From Burgers to Burgers +2

[OriginalWheelman]

Well I'm finishing up my 3rd week at my new job. I've gone from selling burgers at McDonald's to making burgers at Red Robin. If you're not familiar with the restaurant it's a bar/grill style with Americana all over the walls and gourmet hamburgers.
I make 30% more than I made at McD's. But that's largely because McD's literally could not have legally paid me less than they did. I still don't make a comfortable wage, but it's enough to pay my bills and keep my old car running. Although, my commute is now 6x as long, and is city instead of country. Bottom line is I'm consuming a lot more fuel in the Q.
As such, I want to sell it and get a G35, but they need to drop a few $K before I can afford to get out of the Q and into one. I may be forced to sell the Q and buy an interim car. The problem with this is the Q has spoiled me. I look down on all other cars I can afford with disdain as I judge them inferior. I might put up with the gas mileage, if it were not for the Q starting to show it's age. It has started developing quirks. They're reminding me that the car is getting to the "TLC" stage of it's life. I owned it for the end of it's perfect functioning executive saloon days. They were good days, but they are drawing to and end.

Well this turned into a ramble.

[idahotuner]

jobs are hard to come by, but it seems to really make any money you got to travel.

[Jesda]

Royal Red Robin FTW!


THERE IS AN EGG ON IT!

I find that used Maximas offer a lot of goodness without the cost.

[Dattebayo]

Buy a 1982 Maxima and drift it y0

[Looneybomber]

Never at a Red Robin. Their marketing dept just doesn't do their job I guess.

A good replacement for the Q is an s2000 ;-)

[Dattebayo]

A good replacement for the Q is an s2000 ;-)

Derp.

Anyway, you could probably go the way that MoD went...

[Jesda]

Also, the 2012 Nissan Versa comes with doors and glass.

[OriginalWheelman]

Royal Red Robin FTW!


THERE IS AN EGG ON IT!

I find that used Maximas offer a lot of goodness without the cost.

The Royal is really good on a Pretzel bun, get it before the Oktoberfest burger is gone. Also, the Oktoberfest burger is damned good. The mustard and onions are made with beer, and it comes with swiss cheese and HAM. = Delicious

I was thinking the Max, but I'm having trouble finding a decent one with a manual for a decent price. I considered the G20 for a bit, but I just can't bring myself to own a 4cyl FWD.

Also, the 2012 Nissan Versa comes with doors and glass.

LUXURY!

[MinisterofDOOM]

The problem with this is the Q has spoiled me. I look down on all other cars I can afford with disdain as I judge them inferior.

This is the same problem I had when I replaced mine 2 years ago. The Q is so much car for the money it makes everything else seem like a step down. My initial plan for replacing the Q was to buy a truck. I wanted a workhorse and some offroad capability for a change, but I also felt like I might not be constantly reminded of the car I wasn't driving if I made a sideways move to a completely different type of vehicle. I was going to buy another Ranger, a Trailblazer, or a Navigator or Mark LT. It was when I was searching Autotrader for Navigators that I remembered the LS existed and it ended up being RIGHT in my price range.

Anyway, you could probably go the way that MoD went...

My problem with the G35 as a Q45 followup is that it is a TINY, TINY car. The Q is pretty big, and very roomy. The G's complete lack of headroom is a huge problem for me. In the passenger seat (no height adjust) my head hits the ceiling. In the driver's seat I have to drop the seat all the way and still feel cramped. Rear passenger space is pretty limited compared to the Q, too. I just don't like the feeling and "fit" of driving such a small car. I feel the same way about my sister's C-class. It's like wearing underwear that's 2 sizes too small...you just can't get comfortable and no matter how hard you try you just can't ignore it. At least the G has a telescoping steering wheel, though. Effing Germans.

If you're looking for fuel economy and relatively comparable performance and luxury, Maxima and third-gen TL would both make acceptable replacements. You get a lot of the fun and amenities with a lot more fuel economy. I've gotten 32mpg highway in my dad's '04 Max, but it still feels quick. His car also has a few features the Q didn't, like heated steering wheel, so it's not a complete downgrade on the luxury side.
The TSX would be a nice option, too. They're short on power but still a lot of fun to drive, and they look great.
Straight-6 E39 5 series is also one to look at. Short on power but with a great chassis, beautiful styling, and lots of room.
And remember the LS came with the Duratec 30 so you can get some miles per gallon there, too. The dilemma is choosing between the redesigned '03+ car or the manual trans in the '00-'02 models. Just make sure, whichever you choose, that you get a Sport package car, which replaces the base model V6 bodywork and trim pieces with the V8's and looks a thousand times nicer.
If you check out CTSs, DO NOT get a 3.2. It's the old Opel/Catera V6 and it sucks. Get the 2.8 or 3.6, both of which are early variants of the excellent V6 that's in the Camaro and current CTS.

[Jesda]

The 3.6 HF V6 from 03-07 is prone to timing chain failure. To replace the chain the engine has to come out. Not cheap.

The 3.2 in the 2003 CTS has turned out to be strangely dependable -- most of the 3.2's flaws from the Catera era were fixed by 2001. It still lacks power, however, with only 220hp. Its like how the 4.9L OHV V8 used in the early 90s by Cadillac was insanely dependable while its related predecessors (like HT4100) were gutless and notoriously flaky. GM seems to get things right just prior to ending production which is perhaps why my Seville, in its fifth and final generation, has been such a dependable car.

[ricebike]

slightly off-topic

but was the increase in pay worth all that extra long commute time/ cost?

my wife is in a similar condition. she normally takes 2.5 hours to work in another state. She try to find a similar job that's closer within the state (before the economy went bust) but the pay is 20-30K less

she did the math & it was still favorable to make that long commute with all the expenses of driving/train ride to the city...