What's after the Z? What do you plan to buy?

ElVee

Hard to say much without knowing you personally. So much depends upon what you want out of your car, both your needs and your wants, and what your finances are like. Also, for instance, some people define a lot of themselves by their car and probably can justify spending a decent amount, while others just need something to get around in, and probably should stay inexpensive and spend their money elsewhere. Some people want fun and think they want 300hp, but what they really want is smaller, cheaper, and more fun.

Also, I don't know about your winters, but a FWD car can do just fine, especially if you leave room for dedicated snow tires.

For me, I also tire of having two vehicles. One sits outside, etc. I'm actually trading in my Eclipse for a lease on a Corolla later this week at a pretty decent OTD price/mo.

For me, the Z has been a bump up in car price, and while I love the car and think I've gotten my money's worth, it also reminds me that I only drive it half a year and could do other things with the money saved had I done something else. No regrets, but it's a thought. I doubt I'll do my fun car this expensive ever again, and while the Z is no muscle car, it has given me enough of a power bump that I'm not sure I'll ever need to have something more than it. I do slightly wish I had gotten on the bandwagon earlier than later in the lifecycle, only because I now see the 350z/civic si drivers getting 370z and uglifying them.

Honestly, my eyes would be on a new Miata or whatever Honda puts out for an s2k replacement, and maybe a solid crossover SUV or something as a DD. For now, I can't swing that as I'm still paying down the Z, but that's sorta my 5 year plan. I don't need child seats and none on the horizon, so...sedan is kind of a waste of money and material on me. Crossover at least lets me put down the rear seats and reap some value.

As such, I can't much plan on what's out now being relevant in 5 years.

Still, your list is pretty good; I would look at the Audi, BMW, Infiniti, and Lexus if I were in that list. The Caddy just doesn't do it for me. I'd also want to go slightly cheaper only so I can replace the ugly bits on the cars with AM parts or bolt-on mods to make them slightly more unique than the other 50 I see every day on the roads.