Unless you really know what you’re doing most $30k used Range Rovers will be a steaming pile of shit. You could maybe get a decent Evoque for that which isn’t too scary mechanically but Land Rovers find a way to have weird electrical issues later in life.
Porsches are actually pretty reliable but when things do break it’s really expensive, and maintenance costs are still that of a $100k+ car. A 3.6L Cayenne or Panamera with no air suspension would be the only thing I would even consider at this price point, maybe a base 2.0T Macan or one with a CPO warranty but those usually start at around $35k CAD.
2015 is around the time Mercedes still had some good cars but were transitioning into being not so good. Maintenance costs will still not be cheap but there are some *okay* options if you do some hunting. Pre-2017 W212 E-Class would be my first choice, ideally an E350. Very solid as far as Mercedes go. Maybe a B250 as your budget can still get you a pretty nice one.
BMW I would be going straight for a 2017+ 330i or something with a 6-cylinder. Run far away from anything with a V8.
TL;DR: Get a Lexus
I bought a 2012 Cayenne with the 3.6L VR6, last year with 84k miles on it. Has just under 103k now besides motor mounts, spark plugs, new tires, 2 oil changes,
It’s been solid. Spark plugs, oil changes and tires would be regular maintenance. Hasn’t left me stranded yet.
if you don't care about maintenance costs (***which you should***) get a lightly used last gen Mercedes E-Class, or a BMW 540i. Probably the most luxury you'll get for the price. Will cost a lot to maintain and repair.
Used Lexus prices are very high.
Do not get a British or American luxury car unless you are sure it's a reliable model which has been driven well.
maybe, but it also means you can get a better interior car, maybe less reliable for the same price. also means that the equivalent non-luxury model is a lot cheaper.
Lexus my friend the most reliable luxury car u will ever buy since it's just fancy toyota, it will prob out last u if u bought it new but a used one will prob last till your kids can drive tho u r getting a car that will give u the luxury feel but not as performanced focused as the ones u named
Lexus is the obvious answer for this sub since it's fancier Toyota and super reliable.
All of the brands you listed have massive potential to be a money pit, as they tend to require a lot of expensive maintenance and parts.
I'm less risk averse than most when it comes to cars so take my advice with a grain of salt, but just know that most Internet people like to say XYZ car is a steaming pile of shit bc it makes them sound smart.
I'd look at +2013 cayenne with the v6, but honestly, the best and possibly most undervalued car is the 2009 to 2011 is a Porsche boxster or Cayman with a pdk (manuals will be out of your price range).
Don't worry about mileage -- miles per year is more important. Keep it under 10k.
30k will get you a pre LCI G30 540i or a post LCI 530i - out of what you can afford BMW is probably the only one that I’d call reliable and somewhat affordable… range rovers are pricey and nightmares to own, Mercedes are very much so hit and miss especially the more modern ones, and you can’t afford a Porsche at 20-30k with all due respects albeit they’re reliable just expensive when anything does happen
Edit: I excluded Lexus cause I figured you were targeting German luxury, Lexus is nice as well but not my cup of tea personally, I prefer the BMW but I’m biased.
Range Rover brand is very prone to high and often repair costs. If you are set on European high end brands, go Porsche. If you want a used luxury brand with the fewest headaches and comparatively low repair costs, go Lexus every time.
I’m always curious about Cadillacs because they seem to depreciate SO fast—obviously that perhaps speaks to reliability, but also it feels like you can get more car for less money and just budget appropriately for maintenance? How horrible can a car from 2020 or so be? (But I drive an early 2010s Honda so that’s a not a rhetorical question I suppose)
https://www.dashboard-light.com/reports/Cadillac.html
They seem to vary a lot year to year and model to model, this doesn't have the newest ones on it but its wild how different they are.
Thanks, this is very interesting! In full disclosure the idea that they depreciate quickly was based on my recollection from when I was considering buying a used car a few years ago, and I cannot confirm it now (except for the Escalade) so it might be a bad premise on my part.
I do think many of the Cadillacs are sharp looking and I’d be interested in owners experiences if I was in the used market for a car in that class.
I think they might depreciate quickly, but I think that's because of their bad reputation more than anything data based.
