About $20k for a used car - which one??

[JuiceTheGator]

Well, some dealer dude just made me an offer for the Wagoneer that I could not refuse. So, I gotsa' get a car to drive to work in the next couple days.
I'm buying an office bldg. in Sanibel so the corp. account is going to be tapped. So, I don't wanna spend much over $20k on a car because the place is going to need a lot of work. I only drive 4 miles to the office and hate to see something depreciated out in the parking lot anyway.

So, after looking around during bowl games, I'm choosing between these. Which do I buy in this best place on Earth to buy a used car?? (old farts and clean streets) Discuss....

2005 S550 Mercedes with 80k miles
2007 ML350 Mercedes with 65k miles
2008 Audi Q7 with 60k miles
2010 Lincoln MKS with 27k miles
2005 LX470 Lexus with 80k miles
2012 Ford Flex with 37k miles
2003 CL550 AMG Mercedes with 37k miles
2004 VW Phaeton with 55k miles
2010 Jeep GW with 42k miles

or OTHER?

 

[MrMoJoRisin63]

Well I own a VW and I can tell parts are pricey, same is true with BWM and Mercedes. I would sway toward the Lexus.

 

[fordman84]

Mojo hit it on the head.

I'm thrilled so far with my Camry XLE. The V6 is quick, handles well, and no road noise. I loved the wifes civic, but Hondas are loud as shit on the road. For 20k you could get a low miles 2011 or 2012, fully loaded.

Just make sure you get two freaking keys

 

[fordman84]

oh yeah, and if you are at home or office check out cargurus.com. Way faster than searching single lots.

 

[ckhokie]

Make those 4 miles 4 enjoyable miles.

e46 M3

 

[StanMarsh51]

I'd recommend not to buy used if you have a budget of around $20K...you're still taking a good sized risk (even if the prior owner is someone who seems responsible), and for $20K you can get a quality new car.

 

[StanMarsh51]

If you must buy used though, I wouldn't recommend Mercedes. Really expensive to maintain, and I know a number of people who've had Mercedes cars in the past few years who really complained about the unreliability of them.

 

[steveringo]

AMC Gremlin x Gremlin X | eBay

 

[outofyourmind]

F-150

 

[oaknightshockey1]

I'd recommend not to buy used if you have a budget of around $20K...you're still taking a good sized risk (even if the prior owner is someone who seems responsible), and for $20K you can get a quality new car.

I would completely disagree. You can get a much better/higher quality practically new "used" car. It just takes some effort researching and checking into the car's history to make sure you don't get a bad one. A new car loses a ridiculous amount of its value when you drive it off the lot and is not a great investment in that sense.

 

[rmilia1]

The reality is that if you are looking at a high line vehicle for 20k like a mercedes/audi/bmw then you need to be prepared to spend 3-4k a year on upkeep. The flex sucks ( trust me I sell them ), the vws arent much better than the audis for cost of ownership. The lincolns are ok but its really just a ford they charge you 20k more for cuz it says lincoln on it. Ditto for the lexus and a toyota. Youre best off opening the budget to say 25-27. Then you can get something substantially nicer, maybe even certified

 

[fknhippie]

F-150

This

 

[ckhokie]

The reality is that if you are looking at a high line vehicle for 20k like a mercedes/audi/bmw then you need to be prepared to spend 3-4k a year on upkeep.

I've driven an Audi for the last 7 years. It's now 11 years old. I've probably spent 7k total (in maintenance) on the thing, and that is including this which ended up costing about $4300. 3-4k a year is a gross overstatement.

 

[outofyourmind]

Give me some twin I beam mother fuckers.


try hauling that in the Mercedes

 

[rmilia1]

I've driven an Audi for the last 7 years. It's now 11 years old. I've probably spent 7k total (in maintenance) on the thing, and that is including this which ended up costing about $4300. 3-4k a year is a gross overstatement.

You are extremely fortunate then ck. Average maintenace on an audi is 2700 a year. Bmw and mercedes are more

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Yeah, I've had several Benz's. It really was about 3k per year on average but I got it done at a place who did really good work with guys trained by MB in Germany. But they don't depreciate as fast when you buy them in that 5 or so year old category and that makes up for it a bit when you sell. I don't really care about cost anyway - just hate to have a newer car depreciating in the parking lot just to drive that little shot to work.

I spent a little time on it today...leaning toward the Lincoln MKS just because it's simply the nicest car. That 500 hp AMG Benz is tempting though. The interior is flawless and like new.

 

[Breaker99]

I would go with 2003 CL550 AMG Mercedes with 37k miles.....

And wouldn't look back.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

I would go with 2003 CL550 AMG Mercedes with 37k miles.....

And wouldn't look back.

Honestly, I would have just bought it right when I saw it. Every once in awhile you run across a 120,000 dollar car that was owned by some old guy with 4 homes who only drove it a little each year...and was probably wearing a suit while in it. It was perfect...the leather didn't even have a crease! Like new for $22k.

But then I remembered I have a 1.5 and 2.5 year old daughter who would absolutely destroy that thing instantly. That would be a shame...so I walked away.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

How about this one? I like.

Alfa Rome Veloce Coupe | eBay

 

[fordman84]

Give me some twin I beam mother fuckers.


try hauling that in the Mercedes

ugh, having replaced MANY a hubs on those twin i-beams I can say that they are awesome but do a solid axle swap if you are planning on doing any trails or crawling. Money well spent