Cheapest really comfortable car

[Alfisti]

So I am getting really tired of the abysmal roads anywhere within 25 minutes drive of my house. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the Maybach and saw a couple a few neighbourhoods over. It got me thinking, what would be the cheapest vehicle over say 5 years (so purchase price, maintenance and resale) that has an absolute cushion ride and quiet cabin?

I don't think a Camry Avalon counts, it needs to be softer, more comfortable. Note I am saying nice ride not necessarily super luxury. You can go real old S class or something but not sure what they are like to maintain. Town Car?

Suggestions?

[ayilar]

I am assuming US market only? Otherwise, a Citroen C3 that I rented in Europe this summer was shockingly comfortable (well damped, very quiet) on Michelin tires.

[Alfisti]

Yeah USA/Canada for arguments sake but yeah I hear Citreon is comfy for some models.

[ayilar]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I hear Citroen is comfy for some models.

This one sure was, yet the handling was secure. It was great to see a manufacturer (even if now just a brand) choose a handling/softness setup that does not compromise comfort.

The biggest surprise was the sound insulation, which was better than on some cars selling for 2-3 times the price (including an X3 I drove on the same roads a couple of years back). Both the engine (which needed coaxing to generate motion) and the road noise were superbly dampened.

Looking forward to US/NA entries.

[dgoldenz]

Lincoln Town Car

[Alfisti]

That was my gut reaction but they all seem to have been abused as cabs/limos and here they will definitely have a certain Indian aroma.

[Alfisti]

2017ish Lincoln Continental, maybe go down a wheel size and get a taller tyre?

[W///]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

So I am getting really tired of the abysmal roads anywhere within 25 minutes drive of my house. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the Maybach and saw a couple a few neighbourhoods over. It got me thinking, what would be the cheapest vehicle over say 5 years (so purchase price, maintenance and resale) that has an absolute cushion ride and quiet cabin?

I don't think a Camry Avalon counts, it needs to be softer, more comfortable. Note I am saying nice ride not necessarily super luxury. You can go real old S class or something but not sure what they are like to maintain. Town Car?

Suggestions?

Funnily enough, I've been checking this very exact thing. I would say my top choice at the moment would be an early 2000's Lexus LS430.

[gonzo]

One owner Cal car. Lowwwwwwww miles too.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/9...-882e1af8f065/

They wallow a bit in the turns but float like a magic carpet cruising.

[FC4]

That gen Lexus LS was baller.

[Alfisti]

OMG I should not have gone down this route. Found an absolute CREAM puff, 100k KM (60k miles), one owner .... perfect shape with service records. Asking $15K CDN. I just re-committed to my Saab by pouring $4K into it, damn ... almost regret it.

[BlkGS]

LS430 is a good call, the only thing really close other than that are luxury SUVs. Or of course, the old people Cadillacs of the early 00s. Tough to beat the amount of car for the money in some of those later DTSs.

[Sedoy]

Out of all the cars I’ve driven, including S-Classes and 7-Series on air suspensions, X7, X5 with DHP, etc., the Chrysler Pacifica minivan had the most comfortable suspension, though the handling wasn’t the greatest (still very adequate for daily driving). Pacifica rides very similar to the older W140 S-class, when the S-Class was all about comfort. Soo I’d say minivans usually offer a very comfortable ride. If you don’t want a minivan, consider Lincolns—they also provide a pretty comfy ride.

[Alfisti]

I don't get that bank vault quality feel from older caddies though. A continental is a decent option with more budget, a 2017 with 75K Km is just under $25K. Really a lot of car for that price.

[pbonsalb]

But driving one takes all the enthusiasm out of a car enthusiast.

[DrVenture]

Used Taurus SHO from 2010 to 2019 are cheap, very comfortable and even reasonable to maintain. AWD 365 HP, heated/cooled messaging seats. Massive trunk and backseat. Mine delivered 21 MPG combined. On all-seasons, awesome in snow. Hard to find low mileage examples though.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

So I am getting really tired of the abysmal roads anywhere within 25 minutes drive of my house. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the Maybach and saw a couple a few neighbourhoods over. It got me thinking, what would be the cheapest vehicle over say 5 years (so purchase price, maintenance and resale) that has an absolute cushion ride and quiet cabin?

I don't think a Camry Avalon counts, it needs to be softer, more comfortable. Note I am saying nice ride not necessarily super luxury. You can go real old S class or something but not sure what they are like to maintain. Town Car?

Suggestions?

older lexus ls is your answer. guy at work has one and it is very reliable. prices won’t go down on those prbly

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

But driving one takes all the enthusiasm out of a car enthusiast.

I cannot tell you how bad the roads are anywhere near me, makes Michigan blush. Just ATROCIOUS. And ARROW straight.

[NickyC]

My dad just purchased another Lexus as his other one got trashed (don't ask). He hates the grills on the new ones (ugly grill hate runs in the family apparently), so he bought a 2014 LS460 with the F Sport package. He bought it locally from a Toyota dealer and paid $26k for it with only 75k miles. It looks perfect inside and out, triple black and he adores it.

In this horribly overpriced car market, that's about the best deal I've seen in years. I'd vote for one of those.

[RM7]

Mercedes are very "plush" cars IME, even C series. The BMWs have gotten pretty soft over the years too, but Mercedes starts out softer IME and you have to move up to the bigger sedans with BMW to get that same feel.

What I have to wonder with some of these suggestions is how a 10 year old car will smell and how the seats will feel. Some of that factors in to my "comfort".

[XutvJet]

If the roads are as bad as you say, I'd be looking at something built to take punishment and has excellent reliability. Enter the 5th gen Toyota 4Runner. Plush ride, plenty of room in the front and rear, reclining rear seat, beefy suspension and body on frame design, reliable, cheap and easy to work on, a beast in the winter, and not a single rattle when going over terrible roads (at least our 2020 TRD Offroad is like that).

The biggest issue with the 4Runner is the MPGs and lack of throttle response. My wife's 4Runner averages about 18 mpg in combined driving. It would be a few MPG better if I could convince her to go with a more road focused tire vs the butch AT tires she wants on the truck to complete the look. The 4Runner MPGs can't be that much worse with a V8 Lexus. A $300 Sprint Booster fixes the throttle issue and makes the engine and transmission far more alive.

[10"]

Used VW Phaeton

apparently waaaaaay over engineered suspension—just gotta have $$$ for service