Are expensive cars worth it?

[Mike N]

To really answer the OP's question, it's a subjective answer as to what "better" means to you.

To me, is a $90,000 Escalade "better" than a $40,000 Tahoe?? No. The Cadillac obviously has more bells & whistles than the Chevy, but both are built on the same platform with the same underpinnings.

The advantage of the Caddy is I can proudly park in the front row at the country club, whereas with the Chevy, I have to park at the back of the employee parking lot.

The disadvantage of the Caddy is when the bling breaks, it costs a fortune to fix. The Service Manager where I work is finding this out..... the $6 halogen headlight in his Sister's Tahoe is a $120 HID light in his Escalade. Same with the $1 taillight bulb in the Tahoe, which is a $250 LED assembly for the Escalade.

 

[Mike N]

Nothing wrong with that. Your definition of “worth it” is different from mine.

Just shoot me now if my only driving option is a Corolla. It’s a very fine car but it’s not worth $2 to me. Or if given one for free, I would immediately sell or trade it for something I would like.

I'd drive a Corolla long before any Euro car. Never liked Audi, Mercedes, BMW etc and never will.

 

[bholder]

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).

I bought mine with no test drive or anything, so it was a bit of a calculated risk - I wasn't even sure I'd be able to get in and out of one until I hit the showroom with the bank check. But it seems to have worked out.

 

[Alkali Ike]

I would never drive anything like an Escalade, just because the statement it makes isn’t me. Tahoe yes. Escalade no.

Now, I admittedly have a weakness for German-engineered cars. I can get all the Fahrvergnügen I want from a VW. I would feel self-conscious driving, say, a brand new Audi. Audi might be the upper limit for me for German badges.

It all depends on what “Worth It” means to you.

 

[Alkali Ike]

Useful (useless?) tip from OD52 when buying a new car:

If you plan to keep the vehicle indefinitely, and driving enjoyment is important to you, get exactly what you want, including fancy trim level.

But if resale value in say five years is important to you, get the mid-level trim. You’ll never recoup the $7K of options like leather and navigation in a new car.

 

[walking Bass]

It can also depend on where you live. Cars last longer in California than they did in Minnesota. I've had many cars over the years 1 Chevy, 1 Renault, 3 VWs, 1 Porsche, 2 MBs and 3 BMWs.

The 1984 BMW 533i lasted over 250,000 miles with few problems and drove beautifully, the 1968 912 Porsche was the most fun and the most work, but didn't last past 100,000 miles and the 1996 MB E320 was the prettiest when new and the most comfortable and made it over 200,000 miles before the transmission died - although I think I killed the transmission by hauling too many bricks for a backyard project..

I was visited yesterday by an old friend who wanted to show off his new car - Ferrari 488 Spider in classic red with tan interior. Certainly art on wheels, but no room in the trunk for a bass cabinet, so it's clearly deficient!

 

[MJ5150]

I don't think so.
I spend a small percentage of my life in a motor vehicle, so I'm no longer about having something nice/fancy/expensive/etc.
I wasn't always this way. I bought a brand new truck the day I turned 18 and kept a revolving door of new cars every 18-24 months until 2010.
I bought my 2002 Dodge Ram in 2005 and our Ford Edge in 2010, which we did buy brand new.
Back then, I budgeted a monthly vehicle payment and just considered it a necessity like groceries and such.
My life has drastically changed since then, and we are quite happy with how it turned out.

-Mike

 

[MattZilla]

Are they worth it?"

depends on what you're after. An M235i is not gonna cut it for running mulch from Loweys and bringing gramma out for brunch, but if you never do either of those things, have to have a lot of seat time and value the ability to pass and maneuver, it's a bargain.

Do more expensive cars last longer?

cars from companies trying to establish themselves (70s-80s MB, BMW, Honda, Toyota, 00s-10s Kiaundai) and brands for whom longevity/durability is their top sales bulletpoint (Honda, toyota) all last longer.

Their gas mileage doesn't seem to be better.

correct. People with more money than sense don't care about fuel consumption. They are consumers.

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.

if you do a lot of sitting on your commute, an expensive interior may be "worth it" to you. I can't relate to this. Mercedes and Lexus interiors are really lovely, but the MBs can reliably foster a close relationship with your dealer's service department personnel and Lexuses are all, factually, ug leee on the outside. Passing power and maneuverability I see as the utmost in safety features- they are worth it to me.

Leather interior seems like a pain

the only ones I've liked are antique. Newer leather is just for the smell.

Is the ride supremely better?

every corolla I've driven (95, 99, 06, 12) rode like a skateboard with a motor. Similar-year Camrys all rode like clouds comparatively. Similar story with Imprezas and Legacys, Cobalts and Impalas.

