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Classic Cars Buying Luxury used cars
411 messages, Last post on Jul 13, 2009 at 10:22 AM
You are in the Classic Cars Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
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Replying to: jacobkori (Oct 13, 2007 3:32 am) There is online Form you just fill from and tell him what you're looking for? He was contact to you. I hope this is help post for you…
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Replying to: dianejsmith (Oct 16, 2007 4:13 am)
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Oct 16, 2007 6:30 am) |
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Replying to: jacobkori (Oct 13, 2007 3:32 am) check out zibe or hendrickcars. They are located close by |
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I debated in which discussion to place this message, and decided that this discussion is about as appropriate as a couple of others. Anyhow, as the owner of a well maintained '87 BMW E30, I sometimes buy "Bimmer" magazine. One of the features of this magazine is "Tech Q & A." In Tech Q & A, and throughout this magazine there's frequent mention of the fact that while BMWs are rewarding to drive and enjoyable own, they're high maintenance. Parts and labor are expensive. In addition, in the most recent issue, in the article "Living Large On Small Claims," about the appeal of buying older BMWs for a maximum if $5,000, they state that BMW parts and components, such as water pumps, generally don't last as long as Japanese and domestic brand parts. This begs the questions, "why?", and "must it be like this." As a manufacturer of quality products, shouldn't BMW components last at least as long as those from the more mass market auto makers? Why can't BMWs be designed to retain their attributes, while reducing the cost of ownership? It seems to me that the same questions could apply to Mercedes and Audi. Now, I know that some Japanese, cars such as the Infiniti Q45, for example, are also expensive to maintain and repair. However, I believe that their components last longer, and they require less frequent maintenance. Also, the Q45 isn't exactly representative of Japanese luxury cars. The Acura TL, which is sometimes cross-shopped with the BMW 3-Series, despite being FWD, is significantly less expensive to own than its German counterparts. I know first hand, because I also own a TL with 115,000 miles on it.
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 24, 2008 5:09 pm) |
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"It could be..." Maybe, but aren't Infinities, Acuras, and RWD Lexuses similarly narrowly engineered? I assume you make a distinction between precisely engineered and narrowly engineered for performance, because one could argue that ordinary Toyotas and Hondas, as well as other cars today, are precisely engineered. Toyotas and Hondas, especially, are known for having close tolerances. I'm thinking that they're perhaps comparable to at least the near-luxury models from Germany, in terms of precision. I know what I'm about to say is probably controversial, but I'm wondering whether the German luxury brand manufacturers charge more for parts because they're less efficient than the Japanese and Americans, and must subsidize their margins on car sales by charging more for parts. And might the less frequent maintenance intervals for the leading Japanese brands, for timing belts, water pumps, and even drive belts and hoses be due to their superior quality?
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 24, 2008 8:53 pm) I think where there is no excuse to be made for German cars is in the electronics. They just don't have that down apparently. You buy a Toyota, or even a Scion, and you turn the key and drive away and hardly touch the thing for the next 100, 000 miles; but a German car, you'd be lucky to make it a year without some electrical failure. |
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Fortunately for the German cars, their Japanese and American counterparts tend to be more generic and less exciting to drive, which permits the German auto makers to charge more to those who want to drive something that's less ordinary, and more engaging. This is a much narrower niche of the market than the one for economical and reliable transportation modules, but that niche is apparently sufficient to satisfy the German luxury brands. Volkswagen, on the other hand, is much more ambitious, in terms of volume. If Audi, BMW and Mercedes have reason to be concerned with the possibility that the Japanese brands could eventually succeed in adding excitement and more heritage to their cars, the Japanese should be concerned that VW could match them on reliability and price, in the next few years. |
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Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 27, 2008 9:30 pm)  A key to older luxury cars is parts availability. This is why old Audis are cast off - parts can be insanely hard to find - and this is part of why old MB can soldier on forever, as one can get parts for a 50 year old car right from the dealer. Having aftermarket support helps too. A sidemarker bulb on my E55 died yesterday, so when I was out shopping I thought I'd pick one up. I looked in the little book, it gave me the bulb code...I thought the one it referenced seemed odd somehow, but the book said so...I got it home, popped the lens off - not even close. That kind of thing can be a problem too.
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