Help with purchasing a new car

[RCBH928]

Why would you prefer BMW over Audi or Mercedes? From people's experience here BMW is the car that usually is faulty and has probably the least of resale value. Price will probably drop in half after 2 years use and I am talking about like $100k ones.

Simple, the BMWs are the best to drive. (If you have the cash, they have a pretty great all-inclusive service program you can buy with one as well)

TBH I'm a bit confused. On the one hand you can afford a $70k car, but then complain about how high the maintenance costs are. Of course they're not going to be dirt cheap to fix like a Toyota Camry would be!

In any case, just buy the car you want. Take your time. Test drive several in a day. If you can truly afford a $70k dollar vehicle, you can afford the maintenance costs associated with them.

hmmmm....

I am not sure how much maintenance costs in the USA, but I will give you a good example. I have a Land Cruiser. See that extra accessory piece attached under the number plate?


That piece piece costs $1061 here from the dealership without the labour charge. Now I hope you understand why I am scared of the Mercedes maintenance and don't mind paying $70k as one time investment in a car.

[RCBH928]

The "value" of a new car drops almost in half as soon as you drive it off the lot.

No offense, but there really isn't much difference in a "cheap" car and a "luxury" car other than the person who purchases it. It's not like getting a good or bad haircut. It's all the same parts, some people will pay more for a logo.

Every "feature" is a way to get you back in the garage. Do manual roll down windows break? I don't know, never heard of it happening. Do power windows break? All the time, and a lot stick.

I see where you are coming from, and believe it or not I do agree with you. While any car will get the job done, the truth is there is a significant difference in the driving experience between a Honda Civic and and a BMW 5 series.

I apply your point of view just about when the cars break the $90k .

Because I am not sure how a Range Rover Vogue supercharged autobiography with a price of $137k could be so much better than say a $70k E class. Sure it might be faster, but the E is fast enough already, its not like we are heading into an F1 race. 60m is speed limit any way.

Also could be same applied to something like Porsche Panamera gt-S 4 twing turbo whatever.

I also hate the extra gadget that causes the car to break more often, but moving from power windows to roll down is a step way back

[RCBH928]

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As for cheap houses, $50k gets you a house that probably needs some work, but there are houses that need some small scale repairs (painting, maybe new carpet in a couple rooms) in the 60k-80k range.

http://www.trulia.com/property/10466788 ... l-GA-30518

I am interested in a $50k house because here the cheapest house you probably can buy (livable condition) might be around $265k , I live in a very tiny island with A LOT of people. I think we are rated like 7th on the world with the density of 4,212.8/sq mi !!!

[RCBH928]

Corolla's , Honda's , Ford Fiesta those are considered cheap cars.

So cars that we consider anywhere from economy to normal here in the US, you consider them all cheap? So our luxury car here is a normal one for you? That's going to skew most of the advice you're getting.

He's in the UAE. Luxury cars are a normal thing. A friend of my visited there once, had a picture of one of the parking lots. Porches, Mazeratis, Ferraris, Lexus, Mercedes, BMWs.... it was in insane.

@Hobie-wan

I dont want to sound like a jerk, but Accura is not something you want to drive if you consider yourself any thing about above average. Yes, a corolla or a Honda civic will reflect that you are on a limited income

@Forlorn Drifter

I am in Bahrain not the UAE. We are considered the poor neighbors to them. We are like Mexico to USA(No offense to Mexicans) . You don't want to show your face with an E class in front of Dubai Mall's (largest mall int he world next to tallest building int he world) for valet. well, an E65 AMG will do though.

[Hobie-wan]

@Hobie-wan

I dont want to sound like a jerk, but Accura is not something you want to drive if you consider yourself any thing about above average. Yes, a corolla or a Honda civic will reflect that you are on a limited income

Well, just keep in mind how many of us poor plebeians are answering your question then.

[Luke]

as one time investment in a car.

A car is NOT AN INVESTMENT!!!!

Sorry, but I hate when I hear this bullshit. Yes, there are rare exceptions when you buy a vintage car and never drive it, but whatever model King buys will not appreciate in value. It is a waste of funds, not an investment.

Why people who have enough money to buy a luxury car but don't have the common sense to understand elementary economics befuddles me.

I'd never put a bumper sticker on my car, but if I did it would read "I Don't Have To Overcompensate For Anything".

[RyaNtheSlayA]

as one time investment in a car.

A car is NOT AN INVESTMENT!!!!

Sorry, but I hate when I hear this bullshit. Yes, there are rare exceptions when you buy a vintage car and never drive it, but whatever model King buys will not appreciate in value. It is a waste of funds, not an investment.

Why people who have enough money to buy a luxury car but don't have the common sense to understand elementary economics befuddles me.

I'd never put a bumper sticker on my car, but if I did it would read "I Don't Have To Overcompensate For Anything".

The only one that I'd ever think to put on mine is "(Actual Size)"

And yeah, a car is a tool, not an investment. It can help make you money, it's transportation and freedom, but, it's not an investment itself.

[Jmustang1968]

as one time investment in a car.

A car is NOT AN INVESTMENT!!!!

Sorry, but I hate when I hear this bullshit. Yes, there are rare exceptions when you buy a vintage car and never drive it, but whatever model King buys will not appreciate in value. It is a waste of funds, not an investment.

Why people who have enough money to buy a luxury car but don't have the common sense to understand elementary economics befuddles me.

I'd never put a bumper sticker on my car, but if I did it would read "I Don't Have To Overcompensate For Anything".

Yeah I agree, cars are not investments at all.

However, driving a nice vehicle doesn't mean there is an overcompensation. You're not a car guy, we get it. but some of us who are car enthusiasts look at our vehicles as more than something that gets us from point A to point B. If you are like that, then fine, go get a cheap reliable car.

New cars also do not depreciate by near 50% when you drive them off the lot. I tend to prefer to buy mine new over used. I have no idea how well maintenanced or taken care of a pre-owned vehicle was. You could potentially be buying a future basket case, you never know. There are also often dealer incentives and sales you can take advantage of to get new vehicles under msrp. Not to mention better finance rates and insurance discounts on new vehicles.

[CRTGAMER]

You don't want to show your face with an E class in front of Dubai Mall's (largest mall in the world next to tallest building in the world) for valet. well, an E65 AMG will do though.

Why not? I could care less if one does not like my ride. I would never use a valet for any car anyways, they might abuse it when trying to hurry back for the next drop off.

[Jrecee]

Some places you are stuck with a valet. . . Unless you want to park a long way away.

I am not surprised about the material society over there it's more or less what I expected. Here is a typical parking lot in the US