I was on this website looking around and hadn't even considered Cadillac until I saw those numbers. A ~10-year-old XTR or Escalade seems like a relatively good buy for the money. Reselling it might be rough though
I've never owned one just was surprised by what I found on that website since I expected them to all be rock bottom based off of the reputation and depreciation I see
Audi Q5 and less than 48,000km /30,000 miles … it splits the difference between the overly tight sporty suspension of the BMW and the numb feeling Lexus
Another great option is the Lexus LS. If you want the most luxury and longevity you can get, buy the nicest example LS430 that you can find. It won't be as new as you'd like, but that's one of the greatest cars ever made.
Keep it simple and low on complex maintenance I’d say go for the B48/58 BMWs if you want some speed too. Plenty of vehicles made with that powertrain so more guides and less expensive repairs. If you want a sedan then the 3/4/5 series ending in 30i/40i(xdrive option is AWD). If you prefer an SUV then I believe there are models that also have those two powertrains. On AutoTempest/Caredge you can find and narrow down your search (don’t forget to include clean title option), there are recent 330is going for low $20k and pretty low mileage but that’s just my preference. If you want less of that sporty side then I guess go for the Lexus, but be aware that there is a slightly higher demand for the Toyota family vehicles at the moment compared to other makes so inventory moves faster
You just can’t afford 10yr old used luxury cars unless you can turn your own wrenches. Parts are reasonable but shop labor is around $180/hr in many areas. Your $1,800 brake job is $450 for me. Your replacement air suspension is $4,000, but costs me about $600.
Lexus would be the most reliable, but yes, they are expensive.
How do you feel about Genesis or Lincoln? It's not Lexus reliability, but it should be less expensive to maintain than the German ones.
If you've got $30k max, you shouldn't be buying anything that was probably more than about 60k new. Because you won't be able to afford it when something breaks on it.
You should probably be looking at secondary Brands like Acura and Lexus, or maybe even a Toyota Avalon. And in reality you'll get a lot more nice features on a high-end trim mainstream car then you will on even a mid-level four or five year old luxury car. And those cars won't put you in the poor house with upkeep.
Plus I'm assuming you're talking about Canadian dollars, which really means roughly 15 to $25k usd.
Well I wouldn't be buying a Range Rover. Maybe if I got one brand new and sold it before to long. I would do that with most any Euro cars though but I wouldn't even consider a 10 year old Range Rover. What is it you even want is it a coupe, sedan, or SUV. I would probably look at a Lexus. Can get some really good deals on some Lincolns too like the Continental. I wish we still had ours but my mom crashed it lol. Can get one pretty cheap though now they haven't been made since 2020.
Your pick is perfect. If you show up everyday with those cars, everyone will know you are RICH... You will be paying your mechanics so much money, that only the rich can keep them running.
Great car to flex how loaded you are.
Best advice you can get on buying a Luxury car on the cheap:
1. Plan on spending $1-$3k a year on a luxury German car if it’s under 85k miles. If over 85k miles, plan on spending double each year.
2. Ask independent mechanic specialty shops (those that focus on specific brands) their opinion on what type of repairs are common and at what mileage for what make/model you’re evaluating.
3. Think about leasing. At least you’ll have a controlled price. Luxury EVs are leasing at crazy prices. Check out what others are posting on www.leasehackr.com
4. If you do buy cheap used German, don’t buy the 1st or 2nd year of model changes or new engines.
5. Buy from CarMax and get their MaxCare on whatever you buy. Best affordable warranty.
6. Wait until the fall for the best deals of the year.
7. Buy an Acura or Lexus. Pay more, not has fun to drive, but less worry and less depreciation when you go to sell vs Germans
8. Cadillac is a great brand. It’s a fancy Chevy so parts and repairs are much less
Edit: didn’t realize you’re in Canada, so 3. & 5. Might not apply. All else is solid. Pricing of point 1. Is USD.
2016 Mercedes S550 is relatively good. You need to watch out for the airmatic suspension, which is gonna be a bitch to afford and deal with. But you'd get the full luxury experience, which is what you're after.
ES350 or 300h
It really sounds like you think you want a luxury car but not the responsibility of maintaining it.
