I am a retired mechanical engineer, age 74, president of my own (smaller) company, and have dealt with people at most economic levels across most of the US, and having observed myself at a range of different economic levels.... my conclusion is that *money insulates a person from humanity, including his own personal humanity*.. ________That is only very rarely a good thing for the person, or anyone around him. I am currently retired to a small Mayan village in the high mountains of central America. I understand now why many of the American Indian tribes call themselves 'human beings'... that is because many of those who moved in on them... are not. And that is unfortunate.
I bought a 2002 Saab 9-5 a year ago and loved everything about it, things were exactly where they felt right and the bells and whistles were well thought out. Any car I drive now can't stack up to the power and driving feel my Saab gives me.
I *love* the fact that luxury vehicles drop in value so quickly! You can buy a 3-year-old luxury vehicle that has maybe 45,000 miles on it for HALF of what it cost new -- especially American luxury vehicles. So that $50,000 Lincoln will cost you $25,000 three years later - the same price as a well-equipped brand-new Focus, but you're driving a far more luxurious car for the same money. Of course, the maintenance on a luxury car is also more than it is on a basic car - but that's why I watch Eric The Car Guy, so I can do all my own work and save a ton of money. :-)
I've owned and driven many different vehicles in my lifetime. Many VERY nice vehicles like a new Bentley, Nissan GT-R, Corvettes, Mercedes, BMW, etc. I have also driven countless "normal" cars like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, etc. To be completely honest, my 1990 BMW 535i that I picked up for $1000 drives and performs equal to or better (mostly better) than a lot of more modern cars ( 2005 +) that aren't even necessarily base model cars. If I were to compare this car to my 1995 Mustang GT (sold), the BMW is simply in a completely different category; It's a night and day difference in build quality, ride, performance, etc. I could also say the same for my 1996 BMW 328is, 1990 Mercedes 300TE, and my 1988 Mercedes 560SEL. If you do all of your own QUALITY maintenance to your vehicles, it doesn't cost much more to keep these on the road than it does to do the same for a more "normal" car. Why buy a newer "normal" car when you can spend the same or less on a less modern luxury car that performs better in almost every aspect? That's my $0.02
I bought a 98 Lincoln Town Car in 2008 for $2,000. I sold the car I was driving for $1000. I considered the Lincoln my "$1,000 Town Car". It was shiny all the way around with no dings, pretty decent tire life left, perfectly functioning mechanicals, and bells and whistles. A year later I replaced the intake manifold due to a common crack in the plastic coolant passage. I did this myself and other than wear parts such as break pads, tires etc. that's all that it's ever needed. I ended up just giving it to my mother in-law a year ago and it's still going. The point to this is that many fear older luxury cars because they think that all those high end features will cost a fortune to fix. I would say this would definitely be the case with European luxury models sold in the U.S. But I've never found that to actually be the case with American Luxury models sold here. I've always wondered if it was the other way around in Europe?
I think what Eric should have said is people who purchase luxury vehicles direct, the first owner, see themselves differently. I buy old used luxury cars because they're usually in better shape and have better amenities, but I work hard and spend many hours keeping them looking and running in tip top shape. I rather spend 8 grand on an older luxury car than a new base model. Plus, in my experience my family's base model cars have just as many or more issues because of the corners that were cut in build quality and parts.
I saw an ad while watching one of your videos yesterday about a new feature in the S class from Mercedes. If the computer detects an imminent crash the radio will emit a noise at a certain frequency designed to contract the muscles in your ears and that helps prevent hearing loss related to the loud noises produced by a collision. The future is now.
Simply put: Wiring corrodes. The insulation on that wiring gets brittle and creates shorts. Motors wear out; gear teeth strip. The same things that ail home computers and appliances also affect automotive circuit boards and ECM's. And one day, your power windows don't roll up and your moonroof stays open in a rainstorm that soaks your interior, your automatic climate control is blowing cold air in January and your heated seats don't heat. "Luxury" gadgets are fine, as long as you don't keep that luxury car long enough for them to start going wonky. And you'd better be Eric the Car Guy or Edd China to get them all back working again.
Great topic Eric! Living in Vancouver BC, which was recently quoted as having North America's highest number of luxury vehicles per capita, I can say Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. Coming from the East Coast where a low end BMW was the town head turner, I now find myself not even noticing BMW, Mercedes, Porches, Audi's etc.even exist. They're simply everywhere on the streets. I'd say they are like Ford tempo's only a tempo would catch my attention because they are rare now. I only reserve my head turning "double takes" for new Lamborghini's or Ferrari's here. In fact a co-worker once exclaimed "my dream car is to get a new black Land Rover," and my reply was "so you can blend in more?" In all, I'd rather own both my 90's Honda's and if I want to stick out, I'll paint them bright neon colors to soothe my inner dork!.
I'm so glad that I'm not afflicted with the need to "look good" to others. I really could care less what others think. I'm perfectly happy to drive luxury cars that are almost 10 years old that are really a steal when you consider that you're paying 1/4 of the original price for all these great features. It's funny you mentioned the trucks, because right now I'm looking for a Dodge truck from 98-01, and only 1 out of every dozen or so has leather seats. Searching up some relatively new ones, almost 3/4 have every option. In this era, even a Ford Focus can be a luxury car if you get the higher trim levels.
Most people need to "look good" to others, this is why most Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, etcetera are AUTOMATIC...not the manuals the enthusiasts go for.
Samniss Arandeen Well I sympathize there because although I am definitely an enthusiast, I don't particularly enjoy driving a manual. Especially after working all day. On the weekend, sure, I could see it, but never would I want it for a DD.
I'm no billionaire; but I did purchase an Infiniti in 2014 and I love it! I bought it used of course so don't let the brand fool you. I picked it up for about 12k with 80,000 miles on it. It was reconditioned, new clear coat finish and all of the other things that come along with it but I really do enjoy the brand. The sound system is nice, it looks really clean and I have to admit I enjoy driving it. It's been low maintenance (although I am doing some 100k service now to avoid any issues) and I absolutely love everything about it. You're right. I do feel a sense of different attention driving it and it is a bit intoxicating. But hey, that's just the human condition at work. I am not above or beneath anything or anyone. I've worked hard to get where I am at and I do enjoy how this car compliments the job I have and the work I put in. I'm a straight buyer so I don't lease or do brand new cars but I do get used cars and take care of them to keep! My old Honda was passed down to my brother through a business transaction with my father for such reasons. I plan to keep this car and potentially get a new one in a few years to add to my collection! Great Video!
William Todd They shouldn't anything. Who would really NEED a luxury car? An electrician, carpenter, plumber etc would have work vehicles from their job anyways. Luxury = you don't need, but it's nice to have. I love it when people buy expensive cars, cause they are like art on the road. I think it's boring driving behind a VW Passat or a Ford Mondeo, but when I drive behind a nice Mercedes S-class, it just brings a smile on my face. So stop being so envyous. People can drive whatever they want.
William Todd So you would choose a Fiesta over a Lexus for the same price? I think you are lying. People who can afford a Lexus pay, as a proportion of their income, less than you would for your non-luxury car.
William Todd ETCG1 It's like I say about people who earn millions of dollars each year, because they invented something or built a company (like Bill Gates for example), it's good that they make that much money for it, cause it tempts people to do creative stuff like that. "Luxury cars" often have state of the art technology, and I like that people strive for that stuff. It's one of the few things about human arrogance wich is actually productive for our progress. And I dunno how you define luxury cars, but I'm talking about even a new Audi A6 Allroad for example, doesn't have to be a Ferrari or Lamborghini (wich I don't like anyways). What I am talking about is that I value a well designed car, a car with exceptional quality AND feel of quality (important). Things that make you feel good in life. Honestly if you don't do worse things in life than drive a nice car, it's all good. A
I love luxury vehicles. Especially when I trip over one for sale dirt cheap. I found a 97 Olds Regency for $1000 years ago. Had gobs of power, and absolutely friggin loaded, with only 40k miles on it. Leather, power everything, auto leveling rear suspension, auto dimming mirrors, steering wheel stereo and climate control, I loved that car. What was best though was it had a ballsier 3.8 than the chevys did, and when I'd pull up to a light in a 4 lane and blow the doors off a newer pickup, the looks I would get lol.
Well in my opinion, people who can afford and drive luxury cars, if they can afford it, worked for it and spend money on something why not? Theres nothing wrong with that, same as theres nothing wrong with someone buying a 1-2-3-4000$ car just to from a to b.What i do hate is people who complain about others buying luxury cars when they couldve bought themself a 2000$ car or something. its their money, let them use it how they want. I drive a 2000$ mazda, it does what i need it to do, going from home to work and back again. It doesnt have abs or anything fancy. Would i buy a 50000$ Mercedes if i could? Hell yes. I think thats what most poeple do, start out with basic stuff then work your way up in the world to buy better and nicer stuff. Thanks for making these videos Eric, just discovered your ETCG1 channel and will keep listening to your thoughts, we may not agree on everything but you're an interesting guy and i respect your opinions. Thank you again!
In 1997 I found a used grey market 1991 Legend coup type R. 60K ,but in mint conduction driven by a lawyer. At the time I was operating heave equipment at a steel mill, and making mad money. The job was so dirty my daily was a 1972 tan Duster.(the Al Bundy mobile)Complete with bowling trophy guy hood mantle. I dressed up to drive my Legend. I even had driving slippers so not to dirty the floor mats. Every time I took in to the local Acura dealership for maintenance the techs would geek out on this car. The white gloves and lab coats seamed a little weird at first,but I grew accustom to the attention.This dealership steam cleaned the engine before they worked on it,and detailed the interior. While I waited they would let me sit in the newest NSX and I'd shift thru the gears and make the appropriate veroom veroom sounds like I was ten years old. I know, I probably should have invested in a house or any thing less depreciating, but as Ferris Bueller once said"if you have the means I highly recommend picking one up" "it is so choice". I hear people talk about the Lexus love from the dealership. In the 90's the Acura love was strong.
Eric, I drive a 5 Series BMW and love it! It's just an all around great car. Has more features than most new cars in the budget and mid level sector. Has a great sounding(but only 3.0L, but beggars cant be choosers lol) V8 engine, 5 speed manual trans(kinda rare here) and a great ride. She feels like a car half her size in the mountains, virtually no body roll, yet sucks up every imperfection in the road when cruising down the road at any speed. Having said that, im not rich by any means(a tech just like yourself in a small 2 bay garage in upstate NY) and would NEVER buy a brand new BMW or a mecredes, Like you said, the value drops like a rock with cars like that. I priced out a '14 M5 the other day just because i wanted to see what one would go for with the features i would like and the total ran up to a cool $131,291. I checked used ones on eBay and i can get an 07-08 with 40k miles on it for about $30-35, so the person first owner is spending 100k just to be able to say his is "the new one" These cars are built to last and will easily do 200k without any major meltdowns. The drive is unlike anything that can be described in words. Used german cars are a great value if you know the service history, can work on kraut cars, and are not afraid of PITA electrical issues that will arise.
