Diesel engine Mercedes basically last forever (as long as you don’t wreck them), which means you can essentially sell them for what you paid for them after a couple years.
We always end up circling back to Mercedes for the same reasons that Dave mentioned, and repairs on them are not cheap, but probably the ,most reasonable of the luxury groups. Porche was probably the loudest, and most uncomfortable ride ever and the most expensive for even the most basic upkeep.
This question and the lack of specificity can lead to a wild range of responses. Perhaps that was the intent.
If you crave comfort and luxury but could care less what others think, a sleeper that seems to regularly be available relatively cheap - the Toyota Avalon. Same platform as Lexus ES. Can be and often is loaded up with luxury features.
They’re bullet proof reliable. You mentioned ride in a follow up. Cushy quiet ride so don’t be expecting sporty.
With the Germans, bring your own BIL mechanic. You can luck out and get a gem that doesn’t seem to require a lot of care and feeding… but the risk of a money pit also looms heavy.
Quiet and comfortable, that’ll be Lexus, Lincoln, or Buick. Mercedes still leans this way, but more and more are designed to be competitive with BMW and Audi for a more engaging drive. Likewise, Volvo is kind of in this middle ground too.
If you don’t want horrendous depreciation, lease or buy a CPO with a warranty. Luxury cars as a category depreciate a lot because all the new technology they put in them now becomes old technology in a few years. Maintenance costs, OTOH, doesn’t depreciate; a used $100k car that can be had for the price of a Camry still has the maintenance costs of a $100k car.
I really like how the Infiniti Q60 looks, but haven’t had the chance to drive one yet.
We love our Toyota Highlander - maybe a Lexus RX/Hybrid?
/image Lexus RX
@medz nope. I don’t think there is any package that can make a Ford escape luxury. Especially using a BS word like titanium. Show me the titanium and why it matters
@medz@unksol The new Lincoln Corsair is the new luxury version of the Escape. It also looks WAAAY better than that hideous suppository the new Escape is.
I just sold my 2010 Audi S4 with 110K miles on it. 108K of those miles were basically trouble-free. If you go BMW, Audi or M-B, get the newest one with the lowest miles you can afford and get a warranty. When it starts nickel and diming you, get rid of it and start over.
@jsh139 As the OP was aiming more towards quiet and comfortable, only MB lean more towards that aspect. Audi and BMW lean more on their performance and driving experience.
@jsh139 They can be good, but deferred maintenance isn’t an option on them. In some cases, like BMW cooling systems, the parts were designed just to outlive the warranty period. Ask someone who works on them for a living; they’ll tell you how many expansion tanks, radiators, and plastic water pumps they’ve replaced on cars with under 100k.
I had a Buick Enclave for 8+ years, drove like a dream and was the quietest vehicle I’ve ever been in. Bought it new in ‘09, it was a 2010. I don’t know about the newest models. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee now, not nearly as quiet but still a nice ride.
My friends were pretty married to Mercedes until they had a compressor go up in one of their SUVs and had a lot of trouble with the dealership getting it fixed.
You could buy an old lexus is300. (It has a 2jz engine)
For around 4-6k. Drop in another 4k on the engine and upgraded suspension. You could have a luxury sports car. That rides like a dream and hauls ass.
Define luxury for you. Do you want AWD? Rally suspension? Is handling or comfort more important?
My idea of luxury is tight suspension, smooth acceleration, and a kick ass sound system.
@Thumperchick AWD is fine. I need a quiet and comfortable ride.
@Tonyjar in that case, I’d avoid BMW, except 7-series, and most Audi.
Diesel engine Mercedes basically last forever (as long as you don’t wreck them), which means you can essentially sell them for what you paid for them after a couple years.
@dave Thanks for your suggestion, this car is also in my mind
We always end up circling back to Mercedes for the same reasons that Dave mentioned, and repairs on them are not cheap, but probably the ,most reasonable of the luxury groups. Porche was probably the loudest, and most uncomfortable ride ever and the most expensive for even the most basic upkeep.
This question and the lack of specificity can lead to a wild range of responses. Perhaps that was the intent.