Is there really such a thing as driving pleasure?

yes, but different strokes for different folks.

I can say if you're willing to buy used and get your hands dirty, "luxury/sport" cars are the way to go.

THIS, but do your homework.

are the Acuras that much better, or is it a matter of bells and whistles?

bells and whistles aren't free.

I put to many miles on my cars to do a lease.

I cannot fathom a lifestyle that involves spending over five hundred hours per year behind the wheel. Over an hour each way is at least 4% of your total life, 8% of your wake life just gone to a task.

Will a Lexus last longer than a Toyota

nope. It'll just be uglier on the outside and prettier on the inside, and, thanks to car journalists, both will have a bunch of obnoxious gizmo gadgetry inside.

FWIW, my dad just got his second Outback with the 4cyl and CVT. He is/was a hotrod kinda guy, still has his 77 442. He does lots of long miles (several trips to all far ends of NYS per month) and he loves that low Subie wagon.

 

[Mike N]

It can also depend on where you live. Cars last longer in California than they did in Minnesota. I've had many cars over the years 1 Chevy, 1 Renault, 3 VWs, 1 Porsche, 2 MBs and 3 BMWs.

The 1984 BMW 533i lasted over 250,000 miles with few problems and drove beautifully, the 1968 912 Porsche was the most fun and the most work, but didn't last past 100,000 miles and the 1996 MB E320 was the prettiest when new and the most comfortable and made it over 200,000 miles before the transmission died - although I think I killed the transmission by hauling too many bricks for a backyard project..

I was visited yesterday by an old friend who wanted to show off his new car - Ferrari 488 Spider in classic red with tan interior. Certainly art on wheels, but no room in the trunk for a bass cabinet, so it's clearly deficient!

The most fun vehicle I've had was my 73 Blazer. I bought it for $400 sight unseen, stabbed a 6" lift kit and 40" tires on it (Yes, a Sawzall helped with fender clearance) and I daily drove/'wheeled the snot out of it for many years. By the time I was done with it, there were more mismatched panels on it than you could imagine. Still, I would have hopped in it and driven it anywhere without a second thought.

 

[Stumbo]

My vote is for the Honda Accord.

My 20 y.o. Accord LX has enough HP to do okay on freeways. Also more leg room and the trunk can hold a small combo.

The basic Civic to too small and underpowered. My daughter had one and it wasn't strong enough for the freeways.

Few repairs. Mostly basic maintenance.

 

[Brad Johnson]

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?

A wave of sadness swept over me.


If you like to drive, absolutely. If not, pick a reliable appliance and keep it moving.

If you're somewhere where the cheapest thing you're seeing is $30k... that's not cheap.

"Do more expensive cars last longer?" Sometimes. If you maintain most cars from new they'll typically last. And 100k is nothing for most new cars. Yours croaking around that mark speaks to some issue. I sold a friend my 1992 Honda Civic Si several years ago with maybe around 160k, he has in the mid 200k now and it still has the original clutch!

"Their gas mileage doesn't seem to be better". Expensive and fuel economy are usually mutually exclusive.

"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".

In the DC Metro area there can can be gridlock and then there isn't. If you don't need performance and don't care about it it's probably a waste of money on that feature. But HP doesn't just come in handy on the track. I just bought a 2005 Honda Element EX-S with a 5 speed manual and the performance with the 2.4L VTEC and manual is eye-opening. That puppy scoots and handles well, too. Of course you could just putt from place to place with it too.

"Leather interior seems like a pain". It can be if it's cheap and it wears.
"Is the ride supremely better?". You'd have to experience a really nice handling or riding car and see if you notice. I do.

None of the cars I mentioned are expensive. But just like with basses, if you're open to the used market and a higher end vehicle appeals to you there are bargains galore. I buy almost all of my vehicles used, I got my BMW Z3 Coupe for 25% of it's original price. Just found a steal on the Element for half of current value. If you look around and make educated moves you can have a lot of fun for relatively little money. There is ONE HUGE CAVEAT...

HUGE.

Just because you buy a used high end car for a song, don't expect the same savings come time for repairs or maintenance. You could buy a Mercedes that sold for $100k for $20k used but if something wears or breaks you'll likely be looking at repair costs on a $100k car.


There are ways around that with some vehicles, especially if there is a strong enthusiast following, that can keep the price of parts down. You can always check beforehand, there are tons of Youtube videos, forums and other resources, it's never been easier to find deals on cars, parts and upgrades in many cases. Research, look for horror stories and don't dismiss them out of hand. I was interested in a sports car a few years ago until my research turned up the fact that several people had their entire dashboards fail and require replacement... some, multiple times. Struck that off the list.

