DL, next month I begin saving for my next “forever” car.

Welp, I guess no one here owns a Lexus, & if they do, have zero suggestions.

When I purchased an Audi, 20 years ago, I took the time to learn absolutely everything about Audis, particularly mine, & how it ran. It saved me thousands when the car was out of warranty, & I suppose I’ll have to do the same now, when doing pre-purchase research for my future Lexus.

I actually enjoy mechanics of vehicles, so NBD.

Zzzzz

You should be able to find one easily with low miles. They’re usually owned by elderly women who only drive to church and the doctor’s office.

Funny you should say that, R3, since that’s exactly what I will be doing- driving to the doctor, or more specifically, having someone drive me to a diagnostic appointment, in order to find out what’s going on with my left boob. I’m just grateful AF to have comprehensive health insurance that covers these VERY expensive tests, though my OBGYN made it clear that I don’t qualify for BRAC diagnostic testing, even though my father’s side of the family have at minimum 2 aunts & a grandmother who died from breast cancer.

Fortunately, the women on my mom’s side of the family have zero history with it, & have all lived into their 90s. Hopefully? I will, as well.

Please consider not putting women down, for wanting a reliable car. Everything becomes increasingly unreliable & scary, as we age, & it’s REALLY important that both men & women who are of moral fiber & substance, to support one another in ALL areas & aspects of life, because one day you too, will understand that regardless of your own personal successes or failures, YOU TOO, will inevitably become invisible, once you start aging into your elder years, as each & everyone of us does, when ironically, becoming an elder is when we ALL need the most support.

I want a decent & reliable car not just because I must get to doctors’ appointments, but also because I’m older, hence realize that reliability trumps almost all things considered.

I'm looking for a used car and EVERYBODY has nothing but good things to say about Lexus. Not only owners but mechanics. And none of these mechanics has of yet been elderly ladies who only go to church and doctors' offices.

I've read that hybrids are hard on the engine. An advantage is they charge themselves so no looking for where you can charge your car and spending a lot of time waiting

Not sure about miles but they seem to last a long time. The fewer miles the more expensive obviously.

Thanks so much for your constructive input, R5! ❤️

The Lexus ES is a great car. My mom had one, and it was pretty solid.

I would look for one with around 20k miles. They shouldn't be hard to find.

A hybrid will save you money if you mostly do "city driving". I had to consider buying a car a couple years ago and I was looking at Consumer Reports, Car & Driver, and for more entertaining takes, Jalopnik. I grew up around car people and do care about the mechanicals. I don't own a car, so I stay current also through rentals. I would look at the ease of getting up to speed on all the "safety" features which sometimes make you less safe---like the sensors that keep in your lane but often have no idea what to do in construction zones or tunnels. You also want to get an idea of how easily you can manage the bluetooth, the sound system and other things that can be controlled visually. At this late date, all of that can be problematic in terms of lay out and whether bluetooth or the other connectivity work reliably.

For Lexus look for a CPO car, their warranties are gold. Be sure to get an acutal Lexus and not any of the ones with engines by mistubishi or another maker. Are you looking for an SUV or car? I have an LS400 that is 17 years old and runs like brand new. Never had one issue. Not one issue other than iol changes , brakes and tires.

I had a Lexus Rx300 for 21 years. Very solid.

I'm thinking of a plug-in hybrid for my next car -- maybe the Lexus SUV version. No range anxiety and I would be able to use electric-only for 90% of my daily driving. And you can charge with a regular household outlet.

I’ve had my RX 350 SUV for years - never broken down, no major issues. Lexus builds insanely reliable cars. Plus, they don’t do drastic redesigns, just subtle tweaks, so mine still looks current. It doesn’t scream *old car*, which is great. Says a lot about the design when something that old still fits right in without needing constant updates.

Some info for OP.

A friend of mine bought a used highish mileage hybrid Lexus and is extremely happy with it. Toyota reliability but with nicer materials, features and better build quality. Probably one of the best choices OP can make

I just can't get excited about the idea of buying a used car.

I started driving late in life -- at age 39! -- and I have only ever owned two cars. But I came out of the gate HOT with an SRT 392 Challenger and then after a few years I moved onto an Audi RS 5.

Both came with less than 10 miles on it.

I might buy my kid a used car but I would never get one myself. What's the fun in New Car Day when it isn't a new car?

R1 wow. Nobody here owes you anything precious.

R15: Does it have to be new to be "exciting". For a lot of people "new to me" is enough. Part of the conventional wisdom in retirement planning is to buy used---esp. these days, the odds of getting a lemon are much lower than they once were and you're saving the depreciation. From a very utilitarian perspective it makes no sense to buy something that depreciates 20% the moment you drive it off the lot.

