Are expensive cars worth it?

[socialleper]

We spend a lot of time giving each other the business about the various qualities of expensive basses, but I wanted to turn that discussion towards something else- cars.

A little background on me: My parents were always broke, so growing up my mom only ever had hand-me-downs and used cars. My dad's were usually work vehicles. They were never fancy; mostly wagons, hatchbacks, and sub-compacts. I carried on the tradition of having throw away cars no one else wanted until I was 30. Since then both cars were basic compacts, the first started croaking at 120k, and now the other is starting to go at 103k. My second car is only 4 years old BTW!
Seeing the writing on the wall, I'm starting to look around at other $20k-ish compacts. I'm not in as dire financial straights as I once was, so I let my eyes wander from the "What's the cheapest thing you got" aisle. Once I started doing the math, I was shocked at how quickly the payments on a $30k, $40k, or even $50k car got out of control. I just thought they were nice looking, but yikes!
So since I've never owned or really been around these I what I see as expensive cars, I don't know "Are they worth it?" Do more expensive cars last longer? Their gas mileage doesn't seem to be better. Sure, the engines have more HP, but I'm not taking it to the track; HP doesn't matter much when you are sitting in traffic most of the time. Leather interior seems like a pain. Is the ride supremely better? Is there really such a thing as driving pleasure?
What am I missing?

 

[Fumble Fingers]

I own Hondas. Have 220K on one, 170K on the other, and a "newer" one I commute in with 65K on it. I've never put anything but gas and oil in them, and never had a problem with any of them. Really. Not one single problem. All of my prior vehicles were basically broken down POS at 120K. So, yeah I think Honda's (while they cost more) give you maximum bang for the buck.

That said. Cars should never be viewed as investment pieces (unless you collect rare cars and don't drive them). You are MUCH better off collecting basses. A good bass will always appreciate in value.

 

[Gorn]

My dad and I are on close lease cycles. I've had a civic, two camry's and a Corolla. He switched off between BMW's and Benz's. On all four of my cars the only time spent in the shop was for oil changes. He never went one three year lease without a problem. There's something every few months either mechanical or electronic. His cars are nice. They look good. They're more comfortable. They have more and better amenities. No doubt about it. But I wouldn't buy one even if I had the money to spend. The most I'd do is a top of the line Camry.

 

[Clark Dark]

Ditto on Honda, 2003 Pilot and 2011 Odyssey. Both cars to date have only required oil changes and gas in the tank. Last year I had the suspension and brakes parts replaced on the Pilot just because Rock Auto made the purchases so easy and didn't break my bank. My Odyssey is still on a powertrain warranty.
In my younger days I too had my share of hand me downs. I had a 1958 Opel, my dad was a mechanic for the US Postal service and I had a decommissioned Rambler station wagon with right hand drive. Then there was the 1962 Triumph that the front right wheel broke away from the spindle and while I was driving on the Schuylkill Expressway saw that tire rolling away from me and the rest of the car....good days, good days

 

[DirtDog]

I can appreciate a nice car and have had a couple. I’ve opted to have a couple of nice bikes and an average car (SUV) since 2009 or so. My “average” car was $35K!

But holy hell, this is quite the age when you can spend $100K on a domestic pickup truck!

 

[bholder]

Expensive enough for me. I sure hope it's worth it...

 

[Gfkfloyd]

I've had everything from 25 year old Hondas with 300k on the clock to BMW 7 series to diesel Mercedes to Fords to everything in between (all very much used). I can say if you're willing to buy used and get your hands dirty, "luxury/sport" cars are the way to go. All 3 of my BMWs were approaching 300k on original engine and trans and I sold then still running, fast, and comfortable.

That being said, my daily is a '94 Crown Vic and (7 series aside) it's my favorite out if everything.

Find what fits you and if you can't afford it, buy used and get a Hanes manual.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Toyota fan here. Longest lasting most trouble free cars I’ve ever owned.
As far a buying, I usually look for a used that is coming off a lease.
You get something that still has everything but the new car smell, and sticker shock.
For instance... Bought a ‘96 Camry just coming off a lease in ‘99. Had about 45K miles on it.
Still driving it today. Very little work needed through the years. Other than routine and mileage associated things like timing belts, struts, brakes... you know, that stuff that every car wears through, it has been very trouble free.
Gets low 30’s MPG/Highway. 4 Cyl.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

the first started croaking at 120k, and now the other is starting to go at 103k. My second car is only 4 years old BTW!

Are you changing fluids regularly?

1996 Volvo Wagon is my daily I have had for about 15 years currently with 171,000 on it, still going strong.
2004 Toyota Sienna Van is The Wife's daily had for 10 years currently with 165,000 on it, still going strong.
On both of these it has only been routine maintenance of changing fluids, brakes, belts, spark plugs and tires.

Before these had many well over the 150,000 mark before selling. Only the 1992 Mazda transmission lost its balls on the ground at 249,873, we were soo close to 250,000.
Did have a Chrysler van at 280,000.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Are you changing fluids regularly?

1996 Volvo Wagon is my daily I have had for about 15 years currently with 171,000 on it, still going strong.
2004 Toyota Sienna Van is The Wife's daily had for 10 years currently with 165,000 on it, still going strong.
On both of these it has only been routine maintenance of changing fluids, brakes, belts, spark plugs and tires.

