Most Interesting AWD Slushbox

[dodint]

My wife's E60 535xi is starting to annoy me and I'm not sure it's going to last in our household until she graduates from her doctorate program in three years. I'm thinking of pushing her into leasing because all she really wants is a nice car that's under warranty. I prefer interesting cars myself but I'll be damned if I can think of a car that meets her requirements and is cool enough for my liking. She already shot down the AWD Challenger, telling me "buy one if YOU want one."

Needs:
AWD
Slushbox
Nav
Bluetooth phone and audio. (E60 is phone only, buh)
Heated Seats, heated wheel is a nice bonus.

What I *wanted* for her was a Z4 Coupe but it's seemingly the only BMW that doesn't come in x-drive and is only offered as a roadster right now, hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.

So what's out there? I'm almost completely blind on this segment. Lease would realistically have to fall in the $500-700 a month range so no crazy G-Wagens or anything. When she got t-boned in December we were looking at Focii for a bit, but they got the car fixed.

Sell me something interesting.

[Kchrpm]

Porsche Macan, $699 lease deal: http://porschedealer.com/pfs/details.php?id=7

Jaguar XE 35t AWD, $399 lease deal: http://www.jaguarusa.com/current-offers/xe-offers.html

Audi A5 2.0T Quattro, $399 lease deal, $750 for BMW owners: http://www.theaudiconnection.com/glo...d3c5f17629.htm

[dodint]

Porsche Macan, $699 lease deal

Just wanted to commend you again on this recommendation. We went this weekend and checked one out. We declined the test drive because we knew we weren't buying, but we got to crawl in and around one and Ashley was really, really impressed. The pictures don't give it's presence any justice, honestly. She wants to look at the Audi and the ATS and some other stuff before we start talking about getting her an upgrade but this was a really nice start.

My personal take: We added it to the short list because it's shorter than the E60. When we got there I discovered that it feels like a YUGE vehicle. I thought, having never seen one in person, that it was going to be an X1 sized tarted up 911. It turns out it's more like a slightly smaller Cayenne. It's 4 inches wider than the E60 BMW. Also a very tall vehicle.

Not sure it will be the one, the idea was to go smaller than the E60 to get around in city life better and it's such a wide vehicle. She got her car accident check this week and put $8K of it towards the E60 loan so that car will be paid off this winter and we'll start making real decisions when our 'moving to Pittsburgh' situation settles down.

[Yw-slayer]

I thought, having never seen one in person, that it was going to be an X1 sized tarted up 911. It turns out it's more like a slightly smaller Cayenne. It's 4 inches wider than the E60 BMW. Also a very tall vehicle.

Not sure it will be the one, the idea was to go smaller than the E60 to get around in city life better and it's such a wide vehicle.

I'm quite surprised given that it's only got 5 seats, and is based on the Q5.

I don't know if Porsche's "extensive re-engineering" of the Q5 platform has fixed it, but my 2 friends with Q5s hate theirs (constant random noises/problems that cost a shitload and require several visits to fix) and will never buy an Audi again.

[balki]

The Volvo XC90 is supposedly really nice, as the Subaru VX (maybe too cheap for your budget? [WTF!?!])

[dodint]

The Volvo XC90 is supposedly really nice, as the Subaru VX (maybe too cheap for your budget? [WTF!?!])

Budget doesn't have a floor. She's paying less than $400 for her loan right now. I just didn't want to handcuff suggestions by being too cheap with the ceiling.

Keith comes in with a great suggestion that tickles the ceiling, go figure.

[Cam]

Subaru Crosstrek or WRX? STi or VW Golf R if you're feeling rich?

[speedpimp]

Subaru Crosstrek or WRX? STi or VW Golf R if you're feeling rich?

Keep your hands to yourself, good sir.

[dodint]

I have driven and like the WRX STI. She doesn't fit the, err, profile for that car by any stretch though.

She's been kicking the tires on the idea of moving to an Audi, and I don't blame her.

[Kchrpm]

Also, Cadillac ATS Coupe can be had with AWD and the lease prices are around $350.