Originally posted by: JW1978
Date: February 19, 2013 at 12:46 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/car-shopping-advice.51968/
osubuckeye4 said:
They are nice cars, then again, a Honda Accord or Acura TSX is a nice car as well and it costs $20,000-$30,000 less.
Here's my beef with "luxary" cars...
There are LUXARY cars (Aston Martins, Bugattis, Bentleys), and then there are "luxary" cars (BMW's, Lexus and the like).
If money is no object, I understand and have no problem with someone dropping $200,000-$500,000 on a new Bentley... chances are, if you're in a position to drop that coin, you probably have a million dollar house and all other kinds of luxaries. The Bentley is more an icing on the cake than that centerpiece to attract eyeballs.
The thing is, I just see so many people dropping $50,000-$80,000 on "luxary" cars who are living in $250,000-$300,000 houses.
Buy an Accord or TSX and go ahead and take that $30,000-$40,000 and f---ing pay off a ton of your mortgage, use it as a downpayment on a $500,000 house, invest it in a retirement portfolio, or f---ing put a new wing or two on your existing home.
Don't drive around a piece of s---... but you can get a really nice car for $28,000 these days. The things a $52,000 car do are not worth the extra $24,000 you will be spending.
Look at it this way... adding to your house or purchasing a new house is an investment that could return you $20,000-$30,000 down the road when you sell... buying a new "luxary" car is a money pit. As soon as you drive your BMW off the lot, it depreciated 30% (and again, Bugatti's and Lambo's CAN be investments, that's a completely different discussion).
I just see a few co-workers who drive $80,000 Corvettes and who live in apartments that cost $1300 a month... it is mind bogglingly stupid. Sure, they occasionally pick up a dumb chick with their 'vette... but then they get laughed at when they bring her back to a shitty two bedroom apartment.
Your car shouldn't be the nicest thing you own...
(that was not really directed at the OP, for all I know he is a millionare who likes to go fast but doesn't feel like spending $280,000 on a Bentley because of the unwanted attention it would bring. Just a rant in general.)
Click to expand...
I mostly agree. I've been holding off on buying another car until I buy a house (more like a condo...same difference). I wouldn't mind updating the Mustang, but that Focus ST is a pretty sweet little car too (and I don't have to worry about not being able to find a manual transmission since they are only made in stick). In any case, I would be hard pressed to buy a brand new car again. I got my current Stang one year used, and it was reacquired by Ford under the lemon law, which saved me even more. I haven't had any major problems beyond replacing the clutch a couple of months ago during the 7 years I've had it. My only gripe is that it's probably one of the worst-handling cars in the world in anything less than optimal conditions! After I get the house out of the way, I'll decide whether I want to get another Mustang, something else, or get a second car to drive when it's anything other than sunny and dry outside.
And that's the thing about that $30k price point: I'd get a Buick Regal, Acura TSX, Accord or Ford Fusion a million times sooner than I'd spend that kind of money on a Camry...which has to be the MOST overrated car in the world. Even if I were inclined to spend the kind of money that near-luxury cars cost, I'd give a look to Infiniti -- they have some of the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in, especially the M class.
Also, I kind of think of BMW separate than the other luxury/near-luxury vehicles since they are so well engineered. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who drive BMWs drive them like it's a Hyundai Accent and have no idea that they're driving one of the best handling cars in the world. But then again, like most other cars in that class, the prices are embellished by the fact that there's a ton of electronic sh*t on there that I don't want. Give me a $5k price break to not have all the electronic this and automatic that, and I'll consider it.
