I am newly retired. I have always purchased the cheapest car sold by each brand (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla). I now find myself with enough money to purchase a more upscale, fun car for the first time in my life. I love the Miata, but my back just won't take the lack of height of the sports car. I am thinking of a slightly used upscale car like the Lexus ES. But I know I'll be upset with the high cost of repairs. Help me find my first fun car.
-- Lana
TOM: You're pulling in two different directions here, Lana.
RAY: On the one hand, you want something fun. You're tired of driving a boring automotive appliance.
TOM: On the other hand, automotive appliances are nice and reliable!
RAY: So we'll give you two different kinds of suggestions.
TOM: A used Lexus is certainly a fine choice. While "fun" wouldn't be the first word I associate with Lexus, it is quiet, comfortable and reliable.
RAY: You will pay more for repairs, because the coffee is better and the carpet is thicker in the Lexus waiting room. So you have to be prepared for that.
TOM: As an alternative, instead of an entry-level luxury car, we often recommend that people get a completely decked-out version of a non-luxury car.
RAY: For instance, instead of a Lexus ES350, you could get a loaded Toyota Camry XLE (on which the Lexus is based). You'd save some money on the purchase price, and you'd save money on repairs. When the Camry is loaded to the gills, the cars are very comparable -- and comparably equipped.
TOM: So one suggestion would be to look at a fully loaded Camry, Accord, Altima or any other car you like from a non-luxury manufacturer. But get every option you could possibly want on it to make it luxurious to you.
RAY: If we disregard your concerns about repair costs and just focus on "fun," then, Lana, I see you in a British Racing Green Mini Cooper convertible.
TOM: That's as much fun to drive as the Miata, but it's more than just a few inches off the ground. If you're of a certain age and you get a Miata, you also have to get the optional winch to lift you out of the driver's seat.
RAY: The Mini is reasonably upscale. You can get it with leather seats, a navigation system, heated seats and all that. And it'll cost you about 35K brand-new.
TOM: Chances are, it won't be as reliable as your Civics and Corollas have been. But it's got a four-year, 48,000-mile warranty, so you can drive it trouble-free for four years, and then decide if you love it enough to keep it for the long haul.
RAY: Or if you've had enough "fun" and are ready to back to a Civic. Enjoy whatever you get, Lana.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
Lana could look at a Toyota FRS/Subaru BRZ or even a Honda Civic Si to save on repairs or a Ford Focus/Fiesta ST to keep it practical. The new Ford Mustang with the 4-cyl Eco-Boost isn't a bad choice either.
I own a Kia Soul Exclaim, which at $23,000 is well made, decked out with leather and all the bells and whistles you could want, is practical, fun to drive, cheap to repair, cheap to insure (my insurance went DOWN because of the crash and safety ratings), and includes a ten-year, 100,000 mile power train warranty. I average 30 MPG city/highway combined. She could easily find one used for about $17,000, which would still have a five-year warranty. The 2014 version includes an optional panoramic sunroof. And she won't need a winch to get her out of the driver's seat.
I have to disagree with Tom and Ray. A MINI COOPER convertible, could not be a worse recommendation for a newly retired, older female. She specifically raised her concern about high repair bills, and MINI's have one of the highest repair frequency of any model. Once it is out of warranty, in only 4 years, or 48K miles, you are going to PAY!
The writer likes a preowned Lexus EX300. I would have recommended that she check into a Certified Preowned car, from her Lexus dealership. She would save money over new, and have the security from high repair bills, because of the CPO warranty.
Even with warranties, she would make much fewer trips to the Lexus dealer, than the MINI dealer.
The Lexus dealership experience is the best. At least in my town (Austin). While the ES is not very sporty, the IS car is. Particularly the IS350. The Cadillac ATS is comparable. But for value look for a Nissan Maxima. Fast, comfortable and just a great car for the dollar. Makes the Altima, which is reviewed pretty well, feel cheap. For a little less $$ look at the Kia Optima, nice looking and a nice car, or the Hyundai equivalent (Sonata?). Or the Buick Regal. Quite a few cars reasonably priced that are good values and a pleasure to pilot. My mother got a good deal on the Lincoln MKZ.
I'd suggest to Lana to consider one of the BMW 3 series or -- if a test drive says the seating position is ok for her back problem -- a Porsche Boxster. Neither has the basic value of a Corolla or Civic, nor will they likely be as reliable, and both will certainly cost a good deal more more to fix when they break; but I expect they do introduce a bit more fun to the driving experience, and that's what Lana wants, right?
I am a 53-year old female. I love my Nissan Juke for several reasons: it doesn't look like every other car out on the highway; it's my favorite color (bright blue); it's fun to drive; it's fully loaded with back up camera, satellite radio, heated leather seats, and sun roof; and it has a lot of pep, so it's fun to drive. My local dealership gave me free oil changes for 5 years, and Nissan has a lifetime warranty for all the major systems (transmission, etc) for a $100.00 deductible.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
