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Trapped Between High Depreciation, and Expensive Maintenance and Repairs
hpmctorque
Member Posts: 4,600
Modern cars, and especially the German ones, tend to be satisfying to drive, and they look elegant, but they're expensive to operate. The ever expanding list of new electronic features, plus the fact that more and more brands force you to go to the dealer for certain maintenance items, increase the cost-of-ownership. I say it's too high, and is costing.
The upshot is that the cost of car ownership keeps climbing. Have you discovered ways to decrease your cost of owning your wheels that you'd like to share with other readers?
The upshot is that the cost of car ownership keeps climbing. Have you discovered ways to decrease your cost of owning your wheels that you'd like to share with other readers?
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My point is that, increasingly, the manufacturers have us boxed in, on cost-of-ownership. Leasing is expensive. Buying and trading every 3-6 years is expensive, and keeping a car for the long haul is expensive. If the depreciation doesn't get you, sooner, then the cost of parts and labor will get you later. The only way out is to buy a basic 4 cylinder, with few options.
But wasn't it always this way? I'd say it's gotten worse in the last several years, as cars above the basic models, especially, have become increasingly complex.
I still stick to Japanese for all out reliability though. In my experience, they have been exceptional.
What puzzles me is the relatively large number of out-of-warranty German cars that are still in existence. Excluding owners who do all or most of their own maintenance and repairs, maybe, how do owners of out-of-warranty German (and Swedish) cars justify the cost-of-ownership?
LOL! We don't look at the cost to get from point A to B, but rather the fun to get from A to B, with a slight detour to take the most fun rather than the most direct route.
What I did as buy my '05 Jag X-Type used after 2.5 years and 30K miles. That left quite a bit of warranty. I paid about $19K for it or about 55% of the MSRP. My wife and I have driven it for 2 years and 20K miles and have had to buy 1 tire which was due to a cracked rim. I'm sure brakes will be due soon. But I don't go to a dealer for normal maintenance. I have not had any problem getting oil-changes, wipers, tires, air-filters, and such. I don't expect to ever have much trouble getting shocks or struts if needed, or to have fluids changed. I'll probably even go down the parts-store and buy 6 spark-plugs, gap them and put them in myself (if the location looks reasonable).
I guess if you have a lemon that involves proprietary software then you might be stuck going back to the dealer. But then again I do see the flaw with having some NAV system be the interface for HVAC, stereo ... I would avoid any vehicle that has a lot of unneeded extras tied into a NAV system.
Good questions and as a multi-owner of high-mileage German and Swedish iron I can tell you how to keep costs within reason.
1) Buy used. BMWs Porsche and the like lose up to 50% of their value in the first three or four years of service. I boiught my current 2000 528iA with four years and 44K on it for $26,000 which is about half the sticker price when new and the approximate cost of a new Camry with equivalent options.
2)Stay away from dealers. There are lots of good independent service outfits for the German makes and (at least in New England) the Euro makes who will work much cheaper than the dealers.
3)Don't skimp on maintenence. Have all required services done and done on time.
Euro cars have much less tolerance for poor maintenance than Japanese or American cars.
4)Have fun! These cars are great to drive and you don't need to be afraid to push them from time to time. A car meant to stand up to autobahn travel at century speeds will last for a long time under American driving condition.
The Blue Max is one of several BMWS, Audis and Saabs that I've driven well past their warranty period (it's now @ 121K and going strong.) Would you rather have this or a six y/o Camry?>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I have never done it but I have been tempted to buy a Mercedes or perhaps a BMW at 50,001, as I would imagine you can still get a couple of years' good service out of it at that point before the expensive repairs begin.
And then again I am someone who maintains my car religiously, so given what has been written above, perhaps I wouldn't have to worry too much about expensive repairs. I know I wouldn't buy one without a CPO warranty though.
And they can be really cheap after that 50K mark, I have a co-worker that just picked up an ('06/'07?) C230 with 70K miles a few months back for $12K. That's a beautiful car that I would rather have with all its potential problems than a brand new Versa with air for the same price.
But you can't be spending every last penny on that car payment. If you are doing that you need to buy the new car with a warranty (or better yet, NOT do that at all!). I would think that with a German car I would set aside 50% of the car payment as savings against those future repair costs.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I think the smaller Audis are attractive looking too, though. An A4 might be too small for my tastes, although with a 110.6" wheelbase, that's not exactly a compact car (unless you're talking a 1970's compact :P )
The new style A4 is larger than old ones, looking to me not much smaller than the original mid 90s 100/A6.
Found this in a quick search, but maybe the Cougar owner just didn't know how to look for parts on the net. It's the "My 2nd Baby" review.
