort of like are BMW 535i/335i and Audi S4 (supercharged V6). Unfortunately, they don't meet the last requirement from what I've read. I'm also not sure if BMW has figured out how to make reliable HPFPs yet either.

Are there any similar cars that I'm forgetting that would be more reliable? Cadillac CTS-V would be a possibility, but I'm not crazy about its looks.

AFAIK, BMW 550i (E60) with the N62 engine is not DI, so technically that may be more reliable than 535i, but it's a huge gas hog. Then again, I drive less than 5K miles a year, so maybe I shouldn't really be concerned with MPG all that much...

Any ideas?

 

[SLCraig]

I want to suggest the SRT8 lineup but they are all automatics except the Viper and Challenger which are not sedans or wagons.

An SRT8 300C with manual would be an ideal car, even for someone like me. I hate auto too though.

The powertrains are great in those cars too, easily good for 150K I'd think.

I don't know of anything that meets all of your requirements unless some are flexible.

 

[Smokescreen]

I know it isn't European, but what about a Mazdaspeed3?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
I know it isn't European, but what about a Mazdaspeed3?

DI engine = not reliable.

Plus a lot of torque going to the front wheels - I'm not sure how well that handles. It'd certainly be fun though.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Note that Viper is NOT a sedan!!! It's called SRT-10.

A Challenger is not a sedan either. But it is a huge and very comfortable 2 door that has a very nice back seat. 6 speed stick available in both 5.7 and 6.4 engines. Pretty nice compromise. I promise you the real world handling is WAY better than you think!

Otherwise it's imports only.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Infiniti G37? Would anyone consider this over a 550i/535i?

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
I know it isn't European, but what about a Mazdaspeed3?

DI engine = not reliable.


Just because an engine is DI, means that it is unreliable? You cant be serious. Keep your OCI reasonable in case of fuel dilution. Valve deposits have been reduced from the DI engines from the past, due to vct and vvt and other technology, and havent been a problem yet. Ford and GMs new DI engines haven't been unreliable yet.

DI engine = not reliable = your personal bias and opinion without any data to back it up

 

[ARCOgraphite]

An accord sedan with a cat back and strut package? Maybe 7 sec 0-60 but the strong power at redline will keep the blood boiling. I hear you with the RWD. My 98 BMW M roadster was the most fun to drive automobile I've owned. M package is MUCH better than non-M bimmers. The polymer timing chain guides and VANOS fell apart at 70K though.

Something you may have NOT considered. Lesse ...

A) Subaru Legacy GT AWD turbo.

B) Pontiac G8

C) Caddy CTS (no overpowered V required)

D) Mitsubishi EVO

E) Infiniti G

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
I know it isn't European, but what about a Mazdaspeed3?

DI engine = not reliable.


Just because an engine is DI, means that it is unreliable? You cant be serious. Keep your OCI reasonable in case of fuel dilution. Valve deposits have been reduced from the DI engines from the past, due to vct and vvt and other technology, and havent been a problem yet. Ford and GMs new DI engines haven't been unreliable yet.

DI engine = not reliable = your personal bias and opinion, nothing factual to back it up yet.

My comment regarding DI engine was specifically in relation to Mazdaspeed3. Sorry I was not clear enough. I have seen valve deposit issues reported in this engine and I don't want to deal with it, especially when buying used.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
I know it isn't European, but what about a Mazdaspeed3?

DI engine = not reliable.


Just because an engine is DI, means that it is unreliable? You cant be serious. Keep your OCI reasonable in case of fuel dilution. Valve deposits have been reduced from the DI engines from the past, due to vct and vvt and other technology, and havent been a problem yet. Ford and GMs new DI engines haven't been unreliable yet.

DI engine = not reliable = your personal bias and opinion, nothing factual to back it up yet.

My comment regarding DI engine was specifically in relation to Mazdaspeed3. Sorry I was not clear enough. I have seen valve deposit issues reported in this engine and I don't want to deal with it, especially when buying used.


Ok just making sure! Buying used I would certainly be cautious as well. Hopefully the skyactiv engine has reduced some of these problems.

 

[IndyIan]

WRX? Seem to kick butt at autocross, I think the interior is fine but YMMV. I guess Subaru also has turbo'd upscale offerings as well that are almost as quick but look grown up.
I hear RX-8's are among the best feeling cars in terms of handling. Also the manual motors did have fewer issues than the automatics. I've never sat in the back of one but it look doable for short trips atleast.
150K miles @ 5K per year trouble free is a bit of a stretch unless you start with a high mileage car I think, unless you go something pretty simple engine wise.

 

[95busa]

CTS-V of any flavor

 

[rationull]

My vote would be for a WRX or Legacy GT depending on what you wanted in terms of size. Not sure where your threshold is for "horrendous fuel economy" but I don't think there's much out there that meets other requirements that's *that* much better than the Subies.

Of course I am biased

I do second the "almost" comment on the SRT cars though. IMO a Magnum SRT-8 or maybe even R/T would be the perfect car for this kind of thing, but it was not available with an MT AFAIK.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: rationull
I do second the "almost" comment on the SRT cars though. IMO a Magnum SRT-8 or maybe even R/T would be the perfect car for this kind of thing, but it was not available with an MT AFAIK.


At under 1000 total production the magnum SRT8 is going to be a hard one to find. And it was auto only.

 

[dparm]

The G sedan is a good bet. Very reliable powerplant and it's not a fickle car at all.

WRX is good too, but will feel fairly spartan inside.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Infiniti G37? Would anyone consider this over a 550i/535i?


I sure would. The later models are relatively cheap and have almost no bugs left.

Kind of small, but an excellent package with surprising dynamics.

 

[greenjp]

Saab 9-3 with the turbo V6? 6 speed manual, wagon, torque vectoring AWD available. Believe there was a limited run Aero-X or something trim with 280 hp.

jeff

 

[tig1]

What about a Ford Ecoboost in the Taurus?

 

[hattaresguy]

Any German wagon would be fine.

I really like the Porsche Panamera, very fast and practical if not the best looking car Porsche has ever made. Oh and Porsche probably makes one of the highest quality cars you can buy, so they don't break to often.

 

[Spazdog]

Mazda RX-8:
Quote:
Requirements:
- sedan or wagon, not too huge/heavy

It's a 4-door coupe...so neither of those. It has a roomier rear seat than a Lexus IS, But it's not heavy.

Quote:

- available with manual trans

Yep.

Quote:

- can do 0-60 in 6 seconds or less

It does okay...nobody buys an RX-8 for straightline performance.

Quote:

- good handling

It's not just "good handling" In various handling comparisons it did amazingly well besting the 370Z, BMW M3 etc... in spite of not having the lateral grip or any of the other stuff on paper but that is some writer's opinion. Drive it. Handling is where it truly shines. Not everybody likes a rotary powered car but few can deny the balance and precision of the RX-8.

Quote:

- not horrendous fuel economy


This is where we start to go bad.

Quote:

- engine/drivetrain is good for 150K+ miles without having to do any unusual maintenance such as DI valve deposit cleaning every 10K miles.


Not everybody is up for the demands of Wankel rotary ownership. But I assure you that the intake valves will never need to be cleaned. No timing belt, no camshaft problems ...