5 awesome, cheap luxury cars you get for a bargain due to depreciation
New cars are getting a little, well, out of hand. After all, with the average cost of a new car at well over $45,000, the pool of cheap new cars is getting smaller. However, for less than you would spend on a typical new car in the United States, you can get one of these cheap luxury cars and drive in style. Just make sure you keep up with that maintenance.
Be it a coupe, convertible, sedan, or SUV, these used models can be one of the cheap luxury cars of your dreams– with a caveat
Balling on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing the balling element. These awesome used luxury cars are cheap enough for many buyers who can’t quite swing newer iterations.
- F32/F33 BMW 4 series Coupes/Convertibles
- W212 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Porsche Cayenne
- Jaguar XK X150
- Lexus GS Sedan (L10-generation)
What kind of list of desirable luxury cars wouldn’t start with a couple of German staples? Enter the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Better yet, the F32 4 Series Coupe, F33 4 Series Convertible, and W212 E-Class are examples of reasonably reliable, pleasantly posh, and fun used luxury cars that won’t break the bank. For instance, you can find an F32 BMW 435i with a clean title for under $20,000 if you shop smart.
In addition to the Mercedes-Benz and BMW luxury cars, a used Porsche Cayenne could be a solid prospect for a cheap luxury SUV. The 2007 Porsche Cayenne, one of the models with a clean bill of health from the NHTSA, has an average used value of well under $10,000.
Years ago, I wanted a cheap luxury car of my own. My prospect: a Jaguar XK from the X150 generation with a supercharged 4.2L V8. I decided to move on after conducting a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). However, a well-maintained X150 could be a delightful, almost Aston Martin-esque grand tourer.
Finally, an L10-generation Lexus GS is something of a Swiss Army Knife with Toyota reliability. Would-be buyers can find a GS 350 with a compliant and dependable 3.5L V6 for around $15,000. Moreover, shoppers dealing with frequent precipitation can opt for an AWD model.
Of course, as tempting as they are, these used luxury models require respect and proper maintenance. For instance, a replacement engine for a Porsche Cayenne after a thorough bore-scoring could be in the tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the generation. Always opt for a professionally conducted PPI before buying a used luxury car. Not doing so could cost you dearly.
