What's the point of buying a luxurious car anymore, when everyone has them now?

Question

Everywhere I go I see Mercedes', BMW's, volvo's, lexus, audi's, jaguars, and infinitis! Nothing old..oh yeah it's about the year 2000 and up. I use to think that purchasing an expensive car was because nobody could really afford a 40,000 to 90,000 car and if I bought it I wouldn't see it EVERYWHERE I go. I don't live in expensive area. What's going on? I see 17 yr olds driving Mercedes' around. What has this world come to?

Answer 1

to show off money just wait the price will rise on them, and there nice cars its good to think that people can afford nice cars and were not poor and starving, 17's are getting jobs pay is going up peoples parents are going to school and spoiling there children i actually think its a good thing for us, and besides it pushes the car makers to make something nicer and i dont think volvo's and lexus are really nice cars-if someone has one im like soo but if they have a jag im like sweet. plus a true colector still see's the point in getting one and my dad drives a jag and a corvette. but im gonna give you a star because this is a great question!

Answer 2

Don't get something too big. Try a Mercedes E320CDI. The CDI is a turbo-diesel. I never liked luxury vehicles very much, and since 9/11, I like them even less. The E320CDI will run about $50K, but you will get 700 miles on a tank full. Modern diesels (VW anything TDI, Mercedes E Class CDI, Jeep Liberty CDI, etc.) are clean and quiet, like gasoline cars, but run a lot further on a tank.

More than 60% of the world's crude oil comes from 5 Middle-Eastern countries.

Since 9/11, do you really want to drive the biggest, fanciest luxury vehicle you can, or do you want something comfortable and reasonable on fuel to drive?

Hybrids? Fuggedaboutit! Luxury hybrids like the Lexus RX400h are built for more performance rather than more economy. Hybrids will also need a battery replacement when they get up into 6 figure mileage (If you drive a lot, that can come very quickly). A new battery pack can run you quite a few thousand dollars if you are out of warranty.

Really smart people (like a friend of mine who is a Bank Executive) buy cars and keep them for years. Most cars now come with 60K to 100K mile power train warranties. If you have a car note for 4 years and you keep your car for 8 years (so you get your full warranty mileage out of it), you are driving a car for the cost of oil changes, tires, and scheduled maintenance ONLY for the last 4 years!

Diesels only make up about 1% of the passenger vehicle market here, in the US. Is that exclusive enough for you? A luxury Diesel, like the E320CDI, make up only a small fraction of that 1%. Wouldn't you love to drive around all day and see your fuel gauge needle barely move?

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Answer 3

They're probably leasing, poor numbskulls. Yes, I said they were poor, because they know not what they do.

Regardless, these people can afford to throw their cars away after a year, and buy the next best thing. You can have a lot of room to negotiate for these cars, if you want one.

That's the only way I would ever buy one of these luxury cars, is used. I don't have a lot of experience in this regard. But if you can negotiate a good price for a luxury car, see if you can find a reputable shop to come out and take a look at it on the lot, and see what's wrong with it.

There's no 'lemon law' for used cars, as far as I know, and you don't want to get taken as an idiot, so have someone come out and perform a simple diagnostic. It might cost you a little, but not what it would cost you to have to rebuild this car.

Personally, I don't think luxury models are worth the markup. I think it's more cost-effective to buy a mid-line car and have all of the upgrades done aftermarket. You'll end up with an exciting, unique car, you'll inflate the resell value, and it'll be easier to fit within your budget.

Answer 4

The household income in the US has gone up. That's the main factor.
Also, the definition of luxury has transformed, their are different layers of it now. For example, if you show me a person with a Benz C230.... Yeah, that's nice, but a nicely equipped Chrysler 300 is way nicer. To me the C230 means you bought the car simply because you wanted a Benz. Now The Benz S-Class (S550) or a Jaguar XKR. Now, those are luxury cars that will turn heads.

Answer 5

SOME of the people are driving for status. But most of the people who buy such a vehicle are doing it because of…
1) Value of the car
2) Trade-in values
3) They are less expensive as a percentage of the pay-check now
4) They last longer than the lower cost models
5) Many people spend so much time in their cars, they believe they should be able to enjoy a benefit of that time, rather than "trapped" in a less-than-desirable ride.

Many more reasons, but those are the most common reasons related to me by my customers.

Answer 6

The car you buy shouldn't be about one-upping everyone else. It should be about comfort, performance, and how it fits your taste and style. The higher end cars usually perform better and offer better features. If more people are able to afford cars that meet those requirements, good for them.

Answer 7

those are the best options

you aren't going to see somebody who's trying to impress people being unique and buying a common/cheap car...

it's not so much the fact that you have a benz or bmw....
it would just be a poor reflection on them if they didn't (according to the superficial opinion)

Answer 8

people are dumb.. they finance those cars ..high monthly payments on a lease purchase..
i much prefer classics and street rods they are cheaper to own and operate..plus the value goes up every year

Answer 9

to get a 2nd