Luxury is something that means somethin different to everybody. Personally, I see my truck (2001 Dodge 1/2 ton) and it feels great. I drive my dad's newer truck (2005 3/4 ton) and i feel rich lol but to many it would be considered the base model. I think a lot of it depends on what economic class you fall into, how you grew or are growing up, and even where you live and how most people are in that area.
The reason luxury cars and performance cars (which, by your definition of "luxury", fit the luxury description) are popular among buyers with the funds is because they realize that driving is not about the origin or the destination. It's about the journey. Whether you're sitting back in heated leather seats listening to a THX-quality sound system over a silky-smooth ride, or you're on a twisting mountain road with a V8 and a stick shift and the world's best coilover suspension, it's always superior to the basic, boring transportation.
+Samniss Arandeen It all boils down to what you like. I agree with what you stated. Since I got my license in 83 I've owned mostly trucks, some fully loaded, others were bare bones. I still have my first vehichle, 57 D100. 99 Dodge 1500 4x4 is my go to work truck. But one of my favorites is the 80 Powerwagon Clubcab. 360, 4 bbl, 4 spd. The only option it has is the cargo light. It draws attention, which kinda surprised me.
You make is sound like buyers with more money are on a deeper intellectual level than people who drive standard cars. They're not. My roomate just got a BMW. You know why? Cause he has a rich grandpa and wants the status of the car. And TONS of people are just like him. Everyone agrees that the journey is more enjoyable with better equipment, not just people with money.
andreboy1 You're right, plenty of people, maybe the majority buy luxury cars for the status. Some buy them because they have the luxurious ride, better handling, etc.
When I was in my early twenties I had an older BMW 3 series. I wont lie I was kinda looking for that cool "Oh look he's a boss" or whatever kinda feeling. But nope, quite the opposite. People called my bluff hard and basically made me feel pretty lame for having that car. I liked it too. Soooo comfy. I've now had a 2010 Civic Si now for a few years. And I love it way more than the BMW. Sure it's not as "high class" as the BMW was. But I get a similar feeling without the guff. Plus the reliability is pretty sweet and the engine is fantastic! Anyway, thanks for everything Mr. Eric. Love the videos and keep up the good work! All the best from a few of us up here in Nova Scotia!
I like buying used luxury vehicles. In general luxury car owners tend to maintain their cars better. So if you look around you can find a good deal and have a more comfortable car.
I totally agree! Not only that, but you get to drive a car that is (in most cases) way more comfortable than any new "entry level" car... They also often have better equipment even if they're 15+ years old, not to mention the materials used (Alcantara seats, lots of leather and metal in my '99 e39 interior are far superior to cheap plastic and fabric seats used in most new A to B cars)... And the best thing is that you get that kind of a car as cheap as one fifth of the price of a new A to B car like Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio, for example :) Now, the bad part is that although the car itself depreciated a lot, running costs have usually stayed similar... That means that although you're driving a 3.000€ worth, 15 years old BMW, you're paying for maintenance as much as you would for a 50.000€, brand new, middle spec BMW :P
I enjoy your perspective on upscale cars. looked at a new VW tdi for a lot of money in 2001 and thought what else can I get at this price? I found a 1998 infinity q45 with 30k miles , it has been the best car I have ever owned, being the second owner of a luxury car you can reap the reward of the depreciation from new. The Japanese luxury brands are hard to beat for fit and Finnish and cost of ownership, Infinity seems to the one that depreciates the most.
I love those moisture sensing windshields so I never have to touch the wipers they just go when need and stop when not needed, or how the trunk don't just pop it opens all the way, same with the gas door, it don't just pop it opens all the way. The little things u didn't know u loved until u had them
Yep - my Silverado is nearly fully loaded. Most luxurious vehicle I've ever owned - cars included! Leather seats power adjustable with manual lumbar, Bose sound, had heated washer fluid until the recall (due to fire, lol), power folding heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal built in, programmable garage door remote buttons (3) ... thing is unbelievable .. but came at an unbelievable price! I'll never do it again - just buying leftover would've saved me thousands. Not to mention the increased insurance and MA excise taxes. One thing though - MA cops tend to leave you alone I've noticed, driving the '07 vs. the '89, even though everything works on the '89.
I seem to have settled on a path of getting a higher end car that was well rated for reliability and try to fix whatever I can myself. If I can't get it fixed, it goes into the dealership, I also get my oil changed at the dealership as they give me a heads up on anything that needs to be done. I generally can not afford many repairs so the more I can do myself the better. I am now the proud owner of a 2006 Toyota Avalon XLS black / tan (previous was an 02 Subaru Forester L) and I think its a really nice, quiet, comfortable car that's fast while getting 30mpg on the highway. I set a budget, and after lots of lot hunting and haggling I ended up getting the car from a retired guy on craigslist. I think my dream car in luxury would be a LS430L
In my opinion, I love luxury cars simply because of their looks, and the way they handle even the biggest pothole in the road. My grandma owns several Buick's, which we all know is a luxury class car. Her 2001 LeSabre is a gorgeous car, and handles very nice. Her 1996 Regal GS, is even better of a car, even though it's older! Not to mention, there's just something about it's looks that gives off that "important" vibe when I see her drive it. Her baby though, is a 1967 Buick GS400. That car is one of the best cars I have ever been in. Absolutely comfortable interior, and it handles the road like nothing. I know it's a muscle car, but granted, it is under the Buick name and has the great luxury items that Buick was known for back then. If I, personally owned a luxury car I wouldn't want to be treated any different then if I drove an old Ford Festiva (those that can remember). I don't think people should be treated different, nor should they act different. But, that's my own opinion.
I needed an SUV to haul around my 2 large dogs and i stumbled across a 2000 Bravada at the GMC dealer for a few thousand dollars. I have had it now for 9 months and I love it. Heated leather seats, premium sound system. every option available that year.I would never buy a new top of the line vehicle but I will be looking at used luxury for future buys..
Well, while ordinary car is bunch of parts bolted together, premium engineering gives you lots of 'unnecessary' smart stuff, like everything is moving smooth and soft. Or you get heated mirrors. Or bright headlights. Or LED everything. It goes on and on. Premium cars are usually state-of-the-art, so you get a feeling of living at the edge of progress... PS It's so nice to hear you Eric, with all those terrible events of past days I went so sad...
I own a 98 Jaguar XJS (since new) and I absolutely love it, it is powerful and Eric your right people do treat you differently, I used to get to get amazing service when people saw me pulliing up in the Jag. Unfortunately that wares off with age. it is a little unreliable (it literally broke-down on the way back from the dealership) but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This hurts me, because I have always wanted a luxury car, and now, hearing you say that the people who drive them have high expectations of things, makes me realize it's very true that I have very high expectations of things and my life, and also very high expectations of myself. Expectations that sometimes can't be met, or I can't meet myself, and drives me into disappointment or a depression.
I am the same way and have high expectations of myself and the cars that I drive. It does lead to disappointment but only because we set the bar high. I always set the bar too high and can never win. In the process of it, we make better lives for ourselves and we must be thankful and grateful for how things have turned out anyway.
I work on Mercedes benz's every friday and I really don't understand what people see in them, I feel that they are more of a ego thing that people feel they need. some of the older ones look nice and so do the S 500, and E 320's but other than I just ask why? why do you need all of this in a car you drive 45 mins a day?
Luxury is definitely worth the extra money in my opinion. I owned Fords my whole life so far (I'm 26), and I loved them for their simplicity, I do all the work myself, with help of RUclips videos and forums. The price of parts and aftermarket selection is a huge plus, however last year I found a very cheap 02 Volvo S60 awd, originally as a daily driver so I didn't have to wrack up miles on my svt focus, plus the awd is much more suitable for upstate NY. Financial situation didn't work in my favor and I had to sell one car, it made sense to seek the focus as it was worth more. I still drive the Volvo and am looking to get a v70r next. To me looks don't play as much of a role as for some, but the sensation of driving a Volvo is very different from a clunky ford. The ride is smoother, plastic clips don't break when you remove panels and reinstall them, stealing is much smoother as well. From now on, as much as I love fords I would only have one as a weekend fun car.
I'm extremely happy with my old lexus GS300, i won't lie, it does feel good to get compliments a lot and stares, but I don't go around thinking my car is all that, I'm just happy to have it, it's never had a problem and it really is a very comfortable and fun car to drive, some people want something to get to point A to point B the cheapest way possible, but I love driving and I want something that I'm proud to drive and that I enjoy getting behind the wheel of everyday. But I completely understand most people just want something to go from point a to b
I got a 340i and the reason why I purchase it since I was able to get a demo with 20,000 off the msrp so it ended up being the most value per dollar and I didn't take the depreciation hit. I find it more comfortable then my mustang with the same amount of fun. I spent about 1/8th of my day driving so having something that can let me relax after work or have fun going to work really make it worth it. I driven Toyota prior and felt dead during communiting.
that audio issue sounded to me like failure of software to recognize multipath reception those walls you have are highly reflective of sound you accidently found some sort of sweet spot (or sour, rather) that's probably only a few cubic inches in volume i bet if you were to speak towards a largish sheet of sound-absorbing material it would not happen again
nah, i just geek out on interesting phenomena i could be completely wrong seems to be moot now for eric anyway but multipath reception is a real thing if you remember old-time, analog, over-the-air TV, "ghosting" is due to the same effect very soon, if not already, multipath will be an advantage precisely because it gives you the same signal from two different angles
hey ETCG1 .. I just bought my first newish splurge most I ever spent on a car EVER... And it's nothing to high end .. but it was an 2010 Acura TL (sh-awd 6 speed) couldn't pass it up I have drove beaters all my life so I had to treat myself lol.
I'm not even sure if I can classify my RX-8 as a luxury vehicle. One thing I know: I hate working on Mercedes cars and their stupid weird codes and special tools, not to mention "special" clients that think because they drive a Mercedes they basically own you too as a technician.
I'll help you - your RX-8 is a middle class sports car (good one, I like it). There is nothing wrong with mercedes vehicles - if they are all you work on, you'll get to know them well and make pretty good living because the snotty owners actually have money to pay for the repairs.
I worked at a Cadillac/Hummer dealership. At first I was excited about working on them. Soon after being hired and working on them, the excitement wore off and those vehicles became like every other vehicle. Now when people tell me they have a Cadillac or Hummer, I'm like woop dee doo. I got to drive them before they had an owner and with one mile on the odometer. Usually shuts them up.
+Frank Gonzalez Same, worked at an Audi promotion event and at the dealership for some time, drove everything from the A1 to the RS6, it was sweet, really I liked it, also got to drive cars from other brands, but after a while the excitement fades away ... I wouldn´t miss out on an opportunity to try out such a car again though :)
I personally don't care for these cars. Give me a basic ride and I am happy. I like cars that I can really do the work on them myself not flashy and I can mod the engine to perform better..That's why I love my used 95 Subaru...may not be the best looking car out but I love it and I don't have a whole lot of issues with it. I feel at one when I am driving Scooby. Basically my Subaru has become an extension of my self.
