You're Going Shopping with Me!

One day, one glorious day, one champagne-flooded day, my commuter car (nope, still not telling you what it is… yet) will have to be replaced. As we’re a typical, American family in 2010, things are pretty tight right now with one car payment already (and a mortgage, and childcare, etc.). Walking into a dealer and sitting for 40 minutes and drinking tiny bottles of water while Laszlo gets the financing paperwork ready won’t happen for a few years.

But shouldn’t a $35,000-40,000 purchase deserve tons and tons of research? If you didn’t get in on the ground floor at Google or you’re not adept at robbing banks, you’ll probably need to finance a car that costs that much. Most of us would need to finance a $15,000-20,000 car, too (and there are some great ones out there). A car is a long-term investment, and you’d better do your homework.

The Internet is a great place to start (visit, oh, say, The Torque Retort). But you’ve gotta try out any potential contenders.

Here’s where you come in. I’ll have to buy a car in a few years. You might have to buy a new car in a few years, too, or maybe sooner. I’ve got a huge list of my own contenders. This’ll be my test driving checklist. I’ll post my detailed review of each car, along with pictures, and if a sales associate (douchebaggish or otherwise) isn’t required to accompany me on a test drive, video as well. You’ll get a feel for these cars, as well, and maybe you might add a few of these to your list.

The List

The 2009+ Infiniti G37x sedan is at the top of my list right now with a staggering list of features, a gutsy 3.7 liter V6, and a host of accolades from consumers and critics. But I haven't driven one. So, I may very well find the car is goat puke.

I’ve grouped cars I’d like to try into several categories.

Will I be brave enough to get back into an Audi? Maybe. The 2010 version has a 3-liter V6 vice a V8, but it's quicker to 60. But the exhaust note from that older, 4.2-liter V8 is intoxicating.

Realistic favorites:

• 2009+ Infiniti G37x
• 2009+ Acura TL SH-AWD
• BMW 335i
• 2007+ Audi S4 Avant or sedan
• Lexus IS350
• Lexus IS-F
• 2007+ Lexus LS460 (This is considered to be one of the most reliable cars of all time. It may also qualify me for early AARP entry. We’ll see.)
• Mercedes C350 Sport
• 2010+ Ford Taurus SHO (have you seen the interior of the new Tauruses? You’ve come a long way, baby!)
• 2008+ Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Premium
• Volvo C30 R-Design
• 2009+ Nissan Maxima SV

Am I off my rocker to think I could have a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V? Probably. But I'm probably downright headed-for-the-asylum to think a GT-R is in my immediate future.

Much less realistic favorites:

• 2009+ Nissan 370Z
• Nissan GT-R (I know. My only hope is some idiot has no idea what it is and wants it gone. Hey, stranger things have happened. It’s even a slim chance a dealer or seller would let me even test drive it)
• 2009+ Cadillac CTS-V with Recaro seats
• Chrysler 300 SRT-8 or Charger SRT-8
• 2009+ Mercedes AMG C63
• 2010+ Chevrolet Camaro 2SS

A game-changing, 60-mpg-in-the-city phenomenon? Or an appliance with the personality of a paper clip? Picture from Wikipedia user S 400 HYBRID

And finally, the fuel sippers. Some of them might not be total dishwater. We’ll see.

• 2009+ Volkswagen Jetta TDI
• 2010+ Ford Fusion Hybrid
• 2010+ Toyota Prius
• 2010+ Honda Civic
• 2010+ Mazda 3s five-door
• 2010+ Audi A3
• BMW 335d

Hopefully I can start to try out these cars soon. Regardless, I’ll be looking at as many as I can when I visit the Washington Auto Show on January 30 (show goes from Jan. 27-31).