nm, read wrong
How about the edge cases? A high trim line Honda or Toyota, for instance, compared to an Acura or Lexus? For example, we’ve got an Accord EX-V6. A new version of that trim line runs about $31k. The closest comparison is probably the Acura TLX with the V-6 engine, which starts at about $35k. The Acura looks like a nicer car, but the add-ins (and the cost) starts going up fast.
Well, you’ve sort of loaded the question, already. When you say “blow”, it implies needless excess, when a value purchase is largely dependent on the person and their needs/wants. I’d prefer to drive something other than a Toyota Avalon, as it’s too big, floaty, and disconnected for me, among a list of other things. Toyota has specifically designed it for a different type of consumer, and I recognize these differences. However, my distaste for that particular vehicle is not because it’s a Toyota. I love the brand, I’ve owned and will drive other purpose-built Toyota products, and I also recommend them if they fit the needs of people who ask. If they release a new Supra under the brand, that car will get my attention, because it’s one designed with people like me in mind. And the world turns.
For me, I prefer luxury-performance/sports vehicles, because they offer a combination of state of the art features, they’re usually out of the gate with aero/style innovations, they offer greater customization or more factory options, and also offer enhanced engine, transmission, and other driving dynamics which matter to me. The brands tend to voyage into less conservative territory, meaning you can get a bit of diversity among the products in that range. When I can make it, I also enjoy the car culture which comes with them, meaning track days, car meets, and other social events with car fanatics who better understand the nuances.
The maintenance isn’t that much more, for me, because I can either do my own work, or take advantage of the fact that the internet exists, and source parts (if ever needed). Many forums and car clubs have sponsors which sell parts at reduced or group prices, meaning you no longer have to just accept a dealers price on anything. This is also part of why it’s fun and meaningful to network and socialize with others in car communities. Now that’s not to say A to B travel can’t be done cheaper, because it absolutely can-- but my sole purpose for owning a vehicle isn’t simply A to B travel. I also don’t always consider maintenance to be burdensome or a negative thing, in an absolute sense. For example, sending oil off to be analyzed, after a change, is something interesting to me.
I’d also add that yes, you absolutely do pay a premium for the brand. However, that’s nothing unique or exclusive, as it’s merely the way the world works-- you pay a premium for an Apple product, you pay a premium for a Lexus, you pay a premium for most any nice, established thing which is well engineered and put together. It doesn’t mean everyone has to desire (or even acknowledge) these things, but there are legitimate differences which will matter to certain people more than others.
For the people who do buy for the purpose of flaunting, you usually find that it carries over into other lifestyle choices and personality. I run into them all the time, during dealer visits, and you don’t even need the car to get a fair read on them. Me? Cars (and some computer/tech gizmos) are the only expensive parts of my personality, and that’s because I genuinely love cars and tech. People are often willing to pay more for their passions, but will often project and see what they want to see, when it comes to others. My in-law spends thousands on fish, aquatic thingies, and exotic sands for his fish tanks-- but gawks when I don’t buy the cheapest tires or brake pads. He replaced his 10+ yr old car, the other day, with a Camry. And I completely understood that decision, as well as why he would spend more on fish than I ever would (which is never). It’s only a shame that it can’t work both ways.
As someone who’s started looking around for my next car, this is something I’ve wondered as well. Exactly how much of a gap is there between a fully-loaded, top of the line version of a “regular” car, and a basic, entry-level version of the luxury brand built on the same platform? Between, say, a Ford Fusion Titanium will all the trimmings, versus a fairly basic Lincoln MKZ, or a well equipped Toyota Camry versus a Lexus ES?
There still seems to be a few thousand dollar difference between these two choices. I’ve been wondering how much more I would get if I decided to splurge and go for the luxury marque. As someone who’s driven pretty basic Dodges and Plymouths all my life, luxury cars are completely new to me.
I have always wanted a Jaguar XJ6-it is the British way with interiors-Connelly leather seats, walnut burl dashboard, big Smiths analog gauges. Is it possible to get a low mileage one and drive it for years (at a reasonable cost)? Someday i will buy one.
The Jaguar straight 6 engine is a really nice one.