I have an 07 Acura TL. I bought it because of the styling and the way the car performed and handled. Same with my tsx before that. Both were bought used and for the same money as a newer honda accord v6 or civic si these cars offered so much more.
Can you make a video on salvage / rebuilt cars, what that means and if you recommend buying them? I have yet to find a good source for this and I would love to see an etcg1 video about this topic
I bought my luxury car about 5 years ago when I was 20. I absolutely loved the car, the interior was nice, the look, the feel and the drive. Eventually the cost of maintaining it got to me though, everything cost a lot to repair. I just sold it and now i'm looking for something cheap. Luxury cars are cool to have but be prepared to pay a lot more on common cars needs like insurance and maintenance.
I had a 93' Lexus SC400 and man I must say... I really miss that car. I loved that car, the feel of it, the look of it, the sound of it. I don't necessarily think people looked or treated me differently.. but then again, not many people even know what a Lexus SC is lol but I only really bought that car because I can't afford a Toyota Supra, it had the same chassis and I had this dream of swapping the Twin Turbo inline 6 from a Supra in there.. plus the car only cost me $2k.
I am one those guys used to be basic a-b car guys because poor and knew cars as poor investment. I got older and started to feel that I should present some status and made the decision to buy used luxury cars. There is no comparison on which car is more enjoyable to drive. Is the money you layout worth that little extra enjoyment- I say yes. If you have the means go for it. I found I love just cruising - taking long drives to random places just because I love driving the car. Way more fun than my toyota corrolla.
I only had an interest in these cars in my late 20's when I was hung up on experiencing success. Not necessarily impressing people but taking my life to the next level. Now at 42 I'm back to the way I felt about cars in my early 20's. Let someone else blow all their money.
It really depends on the luxury car to be honest. I'm a Ford man but my soft spot is for Buicks. I love old buicks, big, heavy, slower than a snail racing tree sap down a tree. But I've always like the big, solid, land yacht feel from those 80's models. Now the later model buicks (my idea of later is 2001 XD) were even better. While they lost a lot of the edge from the 80's models they were more practical. My 01 regal was an all around awesome car. Great power, bulletproof engine and trans, a/c that could give you hypothermia and a practical interior that was perfect for dates (roomy backseat if ya know what i mean. lol) and it got upwards of 30-35 mpg. I could hyper mile that car and use almost 0 gas. Ride big rigs asses and make a 2 hour road trip use less than an 1/8 of a tank of gas. Only thing I didn't like was the seats weren't as good as the ones in my 96 thunderbird lx and of course it was a bit slower than my LX too. It made up for that in spaids with an extra 2 doors and way better mpg though. Now I want a Buick Regal GS. Not the new one, the old 03 or even 00 model year. Awesome cars.
You're very diplomatic, Eric. Have you seen Scotty Kilmer's video on luxury cars? He makes no bones about being a straight shooter by saying it's a complete waste of money. Too complex, too expensive to fix, unless you have money to burn. I agree, having gone through the "phase".
I will say this; after having driven an American pickup truck most of my adult life that I still own and love and have no intention of ever parting with, following a recent promotion at work, as sort of a "present" to myself, I decided to upgrade and purchased a very gently used Mercedes C63 AMG. The performance is absolutely breathtaking. The ride is soft yet direct. The seating is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever been in and I've been in a myriad of makes and models over the years, rented for work travels. It just feels different than a "base" model vehicle. I will willingly admit that there may be a sort of "placebo" effect at work, but from a comfort standpoint. This vehicle has no equal that I've experienced. Yes, it is expensive, but aside from the obvious aura that you emit when you drive one of these vehicles, they do really get you to your destination in a different way than "base" model vehicles. It bears noting that I also own a classic muscle car, a 68 Charger to be specific and although the straight line acceleration, sounds and smells of an old American muscle car have no equal in my opinion, the luxury brands achieve the best of all worlds in my opinion.
Comedian/Actor Paul Rodriguez talked about this in one of his stand up routines. After he became a celebrity he bought a Porsche 993 and drove it to his old neighborhood to show off. He stopped to buy gas and someone who knew him walked up and said "What's up..hey you got a new paint job on your volkswagen". (He drive a junker VW bug before he was discovered).
As I'm not as young as I used to be, I've found luxury cars past their first flush of youth to be a nice way to get around. The stupid insurance costs for younger drivers don't apply. Buy them sensibly when the first and second owners have been stung for the 60,70,80% depreciation and you can get a nicely put together vehicle that performs well and rides nicely for much less than a 5 year old base model. If you can get one without the silly toys even better. Best one I had was a 10 year old Audi 100 (5000 in the states). Refused to die, and normal servicing was easy. Put 250K on the thing back in the day when a Ford POS wouldn't do half that without falling to bits
Hey Eric, when using headphones to watch this video, the audio sometimes shifts predominately to the left ear. Is it possible for future videos to be mono? Thanks
It was an encoding issue with this particular video. I would have to go back and re-edit and re-author the video in order to correct the problem. Hopefully it won't happen in the future.
I live in San Diego and we have quite a few 1 percenters here and everytime I see a Bentley or Ferrari I stop and turn my head because they are aesthetically pleasing and the performance is top tier
Not a luxury car owner but a luxury car tech, Its crazy how nice some of the newest cars are with nightvision displayed on the windshield and self driving capability along with massage seats I really wish I could afford to buy a $100k car and drive across north america in it.
Driving both luxury and your "normal" cars. I think that they are nice but have more things that can go wrong. For instance in the 90's Cadillac had major problems around the early to mid portion of that decade. Both my dad and I drove them. I had a Fleetwood (a true monster..almost 20 feet long and nearly 7 feet wide!) and dad had a Sedan DeVille. Both cars were in the shop more than on the road. So it was kind of a pain in the neck. Although they did give you loaner cars of the current year models to take out which was fun. I especially liked the Catera. But I also liked to work on my Fleetwood. Such as oil changes, exhaust change, ram air (yes under the the car in the air dam), new MAF, etc. it had an LT1. So as far as type of owner. Definitely not the suit guy. I actually ran that car till the wheels fell off so to speak and then got an 01 WS6 Trans Am. While it had leather, very barebones compared to a Fleetwood. But tons of fun until a grandma stopped in front of me causing me to T-bone her. :(. There also was a Subaru STi. Talk about amazing....but currently I'm back to a Cadillac and picked up a Used WS6 Trans Am. Also got a 1974 Challenger I'm rebuilding very slowly. But I don't get that special feeling behind a car. Whether it's a Cadillac, a WS6, STi, or eventually the Challenger...honestly I hate the attention. I just like a little comfort and basically I'm still a boy who likes toys. Lol.
I feel that luxury cars are indeed made to show off, but they are made better cars. The thing is, luxury cars usually have some complicated engineering (or overengineering) that works well when it's new, but costs a fortune to fix when it gets older and starts breaking down. That's why the luxury car prices drops so much cuz maintenance costs skyrocket. With that said, I'm still dreaming of rolling into some place in a used 8-10 yr old Porsche (which still looks nice). Just boosts my ego, if you will. I am tech savvy (engine swaps and repair) and hopefully it will help me make my luxury car experience less wallet-destructive haha
Luxury vehicles are cool, they´re packed with all kinds of cool stuff and security features, which as you said will eventually find their way down to the average vehicles. Some of the features, like the massage, or the perfume that is dispensed along the A/C lines are ridiculous, others especially the ones concerning safety are very useful. Every other middle class car does have braking assist and park assist and keyless go etc. nowadays, features that a couple years ago were exclusive to luxury cars. So in a way the higher prices for the luxury cars are justified, but from a reasonable point of view most of the stuff is unnecessary and will cost you a fortune to repair if something happens (not that people who drive these cars care). Sure when you sit in an Audi S8 or Mercedes S-Class and get to drive it for the first time you love it and geek out and start playing with every button and menu to see what it can do, but if you do this on a regular basis because you work at a promotion event or a dealership, the excitement slowly fades away. In the end it is also just a car. I would still not decline every opportunity I´d get to drive such a car, but I can´t see myself owning one.
Eric, I'm curious to know what you think about the idea of owning an older luxury vehicle. I own five BMWs: 1993 525i, 1997 750iL, 2003 540i, 2006 550i, and 2007 335i. With the exception of certain components on the '06 and '07 cars, the rest of my fleet is long since out of warranty, which means it costs me money to fix them when something goes wrong. Now, I am extremely fastidious about my cars and when even the slightest little thing is wrong I want it fixed ASAP. As you can imagine this costs me money. But because I love my cars and I love driving them I justify the expense. I want them to stay factory specifications no matter what! In terms of luxury, all of my cars are obsolete. However, BMW will never build cars like the ones I have again because of government regulations so I don't drive them for the luxury items, I drive them because of how they drive and the joy I get from driving them!
My mothers cousin works as a Senior Bunker Trader & Team Manager for Dan-Bunkering (Fuel oil for ocean-going marine vessels) ... His daily driver is a Audi A6 3.0 TDI Avant Tiptronic... And yes it's a family car but all so a statement of quality in his line of work... A Suit for the Suit.... But he's just as nice to be around as my neighbor who owns an old Kia
I'm surprised that you didn't mention the fact that after they age a little they become high maintenance and very expensive to keep up after the warranty expires.
I have to say I miss a specific sense of luxurious ride since late 90's. Low profile tires and 'adaptive' or 'sporty' suspension systems ruin the ride quality. I have been fortunate to drive around in a VW Passat from 1990 and the thing just glides over bumps and potholes. Yet it does offer tons of control. The chasis does not lean much in corners and there are no signs of flexing. Nowadays there are stiff tires on big heavy wheels, thick swaybars and hard shocks. It works fine at 160 mph, but the street roads haven't changed at all in the last 30 years.
"Doodad" now that is a word one does not hear very often. First and last time I heard it was back in 2003, 13 years later, we meet again. Thank you for that.
Honestly eric, I have owned toyota sports cars, sedans, a holden muscle car,a lada niva and nissan patrol gq 4wd. Nothing comes even close to how nice my audi is to drive now, especially considering the amount of long distance driving I do these days. Thats the only reason I still own it 12 months later. The reason i bought it, because of the price i got it for, no other reason. It was the same price for a luxury car with low miles as it was for a flogged out japanese sports car 10 years older and 100k+ more miles on the clock.
Got a 2000 Lincoln LS for 1100 dollar. Has 257000 miles on it. Got it with no heat. I back flushed the core. Great car had it for 4 years now love the air ride. I Get 24 miles a gallon with the 3.9 V 8. Has all the options. Still get looks and people treat me different.
I always felt the Acura and Lexus are what the Honda and Toyota should be. They always do just a little bit better styling, better options, etc. on the luxury brands.
Always wonders whether its price range or features that dictate whether a vehicle is a basic, NEAR-luxury, and luxury. For example my 2001 saab 9-3 is technically a near-luxury vehicle. Or is it all just status BS and where the company stands in the public eye determines its placement.
