So I need something that is a little sporty, a bit sexy, maybe something with leather seats and good sound insulation so it feels comfortable and welcoming to women. But I hate breakdowns and having to shell out money to keep a car running, so BMWs are out. (very expensive parts and too many gimmicky features that are guaranteed to break) Gotta be something with a reputation for reliability but still nice. Lexus, maybe? Or will a younger man (in my 30s) driving a Lexus be seen oddly? (is a Lexus considered an “old man car” like a crown vic or Lincoln Towncar?)
A new, top-of-the-line Mazda3 s Grand Touring is pretty damn sexy, especially inside. A 2015 sedan stickers for just over $27k but is selling for $23,500 according to TrueCar.com.
Which Lexus model(s) would you be considering? The entry-level IS sedan is sharp and would be a good fit for a guy in his 30s. The cheapest model is the IS250, but any time I see the cheapest model from a luxury line (BMW 320i, Lexus IS250, for example), I immediately think the driver is a poseur! So you’d need to go for at east an IS350.
But one of the larger and/or more boring Lexus models, particularly the Camry-based ES or top-end LS sedans, would be kinda creepy for a 30-something guy to drive.
If you are buying used, I also suggest taking a look at the Infiniti G37 sedan. The exterior looks good and the interior is gorgeous, tight handling and a 330hp 3.7L V6 that pulls like a locomotive make it hard to resist.
A final idea, and you go with new or used (current model started in 2013) is the Honda Accord Coupe.
I’d probably want to pick up a used, but recent model and looking sharp, one for between 15 and 25 grand. Only idiots buy new. So the car could have retailed for between 25 and 50 grand, depending on how well it held value and how many years old it is (I’ve read the “sweet spot” is 6 years old)
This is one reason why I’d have to pick a car with a reputation for being well built and reliable - a BMW would probably fall to pieces spontaneously if it doesn’t get tens of thousands of dollars of perpetual maintenance.
Of course the major question is what kind of chick are you trying to attract? Like for example, the Subaru or possibly a Jeep would be good ones if you’re trying to project an outdoorsy image. Or, dare I say, a Prius is also a very reliable and affordable car that appeals to a certain type of female. I’d say in general, most women to the extent that they’ll care at all will be most impressed by any newer nicely maintained practical car which suggests that you’re a generally responsible adult; something over-the-top luxurious or high performance might appeal to a certain type but might scare the rest away.
The “never buy new” wisdom is significantly less true than it once was, though. Some higher end and/or generally not-well-thought-of brands still get that major hit as soon as you drive them off the lot, but more mundane practical cars don’t. If you actually crunch the numbers for how long you expect to own a car over however many miles, these days you’ll often find you end up ahead owning a car from, say, years 0-5 instead of years 2-7. Especially when you may be able to get manufacturer incentives and better financing buying new.
Care to show your work on this? If you buy the car when it’s more like 4-6 years old, most vehicles it’s about half the cost, private party. That puts you awfully far ahead right at the purchase…
If you’re right, I’ll definitely consider it, but if you napkin out “half the cost, aka don’t pay $10-20k right at the beginning”, and it costs somewhat more but not 10-20k in maintenance bills, it’s hard to see your point. 0% interest doesn’t mean anything to me, I’ll pay cash.
It’s absolutely true that all things considered driving an older car will usually cost you less (although down that road eventually lies the sub-$500 car buying habits of my youth) but the depreciation curve is much closer to linear these days. In other words, cars don’t lose significantly more of their value in their first 5 years than they do in their second 5 years, so you’re not saving a ton of money buying a slightly used car instead of a new one like you did back in the old days.
So here’s an example: a Honda Accord. A new base-model automatic costs about $22k. A 2011 one with 60k miles on it trades in (per NADA) for about 11k and retails for about $14k. So, if you bought the car new it cost you about $11k to own for five years. A 2006 Accord with 120k trades in for $6k. So if you bought a 5 year old Accord and sold it 5 years later, it’d cost you about $8k in depreciation.
So, basically, you would have saved $3k in depreciation buying a 5 year old car versus a new one. To save that $3k, not only do you have to putter around in an older car, but you’re also going to be doing a lot more maintenance from 60k-120k than you did from 0-60k. Of course there’s also the whole issue of not knowing the history of the car, not having a warranty, and the other myriad of little perks that come with buying new.
Granted, that is a bit of a cherry-picked example in that Hondas hold their value unusually well, but for most run-of-the-mill cars with decent reliability reputations the same general pattern will hold.
2013 or newer Lexus IS 250 is probably what you want. It’s sporty, sleek, reliable, all that noise. Definitely targeted at 30-something so you’re not out of place driving one.
The Acura lineup is much less sporty these days. The old 07-08 TL Type S is pretty sweet, though.
I agree. I’m a woman, and I’ve had many conversations with women about different guys they’re interested in, and the number of times that cars were mentioned is very, very few. You could scare away women with a car that’s hideously ugly, or has neon lights or other weird aftermarket additions, or by being obsessed with your car and spending all your time talking about it or working on it. Also not ideal would be an old car that’s constantly breaking down, or is too dirty and junk-filled inside to comfortably sit down. But as long as you have a decent car that won’t break down on the highway, most women won’t care too much one way or the other.
Another vote for Mazda3. In January I got a 2013 model for $14k. I personally think the sedan is sexier than the hatchback. Fun to drive, looks good, and even gets very good mileage (40+ mpg on the highway).
When I was a young man in my 30s I drove Hummers and Lamborghinis. They always got the attention of the ladies. Especially the Hummers. Chicks love hummers.