 

[Brad Johnson]

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.

I bought a rare car AND I drive it. The garage queen thing just never appealed to me. I'm not saving anything for the next owner.

I just had a guy ask me if I'd sell the Element I just bought for double what I paid for it. Nope... but it's nice to know I have some equity right off the bat.

Some basses can be good investments... how you buy them can be a huge factor. Some aren't.

 

[Brad Johnson]

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!

The first time I saw a $60k crew cab pickup I was speechless. But hey, if the market is bearing it, rock on. Fortunately they don't depend on me.

My newest car is now a 2005. I hadn't bought a car in over ten years but the cars I own are pretty cool and fun so I wasn't missing a thing. Most new cars have a homogeneous look and don't really do anything for me. If I had $30k to spend on a new car I probably wouldn't, knowing what I know.

 

[Rumbledore]

I learned just yesterday that the newest of Rolls Royce’s are entirely BMW 7series underneath their facade-body and interior-trimmings

 

[Alkali Ike]

Vehicle threads inevitably end up in the weeds because there are as many perspectives and opinions as there are makes models and types of land-based transportation.

The best car ever made is arguably a stock 1967 Chevy Impala. It will transport you in comfort. It carries lots of “stuff”. It goes forward, backward, left, or right. It has no computer modules to fail when there’s an EMP from a nuclear bomb. Any reasonably competent mechanic can fix it. Parts are readily available.

What else could you possibly need for personal transportation?

Edited to correct reference to “EMF” to EMP.

 

[Brad Johnson]

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.

It depends. If you're the kind of driver who smells smoke and goes "Oh, that's what that noise was about that I heard for the last few months", chances are you're maintenance cost will be low and repair cost relatively higher.


Mileage itself doesn't mean things will break. Neglect leans in that direction.

Yes, the cars you listed could last a long time. You may have major repairs along the way, you may not. Depending on how much you want to get into this. I have two cars that people regularly complain about repair cost and my costs are low... because I shop around, I don't go to the dealer except for the occasional laugh at an estimate, I found a great independent mechanic for stuff I'd rather not tackle. I'm set. Affordable fun... and I have spares so downtime with one doesn't create a hardship.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Would you think that a Camry would be more reliable than a Corolla? Or would a Lexus? When you go up to the Lexus\Acura\Infinity level are you getting more reliability, or more features?

Out of warranty you're getting the possibility of spending way more on repairs and maintenance on the expensive cars if you're a typical owner. My son had three Acuras and had more issues than any Honda I ever owned.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Useful (useless?) tip from OD52 when buying a new car:

If you plan to keep the vehicle indefinitely, and driving enjoyment is important to you, get exactly what you want, including fancy trim level.

But if resale value in say five years is important to you, get the mid-level trim. You’ll never recoup the $7K of options like leather and navigation in a new car.

True... though I'll admit I appreciate previous owners spending the money upfront.

 

[nutdog]

My vote is for the Honda Accord.

The Accord has enough HP to do okay on freeways. Also more leg room and the trunk can hold a small combo.
The basic Civic to too small and underpowered. My daughter had one and it wasn't strong enough for the freeways.
Few repairs. Mostly basic maintenance.

The latest version of the civic rivals the accord in room and is a fun car to drive, zippy with no problem on the interstate. The accord has more available features but you pay for it.

 

[Mike N]

Vehicle threads inevitably end up in the weeds because there are as many perspectives and opinions as there are makes models and types of land-based transportation.

The best car ever made is arguably a stock 1967 Chevy Impala. It will transport you in comfort. It carries lots of “stuff”. It goes forward, backward, left, or right. It has no computer modules to fail when there’s an EMF pulse from a nuclear bomb. Any reasonably competent mechanic can fix it. Parts are readily available.

What else could you possibly need for personal transportation?

View attachment 3134253

Years ago my old drummer learned of a 67 Biscayne floating around in 'da hood. Well, after some searching we found the car and it's owner..... $3500 later we were on our way back to the sticks with that Bisquick. Turned out to be a numbers matching 427 4 speed car that someone had painted white with a roller. Further digging found it to be a Canadian built model that was a one year only factory purple color car. The only damage was a poorly replaced LR quarter panel.... the rest of the car was still there. Researching thru GM of Canada, we found it to be one of 201 big block cars to roll out of Canada that year.... my guess being the el cheapo Biscayne, a 4 speed and purple was that we had a car that was one of only a handful ever built.

A NOS quarter was obtained and that car is now tucked away safely, waiting it's turn for a full restoration.