I’ve always appreciated German engineering; it was and will continue to be my main reason why I owned and may one day again own another Mercedes-Benz. I never really felt comfortable telling people I had a Benz when I had one back in my undergraduate years in college because people then naturally assumed you were rich or just sort of bragging. I gradually lost interest in M-B and pretty much all regular cars hehe after I got a first generation Honda Insight. That car is an engineering marvel. I’ve become a mpg snob since owning it and will not consider a car if it doesn’t get an average 55mpg. But…if I had money to burn, I’d totally buy the newest M-B SL. Mercedes did an excellent job incorporating the styling ques of classic SLs into the design of the current R231 SL.
Really? I think the R231 SL is hideous. Especially compared to the R230, which was one of the best looking SL generations of all.
Hey, that’s part of the appeal.
It depends from brand to brand and model to model. There is no Toyota equivalent of the top of the range Lexus model (the LS). On the other hand, the biggest Lexus SUV (the LX) is just a Land Cruiser with leather and ugly wood. Infiniti is similar; some of its models are unique, some are just rebadged Nissans.
Ford/Lincoln and Honda/Acura are closer to the LX example; nearly all of their luxury brand models are just rebadged and chromed versions of the regular brand models. Off the top of my head, the only unique Acuras are the NSX and Integra (which were sold as Hondas everywhere else anyway) and the SUVs (I think they’re on the MDX now).
So really, the only thing you’re buying in most of those cases is a better badge, which is of questionable value anyway. I doubt there’s anyone who doesn’t know that an Acura is really a Honda.
Yes.
No. But you can buy an XJ8 and enjoy more reliable Ford-sourced electronics and similar looks and smoothness.
“The parts falling of this motor vehicle are of the finest British manufacture.”
Jaguars are famous for poor reliability.
Volvos are very reliable. So are Mercedes, at least the drive train. Remember, sometimes the reliability grade will deceive you. To owners of luxury cars, a minor issue is a FAIL! while to the driver of a low-end econobox that same is ignored.
You can reasonably approximate the British-car experience by buying a Japanese car and never turning on the air conditioning. Also, when it rains, crack your windows open a little. Then throw money out the slits.
Can’t get Wilton carpets in a Japanese car. And the doors won’t fall off.
How to account for the random and maddening electrical issues? 
The word I was thinking of was… “luxurious”.
I have a 30-y/o XJS. Never had any problems with it. Drove it 5000 miles through the desert SW one August, only killed the battery once, due to leaving a cooler plugged in all night. Nice little beast, except when you try to pull back on the reigns. She wants to go.
And some of us had to struggle to get through the second paragraph of your post, because we just don’t want to think that much about cars.
I like to keep a potential next car in mind, in case I have to buy one on short notice. I think this is cute.. If I ever need to buy a prestige car, I hope I can rely on your advice.
People do differ, don’t we?
Keep in mind that the DJIA does not account for dividends, which provided a big portion of the index’s return over that period.
$1 invested in the S&P 500 in 1960 would have grown to $188 today (CAGR of the Stock Market: Annualized Returns of the S&P 500), easily outpacing the cherry-picked Rolex example mentioned above.
nm
That’s totally fine, the OP did ask. We all have our personal interests which could bore others to tears. Lucky for you, I made that post under the appropriate topic, so you wouldn’t wander into it.
Sure, why not. I think this forum is more than helpful with advice.
Buy what suits your desires, I say. 
I’ve gone the ‘Econo-Luxury’ route: my '96 M-B S420 cost $1600 and has given great motoring for 2 years with only gas in the tank/oil change maintenance. Comfy seats, nice stereo and climate control, double-pane windows for quiet, doors that don’t need slamming. 19 years old and still no annoying squeaks and rattles - out on the highway you can enjoy Chopin Nocturnes while loafing along at 70.
Not to put down any other driving choices - we have a Honda Element for a daily driver and an '86 Volvo 740 for dirty jobs/hauling. No snobbery implied; I drive what’s appropriate at the time and enjoy it all.
Well, the door of my old Datsun 210 wagon didn’t fall off. A guy at worked pulled it off. But you can’t blame the car, he was a he-man. About five foot four and weighing 110 pounds.