In reply to frenchyd :
If I'm going to get a second vehicle my main requirements are what I listed in the op in the order I listed them.
My truck is not flex fuel. And I'm not particularly concerned or worried about its mpgs. It excels at everything I bought it for.
The main catalyst for wanting a second vehicle is to keep the 6hr highway trip, every weekend, miles off of the truck. While also providing a vehicle that my girlfriend would have access to while I'm at work.
What if we switched up and looked at it through a different lense.
A. There seems to be plenty of cars that approach the magical 30 mpg hwy threshold.
B. There are plenty that meet or exceed that number that may not meet the cushy ride requirement.
If you were to take either option and work towards meeting the specific desired end result which way would you go?
Would you choose option A and go all ecomodder on it?
Or option B and try to get it comfortable with possibly coilovers with soft springs, seat upgrades and minus sizing the wheel and tire package?
Meets all requirements:
https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/d/jacksonville-2005-buick-lesabre/7414243943.html
https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/d/jacksonville-best-deals/7414121717.html
Meets most requirements, more or less:
https://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/d/lake-geneva-2007-buick-lucerne-cxl/7412912133.html
https://gainesville.craigslist.org/ctd/d/gainesville-mercury-grand-marquis/7405238608.html
https://gainesville.craigslist.org/ctd/d/gainesville-2009-ford-crown-victoria-9/7402199074.html
https://gainesville.craigslist.org/ctd/d/gainesville-2006-chevy-suburban-4x4/7402139521.html
In reply to Uncle David (Forum Supporter) :
I'm not sure that big ol suburban does 
For highway use I prefer a bit more European feeling. The Saab 9-3 from the middle aughts gets 35 highway and is very "relaxed" with comfortable and supportive seats.
In reply to KyAllroad :
See there's one that slipped my mind.
In reply to Duke :
They're just Korean Avalon. There's enough of them pushing 250-300k miles I wouldn't hesitate
In reply to Nick Comstock :
In my opinion, start with the chassis you want and optimize achievable fuel economy. For a comfortable highway burner, you want interior space and quiet and softness.
Softness can be achieved in a small car's suspension, but you can't make it bigger and it's hard to make it quieter inside.
In reply to Nick Comstock :
I spent 40+ years being a road warrior. Pounding from town to town selling construction equipment. 12-14-18 hrs a day. 65,000 miles was a very light year.
The most comfortable vehicle I found is a simple1/2. T 2 door pickup truck with a bench seat. Don't get the work truck, too noisy, nor the top of the line. The mid level one with carpet on the floor. I could vary my seat position enough so I didn't get a sore butt. The ride was supple enough to be comfortable yet not so soft as to be nauseous.
I prefer Chevy /GMC over Ford or Dodge. Smoother, quieter, better fuel mileage. Late 90's through about 2007 fuel mileage steadily improved. Quality was better.
If you don't want a truck no matter what. The Buick with the 3800 is an acceptable choice but the stock shocks have to go. Use Bilsteins for the best compromise. Make sure it has a bench seat. 6 hours is a long time to keep your butt in one spot.
I'm pretty sure I've tried nearly every configuration. Cadillac to Vega. American, Japanese and German. Too short a wheelbase and it hops from divider strip to divider strip. Too long and it becomes cumbersome.
I have the answer, and I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it yet.
I'm need of a car at this point, and my needs/wants are practically identical to yours, including budget. I've come to the conclusion that I'm done spending real money on nicer, newer cars. I'm just not that guy, and when I tire of a vehicle, which seems to happen after a year or two, I want to be able to unload it for what I paid and move on.
I'm also pro GM because that's where I've had the best luck, and so far I've narrowed it down to a few options, but leading the pack is the 12/13 Impala. They started getting the 300+ HP 3.6 in 2012, and the price sweet spot seems to be pre facelift in 14. After 13 the prices, at least locally, get stupid. They have above average reliability, are great on gas, comfortable, have some aftermarket, the option of either a 9C1/9C3, or the use of the 9C parts, and that 3.6 is a 7000RPM screamer. These things are sleepers and with a few minor mods are pretty darn quick
I'm looking at cars with less than 100K miles in the (your money) $3500 range.
The idea came from my son who loves his impalas. I test drove this car for him and it turned out to have accident damage, but it was otherwise the real deal
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/2013-impala-9c3-yay-or-nay/182964/page1/
I will throw in the newest OG SAAB 9-5 ( pre 2010) you can find with a stick. With stock size tires both of mine would get into the mid to high 30's at 70-75 easy.
I've owned two cars discussed, a GM W body which I have now replaced with a TDI Passat. The TDI is a 2013 model and would be well over the $5K budget, but definitely hits the MPG and highway comfort goals. The Buick didn't hit the MPG targets - but I probably put it into boost a bit more often than I should. A NA version would probably get close.
The Buick W bodies have somewhat plusher seats than their Pontiac counterparts; I found that out when I had grabbed a junkyard seat from a Pontiac to use in my Regal while I re-upholstered the stock seat, and found the Buick had about double the foam thickness, maybe more.
Mr. Peabody said:Nick Comstock said:Need a highway cruiser.
