[quote=temeculaguy]Your technical explanation explains the economics of what I’ve notice, that the flagships fall off a cliff for resale value at about 4-5 years. The 6 and 7 are in the 90-100k range new, the 3 and 5 are are half the price, at about 5 years old, the price differential is 10k or less. Your explanation sheds light as to some of the reasons why and why more than one dealer/broker have tried to explain that the flagships cost more to maintain and have more problems. I appreciate the input, I may go another direction. Sometimes I wish they would make a four seat corvette.
Ren, I know the dealer service is overpriced but even from independant mechanics, I was hearing about exponential price markups for the higher end models, (ie. brakes on a 6 series cost double that of a 3), it seemed unique to german cars. How did you like your porsche? The 911’s hold their value fairly well so they are out of my price range, the boxter has great reliability ratings but just two seats so that only leaves the cayanne as being able to fit my needs and price range. I’m not sure I love the cayanne as far as how they look, so they haven’t been on my radar all that much. Even the $400 you mentioned for the oil change/routine service, I can’t get past the fact that the same service on a lexus/infiniti/acura would cost under $100, but none of them get me all that excited. Since I’m looking at used, more than just oil changes are likely in my future. The left and right side of my brain are in an all out war on this damn car issue.[/quote]
TG, the reason why the boxster service is so expensive is that it’s a mid engine car. To do anything other than a simple oil change, requires the mechanic to drop the engine down….But the thing is Porsche’s are the one of the most reliable vehicles on the road. Probably because they don’t throw all that electronic crap in there and probably because they aren’t nearly as mass produced as A/B/M….Insuring it, for a guy, however is another story…
The depreciation of the top of the line germans are astounding. 3-4 years, you can get one for 50%+ off. It’s not just the maintenance that contributing this falloff. Most of these upper end cars are leased, and 3-4 years is usually when the lease return ends. Folks that drive these things usually turn them in and lease the next “latest flagship”….So it’s no wonder they fall off like a brick. I could never recommend anyone to purchase these things outright new since the depreciation is just so insane, and the future headaches are just so plentiful. This was discussed in another thread started by some other poster in which he was (sudo-rudely)inquiring why are there all these “punks” driving around flagship germans because it was “diluting the brand” (his words, not mine)….Answer: a lot of them are preowned which is more affordable, purchased without thought to everything that happens afterwards..
———
On additional route you could go with is if you want the size of the 5 series, you could try the new Infiniti M37. Then again, Nissan/Infiniti, isn’t exactly up there in the top spots for reliability either.
But if you want a convertible, how about a mustang GT? The new ones with the 5.0 is pretty decent ride, and it does have 4 seats.