R17 is right, I usually buy cars at around 12-15 years old, and hang on to them long enough they become classics. Both my cars are now appreciating, not depreciating!

If you're going for 2019 and above (w/low mileage) look for an Ultra Luxury trim level. This has all the bells & whistles (Pano Roof, Mark Levinson Sound, Semi-aniline leather, etc.) and I'd recommend the ES350 w/V6. It's been noted that the ES350 gets in the low mpg 30's w/V6 on the highway and the smoothness and refinement befits a luxury car. I have a 2011 Toyota Venza (no Lexus for sure) but the V6 is ultra smooth and refined so the Lexus you choose will be even more so.

I bought a new Lexus ES300 way back in 2002 - the styling was boring but the interior materials & fit/finish were impeccable and it was like driving a super smooth, quiet bowl of Cool Whip. Sold it four years later due to moving to a rural area. Unfortunately, that can't be said for Lexus now. They have decontented their products over the years and that 'Lexus feeling' is not so special although they do provide well built reliable transportation if properly maintained.

If you’re only going to be driving as little as you say in R4, you’d be better off getting a Camry or Honda Accord. They’re just as nice and drive just as well. Plus less expensive, more efficient, cheaper maintenance, and just as reliable. A Lexus seems like overkill for your driving requirements.

Look at the Toyota Avalon too, OP. It is similar mechanically to the Lexus but a bit bigger, and cheaper.

Don't spend the extra money for a Lexus. Get a new Toyota Camry or Honda Accord hybrid. Both of those cars cost less to buy, and less to maintain/repair.

On You Tube earlier this week, I saw a video about the 12 models of vehicles with the LEAST amount of inventory sitting on dealer lots.

8 of the 12 were either Toyota or Lexus:

Toyota Sienna Toyota Highlander Toyota RAV 4 Toyota Camry Toyota Corolla Cross Lexus NX/NX Hybrid Lexus RX Lexus 700H

Needless to say, all of these models are the best or near the best in their respective classes.

Oddly enough, there were no Ford or Stellantis vehicles on the list, and especially noteworthy was the fact that there were no totally electric vehicles on the list.

Honda, not Toyota. Better handling cars.

If this is your 'forever car', don’t hold back, go for the luxury trim. Get the Lexus. You won’t regret it.

I need another car but I’m paralyzed with indecision. It is incredible to me that used cars with close to 200,000 miles are priced in the thousands, and any used car with less than a 130,000 is called low mileage.

r11 if 90% of your driving you can recharge overnight with a household outlet, you can get an electric. Mine gets 360 miles on a charge, my husband's CIE Honds SUV gets about 400- The cost to fill is much less on electric , even if we have to wait an extra 20 mins.

OP, I had to get a replacement car 2 or 3 years ago and did quite a bit of research. I wanted an SUV with fairly high clearance and to be my forever car. For reliability, comfort, and safety, I narrowed it down to Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, and and Honda. Visibility was for me best with the Subaru Forrester. This was during COVID, when used cars were going for about the same price as new ones. Although comfy, Acura was eliminated due to quality issues, as were all German cars. Lexus was the most quiet and comfortable, but was $10K more than the loaded Subaru I ended up with.

Turns out engine noise from the Subaru is loud, and it handles like a pickup truck. The 4WD and high clearance are great for getting to and from the long, unpaved road to my house. I paid cash for the car. Would have had to have taken out a loan for the Lexus, but now I regret not doing that. Even in city driving, the ride is bumpy on my old ass.

Enjoy your new Lexus. Wishing you the best outcome for your cancer treatments!

It would be so ironic if OP crashed and died on his way from the car dealership that same day.

R26, I'm the same. I need a new car and would like to get one off the lot before the tariffs come in, but in researching cars, I'm also paralyzed with indecision, because EVERY car has something wrong with it.

I've had Subaru Foresters as rentals--very disappointing given the positive road test reviews and the owner loyalty---noisy, uncomfortable ride, disappointing gas milesage, and the handling is only so-so. Inside it seemed like a car from 20 years ago, but not in a good way.

Subaru has been coasting by on owner loyalty for decades now. They were once the only game in town for AWD vehicles that weren’t trucks, and they were pretty reliable. Owners liked them and kept buying, even though most competitors make far better vehicles now.

I have found in my research that Subarus and also Jeeps are either "the greatest cars ever, and this is our family's 16th one" or "they've been in the shop a lot", and not a lot of in between.

[Quote] It would be so ironic if OP crashed and died on his way from the car dealership that same day.

It would be ironic if it happened to OP. It would be joyful if it happened to you.

Does it come with a weekend with the handsome sales guy?

