Upon its initial release, the Lexus GS received a wonderful reception: stylish, luxurious, and performance wise it was great, making it the whole package. The grand sedan (GS), was a favorite executive car and was well placed in the luxury sedan category. Its success led to a number of re-releases which have also been profitable for Lexus.
The 2010 version sold for a decent $50,000 – yeah, don’t worry, we think that’s on the steep side too. But hey, given the options and luxe features, it was definitely in line price-wise! But time chips away at this hefty price tag, so that now you can pick up a luxe Lexus for around $15,000. We’re definitely behind that!
$30,000
Now the Mercedes-Benz SL-class was developed to take on the British Aston Martin Vantage. Pretty big step to be honest. But then again, this is Mercedes-Benz we’re talking about here! The German powerhouse created a vehicle which certainly packed a LOT of punch – 283 HP to be exact. With a line which is over six decades old, it is highly respected, and thus highly scrutinized by car enthusiasts! The recipe for success is in its two seats, folding metal hard-top, front-engine and rear-wheel drive. Each year, the SL becomes faster and more efficient – the latest model has more HP (306 roughly!) and has dropped its weight by 140kg. Pretty neat. Not to mention the fact that each year they get even better looking (though some critics have noted that its front bonnet’s looks are an acquired taste).
But we also understand that not everyone can shell out $120,000 + for a two-seater vehicle. For the average motorist who’s simply after something comfortable and relatively quick, it’s perhaps a bit of a stretch. But again, we want to draw your attention to depreciation on luxury cars, and particularly the fact that the SL (we’d say perhaps a 2008/2009 model) can be picked up for around $30,000! Shut up and take our (my) money!
$60,000
We bet you didn’t think this would be on our list of “cheap” cars eh? Tbh we didn’t either. But here we are. The Maybach 57 and 62 were produced between 2007 and 2012, and were the first models of the Maybach brand to be released since the brand’s revival by DaimlerChrysler AG. Initially built from the concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, the car was in fact based on the Mercedes Benz S-Class sedan. When it was released, it was in fact placed ahead of competitors Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Pretty big deal.
Sadly, these models just didn’t quite turn over the profit that was expected – continued financial losses for Maybach and a 20% sales turnover compared to Rolls Royce signaled the end of the revival. In saying that, these cars are basically palatial when it comes to size and features. They too, however, were victim to depreciating quickly – as such, you can pick up a piece of history for $60,000 – and hey, before you say anything, that’s an absolute steal compared to its initial price tag of $400,000!
$15,000
So the Cadillac SRX was produced between 2004 and 2016 – meaning that yep, it’s gone out of production. Sadness. But also happiness for savvy consumers looking for luxury on a budget! The SRX wasn’t retired because consumers didn’t love it, but actually, because Cadillac wanted to take advantage of a change in naming convention, replacing the SRX with the new model, the XT5. Mystery solved! In saying that, the SRX was priced on the higher end of the spectrum, which made it a bit of a stretch for consumers.
The car itself however was smart and sleek, with stylish features and a solid 265 HP engine. Cruising in a Cadillac. The dream, really. Due to the decision by Cadillac to change the name and update, it made the SRX a heck of a lot cheaper. These days, you can pick one up for just $15,000. That’s a lot of car for a little money.
$31,620
With a name like “Leaf” you better believe that the marketing department at Nissan were seriously having a hard time naming this vehicle. The five-door sedan was named due to its “green”-ness. Sure it may be electric and eco-friendly, but please… for the love of cars… give it a better name. When the Joneses ask what car you’re driving, surely you will wince before saying “we’ve got a leaf.” Just don’t. Despite the ill-named vehicle, it’s been Nissan’s most successful electric car venture. Good for Nissan and all, but in saying this, its resale value is dismal to say the least.
The sheer volume of leased Leaf vehicles doesn’t help with selling one of these cars! This means that if you’re looking to buy and never sell, this could be the car for you! We won’t draw too much attention to the fact that these cars attract over $7,000 in tax credits, but hey, if you want to change from gas to electric, this could be the way to go!