I do drive an older "luxury" vehicle and for a 2005, I'm quite happy with it. I was surprised with a 2005 mini cooper convertible a couple years ago by my grandparents and for it's age, it's pretty fun and I consider it fairly luxurious and sporty compared to the cars my friends are driving around. For starters, it's a convertible. Add a standard transmission an, upgraded sound system from Harman/Kardon, and leather seats just adds to the fun. The suspension is a little stiff but I don't have a lot of complaints about that. Although it lacks in horsepower, it compensates for that in maneuverability and I think it has a decent power to weight ratio. On the other hand, it is a little on the expensive side when it comes to maintenance and repair. It runs on premium fuel which is more expensive but it does get pretty good gas mileage, it does use iridium spark plugs, CHF 11s power steering fluid (which is pricey), and requires high performance full synthetic oil. My dealership wanted $84 plus $94/hour for labor for 4 spark plugs (which I picked up from AutoZone and replaced myself). On the other hand, new tires cost half as much as what my parents pay for theirs though. Last year I had to have the clutch replaced along with the serpentine belt and air filter which was $1,700 from my trusted mechanic. Now it's in need of a new transmission and pressure plate and because it was built and designed by BMW, I have to buy a whole new transmission. Would I own another Mini? I think I would if I had to extra cash to spend on one because these cars are pretty high maintenance. If you don't replace the oil frequently enough, you can damage the timing chain and vanos system and eventually ruin the engine. If I had the choice as to which car I was going to get for my first, I probably would've gone for a Honda Civic or Accord or Nissan Altima.
I have a Mini S and a Ford Fusion. The people at the Mini/BMW dealership are incredibly more attentive than the ones at the Ford dealership. If my maintenance takes too long the let me drive off in a loaner Mini or BMW. If it takes too long at Ford I get to wait.
Jason Koneman I know when my local mini dealership fucked up my car after replacing the front strut they lent us a 2014 Paceman S which was a lot of fun lol
Jesse Hooton I was at the dealership today to add another problem to next week's service. My service rep said they do have a Roadster loaner and he'll try and reserve it for me!
A buyer can get whatever they want. I got a reasonably priced luxury car. I found a rather neglected but still excellent 2001 Lexus LS430 with 69k miles and it's been an absolute dream to drive. It was only $500 more expensive than a 2009 Corolla on the same lot, and the same price as an 2006 Avalon with a cloth interior (I'd prefer not to have a first model year, especially of a mid 00s Toyota, even moreso with cloth in a full size car). The Lexus is made with all Japanese components, the wheel bearings last 200,000 miles in the rust belt! The only real service is a timing belt, and arguably it's easier to perform on this car since the engine presents the belt right to the technician. It doesn't have all the latest gadgets (although an ultra luxury LS430 would surprise you, mine is a base model with a sunroof and speakers) but it has a great stereo, gets 25+ mpg on the freeway, is the most comfortable and quiet car I've ever been in and has unreal space. I've managed to fit some strange things in the car effortlessly. And because it's a Lexus, it's all Japanese. It's super high quality, monoblock calipers, aluminum suspension, everything is torqued right at the factory, it's really nice to know the car is good to go for another 500,000 miles on timing belts and fluids.
Depending on the luxury car, a lot of models of luxury car are based off of the standard models from the standard brand. Acura TL and Lexus ES are good examples as they're mechanically just Accord and Camry and mechanically the cost of maintaining the luxury model usually is identical or very similar in price compared to the normal model buying a used luxury car isn't a bad thing depending on the brand and model of course. Of course you can have some differences body panels, wheels and tires, interior pieces etc but mechanically speaking they're not a bad buy
If you can afford it, why not? There's definitely more to be had driving a Lexus or a Mercedes in both comfort, performance or driving pleasure. Just make sure you're not living in your parent's basement which finiancing a luxury vehicle, cause that looks silly/
Luxury cars are great for manufactures trying out new technology. I remember early Cadillac aluminum blocks that didn't work out too well. They would fail at about 30k. My first experiences with drivability were with Cadillac. The stereo was used to access the computer.
I really wish you would have touched on the performance advantages-car enthusiasts do not buy luxury vehicles simply to look good. There are advantages such as better brakes, better handling. No? Even the advantage of a more comfortable ride is not entirely vain- it can be a testament to a smoother more efficient engine. I am disappointed that this realm of “luxury” I’m describing here was almost completely void in your video; It really felt like a one-sided coin-usually you honor both sides. Love your videos!
I'm a technician, and own a luxury make infiniti to be exact. And many people ask me why do you own that it doesent fit in with your lifestyle well I can afford it so why not? I bought the vehicle because something about having a 4 door sedan with 340hp and comfort and style attracted me to it. Im not snobby or cocky but I do find it funny after work seeing people's reaction to me cruising in my infiniti in my grease stained uniform
I once owned a '98 Acura el, which was essentially a civic with a leather wrapped steering wheel, an armrest, and a tachometer. Oh yeah, and the Acura badge of course.
Some luxury cars make a huge difference. It depends on the brand and what goes into that particular car. For example, when i was a senior in high school, my then-girlfriend's father had an 06 Lexus ES330, which is just a fancy V6 Camry. It didnt really feel special at all. I'm driving a 98 Mitsubishi Diamante right now and honestly i prefer it to the Lexus. It has everything the Lexus has, minus the touch screen. Some cars like high end BMWs and Mercedes are well worth the extra money, but others are just expensive versions of more commonplace cars
I previously owned a Toyota Solara, and just bought a Hyundai Genesis. Yes to the questions at the end, but the main reason for my purchase decision is, I simply don't want a car everyone else has. I want to be more unique.
Lt. Columbo test drive a genesis g80 / hyundai genesis. you will not believe the difference to a regular Hyundai. completely different driving experience. heavy and solid feeling. and very smooth
I love my luxury vehicles. I've had 6 Cadillacs that rode nice and loved the things cornering lights, auto climate control, digital read outs etc. Recently my wife and I bought a Chrysler Pacifica and we would cruise down the interstate doing 90 and it wouldn't lag, it had no outside noise, and you could hear a pin drop in the inside lol. Sucky thing is right after we bought it, we got stationed overseas and couldn't take it. :( Also, how you have Hondas and Acuras in the states or Nissan and Infinity, well I'm stationed in Japan. Honda's are mostly the family car but you'll see luxury honda's, Nissans are more your sportier car but there are some 4 doors but mostly 2 doors. Also the Mitsubishi Montero in the states is the Pajero here lol. It's weird seeing the standards of cars in the states then going somewhere else in the world and seeing what they drive. Most people have small cars that run on 600cc motors that's 0.6 liters I believe. They are gutless haha, but you don't drive fast here as most people think, the top speed limits are 60kmh which is about 37mph. So much for Tokyo drift huh? lol. Ok I'm done rambling :D
working on a 1969 K10 chevy, mostly because i think its cool, its simple, basic and cheap. Not that i couldn't get a newer one, or maybe luxury used or maybe new, mostly because i don't care what other people think. Im proud of the simple old basic 1969 k10. I do have a 2005 dodge diesel i bought new and while i like it and it now has 300k on it, its never being sold.
A good video, but don't forget to mention the cost of repairing a lot of these vehicles. I own a luxury car, but I made sure to choose one that's known for its drivetrain reliability (1999 Buick Park Avenue Ultra (which means not only supercharged, but a stronger transmission) with the 3.8L Series II V6 (yes, I know about the plastic gaskets, but the previous owner replaced mine)). Since it's a GM, parts are relatively cheap and sometimes able to be plucked from other cheaper cars as well. Yes, there is more to fail than a non-luxury car, but my car has nearly 200k and everything works perfectly aside from the blend door. I'll replace that, the front hubs, and motor mounts before next year and then she'll be perfect. That said, it seems all too often luxury cars fail early, often, and expensively, which is the price of pushing technological boundaries.
I drive a BMW X5 and love the creature comforts and performance. That being said, I think I enjoy driving my Honda minivan more. When I drive my X5 to the supermarket, mall etc. I always have to park way out to avoid door dings or wayward shopping carts. If my kid spills a drink in the Honda, I just shrug it off.
Ill take my 2003 Jeep TJ with stock everything but the wheels, tires, sound system and top. Oh and I replaced the guague lighting with LED and a few other minor things. It holds its value and gets me from point A to B in not the best gas mileagel.....but nothing...NOTHING here in MA/New England has been able to stop it ;) Qapla!
Money definitely doesn't buy taste or good habits with regards to keeping a neat car. At the Chrysler dealership I worked at it was cool because you got to see so many different people and notice their habits etc. In fact after being there for a bit everytime I hopped into a car I could tell what type of personality they had just by the stuff they had in there, the themes, etc without seeing the customer. Was in a lot of SRT8's and some of those were absolutely filthy inside. As if the people had no respect for what a beautiful car they had. I've kept every car I've owned clean, because that's the way I like it.
I own a Mercedes E-Class and love it. It's safe, luxurious, classy, comfortable and reliable. I also have a Honda Accord, which is basically just A-B transportation less comfy, terrible road noise in the cabin and less powerful, but its a car.
I think you have to ask the question what constitutes a luxury car? I got to ride in 60 000 grand (yes I found the window sticker i the glove box) gmc denali 3500 a few days ago it was sweet but is it luxury truck or just a truck with the everything on the option list checked. or is a base e class Mercedes more luxury then the truck without all the options?. I think luxury isn't in the gizmos its in the engineering ride and how it drives. you can put heated and cooled seats in a pinto doesn't make it a luxury car now does it.
it took me awhile to figure out there was a wierd audio issue until it kept doing it lol, i thought it was an effect "FOR GENERAL MOTORS" it just made certain things stand out.
I am a retired mechanical engineer, age 74, president of my own (smaller) company, and have dealt with people at most economic levels across most of the US, and having observed myself at a range of different economic levels.... my conclusion is that *money insulates a person from humanity, including his own personal humanity*.. ________That is only very rarely a good thing for the person, or anyone around him. I am currently retired to a small Mayan village in the high mountains of central America. I understand now why many of the American Indian tribes call themselves 'human beings'... that is because many of those who moved in on them... are not. And that is unfortunate.
+phil scott Thank you very much for that insight.
What's it like being born with a golden spoon?
I bought a 2002 Saab 9-5 a year ago and loved everything about it, things were exactly where they felt right and the bells and whistles were well thought out. Any car I drive now can't stack up to the power and driving feel my Saab gives me.
I *love* the fact that luxury vehicles drop in value so quickly! You can buy a 3-year-old luxury vehicle that has maybe 45,000 miles on it for HALF of what it cost new -- especially American luxury vehicles. So that $50,000 Lincoln will cost you $25,000 three years later - the same price as a well-equipped brand-new Focus, but you're driving a far more luxurious car for the same money.