Well, Subaru Is dog-tested and dog-approved. They probably don’t care about noise and smooth riding.

Subarus were early adopters of the full line of safety features, which is the main reason I bought one (2018 Outback.)

There is no such thing as a used “forever” car. It’s already been owned by someone else! Forever does not include other owners.

Maybe it's a rescue car.

R98 That's bullshit

By that logic, a "forever" home"would have to be a brand new house that no one has ever lived in before.

Oops, the above was for *R38

Subarus are homely looking. All function, zero style.

In Lake Forest, that’s called a starter vehicle.

I'm indecisive. But watching Scotty and talking to mechanics, anybody else watch Scotty?, it always comes down to Lexus, Honda and Toyota. As beautiful as the German cars are they all say they drive beautifully until they don't and then they turn into expensive headaches. I've always heard Germans are so efficient yet pros say stay away as regards cars. Strange.

The Gernan cars have to be maintained meticulously. Use top-tier fuel and do the maintenance on schedule when it's due. And yes, parts and service for a BMW are going to be more expensive than a Honda or Acura. But German cars will last if they're taken care of.

On a Honda or Toyota, if you skip a few oil changes it will still run just fine.

R45 is correct.

I own a 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen, with 177,000 miles on the odometer, and besides the usual maintenance needs like tires/brakes/batteries, the car has been reliable. My mechanic (and with a German car out of warranty, it is imperative to find a mechanic who specializes in European cars) says there are 3 reasons the car has been trouble-free: the engine isn’t turbocharged; I follow the maintenance schedule; and it’s driven regularly at highway speeds.

You cannot treat a European car the same way you treat a Honda.

r44 Scotty is a rabid MAGA. I avoid him. OP if you want a real forever car get an EV. Almost no parts to wear down. All you pay for are brakes and tires.

R47 - not just that Scotty is a MAGA(t) but he screams/yells at the beginning of each of his videos and throughout. He has a very abrasive persona and whatever he has to say is available from other sources in a more balanced presentation. The Car Care Nut is a good reference should one need some info about specific vehicles or Vehicle Care in general.

I have a friend that swears by Subaru - he's had numerous Outbacks since I've known him over 20 years. His current one is a 2021 Outback Touring. It is a nice car in general but it's not something I would choose. Now most Subaru's look like an old hiking boot with all the hideous black cladding and most of their interiors are BLACK with a bit of color here and there. As someone noted up thread, AWD is available on most vehicles today (which was Subaru's draw in the past). My Honda Ridgeline has i-VTM4 (Intelligent Variable Torque Management) AWD mated to a 9-speed transmission - not a CVT like Subaru's. Honda's AWD system is highly regarded in the industry as is Subaru's. They have their attributes and are popular but there are other choices depending on your transportation needs/wants. Budget is a key factor in what most people choose when shopping for a vehicle as well.

I realize they're economical but I just don't quite get the point of a hybrid - why have a car that's loaded down with two different energy systems? Just choose one or the other. (Unlike you make a lot of long road trips I'd say get an electric.)

Hybrids come with no concern about range. You don't have to worry about finding charging stations in rural areas or stations that worked in more built up places. And the gas mileage is superior, esp. in town, compared with normal combustion engines.

[quote]I realize they're economical but I just don't quite get the point of a hybrid - why have a car that's loaded down with two different energy systems? Just choose one or the other.

Hybrids drive and fuel up just like a regular vehicle, they just get much better gas mileage. Also, there’s less wear on the engine, because the engine is only running about half the time you’re driving. Stop and go city driving is hardest on an engine, and a hybrid’s engine isn’t running in those situations. Also the brakes need replaced less often, due to regenerative braking which charges the battery.

I watch most of the Youtube reviews on cars by the guys from Throttle House. I would also like James to be inside me quite deeply.

I've never heard Scotty discuss his politics on his vlog. And yes he's got his schtick. But I enjoy what he says about cars and it lines up with what a lot of people say.

R4- Since I was 25 years old and I bought my first Honda Accord reliability has been THE most important aspect of the car I was buying.

I currently drive a 2017 Toyota Camry LE . It’s 8 years old and I’ve had ZERO repairs .

R47- I don’t like him because most if not all of his videos are CLICKBAIT.

Consumer Reports is the only reliable source for information about reliability and road test scores of cars.

R31-I have a friend who owns a 2024 Subaru Forester premium .He drives about 1000 miles a week and he says the car has a very comfortable ride. It has 58,000 miles already and he said no mechanical issues whatsoever.

[quote]DL, next month I begin saving for my next “forever” cat.

This is all the DL wants to see.

R44 - I like Scotty as well. I watch him for car info, I don't care about his politics.