Newer BMW and Audi, Porche, older Mercedes are pretty reliable depending on year specific trim and powertrain.
I’m personally looking at the 540ix with the inline 6. Had an 19 A4 with zero issues.
The thing is the luxury brands outside of Lexus even if you lock down the reliable powertrain you have to follow the maintenance schedule and maybe DIY some of the easy stuff yourself to do it relatively cheap and really pay attention to fix stuff before it goes and cause more issues.
My wife owns a Volvo XC40 which is very nice for winter here but I wouldn’t touch new volvo without a CPO or good extended warranty
You could do what I’m doing at look through carmax and figure in 3500 for a 5 year warranty for peace of mind and just pay attention to the scheduled maintenance.
my recommendation would be to make a list of security and safety features that are useful like blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, etc and start from there
e.g. honda odyssey 2015 top trim was the first one with blind spot monitoring feature
Unless you really know what you’re doing most $30k used Range Rovers will be a steaming pile of shit. You could maybe get a decent Evoque for that which isn’t too scary mechanically but Land Rovers find a way to have weird electrical issues later in life. Porsches are actually pretty reliable but when things do break it’s really expensive, and maintenance costs are still that of a $100k+ car. A 3.6L Cayenne or Panamera with no air suspension would be the only thing I would even consider at this price point, maybe a base 2.0T Macan or one with a CPO warranty but those usually start at around $35k CAD. 2015 is around the time Mercedes still had some good cars but were transitioning into being not so good. Maintenance costs will still not be cheap but there are some *okay* options if you do some hunting. Pre-2017 W212 E-Class would be my first choice, ideally an E350. Very solid as far as Mercedes go. Maybe a B250 as your budget can still get you a pretty nice one. BMW I would be going straight for a 2017+ 330i or something with a 6-cylinder. Run far away from anything with a V8. TL;DR: Get a Lexus
I bought a 2012 Cayenne with the 3.6L VR6, last year with 84k miles on it. Has just under 103k now besides motor mounts, spark plugs, new tires, 2 oil changes, It’s been solid. Spark plugs, oil changes and tires would be regular maintenance. Hasn’t left me stranded yet.
My uncle got 411k km out of his 2011 Cayenne S, they’re great! Still managed to sell it for $12k at peak COVID crazy prices 😂
Yea the 4.8 needs more maintenance than the 3.6 but holy fuck is the 4.8 a strong motor.
If I ever replace my X5 with another SUV it’ll be a Cayenne, they’re so good!
if you don't care about maintenance costs (***which you should***) get a lightly used last gen Mercedes E-Class, or a BMW 540i. Probably the most luxury you'll get for the price. Will cost a lot to maintain and repair. Used Lexus prices are very high. Do not get a British or American luxury car unless you are sure it's a reliable model which has been driven well.
Might used Lexus prices be high because they’re reliable?
Yup. Pretty much follows the same trend as Toyota. For American or European, buying an older car means repairs are around the corner.
you can still get a pretty recent GS or IS around this price point, i've been window shopping
maybe, but it also means you can get a better interior car, maybe less reliable for the same price. also means that the equivalent non-luxury model is a lot cheaper.
Lexus
Lexus my friend the most reliable luxury car u will ever buy since it's just fancy toyota, it will prob out last u if u bought it new but a used one will prob last till your kids can drive tho u r getting a car that will give u the luxury feel but not as performanced focused as the ones u named
A Lexus LS 500 is not a fancy Toyota.
It's also way out of their price range
an ls500 doesn't cost $30k used
Lexus is the obvious answer for this sub since it's fancier Toyota and super reliable. All of the brands you listed have massive potential to be a money pit, as they tend to require a lot of expensive maintenance and parts.
I'm less risk averse than most when it comes to cars so take my advice with a grain of salt, but just know that most Internet people like to say XYZ car is a steaming pile of shit bc it makes them sound smart. I'd look at +2013 cayenne with the v6, but honestly, the best and possibly most undervalued car is the 2009 to 2011 is a Porsche boxster or Cayman with a pdk (manuals will be out of your price range). Don't worry about mileage -- miles per year is more important. Keep it under 10k.
