Advice on buying a nice used luxury sedan

[KeithP]

Lexus LS have the durability of a tank and the interior silence of a bank vault.

That was my first thought as well.

-KeithP

 

[Via]

I was looking at some on and found one with mileage in the low 100's and an extended warranty to 275. That would certainly cover any miles I would drive and then some; it definitely intrigued me.

 

[sontakke]

If I had the same requirement and similar budget and aptitude (and resources) to maintain high priced luxury car, there are very few make/model which can beat an S-class. You could be looking at about decade old S-class and they will run for another ten years if maintained and will still look good at that age.

 

[Via]

If I had the same requirement and similar budget and aptitude (and resources) to maintain high priced luxury car, there are very few make/model which can beat an S-class. You could be looking at about decade old S-class and they will run for another ten years if maintained and will still look good at that age.

Something like this?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...pp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national&listType=1

That is nice, I like it. My dad drove a Mercedes to about 300,000 miles.

 

[phucheneh]

G35 sedans are probably among the cheapest RWD 'luxury' sedans, both in purchase price and cost of ownership. They're not Corollas, but there aren't any super common expensive repairs that I can think of. Plus good amount of sportiness.

Plus similar-era IS300's.

But 'luxury' in quotes because they're pretty basic.

(I'm realizing that my first thoughts were 'altezza and skyline.' Apparently I've become a JDM fanboy)

 

[sontakke]

Absolutely but do research them. There are couple of places on the internet benzword and mborg (or something like that) where you can find the problem spot of the models that you are interested in. Also get the vehicle checked out either by a dealer or an independent who specializes in them. Prepared to pay couple hundred for a thorough check. Have them give you list of every single thing which is wrong or could possibly be wrong and then take it from there. Suppose the model you are interested in is prone to leaky valve cover gasket. Assess how much it will cost you to replace it before making the decision. Or worse suppose the rear ends are known to grenade on that particular year (or electric brake assist or air suspension etc, I am just giving you random list). Find out how many thousands it might need to put it back. Let us say it will take 2K to fix it. Keep that money in spare account and if you are prepared to take that risk, jump in.

But understand that you will still have a ten year old car and might not have the latest technology. For example, the car has CD based navigation which would be ancient compared to what you will get in most new budget cars. It will lack blue tooth and iPhone connectivity which even lowly Focus and Civic offer today.

 

[Midwayman]

A car which left the dealer's showroom in a 6 digit transaction few years ago will always have maintenance costs commensurate with that price tag regardless of how cheap you manage to pick it later on the used market. Since you are asking for suggestion here, you might not be aware of that fact.

There is *huge* variation in that. American cars tend to be pretty cheap on parts if you can do the basic labor. I know my corvette was cheap to maintain for instance. If you're talking Germanic- oh god yes.

 

[Vdubchaos]

A few clarifications:

1) I'm not buying this to be a daily driver. That's what my Accord is for. This car won't be driven often.

2) I've factored in cost of ownership, and that's why I'm probably looking in the $10,000-$15,000 range. I know there's a chance it'll have some repairs in the thousands over the years. I'm prepared for that.

3) I plan on having it impeccably maintained.

With that budget you will NOT find something with low mileage OR "maintained"/well kept.

this applies to any "nice luxury sedan".

If I had the same requirement and similar budget and aptitude (and resources) to maintain high priced luxury car, there are very few make/model which can beat an S-class. You could be looking at about decade old S-class and they will run for another ten years if maintained and will still look good at that age.

Crack, please lay off of it. Unless you are talking of MB of the 80s and diesel.....I would REALLY doubt that.

 

[Insomniator]

I know nothing about them but I think e38's are just amazing looking. One of the nicest looking cars I've ever seen.

Dark black or grey, lowered, tinted -- drooool.

I'm sure you could find one with low miles and well maintained by some old person?

 

[Vdubchaos]

I know nothing about them but I think e38's are just amazing looking. One of the nicest looking cars I've ever seen.

Dark black or grey, lowered, tinted -- drooool.

I'm sure you could find one with low miles and well maintained by some old person?

These are amazing, some of the last great looking BMWs

Go with 4.0 and stay FAR FAR away from V12

 

[Via]

With that budget you will NOT find something with low mileage OR "maintained"/well kept.

this applies to any "nice luxury sedan".

I guess I have to clarify again. I do not expect low miles. I'm not a doctor who'll drive it to work every day and to the club on Sundays. I most likely won't hit 2000 miles a year. For my purposes low mileage is irrelevant.

