I'm looking for the Ultimate Calgary Car (for under 100k)

[faiz999]

I find myself constantly looking at various types of cars these days and coming to similar conclusions; they suck for Calgary roads.

I've been in SUVs for the past few years, even having a truck at one point. I liked certain elements of those vehicles, mainly the fact that it seemed built for Calgary. I could go in any weather and on any road with relative ease and no fear of being under equipped for the situation. Potholes, speed bumps and the like, were no longer a real concern. The way they rode wasn't exactly plush but it wasn't jarring either. But they suck for any actual enjoyment while driving. Theyre not that fast, they're heavy and they handle like poo.

I've had a couple sportier cars that were amazing to drive full out but were kind of a handful for normal driving duties. Neither were over 50k however, so compromises had to be made to get the performance. And those compromises weren't worth it ultimately.

Since then, I've held off on a few sportier cars because of "firm rides" and think it's not worth getting beat up on my way to best buy. I also don't want to hit an unexpected pothole and cry.

I know alot of you have owned a variety of great cars and I would love your opinions on what really is the best mix of soft and luxurious but with performance baked in. Is this even something that exists?

Cars I've considered but waffled on so far are :
BMW M2/3/4
Camaro SS/ZL1
Charger 392
Supra
c63 (n/a version)
Corvette c7
e400
mustang gt or gt350

[spikerS]

In B4 trackhawk recommendation.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Sounds like a Trackhawk is perfect.

[88CRX]

In B4 Miata recommendation.

[Ca_Silvia13]

The Lexus RCF. Sporty but not hard core. Should be soft because Lexus

[ExtraSlow]

Is this your "fun" car, or your daily driver. Totally different reccomenations.

[cyra1ax]

V60 Polestar.

[killramos]

My w205 C63 was pretty awesome for a DD.

An important consideration is if you want your DD to be comfortably winter able, IMO that narrows the list considerably.

[90_Shelby]

+3 for Trackhawk

If you’re doubting this recommendation, test drive one. Perfect all purpose vehicle for Calgary.

[Tik-Tok]

Miata body on a Trackhawk frame.

[vengie]

V60 Polestar.

This one

[ExtraSlow]

Miata body on a Trackhawk frame.

Trackhawk body on Miata frame

[Mitsu3000gt]

What about a 'hot hatch' like a Golf R, MB A35, or Civic Type R? I think all of them have suspension adjustments that range from very comfortable to race mode, so you can be comfortable on the way to Best Buy and then turn it up a notch for when you want to have fun. They are good if you're looking for a car with a dual personality. Could probably keep $30-40K in the bank and still get what you want, if that is something that interests you.

[pheoxs]

For Calgary I'd probably do a sporty turbo SUV tbh. Grip and clearance in the winter but still some brap braps to pass people going slow.

Other option is a Suzuki Cappuccino

[dirtsniffer]

911s or 4s

[The_Rural_Juror]

If you have kids: Trackhawk
If you don't have kids: Trackhawk

[ExtraSlow]

Golf R is legit best option. Reasonable value, very practical 365 days a year, not a heat magnet, can be tuned for even more if ya get bored.

[adam c]

How come nobody has said shitbox truck, don't need to worry about hail, parking lot dings and scrape, can get around town and go camping if that floats your boat

[killramos]

Used trucks are fake news

[Tik-Tok]

How come nobody has said shitbox truck, don't need to worry about hail, parking lot dings and scrape, can get around town and go camping if that floats your boat

Because the OP also wants performance, and I'm assuming the ability to park without pulling an Austin Powers.

[94boosted]

If your budget truly is $100K I would not be looking at any of the cars on your list.

911 Turbo or a 911 C4S would be my vote, the ones I've driven aren't overly harsh, plenty of pep to get going and AWD make them awesome year round cars.

[pheoxs]

Used trucks are fake news

Plus a fully spec'd F150 platinum isn't even within OPs budget anyways.

[adam c]

Because the OP also wants performance, and I'm assuming the ability to park without pulling an Austin Powers.

Austin powers parking screams performance to me, not many vehicles could do that properly

[Buster]

SQ7 or S7?

[90_Shelby]

V60 Polestar.

These are cool cars and I almost bought one twice over the years. I like the rarity but for a wagon they’re a bit small, adjustable mag ride would be a better option then the very stiff Ohlins in my opinion, the transmission is not great and it simply needs more power. At the time when I bought my CTS-V wagon I was considering the V60 Polestar as an option and the Volvo was more expensive and it’s no where near the fun of the Cadillac.

