Any twit can buy a car for a few quid and feel morally superior – until it breaks down. What takes real guts is buying a high-end motor at a low-rent price.
The potential for disaster is greater, but think of the fun you could have with a car that has depreciated from fantasy to reality.
There are more used cars around in January as people part exchange and get ready for the plate change, and dismal weather means that buying anything right now is often a distress purchase. Stylish coupés aren’t quite so desirable, and who needs a luxobarge if they don’t have a chauffeur?
Yes, it’s a great time to buy a used car with a premium badge.
LUXURY ROADSTERS
- Cost new: £50,850
- Cost now: 2002, 85,000 miles - £4290
The upside for buyers of premium used cars is that it’s impossible to fault Lexus on the grounds of quality. So yes, the SC is beautifully built, but that just isn’t enough at the luxury convertible end of the market, which explains why one of these isn’t as desirable as a Merc SL.
SCs are, however, bought by wealthy types who like their cars, so expect a full service history. Anything scruffy or blingy should be avoided. There shouldn’t be any problems, but if there are it’ll be roof sensors seized through lack of use and maybe underside corrosion.
Mercedes-Benz SL350 (2005, 157k miles, £4695)
A more stylish coupé-cabriolet than the Lexus but slightly more likely to have an electrical issue or two. Otherwise, a wonderful way to show off – provided it’s straight and tidy.
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I spend £30,000......
way back in 2007 I bought unseen an 04’ plate , manual gearbox M3 in the launch color (Phoenix yellow Metallic) had done about 22,000, I wanted it on 19” rims it was er em my mid life crisis Car. I only intended to keep it six months and move it on thinking that when I did they’d be ringing me not them, driving don’t quite happen that way but I digress, well I did have great six months hooping around in my M3, it cost me two rear Tyres which were down to Builders Van rubbish ie, Nails on the Road (grrr) at the time they were £300 a corner, I also sold it before it’s big service (£800 at the time), so all it cost me was fuel (£25 a Week) my insurance at the time (£239) and when I traded it worked out it cost me a grand a month, a lot I know, but, I’d owned what I’d lusted after and that’s priceless, so I’d say to others, just do it or you think about it forever.
Peter Cavellini wrote:
This is the most coherent and sensible thing you’ve ever written on here. Well done on owning (one of ) your dream car(s). Glad you enjoyed it.
"Coherent and sensible yes...."
But irrelevent to James Ruppert's article. James is talking about old bangers, not 3 year old cars, that cost you £1,000 per month in depreciation!
Luxury cars
It seems that luxury cars don not have to be reliable. Those who buy them are very rich and can afford buying two for redundancy. My best way of covering the whole spectrum is buying a Maserati for Sunday driving and a Lexus for someone to drive behind.