I refuse to believe I can't find something. The Lexus LS has been mentioned several times.

This is close enough for me to pick up. You don't think this is a nice car with reasonable miles?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...pp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national&listType=1

 

[sontakke]

07/12/2010 Illinois
Damage Report Accident reported

 

[Via]

I didn't actually check the carfax, I just pulled up the first one that came up. I'm sure there are many more.

I wouldn't buy without a thorough inspection. My point is that I'm sure I can find something in that price range. You don't have to spend $25-$30 to get a decent used luxury sedan.

 

[phucheneh]

The LS's are generally decent. The one I've been in felt kinda cheap. But then again, so do other Lexus and Infiniti cars in the same price range.

You may want to give an M35 a shot. A little softer and generally more well-equipped than the G, but they seem a lot less squishy than an LS.

Are you going for RWD? You can get a pretty decent TL for the price. They've grown on me.

edit: you can get a lot of Honda for your money in a TL. If you can live with FWD, I think it trounces the LS. Won't corner with the IS or the G's, but still competent, and rides quite smooth.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007...Cars_Trucks&hash=item43bb0eafd0#ht_500wt_1182

 

[rommelrommel]

M35 are nice but soooo generic looking.

I don't know how the top of the line Lexus LS feels cheap?

Seriously, find a LS430 ultra luxury... factory airbags, in the right colour with an aftermarket controller on the airbags to lower it and still ride like a dream... LS is the thinking mans luxury sedan.

 

[nerp]

Just get a classic that isn't highly collectible. Something like this:

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/1969-1971-chrysler-300-2d-hardtop-and-convertible-1.jpg

 

[KIAman]

Do you ever need to take more than 1 additional passenger? If not, it sounds like you want something to look nice in when occasionally driving around town. You want exclusitivity, not luxury.

Why not a sports car? Porsche Boxter, if you know what I mean.

Unless you WANT the luxury factor of the luxury car.

 

[Insomniator]

Do you ever need to take more than 1 additional passenger? If not, it sounds like you want something to look nice in when occasionally driving around town. You want exclusitivity, not luxury.

Why not a sports car? Porsche Boxter, if you know what I mean.

Unless you WANT the luxury factor of the luxury car.

Something to look nice in vs something to feel nice in is a huge difference... A boxster is about as far from luxury as you can get -- loud, low, stiff, small.

But yeah, would certainly look nice!

 

[KIAman]

From the OP

I'd like to be able to do things like meet friends at a nice restaurant or club in something other than my old Accord, and show up to an out-of-town friends house in something nice.

Doesn't scream luxury to me, but it could just be me.

 

[rommelrommel]

From the OP



Doesn't scream luxury to me, but it could just be me.

No, but I think the title does:

Advice on buying a nice used luxury sedan

 

[Via]

I did think about sports cars and smaller sports sedans but I sort of have my heart set on a larger, comfortable, quiet vehicle.

I won't have the space available until mid-May at the earliest, so I still have time to look around and mull over my decision.

 

[Mide]

Yup I got a G35x sitting in my garage just chillin' away while using a Prius as the daily driver. Since it's an Infiniti/Nissan it has good reliability and is quite sporty as well.

 

[phucheneh]

How large is large?

Have you driven a TL or similar? I know it seems mundane and small...it is kind of a Honda Accord and all...but they are quite a bit nicer than the Accords. Probably the nicest car in your budget, since you could get a fairly late model one. Maybe 05-07 range.

The RWD options are better handlers, but the same money will not buy something quite as refined...either it will be a more expensive (when new) car that is now looking quite dated inside (and has dated tech), or it will be a basic RWD sedan that really doesn't seem like a much of a luxury car inside.

 

[Via]

I don't really have anything against Acura, but my Accord is the top trim and probably pretty similar to an entry level Acura.

I want big and comfy, something that glides down the road like it's on air.

 

[phucheneh]

They're not the same. Believe me, I thought the same thing, and was pleasantly surprised after driving a couple TL's.

It just sounds like you're describing a big, expensive car that is going to be quite aged. What are your top picks at the moment? Leaning torwards Euro or Japanese?

I can't remember if I've driven a RWD Lexus other than the IS. But their FWD models definately...float. Personally, I think they're overly squishy. Maybe the LS430 is good middle ground.

I'd just go out and start driving some stuff.