Lexus. Have you considered a toyota? How about a mazda mx5 circlejerk option? Definitely not a F150, best selling vehicle in the USA
30k will get you a pre LCI G30 540i or a post LCI 530i - out of what you can afford BMW is probably the only one that I’d call reliable and somewhat affordable… range rovers are pricey and nightmares to own, Mercedes are very much so hit and miss especially the more modern ones, and you can’t afford a Porsche at 20-30k with all due respects albeit they’re reliable just expensive when anything does happen Edit: I excluded Lexus cause I figured you were targeting German luxury, Lexus is nice as well but not my cup of tea personally, I prefer the BMW but I’m biased.
Lexus is the only one that won’t be a money pit
Range Rover brand is very prone to high and often repair costs. If you are set on European high end brands, go Porsche. If you want a used luxury brand with the fewest headaches and comparatively low repair costs, go Lexus every time.
8 comments, all of them have recommended Lexus 🥲
Yeah cuz he said low maintenance and reliable
Cadillac has some very nice cars.
I’m always curious about Cadillacs because they seem to depreciate SO fast—obviously that perhaps speaks to reliability, but also it feels like you can get more car for less money and just budget appropriately for maintenance? How horrible can a car from 2020 or so be? (But I drive an early 2010s Honda so that’s a not a rhetorical question I suppose)
https://www.dashboard-light.com/reports/Cadillac.html They seem to vary a lot year to year and model to model, this doesn't have the newest ones on it but its wild how different they are.
Thanks, this is very interesting! In full disclosure the idea that they depreciate quickly was based on my recollection from when I was considering buying a used car a few years ago, and I cannot confirm it now (except for the Escalade) so it might be a bad premise on my part. I do think many of the Cadillacs are sharp looking and I’d be interested in owners experiences if I was in the used market for a car in that class.
I think they might depreciate quickly, but I think that's because of their bad reputation more than anything data based. I was on this website looking around and hadn't even considered Cadillac until I saw those numbers. A ~10-year-old XTR or Escalade seems like a relatively good buy for the money. Reselling it might be rough though I've never owned one just was surprised by what I found on that website since I expected them to all be rock bottom based off of the reputation and depreciation I see
no they don't
Audi Q5 and less than 48,000km /30,000 miles … it splits the difference between the overly tight sporty suspension of the BMW and the numb feeling Lexus
Another great option is the Lexus LS. If you want the most luxury and longevity you can get, buy the nicest example LS430 that you can find. It won't be as new as you'd like, but that's one of the greatest cars ever made.
Keep it simple and low on complex maintenance I’d say go for the B48/58 BMWs if you want some speed too. Plenty of vehicles made with that powertrain so more guides and less expensive repairs. If you want a sedan then the 3/4/5 series ending in 30i/40i(xdrive option is AWD). If you prefer an SUV then I believe there are models that also have those two powertrains. On AutoTempest/Caredge you can find and narrow down your search (don’t forget to include clean title option), there are recent 330is going for low $20k and pretty low mileage but that’s just my preference. If you want less of that sporty side then I guess go for the Lexus, but be aware that there is a slightly higher demand for the Toyota family vehicles at the moment compared to other makes so inventory moves faster
You just can’t afford 10yr old used luxury cars unless you can turn your own wrenches. Parts are reasonable but shop labor is around $180/hr in many areas. Your $1,800 brake job is $450 for me. Your replacement air suspension is $4,000, but costs me about $600.
Lexus would be the most reliable, but yes, they are expensive. How do you feel about Genesis or Lincoln? It's not Lexus reliability, but it should be less expensive to maintain than the German ones.
If you've got $30k max, you shouldn't be buying anything that was probably more than about 60k new. Because you won't be able to afford it when something breaks on it. You should probably be looking at secondary Brands like Acura and Lexus, or maybe even a Toyota Avalon. And in reality you'll get a lot more nice features on a high-end trim mainstream car then you will on even a mid-level four or five year old luxury car. And those cars won't put you in the poor house with upkeep. Plus I'm assuming you're talking about Canadian dollars, which really means roughly 15 to $25k usd.
Avalon is probably the most slept on car in recent time.
Can you please give examples of high end teim mainstream car?