Of course, the maintenance on a luxury car is also more than it is on a basic car - but that's why I watch Eric The Car Guy, so I can do all my own work and save a ton of money. :-)
I've owned and driven many different vehicles in my lifetime. Many VERY nice vehicles like a new Bentley, Nissan GT-R, Corvettes, Mercedes, BMW, etc. I have also driven countless "normal" cars like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, etc. To be completely honest, my 1990 BMW 535i that I picked up for $1000 drives and performs equal to or better (mostly better) than a lot of more modern cars ( 2005 +) that aren't even necessarily base model cars. If I were to compare this car to my 1995 Mustang GT (sold), the BMW is simply in a completely different category; It's a night and day difference in build quality, ride, performance, etc. I could also say the same for my 1996 BMW 328is, 1990 Mercedes 300TE, and my 1988 Mercedes 560SEL. If you do all of your own QUALITY maintenance to your vehicles, it doesn't cost much more to keep these on the road than it does to do the same for a more "normal" car. Why buy a newer "normal" car when you can spend the same or less on a less modern luxury car that performs better in almost every aspect? That's my $0.02
Anyone else having sound issues on this vid? Like suddenly switching between stereo and surround and back?
Yeah, I'm having that issue on this vid too
yeah its odd!
Thought it was just me!
It is indeed the video.
yup
I bought a 98 Lincoln Town Car in 2008 for $2,000. I sold the car I was driving for $1000. I considered the Lincoln my "$1,000 Town Car". It was shiny all the way around with no dings, pretty decent tire life left, perfectly functioning mechanicals, and bells and whistles. A year later I replaced the intake manifold due to a common crack in the plastic coolant passage. I did this myself and other than wear parts such as break pads, tires etc. that's all that it's ever needed. I ended up just giving it to my mother in-law a year ago and it's still going. The point to this is that many fear older luxury cars because they think that all those high end features will cost a fortune to fix. I would say this would definitely be the case with European luxury models sold in the U.S. But I've never found that to actually be the case with American Luxury models sold here. I've always wondered if it was the other way around in Europe?
I think what Eric should have said is people who purchase luxury vehicles direct, the first owner, see themselves differently. I buy old used luxury cars because they're usually in better shape and have better amenities, but I work hard and spend many hours keeping them looking and running in tip top shape. I rather spend 8 grand on an older luxury car than a new base model. Plus, in my experience my family's base model cars have just as many or more issues because of the corners that were cut in build quality and parts.
Agreed!
I saw an ad while watching one of your videos yesterday about a new feature in the S class from Mercedes. If the computer detects an imminent crash the radio will emit a noise at a certain frequency designed to contract the muscles in your ears and that helps prevent hearing loss related to the loud noises produced by a collision. The future is now.
Simply put: Wiring corrodes. The insulation on that wiring gets brittle and creates shorts. Motors wear out; gear teeth strip. The same things that ail home computers and appliances also affect automotive circuit boards and ECM's. And one day, your power windows don't roll up and your moonroof stays open in a rainstorm that soaks your interior, your automatic climate control is blowing cold air in January and your heated seats don't heat. "Luxury" gadgets are fine, as long as you don't keep that luxury car long enough for them to start going wonky. And you'd better be Eric the Car Guy or Edd China to get them all back working again.
Great topic Eric! Living in Vancouver BC, which was recently quoted as having North America's highest number of luxury vehicles per capita, I can say Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. Coming from the East Coast where a low end BMW was the town head turner, I now find myself not even noticing BMW, Mercedes, Porches, Audi's etc.even exist. They're simply everywhere on the streets. I'd say they are like Ford tempo's only a tempo would catch my attention because they are rare now. I only reserve my head turning "double takes" for new Lamborghini's or Ferrari's here. In fact a co-worker once exclaimed "my dream car is to get a new black Land Rover," and my reply was "so you can blend in more?" In all, I'd rather own both my 90's Honda's and if I want to stick out, I'll paint them bright neon colors to soothe my inner dork!.
I'm so glad that I'm not afflicted with the need to "look good" to others. I really could care less what others think. I'm perfectly happy to drive luxury cars that are almost 10 years old that are really a steal when you consider that you're paying 1/4 of the original price for all these great features. It's funny you mentioned the trucks, because right now I'm looking for a Dodge truck from 98-01, and only 1 out of every dozen or so has leather seats. Searching up some relatively new ones, almost 3/4 have every option. In this era, even a Ford Focus can be a luxury car if you get the higher trim levels.
Most people need to "look good" to others, this is why most Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, etcetera are AUTOMATIC...not the manuals the enthusiasts go for.
Samniss Arandeen Well I sympathize there because although I am definitely an enthusiast, I don't particularly enjoy driving a manual. Especially after working all day. On the weekend, sure, I could see it, but never would I want it for a DD.
I'm no billionaire; but I did purchase an Infiniti in 2014 and I love it! I bought it used of course so don't let the brand fool you. I picked it up for about 12k with 80,000 miles on it. It was reconditioned, new clear coat finish and all of the other things that come along with it but I really do enjoy the brand. The sound system is nice, it looks really clean and I have to admit I enjoy driving it. It's been low maintenance (although I am doing some 100k service now to avoid any issues) and I absolutely love everything about it. You're right. I do feel a sense of different attention driving it and it is a bit intoxicating. But hey, that's just the human condition at work. I am not above or beneath anything or anyone. I've worked hard to get where I am at and I do enjoy how this car compliments the job I have and the work I put in. I'm a straight buyer so I don't lease or do brand new cars but I do get used cars and take care of them to keep! My old Honda was passed down to my brother through a business transaction with my father for such reasons. I plan to keep this car and potentially get a new one in a few years to add to my collection! Great Video!
Do you have any Grey Poupon?
what if you wear a suit while driving a fiesta?
William Todd They shouldn't anything. Who would really NEED a luxury car? An electrician, carpenter, plumber etc would have work vehicles from their job anyways. Luxury = you don't need, but it's nice to have. I love it when people buy expensive cars, cause they are like art on the road. I think it's boring driving behind a VW Passat or a Ford Mondeo, but when I drive behind a nice Mercedes S-class, it just brings a smile on my face.
So stop being so envyous. People can drive whatever they want.
William Todd So you would choose a Fiesta over a Lexus for the same price? I think you are lying. People who can afford a Lexus pay, as a proportion of their income, less than you would for your non-luxury car.
It makes you awesome.
Im famous the man him self replied to my comment OMG im famous now hey guys YEA !!!!!!!!
William Todd ETCG1 It's like I say about people who earn millions of dollars each year, because they invented something or built a company (like Bill Gates for example), it's good that they make that much money for it, cause it tempts people to do creative stuff like that. "Luxury cars" often have state of the art technology, and I like that people strive for that stuff. It's one of the few things about human arrogance wich is actually productive for our progress.
And I dunno how you define luxury cars, but I'm talking about even a new Audi A6 Allroad for example, doesn't have to be a Ferrari or Lamborghini (wich I don't like anyways). What I am talking about is that I value a well designed car, a car with exceptional quality AND feel of quality (important). Things that make you feel good in life. Honestly if you don't do worse things in life than drive a nice car, it's all good. A
I love luxury vehicles. Especially when I trip over one for sale dirt cheap. I found a 97 Olds Regency for $1000 years ago. Had gobs of power, and absolutely friggin loaded, with only 40k miles on it. Leather, power everything, auto leveling rear suspension, auto dimming mirrors, steering wheel stereo and climate control, I loved that car. What was best though was it had a ballsier 3.8 than the chevys did, and when I'd pull up to a light in a 4 lane and blow the doors off a newer pickup, the looks I would get lol.
Well in my opinion, people who can afford and drive luxury cars, if they can afford it, worked for it and spend money on something why not? Theres nothing wrong with that, same as theres nothing wrong with someone buying a 1-2-3-4000$ car just to from a to b.What i do hate is people who complain about others buying luxury cars when they couldve bought themself a 2000$ car or something. its their money, let them use it how they want.
I drive a 2000$ mazda, it does what i need it to do, going from home to work and back again. It doesnt have abs or anything fancy. Would i buy a 50000$ Mercedes if i could? Hell yes. I think thats what most poeple do, start out with basic stuff then work your way up in the world to buy better and nicer stuff.
Thanks for making these videos Eric, just discovered your ETCG1 channel and will keep listening to your thoughts, we may not agree on everything but you're an interesting guy and i respect your opinions. Thank you again!
In 1997 I found a used grey market 1991 Legend coup type R. 60K ,but in mint conduction driven by a lawyer. At the time I was operating heave equipment at a steel mill, and making mad money. The job was so dirty my daily was a 1972 tan Duster.(the Al Bundy mobile)Complete with bowling trophy guy hood mantle. I dressed up to drive my Legend. I even had driving slippers so not to dirty the floor mats. Every time I took in to the local Acura dealership for maintenance the techs would geek out on this car. The white gloves and lab coats seamed a little weird at first,but I grew accustom to the attention.This dealership steam cleaned the engine before they worked on it,and detailed the interior. While I waited they would let me sit in the newest NSX and I'd shift thru the gears and make the appropriate veroom veroom sounds like I was ten years old. I know, I probably should have invested in a house or any thing less depreciating, but as Ferris Bueller once said"if you have the means I highly recommend picking one up" "it is so choice". I hear people talk about the Lexus love from the dealership. In the 90's the Acura love was strong.
Eric, I drive a 5 Series BMW and love it! It's just an all around great car. Has more features than most new cars in the budget and mid level sector. Has a great sounding(but only 3.0L, but beggars cant be choosers lol) V8 engine, 5 speed manual trans(kinda rare here) and a great ride. She feels like a car half her size in the mountains, virtually no body roll, yet sucks up every imperfection in the road when cruising down the road at any speed. Having said that, im not rich by any means(a tech just like yourself in a small 2 bay garage in upstate NY) and would NEVER buy a brand new BMW or a mecredes, Like you said, the value drops like a rock with cars like that. I priced out a '14 M5 the other day just because i wanted to see what one would go for with the features i would like and the total ran up to a cool $131,291. I checked used ones on eBay and i can get an 07-08 with 40k miles on it for about $30-35, so the person first owner is spending 100k just to be able to say his is "the new one" These cars are built to last and will easily do 200k without any major meltdowns. The drive is unlike anything that can be described in words. Used german cars are a great value if you know the service history, can work on kraut cars, and are not afraid of PITA electrical issues that will arise.
Luxury is something that means somethin different to everybody. Personally, I see my truck (2001 Dodge 1/2 ton) and it feels great. I drive my dad's newer truck (2005 3/4 ton) and i feel rich lol but to many it would be considered the base model. I think a lot of it depends on what economic class you fall into, how you grew or are growing up, and even where you live and how most people are in that area.
The reason luxury cars and performance cars (which, by your definition of "luxury", fit the luxury description) are popular among buyers with the funds is because they realize that driving is not about the origin or the destination. It's about the journey. Whether you're sitting back in heated leather seats listening to a THX-quality sound system over a silky-smooth ride, or you're on a twisting mountain road with a V8 and a stick shift and the world's best coilover suspension, it's always superior to the basic, boring transportation.
