I'm thinking about buying a used luxury car, and my budget is around $10,000. What should I get?
I've been looking at the mid-2000's C-class lately, so I'd be interested in hearing from someone who owns one. Specifically whether they break every 5 minutes and cost a million dollars to keep running like the rumors say.
>buying the badge
Yes if your budget is $10k for a luxury car, merc especially, then you probably won't be able to afford to keep it running (especially if it's 10+ years old). Just stick to civics. You won't be able to tell your friends that you own a merc, but at least you'll be able to afford food. Luxury isn't for the poor.
The last good Acura.
I already own 3 cars. I can afford to keep it running, but I don't want to buy something that'll be in the shop half the goddamn time.
Never really looked at Acura, because I figured they were just fancy Hondas. That car looks pretty slick, though. I'll check it out.
can you get c36 amgs for 10 grand in america? because you may as well not own a mercedes sedan or coupe if it's not an amg.
There's one for sale within a 500 mile radius of where I live. It has 98,000 miles on it.
So, probably not.
>What should I get?
A4 with quattro.
I bought a 09 c-class. Don't buy a modern Benz used - after 9 months of ownership I've learned the best way to drive one is to lease under the factory warranty.
Pic related, from when I got stranded with electronic steeling lock failure. A common issue for the w204. Had no car for a week while the dealer sourced and programmed a replacement. Anything security related and you're stuck paying through the dick to a dealership. They were literally out of loaners, not a good sign. Cost $900 and they gave me a break.
This was the worst. Intake manifold leak kept throwing a CEL. As you can see the corrosion was atrocious. 60k miles. At this point, I was on first name basis with a great independent MB specialist. A common problem on this particular engine as they are getting older, but the mechanic had seen the same issues on a number of other MBs from the same era. $3500 p&l. At least this time they loaned me the shop truck.
For $10k, what about a Lexus LS and a nice set of wheels?
>cost a million dollars to keep running like the rumors say.
It's a C-Class not an S. My favorite generation was the W203. They are elegant and sleek while the W203 had the dumpy rear end ripped from the 98 Altima.
>W204
>I already own 3 cars
3 half running DSMs doesnt count Ahmed, brotip don't be poor
Buy a lexus.
You obviously can't afford a merc or bmw if your budget is 10k.
You'd need atleast 3x the car price in bank to keep it running for a few years.
Why do you Lexusfags always fuck up nearly every thread on European upscale brands? I know the IS is a good car but don't kid anybody and say the parts and running costs are any less than an MB.
just lease a new one
I don't give a fuck bout lexus save for LFA and soarer.
But I live in europe.
For us "euro luxury cars" aren't a special snowflake "oh look at me I'm not driving an automatic truck" bullshit.
The roads are littered with them.
Our entire economies are supported by the workshops that repair them.
Many our friends and family have fallen for the "euro luxury car" meme
Even those who are rich get rid of them fucking immiediately after they're done owning them for a year or two.
Poor are too poor to keep them running.
Rich are not stupid enough to keep them running.
They are only bought because factory warranty exists.
Get a lexus or sell your house and buy a euro luxury car.
>Poor are too poor to keep them running.
>Rich are not stupid enough to keep them running.
>They are only bought because factory warranty exists.
So what is your solution? By an imported Japanese car?
edgy
Buy my sc400 for 9000
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Or lease one brand new that comes with warranty and have a backup shitbox which you're gonna need a lot.
Thread said "luxury car" didn't specify "euro luxury car"
Suck a dick europhile. We'd rather have you burgers keep mocking us than being all irritating hipster like with liking garbage like bmw, merc, wv etc
Really? I thought Audi had horrible reliability.
Holy shit, that blows. Thanks for the heads up.
A $10,000 Lexus will have well over 100,000 miles where I'm from. I found an $11k E-class with like 50 or 60k on it.
I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me, player. Are you saying that I should be looking for an S-class because they're more reliable?
Haters gon' hate
Wait, BMW's break all the time too?
Eh, I'll only drive it like 3-6 months out of the year. No sense spending a ton of money on it.
Don't sell it, dude. That's a sweet ride.
What's a nice car to own for around $10-15k? I like the comfort and the looks of the "euro luxury car" or whatever you want to call it. Nicer cars have nicer interiors. My other cars are all American. My country doesn't do interior well.
>What's a nice car to own for around $10-15k? I like the comfort and the looks of the "euro luxury car" or whatever you want to call it. Nicer cars have nicer interiors. My other cars are all American. My country doesn't do interior well.
Pretty much lexus is your only choise.
You can get treefiddy z as well.
Repeat after me:
I CANNOT AFFORD A LUXURY CAR
I CANNOT AFFORD A LUXURY CAR
I CANNOT AFFORD A LUXURY CAR
This is not a troll attempt, I'm warning for you a lot of hurt that is going to follow when parts start breaking down in your benz.
I'd be driving it mostly in the winter (it snows here), so probably not a Z.
I'm not poor, but I don't have enough time to spend at the shop every month. This might end up being my main DD, at least for the winter.
rwd is fine as long as you get decent winter tyres.
Toyota soarers are extremely nice. They are lexus branded too.
E39 540i
Perfect car for 10k, you can get a well maintained example for that amount of money. Will stay out of the shop with moderate maintenance. Not even counting how fun as fuck it is to drive
even a 530i would be pretty sweet
The 530i hits the sweet spot for me, while the 540i with m-sport package and manual transmission is almost an M5 I like the 530i for it's cheaper cost of ownership while still being good looking and fairly quick
This.
I had an E46, spent a lot more money fixing it than what I paid for it.
2002 @ 80,000 miles when I bought it. I would not recommend buying an older luxury car...just don't do it, man. Most expensive cheap car to maintain.
I find plenty of Lexus LS430s in my area for under $10k. That's your best bet.
>Thread said "luxury car" didn't specify "euro luxury car"
OP specifically asked about a W204 C-Class. I was asking if, per you, it was cheaper to maintain an imported Lexus rather than a domestic 3-Series or C-Class living in Europe.
I meant that a C Class is a much lower model than an S Class and therefore has less technological features, such as no air suspension, and would be much cheaper to run.
Lexus LS or GS if you want a solid sedan. Next to nothing for upkeep other than standard consumable parts.
Seriously the only things going wrong with my LS400 are purely cosmetic. It has only had a starter failure that was unexpected in 16 years of service.
I have a 2008 Acura TL. While I like the leather and the wood, there isn't enough wood for me to really consider it a luxury experience.
2006-2011 DTS with navigation as low as 5 grand
C-classes ARE NOT LUXURY CARS
IRL this is just a warning about going to a dealership for servicing. A replacement steering lock would run you about $250. You could order a green key for your specific VIN for a $100 deposit from a dealership. You could take out and replace the steering lock within an hour, or find a independent shop to install the new one for about one hour of labor at $100. This whole job could be done for about $350. About 2/3rds of dealership costs are just markup.
get a LS430
2000ish bmw 3 series. They are super reliable. You can trust me because I am a mechanic and make my living working on only these.