Nice story, although I didn’t read the whole thing; I didn’t read the whole thing because...
A Lexus is a luxury car, with a price that matches.
Anybody buying luxury doesn’t keep the car for too many years, even if the car runs like new. Luxury means status, and status demands having the latest and greatest and most luxurious. An old luxury car, regardless of how greet it still is, is not going to be kept around by those seeking status symbols. Those great old luxury cars would still be good for the used car market, but the older luxury cars, are not going to be bought by the regular folks, since, the repair bills for luxury vehicles is higher than regular vehicles.
Depends on the car. My landlord bought a spotless 1984 Merc 300D for $6,000 CDN. It had under 300,000 km. A week later, he was offered $24K CDN. He turned it down. This was the last year befor M-B started going all high tech and computers in their cars, ie: before they went to shiite.
There’s a whole lot of assumptions in your post that don’t necessarily ring true.
I just got the LC500 and it will be in our family for a long time. One of a very few naturally aspirated big V8 powered sports cars in the (new car) market. Yes, it is cool and it draws a lot of looks. But it is also a fun car to drive and a great car overall (if you don’t mind the annoying track pad for the infotainment system). This is our third Lexus and the long term repair costs aren’t much worse than any other, non-premium brand car. In fact, I’d bet the maintenance is less than on most brands overall.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/the-most-and-least-expensive-cars-to-maintain-by-maddy-martin
Just one source but it is late and I’m feeling lazy.
You can stop by in 10 years to see my car if you want. It will still be with us (God willing) and it will still look as good as new.
No inflated repair bills just the cost of parts. I bought a 03 Acura TL 3 years ago for a thousand dollars with 182,000 for a winter car because it had zero rust being that it was from Texas and Oregon.
As I have my own lift at home I went thru the suspension new struts,end links,wheel hubs and bearings along with new timing belt and pulleys for maybe an additional 1200.00 dollars.
At this point the car has 222,975 miles. two weeks ago I had to make a trip to Chicago and set the cruise at 75 mph and averaged 30.75 miles per gallon and burned zero oil, I don’t see me getting rid of my cheap winter car that’s turned into a daily driver going anywhere soon.
“An old luxury car, regardless of how greet it still is, is not going to be kept around by those seeking status symbols.”
Well now It depends on the owner. My wife’s 98 LS 400 is my secretary’s daily driver with over 200,000 miles. Her current 2011 LS 460 has over 100,000 miles, and my old 2001 AMG 55 has over 200,000 in my daughter’s hands, and I just bought a 99 BMW 750iL with 167,000 miles, just like the original one I had that I sold to a mechanic who worked for me who kept it in his living room until he died.
Some people, like the owner in this story who put the 700,000 miles on the Lexus LS400, like cars and take care of them.
You're giving it too much credit. As I said in 1991, and I stand by today, "It's a nice little car, but...…"
Lexus has just never reached the status of "Luxury Cars" in my mind. Nor has it is sales volume and in broad opinion. Price is not true a measure of luxury, but to a fool.