Great points. Thanks for the comment.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
+Samniss Arandeen It all boils down to what you like. I agree with what you stated. Since I got my license in 83 I've owned mostly trucks, some fully loaded, others were bare bones. I still have my first vehichle, 57 D100. 99 Dodge 1500 4x4 is my go to work truck. But one of my favorites is the 80 Powerwagon Clubcab. 360, 4 bbl, 4 spd. The only option it has is the cargo light. It draws attention, which kinda surprised me.
You make is sound like buyers with more money are on a deeper intellectual level than people who drive standard cars. They're not. My roomate just got a BMW. You know why? Cause he has a rich grandpa and wants the status of the car. And TONS of people are just like him. Everyone agrees that the journey is more enjoyable with better equipment, not just people with money.
andreboy1
You're right, plenty of people, maybe the majority buy luxury cars for the status. Some buy them because they have the luxurious ride, better handling, etc.
When I was in my early twenties I had an older BMW 3 series. I wont lie I was kinda looking for that cool "Oh look he's a boss" or whatever kinda feeling. But nope, quite the opposite. People called my bluff hard and basically made me feel pretty lame for having that car. I liked it too. Soooo comfy. I've now had a 2010 Civic Si now for a few years. And I love it way more than the BMW. Sure it's not as "high class" as the BMW was. But I get a similar feeling without the guff. Plus the reliability is pretty sweet and the engine is fantastic! Anyway, thanks for everything Mr. Eric. Love the videos and keep up the good work! All the best from a few of us up here in Nova Scotia!
I like buying used luxury vehicles. In general luxury car owners tend to maintain their cars better. So if you look around you can find a good deal and have a more comfortable car.
Love my 99 Continental she looks brand new
rides perfect too, only 1500$
I totally agree! Not only that, but you get to drive a car that is (in most cases) way more comfortable than any new "entry level" car... They also often have better equipment even if they're 15+ years old, not to mention the materials used (Alcantara seats, lots of leather and metal in my '99 e39 interior are far superior to cheap plastic and fabric seats used in most new A to B cars)... And the best thing is that you get that kind of a car as cheap as one fifth of the price of a new A to B car like Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio, for example :)
Now, the bad part is that although the car itself depreciated a lot, running costs have usually stayed similar... That means that although you're driving a 3.000€ worth, 15 years old BMW, you're paying for maintenance as much as you would for a 50.000€, brand new, middle spec BMW :P
I enjoy your perspective on upscale cars.
looked at a new VW tdi for a lot of money in 2001 and thought what else can I get at this price?
I found a 1998 infinity q45 with 30k miles , it has been the best car I have ever owned, being the second owner of a luxury car
you can reap the reward of the depreciation from new.
The Japanese luxury brands are hard to beat for fit and Finnish and cost of ownership, Infinity seems to the one that depreciates the most.
I love those moisture sensing windshields so I never have to touch the wipers they just go when need and stop when not needed, or how the trunk don't just pop it opens all the way, same with the gas door, it don't just pop it opens all the way. The little things u didn't know u loved until u had them
Yep - my Silverado is nearly fully loaded. Most luxurious vehicle I've ever owned - cars included! Leather seats power adjustable with manual lumbar, Bose sound, had heated washer fluid until the recall (due to fire, lol), power folding heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal built in, programmable garage door remote buttons (3) ... thing is unbelievable .. but came at an unbelievable price! I'll never do it again - just buying leftover would've saved me thousands. Not to mention the increased insurance and MA excise taxes. One thing though - MA cops tend to leave you alone I've noticed, driving the '07 vs. the '89, even though everything works on the '89.
I seem to have settled on a path of getting a higher end car that was well rated for reliability and try to fix whatever I can myself. If I can't get it fixed, it goes into the dealership, I also get my oil changed at the dealership as they give me a heads up on anything that needs to be done. I generally can not afford many repairs so the more I can do myself the better. I am now the proud owner of a 2006 Toyota Avalon XLS black / tan (previous was an 02 Subaru Forester L) and I think its a really nice, quiet, comfortable car that's fast while getting 30mpg on the highway. I set a budget, and after lots of lot hunting and haggling I ended up getting the car from a retired guy on craigslist. I think my dream car in luxury would be a LS430L
In my opinion, I love luxury cars simply because of their looks, and the way they handle even the biggest pothole in the road. My grandma owns several Buick's, which we all know is a luxury class car. Her 2001 LeSabre is a gorgeous car, and handles very nice. Her 1996 Regal GS, is even better of a car, even though it's older! Not to mention, there's just something about it's looks that gives off that "important" vibe when I see her drive it. Her baby though, is a 1967 Buick GS400. That car is one of the best cars I have ever been in. Absolutely comfortable interior, and it handles the road like nothing. I know it's a muscle car, but granted, it is under the Buick name and has the great luxury items that Buick was known for back then. If I, personally owned a luxury car I wouldn't want to be treated any different then if I drove an old Ford Festiva (those that can remember). I don't think people should be treated different, nor should they act different. But, that's my own opinion.
The thing I don't understand, why people buy trucks and would kill someone if they put a scratch on their bed. Use it what its intended for.
I needed an SUV to haul around my 2 large dogs and i stumbled across a 2000 Bravada at the GMC dealer for a few thousand dollars. I have had it now for 9 months and I love it. Heated leather seats, premium sound system. every option available that year.I would never buy a new top of the line vehicle but I will be looking at used luxury for future buys..
Well, while ordinary car is bunch of parts bolted together, premium engineering gives you lots of 'unnecessary' smart stuff, like everything is moving smooth and soft. Or you get heated mirrors. Or bright headlights. Or LED everything. It goes on and on. Premium cars are usually state-of-the-art, so you get a feeling of living at the edge of progress...
PS It's so nice to hear you Eric, with all those terrible events of past days I went so sad...
I own a 98 Jaguar XJS (since new) and I absolutely love it, it is powerful and Eric your right people do treat you differently, I used to get to get amazing service when people saw me pulliing up in the Jag. Unfortunately that wares off with age. it is a little unreliable (it literally broke-down on the way back from the dealership) but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
This hurts me, because I have always wanted a luxury car, and now, hearing you say that the people who drive them have high expectations of things, makes me realize it's very true that I have very high expectations of things and my life, and also very high expectations of myself. Expectations that sometimes can't be met, or I can't meet myself, and drives me into disappointment or a depression.
I am the same way and have high expectations of myself and the cars that I drive. It does lead to disappointment but only because we set the bar high. I always set the bar too high and can never win. In the process of it, we make better lives for ourselves and we must be thankful and grateful for how things have turned out anyway.
I work on Mercedes benz's every friday and I really don't understand what people see in them, I feel that they are more of a ego thing that people feel they need. some of the older ones look nice and so do the S 500, and E 320's but other than I just ask why? why do you need all of this in a car you drive 45 mins a day?
Luxury is definitely worth the extra money in my opinion. I owned Fords my whole life so far (I'm 26), and I loved them for their simplicity, I do all the work myself, with help of RUclips videos and forums. The price of parts and aftermarket selection is a huge plus, however last year I found a very cheap 02 Volvo S60 awd, originally as a daily driver so I didn't have to wrack up miles on my svt focus, plus the awd is much more suitable for upstate NY. Financial situation didn't work in my favor and I had to sell one car, it made sense to seek the focus as it was worth more. I still drive the Volvo and am looking to get a v70r next. To me looks don't play as much of a role as for some, but the sensation of driving a Volvo is very different from a clunky ford. The ride is smoother, plastic clips don't break when you remove panels and reinstall them, stealing is much smoother as well. From now on, as much as I love fords I would only have one as a weekend fun car.
I love these talks=) excited whenever I see a new one
I'm extremely happy with my old lexus GS300, i won't lie, it does feel good to get compliments a lot and stares, but I don't go around thinking my car is all that, I'm just happy to have it, it's never had a problem and it really is a very comfortable and fun car to drive, some people want something to get to point A to point B the cheapest way possible, but I love driving and I want something that I'm proud to drive and that I enjoy getting behind the wheel of everyday. But I completely understand most people just want something to go from point a to b
You sound a lot like how I feel about cars in general.
I got a 340i and the reason why I purchase it since I was able to get a demo with 20,000 off the msrp so it ended up being the most value per dollar and I didn't take the depreciation hit. I find it more comfortable then my mustang with the same amount of fun. I spent about 1/8th of my day driving so having something that can let me relax after work or have fun going to work really make it worth it. I driven Toyota prior and felt dead during communiting.
that audio issue sounded to me like failure of software to recognize multipath reception
those walls you have are highly reflective of sound
you accidently found some sort of sweet spot (or sour, rather) that's probably only a few cubic inches in volume
i bet if you were to speak towards a largish sheet of sound-absorbing material it would not happen again
damn, do you that for a living?
nah, i just geek out on interesting phenomena
i could be completely wrong
seems to be moot now for eric anyway
but multipath reception is a real thing
if you remember old-time, analog, over-the-air TV, "ghosting" is due to the same effect
very soon, if not already, multipath will be an advantage precisely because it gives you the same signal from two different angles
ive got a question for you why is an option loaded ford crown victoria worse than a base mercury grand marquis?
hey ETCG1 .. I just bought my first newish splurge most I ever spent on a car EVER... And it's nothing to high end .. but it was an 2010 Acura TL (sh-awd 6 speed) couldn't pass it up I have drove beaters all my life so I had to treat myself lol.
When you have more money then you need to live a comfortable life,,, you buy luxury cars, antiques , oil paintings etc.
I'm not even sure if I can classify my RX-8 as a luxury vehicle. One thing I know: I hate working on Mercedes cars and their stupid weird codes and special tools, not to mention "special" clients that think because they drive a Mercedes they basically own you too as a technician.
I'll help you - your RX-8 is a middle class sports car (good one, I like it). There is nothing wrong with mercedes vehicles - if they are all you work on, you'll get to know them well and make pretty good living because the snotty owners actually have money to pay for the repairs.
I worked at a Cadillac/Hummer dealership. At first I was excited about working on them. Soon after being hired and working on them, the excitement wore off and those vehicles became like every other vehicle. Now when people tell me they have a Cadillac or Hummer, I'm like woop dee doo. I got to drive them before they had an owner and with one mile on the odometer. Usually shuts them up.
This is why you have no friends lol
+Nathaniel Farley now I know why you are still a virgin.
+Frank Gonzalez Same, worked at an Audi promotion event and at the dealership for some time, drove everything from the A1 to the RS6, it was sweet, really I liked it, also got to drive cars from other brands, but after a while the excitement fades away ... I wouldn´t miss out on an opportunity to try out such a car again though :)
I personally don't care for these cars. Give me a basic ride and I am happy. I like cars that I can really do the work on them myself not flashy and I can mod the engine to perform better..That's why I love my used 95 Subaru...may not be the best looking car out but I love it and I don't have a whole lot of issues with it. I feel at one when I am driving Scooby. Basically my Subaru has become an extension of my self.
William Todd
Yup, I had a 98 Grand Cherokee LTD. Loved it, but had to scrap it when the rear diff blew up on me.