Before these had many well over the 150,000 mark before selling. Only the 1992 Mazda transmission lost its balls at 249,873, we were soo close to 250,000.

Yes! The doctor has me drinking plenty of water now. Oops got my threads mixed up.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Expensive enough for me. I sure hope it's worth it...

View attachment 3133975

Nice! I have yet to try one, but I drive by our local dealer every time I got to GC , SA, or Entenmann's!

You might want to blur out the license plate number on yours when posting publicly, perhaps (or, not).

 

[kesslari]

As with basses, "expensive" is in the mind and wallet of the purchaser. There are folks here who wouldn't sneeze at buying a Fodera or a Porsche, and others for whom those purchases would be unthinkable, and a Honda Accord would be a financial stretch.
For those who can afford it, there are details and features that are very enjoyable.
But either will get you from point a to point b, or let you lay down a groove.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Kinda funny but true. M3 is amazing but I really miss my '98 Cabrio. I miss my '97 Grand Caravan Sport too. For different reasons, of course.

 

[saltydude]

Probably not.

It’s worth it if you have the money. Plain and simple.

 

[socialleper]

I own Hondas. Have 220K on one, 170K on the other, and a "newer" one I commute in with 65K on it. I've never put anything but gas and oil in them, and never had a problem with any of them. Really. Not one single problem. All of my prior vehicles were basically broken down POS at 120K. So, yeah I think Honda's (while they cost more) give you maximum bang for the buck.

That said. Cars should never be viewed as investment pieces (unless you collect rare cars and don't drive them). You are MUCH better off collecting basses. A good bass will always appreciate in value.

One of the cars I'm thinking of is the new Civic. They are very popular and very well reviewed. They are around the $20K, but to loop that to my OP, is the Accord a worth while upgrade if my concerns are durability and a more pleasant ride for my 80 miles a day. Beyond that, are the Acuras that much better, or is it a matter of bells and whistles?

 

[socialleper]

My dad and I are on close lease cycles. I've had a civic, two camry's and a Corolla. He switched off between BMW's and Benz's. On all four of my cars the only time spent in the shop was for oil changes. He never went one three year lease without a problem. There's something every few months either mechanical or electronic. His cars are nice. They look good. They're more comfortable. They have more and better amenities. No doubt about it. But I wouldn't buy one even if I had the money to spend. The most I'd do is a top of the line Camry.

I really wish I could lease. My wife is doing that now because she likes the idea of getting a fresh new car every 2-3 years. Plus her commute is in town. I put to many miles on my cars to do a lease.

 

[socialleper]

For those who can afford it, there are details and features that are very enjoyable.
But either will get you from point a to point b, or let you lay down a groove.

Where cars differ, and what I would like to know, is that you put real, hard mileage on a car. And the repairs are a lot more. If the transmission on a car blows out, it will cost you more than a Sadowsky to fix it. And unlike a bass, if I can't drive I'm truly and rightly screwed. I drivey, no worky.
I know the bells and whistles of a BMW or Mercedes are fun, but will they last longer than a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla? Will a Lexus last longer than a Toyota, or is it just cool stuff? I honestly don't know.

 

[Gorn]

I really wish I could lease. My wife is doing that now because she likes the idea of getting a fresh new car every 2-3 years. Plus her commute is in town. I put to many miles on my cars to do a lease.

It's funny. I don't go out all that often and I very rarely drive long distances and at the end of each lease I return the car with just about 36000 miles, which is the limit before they charge me 40 cents a mile. So if someone has my commute and a more active social life, a standard mileage lease isn't enough.

 

[socialleper]

Are you changing fluids regularly?

Yes, and it is stupid stuff that keeps giving me trouble.
I really liked the Mazda 3 I had, and it was completely paid for (long story, but I bought it out right.) However, I thought I could be mister mechanic and swap out my own spark plugs. I do it on my Chevy Nova all the time, but that isn't an aluminum block. Turns out you can really F up an aluminum block if you tighten down a spark plug too hard. Then something similar happened when the jack wagons at Jiffy Lube stripped my aluminum oil pan with the steel oil plug by using a pneumatic wrench. So I was losing compression and dripping oil in a car that wasn't worth $3k any more. So I traded it in for a Ford Focus hatch back. That has been biting me in the backside ever since.
I have had 2 recall repairs. The seam on my coolant reservoir split and shot hot coolant all over the upper motor mount, which failed and had to be replaced. The windshield fluid reservoir leaks, and the plastic cap cracked apart in my hand when I was trying to refill it. Now my radio is dead, and it would cost at least $400 to replace (new shroud, new harness, new aftermarket deck.)

 

[kesslari]

One of the cars I'm thinking of is the new Civic. They are very popular and very well reviewed. They are around the $20K, but to loop that to my OP, is the Accord a worth while upgrade if my concerns are durability and a more pleasant ride for my 80 miles a day. Beyond that, are the Acuras that much better, or is it a matter of bells and whistles?

The Accord will be a more pleasant ride. Only you can decide if the extra "pleasant" is worth it to you.
The Acura, IMO, is one where you're paying a premium for a less well-defined benefit - sort of a "Sadowsky vs. Mike Lull" thing. The difference between the two is not nearly as great as between either and an MIM Fender.

Neither the Accord nor the Acura will necessarily last you longer, or be more problem-free, than the Civic.