Priorities are in order:
1. Comfortable. Good seats. Smooth ride > handling. Think full size American of the 60s-80s over say a modernish lexus.
2. Good mileage. Prefer a bottom number of 30 highway but would like mid 30s or better.
3. Reliable. Something not known for breaking a lot. Would like to catch up on maintenence and not really have to worry too much about it.
I guess that's about it. Been digging around the online marketplaces but nothings really jumping out at me.
I have the answer, and I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it yet.
I'm need of a car at this point, and my needs/wants are practically identical to yours, including budget. I've also come to the conclusion that I'm done spending real money on nicer, newer cars. I'm just not that guy, and when I tire of a vehicle, which seems to happen after a year ot two, I want to be able to unload it for what I paid and move on.
I'm also pro GM because that's where I've had the best luck, and so far I've narrowed it down to a few options, but leading the pack is the 12/13 Impala. They started getting the 300+ HP 3.6 in 2012, and the price sweet spot seems to be pre facelift in 14. After 13 the prices, at least locally, get stupid. They have above average reliability, are great on gas, comfortable, have some aftermarket, the option of either a 9C1/9C3, or the use of the 9C parts, and that 3.6 is a 7000RPM screamer. These things are sleepers and with a few minor mods are pretty darn quick
I'm looking at cars with less than 100K miles in the (your money) $3500 range.
The inspiration from this came from my son who loves his impalas. I test drove this car for him and it turned out to have accident damage, but it was otherwise the real deal
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/2013-impala-9c3-yay-or-nay/182964/page1/
Oooh this is an excellent suggestion. My friend had one of these and she regularly made the drive from Cincinnati to Cleveland cruising at 90mph in comfort. She never had an issue with the Ohio State Highway Patrol because they are so nondescript.
In reply to Mr. Peabody :
Very good suggestion. I have some reservations about the durability of the 3.6 but those may be unfounded. I will certainly add that to my list to look for.
In reply to frenchyd :
Frenchy,
I already have a truck. I appreciate your suggestions but I feel there is a disconnect between what I wrote and what you read.
Nick Comstock said:In reply to Mr. Peabody :
I have some reservations about the durability of the 3.6 but those may be unfounded.
I did too, but members here, notably Pete, corrected me, and apparently GM fixed the chain problems from the early ones. If NickD didn't have anything bad to say in the other thread, that's a pretty good recommendation, IMO.
Nick Comstock said:In reply to frenchyd :
Frenchy,
I already have a truck. I appreciate your suggestions but I feel there is a disconnect between what I wrote and what you read.
Comfort? Right. 6 hour commute?
A modern 1/2T pickup is the most comfortable vehicle I've driven in my 40 years being a road warrior.
You mentioned a 70-80's-90's Luxury car.
when they were new I was pounding the road with them. 6-8 hours and I'd come limping into the hotel. Back screaming. Tried Corvette and Monte Carlo too. Nope and nope. They are fine for a few hours. Pontiac, Buick,Cadillac, tried and tried.
By the 80's-90's I was trying Audi and Lexus. Etc. in Fact one experience actually had me bed ridden for a month and seeking all sorts of specialists.
Not all pickups. Chevy/GMC 1/2T with Z71 suspension Fords Dodges aren't the same.
My New Ford F-150 isn't as comfortable as my Chevy.
Why? Two basic reasons. First with the bench seat you can move around and vary your seating instead of being forced into one position behind the wheel. Second comfort was a selling feature so the ride is supple without being soft.
This is pure conjecture on my part. But we all slouch when we are getting comfortable. The pickup seat encourages you to sit more straight up. If you're laid back and you're shoulders and butt are more or less pinned then your backbone is constantly moving back and forth as you go over the dips and hollows that make up modern freeways.
My 97 got me 21-23 on the Hwy in cruise. V8 4x4 To be fair I kept tire pressures up, used synthetic oil changed regularly and drove the speed limit for the most part.
I'm just guessing here but the 4.8 gets a couple of mpg better than the 350. Take away the 4x4 and there's a mpg or two as well We aren't to 30 mpg yet but we aren't that far off either.
Are there any W210 diesels still out there that aren't totally clapped out?
If there are, find the cleanest, lowest mileage E300TD (98-99) you can for $5k. 30+mpg, super comfy, and the last of the truly reliable MB tanks.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
There are but they probably won't be $5k anymore. They have some minor issues and some not so minor, but would for sure work to answer this question. I couldn't get over 30 mpg in the one I had though, it was 21-22 city, 27-28 highway.
2013 impalas appear to be twice the stated budget.
Not around here, and the only ones selling are in the $1500-$3500 range
Mr. Peabody said:Not around here, and the only ones selling are in the $1500-$3500 range
Wow. I checked Cargurus within 100 miles of Atlanta
Car gurus and auto trader are all dealer ads here and they're nuts right now, I assume because they can't get new inventory?
Canadian ads so multiply price by .77, mileage by .625. Most of these have been listed for months. 12 and 13 are the same car, but you'll find more 12's because 13 was an abbreviated year.
This one's been listed for 5 months
I drove this car, I'd give him $3500
$6000 - I'd go look at this one if it had nicer interior
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