I have an 07 Acura TL. I bought it because of the styling and the way the car performed and handled. Same with my tsx before that. Both were bought used and for the same money as a newer honda accord v6 or civic si these cars offered so much more.
Can you make a video on salvage / rebuilt cars, what that means and if you recommend buying them? I have yet to find a good source for this and I would love to see an etcg1 video about this topic
I bought my luxury car about 5 years ago when I was 20. I absolutely loved the car, the interior was nice, the look, the feel and the drive. Eventually the cost of maintaining it got to me though, everything cost a lot to repair. I just sold it and now i'm looking for something cheap.
Luxury cars are cool to have but be prepared to pay a lot more on common cars needs like insurance and maintenance.
I had a 93' Lexus SC400 and man I must say... I really miss that car. I loved that car, the feel of it, the look of it, the sound of it. I don't necessarily think people looked or treated me differently.. but then again, not many people even know what a Lexus SC is lol but I only really bought that car because I can't afford a Toyota Supra, it had the same chassis and I had this dream of swapping the Twin Turbo inline 6 from a Supra in there.. plus the car only cost me $2k.
I am one those guys used to be basic a-b car guys because poor and knew cars as poor investment. I got older and started to feel that I should present some status and made the decision to buy used luxury cars. There is no comparison on which car is more enjoyable to drive. Is the money you layout worth that little extra enjoyment- I say yes. If you have the means go for it. I found I love just cruising - taking long drives to random places just because I love driving the car. Way more fun than my toyota corrolla.
I only had an interest in these cars in my late 20's when I was hung up on experiencing success. Not necessarily impressing people but taking my life to the next level. Now at 42 I'm back to the way I felt about cars in my early 20's. Let someone else blow all their money.
can u talk about neon head gasket problems
It really depends on the luxury car to be honest. I'm a Ford man but my soft spot is for Buicks. I love old buicks, big, heavy, slower than a snail racing tree sap down a tree. But I've always like the big, solid, land yacht feel from those 80's models. Now the later model buicks (my idea of later is 2001 XD) were even better. While they lost a lot of the edge from the 80's models they were more practical. My 01 regal was an all around awesome car. Great power, bulletproof engine and trans, a/c that could give you hypothermia and a practical interior that was perfect for dates (roomy backseat if ya know what i mean. lol) and it got upwards of 30-35 mpg. I could hyper mile that car and use almost 0 gas. Ride big rigs asses and make a 2 hour road trip use less than an 1/8 of a tank of gas. Only thing I didn't like was the seats weren't as good as the ones in my 96 thunderbird lx and of course it was a bit slower than my LX too. It made up for that in spaids with an extra 2 doors and way better mpg though. Now I want a Buick Regal GS. Not the new one, the old 03 or even 00 model year. Awesome cars.
You're very diplomatic, Eric.
Have you seen Scotty Kilmer's video on luxury cars? He makes no bones about being a straight shooter by saying it's a complete waste of money. Too complex, too expensive to fix, unless you have money to burn. I agree, having gone through the "phase".
I will say this; after having driven an American pickup truck most of my adult life that I still own and love and have no intention of ever parting with, following a recent promotion at work, as sort of a "present" to myself, I decided to upgrade and purchased a very gently used Mercedes C63 AMG. The performance is absolutely breathtaking. The ride is soft yet direct. The seating is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever been in and I've been in a myriad of makes and models over the years, rented for work travels. It just feels different than a "base" model vehicle. I will willingly admit that there may be a sort of "placebo" effect at work, but from a comfort standpoint. This vehicle has no equal that I've experienced. Yes, it is expensive, but aside from the obvious aura that you emit when you drive one of these vehicles, they do really get you to your destination in a different way than "base" model vehicles. It bears noting that I also own a classic muscle car, a 68 Charger to be specific and although the straight line acceleration, sounds and smells of an old American muscle car have no equal in my opinion, the luxury brands achieve the best of all worlds in my opinion.
i have a honda accord 2004 its really sweet:) its cozy inside .
Comedian/Actor Paul Rodriguez talked about this in one of his stand up routines. After he became a celebrity he bought a Porsche 993 and drove it to his old neighborhood to show off. He stopped to buy gas and someone who knew him walked up and said "What's up..hey you got a new paint job on your volkswagen". (He drive a junker VW bug before he was discovered).
As I'm not as young as I used to be, I've found luxury cars past their first flush of youth to be a nice way to get around. The stupid insurance costs for younger drivers don't apply. Buy them sensibly when the first and second owners have been stung for the 60,70,80% depreciation and you can get a nicely put together vehicle that performs well and rides nicely for much less than a 5 year old base model. If you can get one without the silly toys even better. Best one I had was a 10 year old Audi 100 (5000 in the states). Refused to die, and normal servicing was easy. Put 250K on the thing back in the day when a Ford POS wouldn't do half that without falling to bits
where are u getting a brand new, even base model car for 10 grand??
Hey Eric, when using headphones to watch this video, the audio sometimes shifts predominately to the left ear. Is it possible for future videos to be mono? Thanks
It was an encoding issue with this particular video. I would have to go back and re-edit and re-author the video in order to correct the problem. Hopefully it won't happen in the future.
Thanks for the response. It wasn't a big problem. I'm more concerned that you sold the Subaru. Nevertheless, I love both your channels.
I live in San Diego and we have quite a few 1 percenters here and everytime I see a Bentley or Ferrari I stop and turn my head because they are aesthetically pleasing and the performance is top tier
Not a luxury car owner but a luxury car tech, Its crazy how nice some of the newest cars are with nightvision displayed on the windshield and self driving capability along with massage seats I really wish I could afford to buy a $100k car and drive across north america in it.
Driving both luxury and your "normal" cars. I think that they are nice but have more things that can go wrong. For instance in the 90's Cadillac had major problems around the early to mid portion of that decade. Both my dad and I drove them. I had a Fleetwood (a true monster..almost 20 feet long and nearly 7 feet wide!) and dad had a Sedan DeVille. Both cars were in the shop more than on the road. So it was kind of a pain in the neck. Although they did give you loaner cars of the current year models to take out which was fun. I especially liked the Catera. But I also liked to work on my Fleetwood. Such as oil changes, exhaust change, ram air (yes under the the car in the air dam), new MAF, etc. it had an LT1. So as far as type of owner. Definitely not the suit guy. I actually ran that car till the wheels fell off so to speak and then got an 01 WS6 Trans Am. While it had leather, very barebones compared to a Fleetwood. But tons of fun until a grandma stopped in front of me causing me to T-bone her. :(. There also was a Subaru STi. Talk about amazing....but currently I'm back to a Cadillac and picked up a Used WS6 Trans Am. Also got a 1974 Challenger I'm rebuilding very slowly. But I don't get that special feeling behind a car. Whether it's a Cadillac, a WS6, STi, or eventually the Challenger...honestly I hate the attention. I just like a little comfort and basically I'm still a boy who likes toys. Lol.
Hey Eric, How do I instal a doodad on my car? Where can I buy one? haha
What is the "Jefferson," problem?
having an luxury car makes you trip better your trip will be enjoyed better
I feel that luxury cars are indeed made to show off, but they are made better cars. The thing is, luxury cars usually have some complicated engineering (or overengineering) that works well when it's new, but costs a fortune to fix when it gets older and starts breaking down. That's why the luxury car prices drops so much cuz maintenance costs skyrocket. With that said, I'm still dreaming of rolling into some place in a used 8-10 yr old Porsche (which still looks nice). Just boosts my ego, if you will. I am tech savvy (engine swaps and repair) and hopefully it will help me make my luxury car experience less wallet-destructive haha
Luxury vehicles are cool, they´re packed with all kinds of cool stuff and security features, which as you said will eventually find their way down to the average vehicles.
Some of the features, like the massage, or the perfume that is dispensed along the A/C lines are ridiculous, others especially the ones concerning safety are very useful.
Every other middle class car does have braking assist and park assist and keyless go etc. nowadays, features that a couple years ago were exclusive to luxury cars.
So in a way the higher prices for the luxury cars are justified, but from a reasonable point of view most of the stuff is unnecessary and will cost you a fortune to repair if something happens (not that people who drive these cars care).
Sure when you sit in an Audi S8 or Mercedes S-Class and get to drive it for the first time you love it and geek out and start playing with every button and menu to see what it can do, but if you do this on a regular basis because you work at a promotion event or a dealership, the excitement slowly fades away. In the end it is also just a car. I would still not decline every opportunity I´d get to drive such a car, but I can´t see myself owning one.
Eric, I'm curious to know what you think about the idea of owning an older luxury vehicle. I own five BMWs: 1993 525i, 1997 750iL, 2003 540i, 2006 550i, and 2007 335i. With the exception of certain components on the '06 and '07 cars, the rest of my fleet is long since out of warranty, which means it costs me money to fix them when something goes wrong. Now, I am extremely fastidious about my cars and when even the slightest little thing is wrong I want it fixed ASAP. As you can imagine this costs me money. But because I love my cars and I love driving them I justify the expense. I want them to stay factory specifications no matter what! In terms of luxury, all of my cars are obsolete. However, BMW will never build cars like the ones I have again because of government regulations so I don't drive them for the luxury items, I drive them because of how they drive and the joy I get from driving them!
The awesome thing in this is that you can buy a 8 year old S350 for 10k. And then get ruined by the maintenance.
Not to be rude, I noticed around the 44sec to 46 sec area you have an audio issue.. Just thought I inform you eric about that.
My mothers cousin works as a Senior Bunker Trader & Team Manager for Dan-Bunkering (Fuel oil for ocean-going marine vessels) ... His daily driver is a Audi A6 3.0 TDI Avant Tiptronic... And yes it's a family car but all so a statement of quality in his line of work... A Suit for the Suit.... But he's just as nice to be around as my neighbor who owns an old Kia
I'm surprised that you didn't mention the fact that after they age a little they become high maintenance and very expensive to keep up after the warranty expires.
I have to say I miss a specific sense of luxurious ride since late 90's. Low profile tires and 'adaptive' or 'sporty' suspension systems ruin the ride quality. I have been fortunate to drive around in a VW Passat from 1990 and the thing just glides over bumps and potholes. Yet it does offer tons of control. The chasis does not lean much in corners and there are no signs of flexing. Nowadays there are stiff tires on big heavy wheels, thick swaybars and hard shocks. It works fine at 160 mph, but the street roads haven't changed at all in the last 30 years.
"Doodad" now that is a word one does not hear very often. First and last time I heard it was back in 2003, 13 years later, we meet again. Thank you for that.
+Nonja Business And holy shit, you said the word thrice in this video.
Honestly eric, I have owned toyota sports cars, sedans, a holden muscle car,a lada niva and nissan patrol gq 4wd. Nothing comes even close to how nice my audi is to drive now, especially considering the amount of long distance driving I do these days.
Thats the only reason I still own it 12 months later.
The reason i bought it, because of the price i got it for, no other reason. It was the same price for a luxury car with low miles as it was for a flogged out japanese sports car 10 years older and 100k+ more miles on the clock.
