So you’re wrestling with the idea of purchasing a used luxury vehicle instead of a new middle-of-the-road sedan.
We won’t be advising you here which way to go, because there are good reasons for either choice.
But at least one writer who chose a used luxury car has suggested some ideas you might not have considered in an article “5 things no one tells you about owning a used luxury car” at APiDA Online.
His top reason? What you’re driving is still better than most cars on the road today.
“There are lots of things technology can account for and improve as time goes on,” writes Tavarish, founder of APiDA Online, a source of DIY auto guides, tips and reviews. “But there are still things that are clearly better when you buy a car with a high standard of luxury and an emphasis on build quality – things that a luxury car maker can afford to do that another cost-cutting company wouldn’t.”
RELATED: “How you, too, can drive in the lap of luxury even on a tight budget” and “Buying a luxury vehicle ‘doesn’t require spending big bucks anymore’” on the Santander Consumer USA blog.
Among those things in this case are double-paned glass for sound insulation, rear vanity mirrors, independently controlled climate zones, air-powered rear headrests and an audio system that detects the noise inside the cabin and adjusts the volume automatically.
Now, not everyone can go the route taken by Tavarish, who purchased a non-running, 14-year-old Mercedes-Benz with 89,000 miles and electrical issues for S500 instead of a new Honda Accord EX-L. We admit, it’s an extreme case, but the writer’s experience still offers insights worth considering if you’re thinking about buying a more recent used luxury car instead of a new car.
But among the other things no one tells you about owning a used luxury car, according to the writer: They are “way cheaper than you think” and are “surprisingly easy to repair.”
After getting the Mercedes running again, Tavarish compares the final cost of that vehicle to the Accord. Factoring in the initial price of the car, he spent $4,335, which was $25,952 less than the new Honda. While the difference you would see with a running car would be a lot less, the implications still are clear.
“At that point, you have to realistically ask yourself,” he writes, “would you rather have one Honda Accord or a fleet of German luxury cars?”
And the major reason to not purchase a used luxury car? Not much different than purchasing a new one. “You’re going to be a jerk to some people, not matter what,” Tavarish writes, citing three incidents in which he is berated because he is driving a luxury car (he thinks).
For more of Tavarish’s insights and observations, see the original article at APiDA Online.
Additional pros and cons for deciding between a new car and a used luxury car are provided by Edmunds.com and Autotrader.com.
