A middle-manager in his late-30s writes about the classic dilemma facing second-hand car buyers: To get an older but infinitely more desirable family saloon or a newer but run-of-the-mill car.
Dear All Lexus,
I came across an ad in mudah for a Lexus GS 300 (year of manufacture 2009). It's only RM128,000 before negotiating which is around the budget I have for my next car (about RM130,000). It's affordable enough but it is 6 years old. I like the car, it looks great, it has the prestige and sets me apart from the crowd who will typically get a Camry or Accord. But will it give any problems for me and my family considering its age? We're a one-car family and need it to be bulletproof for reliability and low in maintenance. Attached is the ad. If it's not a viable option, I'll get a second-hand 2013 Toyota Camry 2.5-litre for about the same price. Help, I need your advice!
Signed,
In-a-dilemma
Dear In-a-dilemma,
I love second-hand cars. Think in my lifetime I've only ever bought one car brand new; the rest were second-hand. The best thing about getting a second-hand car, as you're considering now, is that the first owner has borne the brunt of the initial depreciation - so at this point, even before making the purchase, you've already saved umpteen thousands - consider that as the first plus point.
Now, let's turn our focus into whether the car is a good proposition.
You will be delighted to hear that the majority of owners who drive this particular model are extremely happy with their vehicle; the rarity of a Lexus GS 300 appearing in a classifieds ad relative to a similar age Mercedes E class or BMW 5 series comes down to the fact all the owners are happy to keep them and upkeep its maintenance because it's not expensive to maintain.
What costs do you need to bear in mind? The annual road tax for this 3.0-litre V6 amounts to RM2,125. It's not as bad as it sounds, because the 2013 Toyota Camry 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine still comes up to RM878. So the question becomes less about paying the road tax for a 3.0-litre V6 cost, but how much more above the 2.5-litre Camry road tax do you have to fork out. Let's do the maths:
Road Tax
RM
Road tax (3.0 litre annually) 2,125
less Road tax (2.0 litre annually) 878
Difference (annually) 1,247
Difference (monthly) 104
You're really only paying an extra RM104 per month so it's not so bad.
Fuel Consumption
These figures assume you travel 20,000km per year = 1,666km per month. The following are the official fuel consumption figures published by Lexus and Toyota:
Fuel Economy Monthly usage
2009 Lexus GS 300 10.7 litres/100km 178 litres
2013 Toyota Camry 2.5 7.6 litres/100km 126 litres
Difference 52 litres
x RM1.95/litre (RON95 December 2015) RM101.40
Insurance
As the prices for both cars are the same, insurance will be the same too. No difference there.
Repairs and maintenance
No car is perfect; every car will at some point suffer from the foibles of motoring wear and tear. carsurvey.org presents the following statistics on ownership experience:
Ownership experience with Lexus GS 300
Ownership experience with Toyota Camry
The figures show an overall higher level of satisfaction with their Lexus GS 300. A resounding 78 per cent of owners would buy another Lexus of the same model, with only 13 per cent choosing not to. Compare this with the Camry's 64 per cent approval rating and 27 per cent of owners who would not buy the same model again, the statistics illustrate owners of the Lexus GS 300 are immensely pleased with their purchase.
How happy will you be with the Lexus GS 300's performance? The Lexus achieves an 8.5/10 score in this category while the Camry was rated at only 6.9/10. Most Lexus GS 300 owners find the acceleration, pace and speed plentiful.
As you mentioned, you have a family and this is going to be the family workhorse. Owners of the Lexus deem their car more reliable than the Camry, so this great news for you.
Possible repairs
At some point in its economic life, every machine will need servicing, repairs and regular maintenance.
Lexus consistently wins J.D. Power & Associates study for reliability but even so it requires TLC. If you're looking to get a Lexus GS 300, I would recommend you to bring your foreman or mechanic to view the car with you and keep a close eye on the following parts which may need repairs at some point:
Second-hand cars are usually annexed from the warranty timeframe. I tend to think this is a bonus rather than a drawback because dealership repairs tend to cost more. On the other hand, when a car is out of warranty, there are plenty of Lexus specialists around. And Lexus parts are not difficult to maintain as most are interchangeable with Toyota components.
On-board toys
There's nothing out of the ordinary where the Toyota Camry is concerned but in the Lexus GS 300, you're getting a lot of equipment mostly obvious but one or two things that are not so obvious. So here's where the GS 300 claws back some ground lost during the road tax and fuel consumption calculations.
The GS 300 comes with voice controls for your sound system, navigation, climate control, something the Camry doesn't have. It also comes with Mark Levinson sound system which is essentially akin to having a home theatre on wheels so if you're like me and enjoy listening to music during the drive to work and back, this is a right treat. Again, this is something the Camry doesn't have. The other thing to bear in mind is that, overall, the GS 300 is a more refined car. It uses much better soundproofing materials so the cabin is quieter than the already quiet Camry. The leather is soft aniline - very plush to the touch. The Camry's leather, on the other hand, is nothing to shout about; it's all dry and standard. And the wood in a GS 300 is real, compared to the faux wood in the Camry. It's all these little attention to details you won't find in the cookie cutter Camry.
Conclusion
In the end, the difference between a newer Toyota Camry and an older Lexus GS 300 comes down to RM104 + RM101.40 = RM254.40 per month. The question becomes, is it worth paying the extra RM205.40 per month for this prestige and these additional toys? For me, definitely; it's not too prohibitive. There is a bigger picture here. This is about gaining entry into the world of Lexus where you are automatically inducted as an ambassador of refined tastes in driving and all things exquisite. The Camry will get you to your destination; the Lexus is the destination. Whatever the cost, that's something you can't put a price tag on.
