Mainstream vs Luxury

[nickdrinkwater]

I was just wondering.  If you had x amount of money to spend, would you go for a 'luxury' car (eg BMW, Audi etc) or a 'mainstreamer' (eg Ford, GM etc)?

Example.  I was thinking about what car I would buy for about ?7000-8000 (approx US$15,000) in three or so years time when I finish my studies and have a good job (hopefully).  Daydreaming, basically.

I like small cars.  For that money right now I could get something like an Audi A3 or BMW Compact with some leather, electrics, about 5-6 years old with a full dealer history.

Or, I could buy something considerably newer and pretty well equipped, like a Focus or Astra that is under 3 years old.  So a newer car, arguably not likely to go wrong as soon (had less use) and cheaper to maintain.

A similar could apply to a new car.  Do you get a better value, better specc'd, maybe larger car for a certain price or do you pay more for the perceived superior quality product?

By the way, the thing that prompted this question was a ride in a colleague's BMW.  It's about 13-14 years old but's still a really nice car.  Feels smooth and refined, unlike my SEAT which is a bit newer.

[omicron]

If the question was limited to A3/Compact vs. Focus/Astra, I'd be very tempted towards a 5 year-old Compact - especially a 318ti and above.

[ChrisV]

I voted with my wallet. My 10 year old BMW was an excellent value, and it's a lot of car for the money, as far as features, performance, handling, and comfort.

[Lebowski]

Depends what "x" is.

If "x" is $15k, I'd say mainstream.  I don't like dealing with older cars, and german cars aren't reknowned for their reliability.  There's nothing "luxurious" about sitting at a dealership waiting for your car to be repaired.

[SVT666]

If my pick was between a 2 or 3 year old Ford Fusion SEL and a 10 year old BMW 325i, I would take the Fusion simply because it still has warranty and when the warranty does run out, repairs cost a lot less.

[ChrisV]

Depends what "x" is.

If "x" is $15k, I'd say mainstream.  I don't like dealing with older cars, and german cars aren't reknowned for their reliability.  There's nothing "luxurious" about sitting at a dealership waiting for your car to be repaired.

Mine cost me $7500 and I've yet to have it sit at a dealership.

[NomisR]

Well, are you going to do the maintainence yourself or having someone do it.  If you're doing it yourself then I would get used.  But if you're going to the dealership or whatever independent, then I'd probably go new to save yourself the hassles

[Raza]

You could get an EP3 Civic Type R for that cash, easy in three years.  Or an RS2.  Or a Griffith!

[Vinsanity]

I voted with my wallet. My 10 year old BMW was an excellent value, and it's a lot of car for the money, as far as features, performance, handling, and comfort.

So did I I feel silly for having considered a new Altima which was actually more expensive than my car.

I even made a thread about it too:
http://www.carspin.net/forums/index.php?topic=11821.0

the red x was a pic of a shiny black 5-series at a ghetto used car dealer

[J86]

I say older lux car, but everytime I end up getting a car, I take the practical route (cheap Subie instead of a bmw or something 'cool', and taking the Honda instead of picking up a used Saab).  So, in all reality, I go practicality

[sandertheshark]

Brand means little to me, and there's not much of a difference in features between an entry-lux and a well-optioned mainstreamer.

What matters to me is personality - which I'm more likely to find in an older BMW than a late-model Honda.

[Tave]

If I'm shopping for a used car, I'm going to look for the best deal/condition of a model I like, and I won't limit myself to one option.

Although with online searches, there's some room to be picky.