Cars that make you LOOK rich, even if you arent :).

Don't forget older BMWs. German cars depreciate like crazy.

 

Are you limiting yourself to used cars?

I don't think the old Benzes make sense anymore unless you go back the early '70s or prior. Values are dirt cheap and everyone knows it.

Old Porsche 911s still have a glow to them - like you're driving a classic instead of a used car. Or the old 912, the ultimate looks-like-money-but-isn't ride.

Old Range Rovers are always classy, if you're mechanically inclined or like to visit the LR shop.

 

You might find an old Lotus Esprit around. They've depreciated like little Titanics. Neat cars, though. Had one 15 years ago.

CW

 

The Bently Turbo S will set you back $30K. Get the right big Benz however, with the right colors and a great wax. Now you'll look rich, or at least smart, for a song. As always, buy the best you can.

 

This one seems like such a gimme......

FERRARI 308


As for the old MBs, snooty jewelers will know an older model, but much of the general public will see a good looking 10+ year old MB and not know it's age nor it's depreciation. At least that was my experience.

 

The drivetrain is very reliable.

The W140 is IMO the best MB S-class they made. But they're not inexpensive to maintain. I've had S500/S600 new and used and while they're utterly fantastic on the road, they see their fair share of shop time. Wiring harnesses, window regulators, etc... If the A/C doesn't work, it's likely the evaporator(known and COMMON problem) so figure $5000 at an independent or $8500 at a MB franchise store. Most of the under $12,000 W140's you see for sale need another $12,000 in work to bring them up to snuff...and no, I'm not talking concours....just reliable running condition where everything works as it should.

Most non-car people seem to equate just about any MB with $50,000 so I'd take a stab at an older E.

 

The older Benz are probably built better than a new one anyway, so I'd go for one of those. Most 'non-car' people can't tell the difference, they see a BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. and some automatically assume you spent $50k+ on the car.

This is a common line I get with my 7 YEAR OLD Bimmer with 89k miles that cost me $12k:
"Wow nice BEE-mur you must be makin' lots of money" , as they get out of their $40k pickup truck/SUV


Another one I hear from people like 944 and 8-series owners is people asking them if it's the newest model out.

 

I bought a 1987 240D about 5 years ago for ~$2800.

I caught a lot of crap for driving it, "eewwww you're over charging" etc.

 

Don't forget the 10yo Jaguar XJ's and Used S-Types. In my experience people either think the XJ's are 20yo or brand new and they always seem to think the S-Types are brand new (Jaguar always means expensive); add some gray hair and you would look like a million bucks! OR you could just buy used base model Dodge Magnum in black with tinted windows, put some obnoxious chrome rims from Les Schwab and ta-da your a rich rapper. It is pretty easy to mislead car-oblivious people.

 

My 1999 C5 Corvette Convertible I just sold for $20k... most people thought that was worth WAY more than that. I know a lot of people on here don't like Vette's but the styling on that car is classic.

I now have a Porsche Cayenne S SUV, and even though it costs almost 3 times what I sold the Vette for, many of my friends (that don't know cars) think I traded down.

 

haha the 7 series has to be the best, i picked one up for $12K a few years back, NOBODY thought i was telling the truth about how much it cost. and i never got so many "bad looks" in a car than that... people hated me in that car, i felt like a lawyer or something, only i was so lazy college student ha! it was however a great way to get out of trouble, seems like cops would never pull me over in it... could never figure that one out. same goes for any benz. people were convinced that the E500/500E cost something like $80-90K, this one girl who had a brand new passat(over $30K i think??) would not stop giving me **** for it, it "only" cost $18K for the benz... same with my first car it was an old school W126 300SEL, that i couldnt give that car away it was in such bad condition, but everyone thought it was crazy that i drove a mercedes, which in fact had a radio/system worth more than the car

i love it though, it always blows peoples minds when i tell them how "cheap" so and so car is, in fact the most expensive car my family has is a toyota 4 runner that my dad drives, and it is the worst car we have, i HATE that car

 

It won't do much good. A friend of mine had one of his neighbors make a comment about one of his trucks that was
parked WAY out back, totally out of view from the street and blocked by a fence. His neighbor had seen the trucks on GOOGLE EARTH!!! Spy satellites are everybody's tool these days!

 

I would have to say my 348.
It makes me look rich, but I can tell you now that I am a long way away from being rich. I have no money at all. Just a Ferrari that makes people think that I have money. Everyone seems to think that my Ferrari is worth a fortune too. I need money!!

 

Highly modified Supras.

Especially the MK4's with the bodykits and exhaust, those can get you the thinking.

 

I would say Vipers are close to the top of the list... you can get one in good shape for under $40 and most people think its new and well over $100k.

 

You can find a good NSX for around 30K or so.

 

I like Supras and know that they can be pricey with mods but in no way do I think the general public associates them with 'money'.

 

Viper Yellow 944 - people think I'm loaded with money when they see it. Definitely funny when most of the car's out there cost more than mine.
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Somewhere a Honda Civic is without a muffler........LOL !!!!!!

 

The previous generation Lexus LS 430. Reliable, quiet, and for whatever reason, people still think you're rich, even though they're in the $25K range. Previous generation BMW 7, too. Heck, you could probably work a deal in the low 20's for the current 745, but I'd make sure I'd get the extended warranty. The Jag is a good bet for this, too. People associate them with money, even though they depreciate like crazy. Don't forget the Escalade, with some 22's and preferably black.

 

2 friends are looking for a car. 1 goes with the brand new top of the line mercedes, and the other goes with an older rolls-royce. 1 year passes, the first has last year's benz while the other still has a rolls royce.

however, you can't really go wrong with a benz/porsche/bentley/roller, imo.

 

Just please, under ANY circumstances, don't EVER, buy another mini-van.....