Cheap Luxury Car Ownership Cost Isn’t as Bad as You Think
It’s more or less common sense among used car buyers: There’s no such thing as a cheap luxury car. However, with a little mechanical know-how and some research, that may not be the case. Moreover, vehicles in this category are known to depreciate, so you’ll be able to take full advantage of it. There’s plenty of options available, and some vehicles have remained relatively unaffected by recent market absurdity.
A Luxury car shares parts with cheaper models
Parts sharing is common in the auto industry. Producing cars is an expensive thing to do, even for a big group of companies like the Volkswagen Auto Group or Toyota. As a result, manufacturers will often build parts to be used across a wide range of vehicles. Thus, the cost of parts is cheaper because they’re ending up in more vehicles. This is one of the largest aspects that’ll help you out on your quest for luxury car ownership.
If you take a close look at the window switches in the Audi A6, you’ll see the same ones as a range of other Audi and Volkswagen models. However, the Audi dealership will charge you Audi prices for that window switch. So, why not figure out the part number and see if VW has a same-but-cheaper window switch waiting for you at the dealership? However, not all models parts share, like a Bentley. Those will be more expensive to fix.
Be prepared to do the work yourself
Speaking of fixing, another great way to save money on a luxury car is doing a little wrenching yourself. Fundementally, a luxury car is still a car. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Of course, this only applies to those with the space and tools to do maintenance dealer-free. You’re best finding another way to get work done if you live in an apartment.
Some models will be easier to work on than others, especially hybrids. Best to leave all that high-voltage repair work to someone else. Happily, there’s plenty of examples of easier to maintain luxury cars. Numerous Audi models, like the A5 and A6, including earlier Lexus vehicles will share parts, and be free of more modern mechanical complications.
Sometimes, it is about the money
Unfortunatley, there will inevitably be something that will break in a big way. This is the gamble of luxury car ownership. That Lexus GX470 SUV may be a Toyota Land Cruiser underneath, but at some point you’re bound to run into an expensive Lexus-only part or repair job. In that instance, it’s best to weigh you options. Are the benefits of ownership and the affordability of a parts-shared platform going to outweigh the inevitable big repair bill? If the answer is yes, look into any of the models listed above, just be sure they’ve been looked after. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the first cheap luxury car owner?
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