[rage2]

I know alot of you have owned a variety of great cars and I would love your opinions on what really is the best mix of soft and luxurious but with performance baked in. Is this even something that exists?
Some cars I’ve owned fit the bill.

911 turbo - greatest winter car ever, nothing else I’ve winter driven touches it, but suspension isn’t exactly soft or luxurious contrary to what some previous posters say.

Cls550 - probably my favorite all around car I’ve owned. Air suspension, soft and luxurious. Flip it to sport suspension and it handles not bad. That v8TT was underrated and held its own against an e63 wagon. Was a monster in winter.

E53 - not as soft as the cls550, the 20s doesn’t like potholes at all, but fit it with 19s and it’ll eat em up. More sporty than soft, but still a soft car compared to any sports cars. No lag is like driving an EV without the silence. Yet another solid winter car.

Some cars I’ve driven that aren’t mine also fit the bill.

BMW 550 xdrive. Almost bought this over the cls. Better handling, sportier but at a price. Was $12k more at the time.

Audi A7. Soft and fast. Just hate the understeer.

Hyundai g70. A surprisingly well rounded car that didn’t punish like the m3.

McLaren mp4-12c. Believe it or not, some have popped up at 100k. McLaren suspension is magic. Rides like an accord over bumps, corners like a super car. No clue if it’s any good in winter. There is a winter mode in the drive programs haha.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Audi RS6.

[arcticcat522]

Audi RS6.

yep. Little over the 100k, no? Stretch the budget for it. Do it

[ThePenIsMightier]

yep. Little over the 100k, no? Stretch the budget for it. Do it

Dunno. Aren't there used ones, yet?

[faiz999]

I appreciate the replies.

To clarify, I have a beater that I can use in a pinch and am looking for a new daily that will see a decent amount of action. Something I can take to BC and the costco parking lot.

I think there were quite a few good suggestions so I'll talk about some of them;

Hot hatches are something I have considered but would rather have something with north of 350hp. I know they can they tuned as well but I like out of the box power and don't like to tinker much outside of wheels and tires.

Trackhawk is too much power and I'd be wary about dropping that much on an FCA product. The SRT version is something I've contemplated for awhile but I think there's no way to make it handle the way I would want. Might be wrong about that since I haven't driven one yet.

the 911 is what I have lusted after for years but finding the right spec for the right amount seems harder than with other brands. To be fair, I do usually scour the big websites (kijijji/autotrader) for cars so if I'm missing out on a more reliable 911 online marketplace, please let me know. I'd love a 6speed 997 with low miles, as long as it's not a vert.

The E53 is something I have looked at, as with most of the E class lineup. Seems to blend the sport and luxury elements well and now after thinking about it, makes me wanna book some test drives lol.

I have not considered audis at all really for some reason. I think the S7 is at the top of the budget but has a really nice overall package. Definitely something I should start considering.

[Buster]

I had a similar decision as you and ended up with a gla45. But depends on size needs.

[bjstare]

Dunno. Aren't there used ones, yet?

There aren’t even new ones here yet, and all of those are spoken for haha.

+1 for A7 or S7. The A7 won’t be fast, but it’s quick enough to be fun.

[ThePenIsMightier]

There aren’t even new ones here yet, and all of those are spoken for haha.

+1 for A7 or S7. The A7 won’t be fast, but it’s quick enough to be fun.

Oops. Maybe wrong model, but still a high end, used Audi should fit the bill about as well as anything.

[Team_Mclaren]

E63S or newer AWD M5 can be have for around 100k

[ExtraSlow]

E63 estate is for real what you need.

[killramos]

I have a hard time considering driving even an e63 or an M5 in the winter in Calgary. Too low to the ground and not worth the stress of scraping your splitter on ice ruts through every residential neighborhood and parking lot 6 months of the year.

Macan GTS?

[civic_stylez]

v60 polestar.

this.

[ExtraSlow]

I have a hard time considering driving even an e63 or an M5 in the winter in Calgary. Too low to the ground and not worth the stress of scraping your splitter on ice ruts through every residential neighborhood and parking lot 6 months of the year.

Macan GTS?

Are they that much lower than my Honda Fit? I don't find that I have any issues with ruts or deep snow aside from maybe one day per year.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Are they that much lower than my Honda Fit? I don't find that I have any issues with ruts or deep snow aside from maybe one day per year.