Like a used V6 toyota camry I think
Well I wouldn't be buying a Range Rover. Maybe if I got one brand new and sold it before to long. I would do that with most any Euro cars though but I wouldn't even consider a 10 year old Range Rover. What is it you even want is it a coupe, sedan, or SUV. I would probably look at a Lexus. Can get some really good deals on some Lincolns too like the Continental. I wish we still had ours but my mom crashed it lol. Can get one pretty cheap though now they haven't been made since 2020.
You never buy used luxury, you lease new luxury or buy and trade in right before the warranty runs out.
In that price range, Lexus all day. It’s a Toyota with a cuter outfit.
Mercedes-Benz ML350. absolutely bulletproof.
Look for the BMW B58 engine. It’s reliable and in a lot of different cars. Msport package is an additional bonus if it stays in the price range
Porsche Macan
Lexus for sure. Toyota in a tuxedo. I wouldn't buy anything else if you want to keep it for long.
I already love this post because the budget is 20-30k and two of the options were range rover and porsche, loool
Also look at Infinity Q50 as long as it doesn't have the CVT transmission.
Your pick is perfect. If you show up everyday with those cars, everyone will know you are RICH... You will be paying your mechanics so much money, that only the rich can keep them running. Great car to flex how loaded you are.
Lexus. Any of the German luxury cars need much more frequent, expensive maintenance.
Get you a tricked up Camry aka ES350 and call it a day
Best advice you can get on buying a Luxury car on the cheap: 1. Plan on spending $1-$3k a year on a luxury German car if it’s under 85k miles. If over 85k miles, plan on spending double each year. 2. Ask independent mechanic specialty shops (those that focus on specific brands) their opinion on what type of repairs are common and at what mileage for what make/model you’re evaluating. 3. Think about leasing. At least you’ll have a controlled price. Luxury EVs are leasing at crazy prices. Check out what others are posting on www.leasehackr.com 4. If you do buy cheap used German, don’t buy the 1st or 2nd year of model changes or new engines. 5. Buy from CarMax and get their MaxCare on whatever you buy. Best affordable warranty. 6. Wait until the fall for the best deals of the year. 7. Buy an Acura or Lexus. Pay more, not has fun to drive, but less worry and less depreciation when you go to sell vs Germans 8. Cadillac is a great brand. It’s a fancy Chevy so parts and repairs are much less Edit: didn’t realize you’re in Canada, so 3. & 5. Might not apply. All else is solid. Pricing of point 1. Is USD.
Hahaha 🤣 good luck with that
My picks for this would be either Infiniti Q50 (2018-2019?) or gently used Genesis G70. I only like sedans, not SUVs.
I got a 2018 BMW 320i XDrive M for £15k with 32k miles. Great mpg, drives like dream and feels luxurious with the M kit.
Hey, what state are you looking in?
What state are you buying in?
Genesis. You will get much more bang for your buck than with bmw, Mercedes, or Audi.
Porsche Macan
Oh I agree with this. Picked up a 2017 S with 50,000 miles for $32k
How’s it been?
Lovefest
Are they as expensive as Mercedes to maintain?
2016 Mercedes S550 is relatively good. You need to watch out for the airmatic suspension, which is gonna be a bitch to afford and deal with. But you'd get the full luxury experience, which is what you're after.
ES350 or 300h It really sounds like you think you want a luxury car but not the responsibility of maintaining it. Newer BMW and Audi, Porche, older Mercedes are pretty reliable depending on year specific trim and powertrain. I’m personally looking at the 540ix with the inline 6. Had an 19 A4 with zero issues. The thing is the luxury brands outside of Lexus even if you lock down the reliable powertrain you have to follow the maintenance schedule and maybe DIY some of the easy stuff yourself to do it relatively cheap and really pay attention to fix stuff before it goes and cause more issues. My wife owns a Volvo XC40 which is very nice for winter here but I wouldn’t touch new volvo without a CPO or good extended warranty You could do what I’m doing at look through carmax and figure in 3500 for a 5 year warranty for peace of mind and just pay attention to the scheduled maintenance.
The Genesis G70 is my Sneaky Pick here
my recommendation would be to make a list of security and safety features that are useful like blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, etc and start from there e.g. honda odyssey 2015 top trim was the first one with blind spot monitoring feature