I need a great ride with a roof rack! Which car should I buy? – Jalopnik

Mike is an avid kayaker from north Alabama and loves his 2014 BMW 3 Series, but it’s time for an upgrade. He wants something that offers decent performance, has a comfortable interior, and most importantly, has the ability to handle a kayak roof rack. What car should he buy with a budget of up to $60,000?

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Here’s the scenario.

Hello Jalopniks! I’m ready to move on from my 2014 BMW 335i. I love my car and it has pretty much everything I want in a car, but I’m looking for something new. When I say new, I mean new to me, I am only interested in used cars in the 1-4 year range. The car history includes the 93 Grand Cherokee Laredo, the 2003 VW Golf, the 2007 BMW 3.0 Z4 and the 2014 BMW 335i. Looking for a fun daily driver that has some speed but is also comfortable. Something else would be a plus, but not necessary. I’m a BMW guy, but could switch to a Merc. 4 doors is almost a must and there must be a roof rack option. The Quadrifoglio looks great, but the reliability that comes with it is not. As a BMW guy, I’m not opposed to having an account to sock away money for an unexpected repair, but I’d rather not live with the mechanic. I have to drive 25 minutes to and from work every day.

In general, I want something fast, that can handle a rack, with a nice interior, and is reasonably reliable. The budget is approximately $60,000

Fast Facts:

Budget: up to $60,000

Location: North Alabama

Daily driver: Yes

Want to: Nice interior, good power, roof rack

Don’t want: Something that is too expensive to maintain

Mike, if your goal is to transport a kayak in style, my friend, you need a wagon. While you can technically put a rack system on a four-door, something is off about the aesthetics. Now throw some joists on a long roof and it just works. I don’t know exactly why, but I don’t make the rules.

Unfortunately, the car market in America is a bit limited, but for the price of $60,000 you have options. My choice would be the Audi A6 Allroad. That gives you all the comfort and technology you’d expect from a mid-size business car, in addition to an already integrated roof rail system that can easily accept the crossbars for the kayak. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that produces 335 horsepower. That’s on par with your BMW, and honestly it’s hard to really use much more than that in a daily driver. These Audis have solid build quality, and while they won’t be as stress-free as a Lexus, they won’t drain your savings like an Alfa. Here’s a very nice 2020 model with 37,000 miles and the favorite body color fenders for just $40,000.

That solution comes in the form of Sea suckersroof racks that are mounted on the outside of your car with suction cups. For some use cases you can get specialized mounts (the bike mount is fantastic) or regular crossbars if that’s more your thing. They should stick right to the M3’s carbon roof, giving you all the holding power you could ever need for whatever you’ve been hauling in your existing 3 Series.

Moreover, the SeaSuckers can stay with you when you change cars. When you purchase a kit, you’ll never have to search for cars with factory-installed roof racks again. They open up a whole world of possibilities for you, with any performance car being an option for you. I have a friend who carried his bike around at SeaSuckers, and they never let him down.

Mike, buy an M3 and a set of SeaSuckers for your roof mount. If the thought of putting all that weight on carbon worries you, there are plenty of non-competing M3s in your area – but come on, get the nice one. Just look at those wheels and tell me this isn’t the car you want.

And you know which car spoke to me, Mike? This 2021 Porsche Panamera with a mileage of 62,000 miles. It’s in Chattanooga, which shouldn’t be far from what I assume is the greater Huntsville area. You’ll probably have a better time in Tennessee if you’re a Bama fan, but you never know. Maybe the dealer will take pity on a sad, miserable, defeated Auburn fan who is dead behind the eyes and keep the football jokes to a minimum. There’s no point in kicking a fanbase when it’s not available.

Anyway, back to the Porsche. It’s bigger than your BMW, but don’t worry. You’ll love how it drives, and while it’s not the fastest Panamera in the series, 325 horsepower is no mean feat. And even if repairs will be pricey, it should be quite reliable, at least compared to the Alfa Romeo you were looking for. Is this specific car fitted with a roof rack? Not yet, but if there’s one thing I know about Porsche, it’s that you can get anything you want as long as you pay enough money for the privilege. It’s perfect for you.