An E63 has more ground clearance than your Fit haha.

Where are you guys driving where there are ice ruts for 6 months? Even my back alley is only really bad for a few days out of the year.

[XylathaneGTR]

V60 Polestar.

+1 for this.
450ish ponies, phev, wagon, rides on 19s stock for our shitty roads. What more do you need?

[adam c]

Isn't the fit the ultimate driving machine?

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Isn't the fit the ultimate driving machine?

Correct. Considerably more involving than even a CTR.

[jutes]

Camaro ZL1. 650hp/650tq. Don't know why would need more then that, can find one for $65k used or $75k new. Mag ride is something else on shitty roads.

[The_Rural_Juror]

Isn't the fit the ultimate driving machine?

The Fit destroys all competition. Thread would have ended in 2 posts if we brought that up.

[ExtraSlow]

I am saying you don't need more ground clearance than a Honda Fit for the "ultimate Calgary car". Anyone who says e64 is too low is imagining problems that don't exist. Cough killramos cough.

[killramos]

I am saying you don't need more ground clearance than a Honda Fit for the "ultimate Calgary car". Anyone who says e64 is too low is imagining problems that don't exist. Cough killramos cough.

My stock ass C scraped getting in and out of parking lots, or from alleys to street in the summer, as did my 2. As did my Fit back in the day. Add a bit of snow and ice that never gets plowed and shit gets annoying quick. E has a longer wheelbase compounding the issue.

My mustang scraped around everywhere the winter I drove it.

I dunno about you guys, but that sound hurts my soul and would bother me every god damned day.

[max_boost]

911 Turbo PDK :drool:

Or any 500hp Raised AWD AspenMobile

[bjstare]

The polestar is awesome, and likely better in the winter than the E63 wagon, but it’s objectively worse in every other respect (except cost I guess, it’s probably 20k cheaper... but it’s easily 20k less car imo). No way I’d own that over an e63.

[prae]

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rElYMbGR/2015-mercedes-benz-e63-s-amg-wagon

Canadian car to boot. I enjoyed the brief time I was top bidder lol

[90_Shelby]

I appreciate the replies.

Trackhawk is too much power and I'd be wary about dropping that much on an FCA product. The SRT version is something I've contemplated for awhile but I think there's no way to make it handle the way I would want. Might be wrong about that since I haven't driven one yet.



Too much power shouldn't be an issue, ours is the daily driver for the wife and we have the car seats in it full time. You can also hit the "Eco" button which de-tunes it to about the power of an SRT if you're really worried. With that being said, they still weigh 5400lbs so 700hp isn't crazy once it's rolling for acceleration, it's mostly off the line where you really feel the power but most people aren't launching from every light. Regarding suspension, having the adjust-ability between modes is great depending on how you want to drive. As mentioned previously I'd highly recommend test driving one especially if you want something as a year round all purpose daily.

Speaking of E63's, the Jeep ran a buddies 2014 and the big SUV would jump 2-3 car lengths from a dig everytime. Although the Merc would slowly reel the Jeep in, it was still half a car ahead at ~240-250.

For the Polestar V60, are you guys talking about the old body style or new one? I actually didn't know they had a Polestar V60 for the latest generation, looks like it came out in 2020. 0-60 in 4.4 and 1/4 mile @12.9 with 415hp. That's decent!

[XylathaneGTR]

For the Polestar V60, are you guys talking about the old body style or new one? I actually didn't know they had a Polestar V60 for the latest generation, looks like it came out in 2020. 0-60 in 4.4 and 1/4 mile @12.9 with 415hp. That's decent!
New one, of course :)

[rage2]

E63S current generation also have air suspension where you can easily adjust ride height as well to clear bad shit. It's second nature to me now. Curbs, press button. Shit ton of uncleared snow? press button.

Air suspension FTW.

[adam c]

Unless you need to replace it out of warranty

Then air suspension FTL

[Disoblige]

2001 Honda CRV

[rage2]

Unless you need to replace it out of warranty

Then air suspension FTL
Worth every penny in replacement.

[austic]

E63S or newer AWD M5 can be have for around 100k

Where, every E63S I have seen have been 130+

[you&me]

Where, every E63S I have seen have been 130+

Everywhere - https://www.autotrader.ca/a/mercedes-benz/e-class/calgary/alberta/19_11580603_?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&ursrc=pl&urp=1&urm=8&pc=T2N%200G8&sprx=-1