Maybe on the outboards? :shades:
But anyway, yes, you can get pretty much any mechanical part for a MB made in the last 50+ years right from the dealer. You'll sometimes pay dearly for it, but you can get it. In 1997 my fintail broke a little FI line...I got a replacement from the local dealer, not too shabby for a car that went out of production in 1965. However, not every part is available - I don't think the MB parts source stocks little interior shiny bits and the like for cars over 20 or so years old - but I do think they can source anything mechanical and many body parts. There are also some good independent MB parts sources out there - MB people are maintenance enthusiasts, so the demand there to be filled.
I'm painting a bedroom - gonna blame it on the fumes.
There were several good responses to the delemna posed by this discussion. I think kathyc2's suggestion of focusing on the joy of the ride and the pleasure of ownership, instead of the cost of ownership, is the key to justifying the expense of owning a high maintenance car. To extend this thinking further, if you're a compulsive person who only or mainly thinks about the cost-per-mile of operation, it's a mistake for you to drive a European luxury car. That's because the driving pleasure and other attributes of a luxury car are trumped by your compulsion.
One of my friends fits this stereotype. Although he could easily afford an C or E-Class Mercedes, or its equivalent, he used to drive K-cars, which he purchased at the end of the model year, to get a lower price. His second car was a used econobox, like, say, a Tercel. Now he drives a miled up '00 Camry and an Echo. And to complete the picture, Mark actually enjoys driving. It's just that his definition of enjoyment has to accommodate his "do-it-ala-cheap" guilt demon. Mark needs to get a life. He even acknowledges his compulsion, which sometimes drives his wife nuts, but he can't seem to shake it loose.
Another good suggestion that some of you have put forth is to buy used, and stay away from the high end, most complex luxury cars. And, when selecting a used car, evaluate the previous owner as much as the car and the deal. Did he/she maintain it well, and drive it with reasonable care. Well, that's what I did when I recently bought a '07 A4 Quattro 2T, for my wife as the primary driver. This car is a delight to drive, and it's got the nicest interior of any car we've owned. If its cost of ownership turns out to be on the high side, well, so be it. We're concentrating on enjoying our ride, and practicing a "have fun, be happy" attitude. In the unlikely event that this A4 should turn out to be a money pit, we'll replace it. Anyone know where I can locate an older, low maintenance A8?
I bought my 2002 325CI in 06 w/ 53K miles, and 4 years and 30K miles later I've put around 1K in repairs; the most expensive of which was to replace the string system that keeps the headliner tight on the rear pillars when the top is up. Of course maintenance and wear and tear items are significantly higher than on domestics, but I knew what going in so I was prepared. I tried a couple of independent shops that specialize in German cars, but was not happy with them for one reason or another. Ended up going to the BMW dealer for service, and although posted rates are higher, they usually give me a discount of some kind or another.
Since someone else took the first couple years hit on depreciation by leasing, the percentage I've taken in 4 years is probably less than if I would have bought a new domestic for the same amount as I paid used. One of the things that has impressed me the most is after 80+K miles, the leather seats look new without any sag or creases.
It's a beautiful weekend, why not go for a joy ride on some twisty curvy road and really enjoy your A4? if you ask real nice, your wife might even let you drive part of the way.
Great choice of words - simple and direct - that describes some people perfectly, kathy.
"...after you have taken care of the necessities, the extra should be for things you enjoy..."
The rational side of my brain says "bulls eye!" You only live once. The depression era mentality in me cautions that you can't go wrong by being frugal, because you never know. Well, the fact is that it can be a mistake to be too frugal. I had an associate who said about money, "you can spend it now, or you can spend it later." He didn't consider leaving it or willing it to be a viable option. Of course, great minds will differ on this point, which maybe even he didn't entirely believe. However, it does resonate.
And I do agree, it can be possible to be "too frugal". Remember, you only live once...of course one should whenever possible live below their means and have a nest egg, but live a little. We still have things relatively good, and in this devolving world, I can't say I believe future generations will be so lucky. I am thinking that way as I get older, especially about free time. I once traveled maybe every 5 years at most, and didn't take much time away. Now, I think I would rather travel at 33 than 73...as there's no guarantee any of us will even make it that far.
1. Believe it or not, some dealers offer excellent service at a reasonable price. For example, my local BMW dealer(Swope BMW in Louisville, KY) performed the Inspection II service(AKA 60K mile or "Major" service) as well as a brake fluid flush on my wife's 2004 X3 for less than $400. That said, I also have an excellent indie shop(Performance Specialties, Louisville) that I use for some service- particularly on my older Bimmers.
2. Join the national Marque club. As an example, BMW Car Club of America members can often get 20%-25% discounts on parts/labor from BMW dealers and/or indie shops. Membership also wires you into a network of enthusiasts who can help you find decent shops and vendors as well as assist in diagnosing and resolving problems.
3. Check out my 318ti Club Sport blog entry to see an example of an older BMW that has been remarkably inexpensive to own; repairs and maintenance costs(which include five sets of sticky street/track tires) have averaged almost exactly 5 cents per mile over the almost 15 years that I've owned the car.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100622/RETAIL01/100629970/1- 292#ixzz0rh7jh7pU
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2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93