You could get a used Acura TL w/ sh-awd for around that price. My wifes TSX and my MDX have been awesome vehicles. My MDX has the sh-awd and it is great. TSX has been flawless, we bought it new and it has almost 90k miles on it now.

 

A word of caution on the AWD 500/Taurus -- the 500's were painfully underpowered when they first came out. Everytime I drove one I felt as if I needed to stick my foot out the door and push it like a skateboard to help it get going.

When they made the transition to the Taurus nameplate they received an upgraded V6 that was a much stronger engine (3.5?) -- I thought the acceleration of those cars was quite acceptable.

Just some advice if you look at that platform as a possibility.....

 

The AWD 500 used a 203 HP 3.0 V6 and CVT. The 08/09 Taurus didn't offer AWD but it had a 263 HP 3.5 and 6 speed auto. AWD came back in 2010.

 

Take a look a pre owned Infiniti G35X. It meets all your criteria, and if you get one from an Infinit dealer, as certified, come with great warranty. I love my G.

 

The 500 is not a race car but i live in the mountains and i have never felt the car as underpowered. If you want fast then get a stang, if you want comfy ride and every option and great mileage with AWD then get a 500.

 

Went and looked at a 2010 taurus last night. Didn't get a chance to test drive it as my sister made a surprise visit into town and wanted to go out to dinner. Very nice cars though. Going to go back wednesday to drive it. Also looked at a 2012 sonata, test drove and was quite impressed. Didn't ride as quiet at our current audi though.


GLC, here's an 08 with awd. Edmunds lists them as having the option.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/2860732450.html

have yet to find a 500 on a dealer lot near me. I'll have more time later this week to look

 

I know you said the flex is scionish (barf) but it does come with the 365? hp ecoboost, and the interior alone blew me away. It was super nice to drive. I've only ever heard good about the 500/Taurus and especially the newer Taurus. The Edge still gets my vote for the criteria you mentioned, but you mentioned the Explorer. I have (wife's) 06 Eddie Bauer one with the v-8, I don't have bad to say, even gas mileage, except the door inside grab handle. It is placed weird and is useless, especially on windy days. Whats the wife kinda leaning towards and why given these suggestions?

 

Buck, that is one very nice car. Don't worry about the knuckle draggers criticizing your car because of the 3.0, take a look at the MPG and then tell 'em to criticize it! By the way, what is that on the floor?, you using a Depends for a floor mat? JK JK

 

It was the dealer mats when i first bought it. I put on 75 k in 1.2 years and it has had one issue a wheel bearing other than that it rides like a Lincoln, drives like a caddy and has more room than any other car on the road today and 28-31 MPG!!! and at 3.92 a gallon how can you beat it, full size, roomy, trunk the size of a shed, looks good and did i mention MPG.... and i paid 12K for it with 17k on it. best deal around. IMHO

 

Ive been trying to talk her into the ford family since I met her. She loves her german cars. Shes a city girl at heart so loves all of her accessories. I swear what swung the deal on the audi was the automatic dimming mirrors and multifunction steering wheel with shift options. Once she saw that, she wouldnt leave the car alone. Shes a little smarter this time around though. Of coarse I am doing all the research and she gets to test drive. Right now, were leaning toward a taurus or so I thought. Mainly because of the room and price. We havent drove one yet. She changes her mind every day though. Just when I thought we were making progress on a car with an appointment to go back on wednesday... on the way home last night we have to drive by the sunset imports used audi dealer. She made me stop to look at an 07 a4 and talked about it for the rest of the night. So I dunno where we are at right now.
Now If I can find a white one with black leather interior.

 

Is that a typo, Buck? I know you live out in the country and said you have a long lane, but is it THAT long? Where in the world have you been going and WHEN do you sleep???
I don't care what anyone says, that was one heck of a deal! You're lucky it ISN'T a Caddy or it would be falling apart already.

 

Let's see 130 mile round trip drive each day 6 days a week, then just motoring around town miles. Now i am no longer working so the miles have slowed down. As for the caddy i owned a few and they were great.

 

Went and looked at this one. Nice ride. Problem is, what good mileage are you referring to?
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/2857961808.html

EPA rating on this one, awd with a 3.0L is 17 city, 23 highway, 19 average.... no where near what you are getting. Our Audi does about the same.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22839.shtml

 

Message center should tell you the truth on mileage. Buck's SEEMS to be indicating 30.2 MPG. Don't know if that is average over the last 10K mi. or last tank or what. I have a Scan Gauge II which gives you a lot of information but it will also give you average MPG or instantaneous MPG. It plugs right into the OBD port, and IT WON'T LIE! Don't know what to make of the discrepancy between Buck's MC and the posted MPG. I know it was probably a LITTLE bit lighter but I bought my wife a new Taurus SE in '95 w/3.0 V-6 and that got a consistant 31-32 MPG at 70-75 MPH. I was very pleased with the mieage. The 500's you're talking about have AWD which may drop the mileage a little but they wouldn't drop it that much would they?

 

That rating has gotta be bogus, hell, my old pickup has gotten 18-20 mpg's if not better on the highway!