If you crave comfort and luxury but could care less what others think, a sleeper that seems to regularly be available relatively cheap - the Toyota Avalon. Same platform as Lexus ES. Can be and often is loaded up with luxury features.
They’re bullet proof reliable. You mentioned ride in a follow up. Cushy quiet ride so don’t be expecting sporty.
With the Germans, bring your own BIL mechanic. You can luck out and get a gem that doesn’t seem to require a lot of care and feeding… but the risk of a money pit also looms heavy.
Quiet and comfortable, that’ll be Lexus, Lincoln, or Buick. Mercedes still leans this way, but more and more are designed to be competitive with BMW and Audi for a more engaging drive. Likewise, Volvo is kind of in this middle ground too.
If you don’t want horrendous depreciation, lease or buy a CPO with a warranty. Luxury cars as a category depreciate a lot because all the new technology they put in them now becomes old technology in a few years. Maintenance costs, OTOH, doesn’t depreciate; a used $100k car that can be had for the price of a Camry still has the maintenance costs of a $100k car.
So … look at Lexus.
I really like how the Infiniti Q60 looks, but haven’t had the chance to drive one yet.
We love our Toyota Highlander - maybe a Lexus RX/Hybrid?
/image Lexus RX
@compunaut Here’s Doug’s take on the sedan version.
(It’s brought up again in his latest video, the Doug Awards.)
@compunaut that grill though…
@compunaut @unksol
Agreed - what were they thinking?
Tesla Model S
/image Tesla Model S
One other option that depreciation has hit hard, making it a good value if you don’t care about the badge: a Hyundai Equus.
@narfcake that first guy liked the massage chairs way too much.
I hear the new Ford Escape Hybrid Titanium is pretty fly.
/image 2020 Ford escape hybrid
@medz a Ford escape is luxury? That’s the mall security vehicle. LMFAO
@unksol um… did you overlook I specified the titanium package?
@medz nope. I don’t think there is any package that can make a Ford escape luxury. Especially using a BS word like titanium. Show me the titanium and why it matters
@medz @unksol The new Lincoln Corsair is the new luxury version of the Escape. It also looks WAAAY better than that hideous suppository the new Escape is.
@fuzzmanmatt @medz @unksol Weren’t those the cars that Ralph Nader made famous?
@fuzzmanmatt @unksol looks like a hearse or a wannabe Ford Flex
@fuzzmanmatt @medz lmao it was your idea medz
I just sold my 2010 Audi S4 with 110K miles on it. 108K of those miles were basically trouble-free. If you go BMW, Audi or M-B, get the newest one with the lowest miles you can afford and get a warranty. When it starts nickel and diming you, get rid of it and start over.
@jsh139 As the OP was aiming more towards quiet and comfortable, only MB lean more towards that aspect. Audi and BMW lean more on their performance and driving experience.
@jsh139 @narfcake Milton Bradley makes cars now?
@narfcake true. There seemed to be some German car fear on here. Just wanted to relay my recent personal experience.
@therealjrn They have for quite a few years:
@jsh139 They can be good, but deferred maintenance isn’t an option on them. In some cases, like BMW cooling systems, the parts were designed just to outlive the warranty period. Ask someone who works on them for a living; they’ll tell you how many expansion tanks, radiators, and plastic water pumps they’ve replaced on cars with under 100k.
@narfcake yep. Which is why I said to get a warranty
@jsh139 CarMax bumper-to-bumper warranty! Perfect for the most expensive to maintain and/or unreliable vehicles!
Toyota Avalon or Lexus 300
Some reading material:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28991860/the-million-mile-lexus/
The classic is Mercedes Benz. Great social and political import, you know.
I had a Buick Enclave for 8+ years, drove like a dream and was the quietest vehicle I’ve ever been in. Bought it new in ‘09, it was a 2010. I don’t know about the newest models. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee now, not nearly as quiet but still a nice ride.
My friends were pretty married to Mercedes until they had a compressor go up in one of their SUVs and had a lot of trouble with the dealership getting it fixed.
You could buy an old lexus is300. (It has a 2jz engine)
For around 4-6k. Drop in another 4k on the engine and upgraded suspension. You could have a luxury sports car. That rides like a dream and hauls ass.
The word on the street is, don’t buy a German car out of warranty.