Paying cash for "luxury" cars...

**kork13** · 09-09-2008, 05:37 PM

Totally agreed. A few friends own absolutely jaw-dropping cars. They're the kind of car that you would walk up to some stranger on the street and ask to look at, or ride in, their car. But again, used, plenty of miles, and entirely paid for. It's funny that certain cars, or makes of car, if properly cared for, will always impress..... and more importantly, will always be enjoyed.

**simpleyme** · 09-09-2008, 06:16 PM

my friend was a secretary at a MLS (real estate) office and bought an old jaguar , the comments she got on that car from the agents were nasty " well they must be paying you too much"

her car cost less than my Nissan sentra plain jane economy car ,some people are soooo sillly

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 09-09-2008, 08:10 PM

They can't tell the difference between a 1999 and a 2009?

**red92s** · 09-10-2008, 04:08 AM

I used to have a 1992 Honda Prelude with 120k on it, but bright red and in excellent condition. . . about a 14-15 year old car at the time, although it had been repainted a few years prior after an accident.

I worked in manufacturing facilities and would get comments all the time about my "fancy car", mostly from the union workers who were all driving $30k-$40k 2500 series pickups.

**ScrimpAndSave** · 09-10-2008, 04:50 AM

LivingAlmostLarge...it is obvious that the car is not "new"...but I think it has such a classic look that no one knows the true age.

Plus it is in excellent condition...the paint...the interior..everything.

**disneysteve** · 09-10-2008, 05:04 AM

Most people really haven't got a clue. They just assume a BMW is a luxury car and they couldn't possibly afford one, even though they are driving a car that cost 3 times more than you spent on the BMW. And, of course, many people won't consider buying a used anything no matter how nice it is or how many thousands of dollars it would save them. It is new or nothing. Well, it is fine with me to be the one who takes advantage of everyone else's lack of knowledge.

Good for you. Enjoy the car, and the envy.

**MonkeyMama** · 09-10-2008, 06:23 AM

LOL.

I mentioned I paid cash on our van. (Someone at work said how she didn't want to owe so drove an OLD free car. I said something like mine was paid. I couldn't have anyone think I owed - hehe. But I didn't think much of it either - I've never owed much on a car). Her jaw dropped to the floor - it was hilarious.

I thought about it later and thought, and I realized she thinks I dropped $20k+ cash on that sucker. We paid like half that simply because it was a year old and had 30k miles.

My mom has a luxury car that is about 11-years-old and too many miles to count. IT went new $50k and they bought it slightly used for $20k cash. It cracks me up when people think my parents actually paid $50k for that car. Pffffft. I remember I was early on dating my spouse at the time and he said something about my parents buying expensive cars. I had to laugh since my parents buy one used car (each) every 20 years or so - not a big part of the budget. Plus this was their one car splurge in their 55 years. I don't think they have paid more than a $10k otherwise, but they have always had nice cars.

perceptions are funny.

Good for you, indeed.

**MonkeyMama** · 09-10-2008, 06:28 AM

I also had to say, when I graduated college and my 20-year-old Toyota finally bit the dust, I bought an immaculate, almost new Mustang convertible. The thing was it was only $5k because it was about 8-years-old at the time. But it had been driven so little it still had that new car smell.

That particular year wasn't very timeless looking - its age showed a bit. BUT I realize if you can pick up a nice old used car like that you can pay pennies - and if you find one that has a more modern look people will think it is newer. It's a good trick if you are really concerned what others think, but want to save money on a car. That particular car might as well been brand new except it had some miles on the odometer (like 15k) and it was an older model... It was just so immaculate inside and out.

**ScrimpAndSave** · 09-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Disneysteve - cluelessness is EXACTLY what it was.

Borderline stupidity (sorry if that is harsh!).

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 09-10-2008, 04:07 PM

Like what cars don't show their age? I'm curious. Granted I feel like sometimes we should upgrade our cars to a used newer car, but then I think why bother? I like my car and yeah it's becoming POS but maybe that's why I like it.

**kork13** · 09-10-2008, 04:19 PM

honestly, alot of that is kinda subjective (though not entirely).... biggest factors i'd put into it are body style, paint quality, and quality of care. if it looks new, or looks like it could be new, then it "won't show its age". Esp. if the body style uses, for example, curves from 10 years ago that happen to still be used/appreciated today, that's the kind of thing that helps alot.

**disneysteve** · 09-10-2008, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by LivingAlmostLarge View Post

Like what cars don't show their age?

I'll be the first to admit that I don't take care of my car cosmetically. I get all of the mechanical stuff done regularly but I don't pay much attention to appearances, so my car definitely looks it's age.

Many people, though, take top notch care of the appearance of their cars. They wash and wax them regularly, clean and detail the interiors, keep them in garages, etc. After 5 or 8 or 10 years, the cars look beautiful. Buying one of those certainly would be money well spent.

**cipixul** · 09-21-2008, 03:59 AM

Ofcourse it's a bit risky to get a used car because you don't know the defects it may have but then again used cars can be a very good bargain

**ScrimpAndSave** · 09-21-2008, 04:49 AM

I have never viewed owning a used car as "risky".

I have viewed owning a new car as "ignorant".

Paying cash for "luxury" cars...