Got a 2000 Lincoln LS for 1100 dollar. Has 257000 miles on it. Got it with no heat. I back flushed the core. Great car had it for 4 years now love the air ride. I Get 24 miles a gallon with the 3.9 V 8. Has all the options. Still get looks and people treat me different.
I always felt the Acura and Lexus are what the Honda and Toyota should be. They always do just a little bit better styling, better options, etc. on the luxury brands.
Always wonders whether its price range or features that dictate whether a vehicle is a basic, NEAR-luxury, and luxury. For example my 2001 saab 9-3 is technically a near-luxury vehicle. Or is it all just status BS and where the company stands in the public eye determines its placement.
I do drive an older "luxury" vehicle and for a 2005, I'm quite happy with it. I was surprised with a 2005 mini cooper convertible a couple years ago by my grandparents and for it's age, it's pretty fun and I consider it fairly luxurious and sporty compared to the cars my friends are driving around. For starters, it's a convertible. Add a standard transmission an, upgraded sound system from Harman/Kardon, and leather seats just adds to the fun. The suspension is a little stiff but I don't have a lot of complaints about that. Although it lacks in horsepower, it compensates for that in maneuverability and I think it has a decent power to weight ratio. On the other hand, it is a little on the expensive side when it comes to maintenance and repair. It runs on premium fuel which is more expensive but it does get pretty good gas mileage, it does use iridium spark plugs, CHF 11s power steering fluid (which is pricey), and requires high performance full synthetic oil. My dealership wanted $84 plus $94/hour for labor for 4 spark plugs (which I picked up from AutoZone and replaced myself). On the other hand, new tires cost half as much as what my parents pay for theirs though. Last year I had to have the clutch replaced along with the serpentine belt and air filter which was $1,700 from my trusted mechanic. Now it's in need of a new transmission and pressure plate and because it was built and designed by BMW, I have to buy a whole new transmission. Would I own another Mini? I think I would if I had to extra cash to spend on one because these cars are pretty high maintenance. If you don't replace the oil frequently enough, you can damage the timing chain and vanos system and eventually ruin the engine. If I had the choice as to which car I was going to get for my first, I probably would've gone for a Honda Civic or Accord or Nissan Altima.
I have a Mini S and a Ford Fusion. The people at the Mini/BMW dealership are incredibly more attentive than the ones at the Ford dealership. If my maintenance takes too long the let me drive off in a loaner Mini or BMW. If it takes too long at Ford I get to wait.
Jason Koneman I know when my local mini dealership fucked up my car after replacing the front strut they lent us a 2014 Paceman S which was a lot of fun lol
Jesse Hooton. I keep hoping they'll loan me a Roadster.
Jason Koneman it's a shame they discontinued the coupe and roadster because I thought those were cool models lol
Jesse Hooton I was at the dealership today to add another problem to next week's service. My service rep said they do have a Roadster loaner and he'll try and reserve it for me!
A buyer can get whatever they want. I got a reasonably priced luxury car. I found a rather neglected but still excellent 2001 Lexus LS430 with 69k miles and it's been an absolute dream to drive. It was only $500 more expensive than a 2009 Corolla on the same lot, and the same price as an 2006 Avalon with a cloth interior (I'd prefer not to have a first model year, especially of a mid 00s Toyota, even moreso with cloth in a full size car).
The Lexus is made with all Japanese components, the wheel bearings last 200,000 miles in the rust belt! The only real service is a timing belt, and arguably it's easier to perform on this car since the engine presents the belt right to the technician.
It doesn't have all the latest gadgets (although an ultra luxury LS430 would surprise you, mine is a base model with a sunroof and speakers) but it has a great stereo, gets 25+ mpg on the freeway, is the most comfortable and quiet car I've ever been in and has unreal space. I've managed to fit some strange things in the car effortlessly.
And because it's a Lexus, it's all Japanese. It's super high quality, monoblock calipers, aluminum suspension, everything is torqued right at the factory, it's really nice to know the car is good to go for another 500,000 miles on timing belts and fluids.
Depending on the luxury car, a lot of models of luxury car are based off of the standard models from the standard brand. Acura TL and Lexus ES are good examples as they're mechanically just Accord and Camry and mechanically the cost of maintaining the luxury model usually is identical or very similar in price compared to the normal model buying a used luxury car isn't a bad thing depending on the brand and model of course. Of course you can have some differences body panels, wheels and tires, interior pieces etc but mechanically speaking they're not a bad buy
If you can afford it, why not? There's definitely more to be had driving a Lexus or a Mercedes in both comfort, performance or driving pleasure. Just make sure you're not living in your parent's basement which finiancing a luxury vehicle, cause that looks silly/
Luxury cars are great for manufactures trying out new technology. I remember early Cadillac aluminum blocks that didn't work out too well. They would fail at about 30k. My first experiences with drivability were with Cadillac. The stereo was used to access the computer.
Great topic here Eric. Thanks for sharing.
I really wish you would have touched on the performance advantages-car enthusiasts do not buy luxury vehicles simply to look good. There are advantages such as better brakes, better handling. No? Even the advantage of a more comfortable ride is not entirely vain- it can be a testament to a smoother more efficient engine. I am disappointed that this realm of “luxury” I’m describing here was almost completely void in your video; It really felt like a one-sided coin-usually you honor both sides.
Love your videos!
I'm a technician, and own a luxury make infiniti to be exact. And many people ask me why do you own that it doesent fit in with your lifestyle well I can afford it so why not? I bought the vehicle because something about having a 4 door sedan with 340hp and comfort and style attracted me to it. Im not snobby or cocky but I do find it funny after work seeing people's reaction to me cruising in my infiniti in my grease stained uniform
The new beamers don't have a oil dip stick so good look knowing how much oil it needs. Ex. 08" 328i
I once owned a '98 Acura el, which was essentially a civic with a leather wrapped steering wheel, an armrest, and a tachometer. Oh yeah, and the Acura badge of course.
Some luxury cars make a huge difference. It depends on the brand and what goes into that particular car. For example, when i was a senior in high school, my then-girlfriend's father had an 06 Lexus ES330, which is just a fancy V6 Camry. It didnt really feel special at all. I'm driving a 98 Mitsubishi Diamante right now and honestly i prefer it to the Lexus. It has everything the Lexus has, minus the touch screen. Some cars like high end BMWs and Mercedes are well worth the extra money, but others are just expensive versions of more commonplace cars
I previously owned a Toyota Solara, and just bought a Hyundai Genesis. Yes to the questions at the end, but the main reason for my purchase decision is, I simply don't want a car everyone else has. I want to be more unique.
***** Reliability is important to me. If you aren't sure you can make a 200 mile / 300km trip due to age it isn't a car to me.
***** lol I am not a car guy, get all my repairs done by the dealer. So obviously an older car isn't my thing
Lt. Columbo test drive a genesis g80 / hyundai genesis. you will not believe the difference to a regular Hyundai. completely different driving experience. heavy and solid feeling. and very smooth
older used luxery cars are a great way to get a nice engine for a swap. Like a V12 750 IL
I love my luxury vehicles. I've had 6 Cadillacs that rode nice and loved the things cornering lights, auto climate control, digital read outs etc. Recently my wife and I bought a Chrysler Pacifica and we would cruise down the interstate doing 90 and it wouldn't lag, it had no outside noise, and you could hear a pin drop in the inside lol. Sucky thing is right after we bought it, we got stationed overseas and couldn't take it. :( Also, how you have Hondas and Acuras in the states or Nissan and Infinity, well I'm stationed in Japan. Honda's are mostly the family car but you'll see luxury honda's, Nissans are more your sportier car but there are some 4 doors but mostly 2 doors. Also the Mitsubishi Montero in the states is the Pajero here lol. It's weird seeing the standards of cars in the states then going somewhere else in the world and seeing what they drive. Most people have small cars that run on 600cc motors that's 0.6 liters I believe. They are gutless haha, but you don't drive fast here as most people think, the top speed limits are 60kmh which is about 37mph. So much for Tokyo drift huh? lol. Ok I'm done rambling :D
working on a 1969 K10 chevy, mostly because i think its cool, its simple, basic and cheap. Not that i couldn't get a newer one, or maybe luxury used or maybe new, mostly because i don't care what other people think. Im proud of the simple old basic 1969 k10. I do have a 2005 dodge diesel i bought new and while i like it and it now has 300k on it, its never being sold.
A good video, but don't forget to mention the cost of repairing a lot of these vehicles. I own a luxury car, but I made sure to choose one that's known for its drivetrain reliability (1999 Buick Park Avenue Ultra (which means not only supercharged, but a stronger transmission) with the 3.8L Series II V6 (yes, I know about the plastic gaskets, but the previous owner replaced mine)). Since it's a GM, parts are relatively cheap and sometimes able to be plucked from other cheaper cars as well. Yes, there is more to fail than a non-luxury car, but my car has nearly 200k and everything works perfectly aside from the blend door. I'll replace that, the front hubs, and motor mounts before next year and then she'll be perfect. That said, it seems all too often luxury cars fail early, often, and expensively, which is the price of pushing technological boundaries.
I drive a BMW X5 and love the creature comforts and performance. That being said, I think I enjoy driving my Honda minivan more. When I drive my X5 to the supermarket, mall etc. I always have to park way out to avoid door dings or wayward shopping carts. If my kid spills a drink in the Honda, I just shrug it off.
Ill take my 2003 Jeep TJ with stock everything but the wheels, tires, sound system and top. Oh and I replaced the guague lighting with LED and a few other minor things. It holds its value and gets me from point A to B in not the best gas mileagel.....but nothing...NOTHING here in MA/New England has been able to stop it ;) Qapla!
Money definitely doesn't buy taste or good habits with regards to keeping a neat car. At the Chrysler dealership I worked at it was cool because you got to see so many different people and notice their habits etc. In fact after being there for a bit everytime I hopped into a car I could tell what type of personality they had just by the stuff they had in there, the themes, etc without seeing the customer. Was in a lot of SRT8's and some of those were absolutely filthy inside. As if the people had no respect for what a beautiful car they had. I've kept every car I've owned clean, because that's the way I like it.
I own a Mercedes E-Class and love it. It's safe, luxurious, classy, comfortable and reliable. I also have a Honda Accord, which is basically just A-B transportation less comfy, terrible road noise in the cabin and less powerful, but its a car.
I think you have to ask the question what constitutes a luxury car? I got to ride in 60 000 grand (yes I found the window sticker i the glove box) gmc denali 3500 a few days ago it was sweet but is it luxury truck or just a truck with the everything on the option list checked. or is a base e class Mercedes more luxury then the truck without all the options?. I think luxury isn't in the gizmos its in the engineering ride and how it drives. you can put heated and cooled seats in a pinto doesn't make it a luxury car now does it.
it took me awhile to figure out there was a wierd audio issue until it kept doing it lol, i thought it was an effect "FOR GENERAL MOTORS" it just made certain things stand out.