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Use luxury without a doubt. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. Maintenance on a Lexus/Infinit/Acura isn't that much different than their standard brands. Benz may be a different story.
Never really understood how a used car was automatically "someone else's headache." Out of the hundered plus cars I've owned in the last 35 years, only a couple were new, and when I sold them, they certainly weren't my headache at that point.
I wouldn't say it's "automatically" but you just never know and that's not a risk I'm willing to take, that's all. Maybe it's irrational, maybe it's a waste of money but it's my money.
If I knew the car and the owner, that's one thing. But I've heard too many horror stories here and elsewhere about used cars. It's one thing to spend 8-10k on a used car, that's a risk I might take but $40k? No thanks.
For $40k, I would look at a gently used Mercedes E350. The 6-cylinder models are not as costly as the 8 and 12-cylinder models with respect to maintenance and repairs. The 8's are somewhat more expensive, but the 12's are significantly more expensive, especially the AMG trims.
I would also consider a BMW 5 series for that price, too, even better if you could find one in the $30k range that is CPO. I would not buy a Chrysler 300 new or used, but that may just be my taste. I have had them many times as rentals and the luxury is faux luxury, as in I could see the components breaking and wearing much faster than in a higher quality car. The Lexus ES is not bad, either, but has a soft ride, not as taut as the E-Class, and certainly much softer than a BMW. The C-class is a good vehicle, too, but if you want a sedan with more utility, look at a used E-Class for the same money. The rear seat in the C-class is very tight, a bit more than a BMW 3, which I would also consider new around $40k.
The LS is not terribly expensive to own, a tad more than a regular Lexus, owing to more cylinders and the like. However, the S-Class can have much more expensive issues than a premium sedan. The LS will also hold value better over the long term when compared with the S-Class.
So, it would depend upon what you want out if a car as to which I would recommend. If you want a large full sized sedan that is comfortable, the Lexus is a good choice. Slightly smaller, the E350 would be one to compare to the Lexus ES.
I would look more to luxury CPO for the added value and features, over a Chrysler 300.
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But I've heard too many horror stories here and elsewhere about used cars. It's one thing to spend 8-10k on a used car, that's a risk I might take but $40k? No thanks.
Generally you hear horror stories from people who simply don't know much about cars. Are you one of those people? if not, then what happens to one of them has no bearing on what will happen to you, if you have half a brain when looking at a car. And a $40k used car will usually be fairly new and not a problem. Most late model luxury cars are being traded in on NEW luxury cars, as there is no status symbol in driving around last year's luxury. Sucks for the vain, but it's great for the rest of us that love getting bargains on luxury items.
In another thread here, I have told my story of looking at a used Lexus ES 350 instead of a new Accord. There are a lot of factors involved. In my case, the owner seems to have an emotional attachment that clouds his judgement of a realistic price. Because of reading CD threads, I would be scared to look at used BMW and MB because of the high maintenance cost.
I would have to agree with BMWguy that the Lexus LS would be the best choice for the high end Luxury
cars. Its very reliable, holds its value better and the maintenance cost is less than the BMW and the Merc.
Pretty much everything BMWguy said is right on.
I would have to agree with BMWguy that the Lexus LS would be the best choice for the high end Luxury
cars. Its very reliable, holds its value better and the maintenance cost is less than the BMW and the Merc.
Pretty much everything BMWguy said is right on.
There is no such thing as a luxury Japanese car. Adding more features and options to a Camary and calling it a Lexus does not make it any more "luxurious". It is the equivalent of buying a fake Rolex.
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Sucks for the vain, but it's great for the rest of us that love getting bargains on luxury items.
Adding more features and options to a Camary and calling it a Lexus does not make it any more "luxurious". It is the equivalent of buying a fake Rolex.
