Best value in a used luxury car?

"WhiskeyGolf" (whiskeygolf)
03/24/2014 at 16:38 • Filed to: None

Doug's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! got me thinking: what kind of luxury vehicle offers the best value in terms of driving fun and maintenance? I'd love to find an old 911 but at what price point are those still good?

DISCUSSION (13)

Party-vi > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 16:42

Any nice 911 is going to cost you at least $20,000. You could get lucky and find an example that needs some TLC for under $20,000, but you'll spend whatever you saved on maintenance.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 16:45

Part of the point of Doug's article is that there's a ton of value out there going unrealized. It's not that critical for you to search out "the best" value. A lot of people think "used car = unreliable" and hence the gap between new and used car prices is huge.

I'd venture that 90% or more of Opponauts drive used cars by choice, and not strictly by economic necessity , and you've likely seen the broad categories of cars people here drive.

tl;dr: Used 911? Yes.

jariten1781 > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 16:45

Older 911s are not luxerious.

The best steals you can get on old lux cars right now are the 60s and 70s Lincolns and Caddys. Suicide door Continentals, Eldorado Verts, and Mark III through V all can be had in excellent shape for <15k (and in good running shape for significantly less than 10k).

Just budget for gas.

ddavidn > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/24/2014 at 16:47

90% sounds a bit high, with the number of people (like me) who wish they could afford, say, a Fiest ST...

Racescort666 > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 16:48

BMW is probably the best answer. It actually kind of depends on your location though. I live in the Chicago area now and there are German cars up the wazoo. Seriously, seen several deals for $500 BMWs go down with several of them being fairly easy to fix up.

Detroit (where I used to live): obviously domestics are the way to go. Cadillac would be the best choice. CTSs with a manual can be had for less than $10k but this probably isn't what you were looking for.

Z_Stig > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 16:48

Right now the 996 is still the best value when it comes to 911's. There is a lot of bad press on the internet regarding the the 996, but much of it has been perpetrated by individuals with much to gain by fear mongering (ie, repair shops who claim to have the only solution to IMS bearing problems.) In all honesty, a 996 will usually have the same issues other 10 to 15 year old cars have.

Right now, $20K-25K will get you in a very nice, well sorted, well maintained 996 ready to become your daily driver. Just remember, in the end it's still a Porsche, and therefore parts are still on the pricey side.

Nibbles > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/24/2014 at 16:58

According to Shaggy from Rocky's Autos, everyone drives a used car

McLarry > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 16:59

My knee-jerk reaction for luxury value is go for an older Jag XJR... One of the top dogs of its day on the luxury front; yours for under 20k.

Edit... That link has a 'mailto:' on it for some reason...

Merkin Muffley > Racescort666
03/24/2014 at 17:03

Merkin Muffley > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 17:06

Kinja'd!!!

I picked up that 96 XJ6 for $7k, with just 65k miles. The only flaw with the vehicle is that it drinks a small amount of PS fluid (I have to top up the reservoir about once every 6 weeks or so), and the cupholder hinge is cracked. The 95-97 XJ6s are practically the most reliable cars Jag has ever built (meaning they are good for 200k instead of 100-150k, they are still no toyota or volvo), and the maintenance isnt bad if you have a good local independent import repair shop. Most people have assumed I paid north of $20k for it.

phenotyp > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 17:11

If you'd asked me a few months ago, I'd say 5-series BMW. If you asked me now, I'd say 5-series AND DON'T FORGET THE GODDAMN WARRANTY.

RPM esq. > WhiskeyGolf
03/24/2014 at 17:19

D2 Audi A8—if you can find one with transmission and suspension work already done, then mileage isn't much of a concern. $4-5 grand all day, even a Quattro.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > WhiskeyGolf
03/26/2014 at 20:43

Cheap luxury? Lexus LS430. Ok yes, it's not a particularly fun car to drive. But as far as I can remember, it's one of the most reliable and theft proof cars ever tested by UK journalists. And used ones are cheap. An air-conditioned, leather lined, satnav guiding barge with a 4.3l V8, automatic 'box and 96,000 miles on the clock like this one is on sale for just over US$8,200.