Hope this helps you make a decision.
All Lexus
Dear All Lexus,
I came across an ad in mudah for a Lexus GS 300 (year of manufacture 2009). It's only RM128,000 before negotiating which is around the budget I have for my next car (about RM130,000). It's affordable enough but it is 6 years old. I like the car, it looks great, it has the prestige and sets me apart from the crowd who will typically get a Camry or Accord. But will it give any problems for me and my family considering its age? We're a one-car family and need it to be bulletproof for reliability and low in maintenance. Attached is the ad. If it's not a viable option, I'll get a second-hand 2013 Toyota Camry 2.5-litre for about the same price. Help, I need your advice!
Signed,
In-a-dilemma
Dear In-a-dilemma,
I love second-hand cars. Think in my lifetime I've only ever bought one car brand new; the rest were second-hand. The best thing about getting a second-hand car, as you're considering now, is that the first owner has borne the brunt of the initial depreciation - so at this point, even before making the purchase, you've already saved umpteen thousands - consider that as the first plus point.
Now, let's turn our focus into whether the car is a good proposition.
You will be delighted to hear that the majority of owners who drive this particular model are extremely happy with their vehicle; the rarity of a Lexus GS 300 appearing in a classifieds ad relative to a similar age Mercedes E class or BMW 5 series comes down to the fact all the owners are happy to keep them and upkeep its maintenance because it's not expensive to maintain.
What costs do you need to bear in mind? The annual road tax for this 3.0-litre V6 amounts to RM2,125. It's not as bad as it sounds, because the 2013 Toyota Camry 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine still comes up to RM878. So the question becomes less about paying the road tax for a 3.0-litre V6 cost, but how much more above the 2.5-litre Camry road tax do you have to fork out. Let's do the maths:
Road Tax
RM
Road tax (3.0 litre annually) 2,125
less Road tax (2.0 litre annually) 878
Difference (annually) 1,247
Difference (monthly) 104
You're really only paying an extra RM104 per month so it's not so bad.
Fuel Consumption
These figures assume you travel 20,000km per year = 1,666km per month. The following are the official fuel consumption figures published by Lexus and Toyota:
Fuel Economy Monthly usage
2009 Lexus GS 300 10.7 litres/100km 178 litres
2013 Toyota Camry 2.5 7.6 litres/100km 126 litres
Difference 52 litres
x RM1.95/litre (RON95 December 2015) RM101.40
Insurance
As the prices for both cars are the same, insurance will be the same too. No difference there.
Repairs and maintenance
No car is perfect; every car will at some point suffer from the foibles of motoring wear and tear. carsurvey.org presents the following statistics on ownership experience:
Ownership experience with Lexus GS 300
How happy will you be with the Lexus GS 300's performance? The Lexus achieves an 8.5/10 score in this category while the Camry was rated at only 6.9/10. Most Lexus GS 300 owners find the acceleration, pace and speed plentiful.
As you mentioned, you have a family and this is going to be the family workhorse. Owners of the Lexus deem their car more reliable than the Camry, so this great news for you.
Possible repairs
At some point in its economic life, every machine will need servicing, repairs and regular maintenance.
Lexus consistently wins J.D. Power & Associates study for reliability but even so it requires TLC. If you're looking to get a Lexus GS 300, I would recommend you to bring your foreman or mechanic to view the car with you and keep a close eye on the following parts which may need repairs at some point:
- Alternator
- Timing belt
- Catalytic converter
- Water pump
- Valve cover gasket
Second-hand cars are usually annexed from the warranty timeframe. I tend to think this is a bonus rather than a drawback because dealership repairs tend to cost more. On the other hand, when a car is out of warranty, there are plenty of Lexus specialists around. And Lexus parts are not difficult to maintain as most are interchangeable with Toyota components.
On-board toys
There's nothing out of the ordinary where the Toyota Camry is concerned but in the Lexus GS 300, you're getting a lot of equipment mostly obvious but one or two things that are not so obvious. So here's where the GS 300 claws back some ground lost during the road tax and fuel consumption calculations.
The GS 300 comes with voice controls for your sound system, navigation, climate control, something the Camry doesn't have. It also comes with Mark Levinson sound system which is essentially akin to having a home theatre on wheels so if you're like me and enjoy listening to music during the drive to work and back, this is a right treat. Again, this is something the Camry doesn't have. The other thing to bear in mind is that, overall, the GS 300 is a more refined car. It uses much better soundproofing materials so the cabin is quieter than the already quiet Camry. The leather is soft aniline - very plush to the touch. The Camry's leather, on the other hand, is nothing to shout about; it's all dry and standard. And the wood in a GS 300 is real, compared to the faux wood in the Camry. It's all these little attention to details you won't find in the cookie cutter Camry.
Conclusion
In the end, the difference between a newer Toyota Camry and an older Lexus GS 300 comes down to RM104 + RM101.40 = RM254.40 per month. The question becomes, is it worth paying the extra RM205.40 per month for this prestige and these additional toys? For me, definitely; it's not too prohibitive. There is a bigger picture here. This is about gaining entry into the world of Lexus where you are automatically inducted as an ambassador of refined tastes in driving and all things exquisite. The Camry will get you to your destination; the Lexus is the destination. Whatever the cost, that's something you can't put a price tag on.
Hope this helps you make a decision.
All Lexus
No comments:
Post a Comment