Luxury Cars are Still Affordable if You Know What to Buy
LARRY PRINTZ | Monday, May 5, 2008 at 12:30 am

NORFOLK, Va. - It seems we're all feeling a little lighter in the wallets these days and even luxury-car buyers are feeling the pinch. But opting for a car or truck with a smaller price tag doesn't mean settling for less.

Give up a prestigious nameplate, along with an option or two, and you'll get a similar automobile without looking like a spendthrift.

Most automakers use the same mechanical components under different brands. Opt for the cheaper alternative and it's like getting the car on sale.

Instead of a Lexus ES 350 ($33,820), buy a Toyota Camry XLE V6 ($28,270).

THE SKINNY: Because they share mechanical components, these cars feel similar. But the ES 350 has several luxury options, such as radar cruise control, that are unavailable on the Camry.

Instead of a Cadillac DTS ($42,620-$50,120), buy a Buick Lucerne V8 ($33,085-$38,630).

THE SKINNY: Skip the V6-powered Buick Lucerne and opt for the V8. You'll get a Cadillac DTS at a Buick price. Performance is identical, as are the major options. But the Buick's cabin is slightly less sumptuous.

Instead of an Acura RL ($46,280-$53,700), buy a Honda Accord EX, EX-L V6 ($25,960-$30,260).

THE SKINNY: While the RL comes with all-wheel drive, the Accord is a front driver. But the larger Honda still feels decadent thanks to voice-activated air conditioning, a sunshade and the navigation system.

Instead of an Audi A6 ($42,9500-$72,350), buy a Volkswagen Passat ($36,050-$38,000).

THE SKINNY: You'll get similar space, build quality and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The A6 offers a V8, which is unavailable on the Passat, but the Passat's V6 has more power.

Instead of a Mercedes-Benz SLK ($44,150-$63,200, buy a Chrysler Crossfire ($34,735-$39,130).

THE SKINNY: The German-built Crossfire is a restyled version of the previous-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. Built as a coupe or convertible, it boasts a Mercedes-Benz drivetrain and interior pieces.

Instead of a Cadillac Escalade ($55,990-$81,595), buy a Chevrolet Tahoe ($34,630-$52,395).

THE SKINNY: Buying a Chevy over the king of bling seems unthinkable, but the Cadillac uses the Chevy's 6.2-liter V8 for power. The Chevy is trimmed like a Chevy but comes with many of the Caddy's options.

Instead of a Lincoln Navigator ($48,745-$54,645), buy a Ford Expedition ($31,345-$46,240).

THE SKINNY: Like the Escalade and Tahoe, the Lincoln Navigator is a dressier version of the Ford Expedition. Some features, such as the V8 engine, aren't available on the Ford, but the most common ones are.

Instead of a Lexus RX 350 ($40,195-$47,995), buy a Hyundai Veracruz ($26,900-$35,750).

THE SKINNY: The Hyundai Veracruz looks and feels so much like a Lexus, albeit a cheaper one, that Hyundai should fork over royalties. The Veracruz has Lexus' seamless, isolated feel and bland, yet modern, styling.

 

$82k for a upper tier Escalade?!?!? Holy CRAP.

 

Yep, I cross shopped the RL and the Accord EX-L V6.

Granted, the overall quality of material is higher in the RL but you're talking about close to $14K OTD difference. In my world $14K is a whole lot of money...

 

[QUOTE= Granted, the overall quality of material is higher in the RL but you're talking about close to $14K OTD difference. /QUOTE]

The same logic applies ... Granted the Accord EX has more power and comes better equipped, you can save $8-10k if you buy a Civic-EX-L.

 

Great point. Where does it stop? One can save even more and buy a tricked-out Fit.

OK, I'm really justifying my RL purchase here.

 

However, if I'm not mistaken (I could be wrong), the Civic interior and exterior are smaller than the Accord. Whereas the Accord is the same size, if not larger interior/exterior compared to the RL. Hence, the reason for cross shopping the Accord to the RL.

At least in my mind, I'd never cross shop the Civic with the Accord as they are in 2 different size categories.

 

Ah, but I bet folks cross shop the Civic with the Fit......

 

The new accord is growing on me but I wouldnt give up my RL for one.

 

What he said

 

At least in my mind, I'd never cross shop the Civic with the Accord as they are in 2 different size categories.[/QUOTE]
The RL is in a different catagory irrelevant of size. A Maserati Quattroporte is about the same size too but not too many cross-shoppers there either.
Conclusion: Size isn't everything!

 

I'm in a quandary. For Me, it's getting harder to justify getting an RL. The mpg and price of gas is one factor, but more than that - do I really want to give more and more money to the gas companies and their supplier countries by getting a car that gets lower mpg than I do now.

I've been reading about what many ingenious people are doing with the Honda Insight, boosting the 60-70 mpg stock to over 100mpg. Creating mods that bring that car closer to a true electric car. I'm impressed not so much by the numbers but the time and effort ordinary people are taking to combat the imported oil problem and come up with their own solutions.

For the same reasons I never even considered buying an SUV or truck, to me seemed too wasteful. I've always been attracted to Honda/Acura because they seemed smarter and more efficient. But now I have a harder time considering any car that can't at least get 30mpg on the highway.

I know it's just pennies but I see the oil problem as bigger than that. I know most US drivers don't care and love their big cars and SUVs. The RL is a beautiful machine with amazing technology, but Honda engineers need to be staying up late nights figuring out useable solutions to less imported oil. Just my personal thoughts as of now.

 

No doubt the RL's fuel economy is pretty lousy. Its not like the car hauls like mad from starts either so the fuel economy ought to be better (in other words, performance isnt so spirited as to justify low MPG numbers). I've put 14k on my car so far and average about 17.9 in mixed drving and 21.9 on long highway rides, and thats with light acceleration. The car ought to be getting 24-25 on highways but its heavy at nearly 4100 lbs. so I dont think that would be possible without a 'grandma's touch' on the accelarator all the time.

 

I know Honda, has the smarts to offer some real creative useable alternatives, but they are a profit comapny and until buyers demand more, and unfortunatley the govt demands more, companies will do what is economically sound for the bottom line.

Reading about the Honda Insight and how truly ground breaking that car was for it's time, besides the hybrid aspect, (aluminum body, very low drag coefficient and weight) it's amazing what Honda could do., but will people buy it?
Oil at $120/gal will hopefully make more options viable.

 

So it depends on your preferences for buying an Accord EXL V6 (w/ NAV) or RL (w/ NAV -> get tech package I presume). Passenger area, yes Accord feels bigger than RL. The same w/ trunk. But the luxury of both cars are in different class. Yes, I say that Acura needs to improve the mileage of their products, not only the torque of their engines.

 

The materials are better and you're getting SH-AWD. Whether or not you decide the performance benefits are worth it is one thing, but that does factor into the cost differential.

There are other features that you get in the RL (e.g. adaptive headlights) that you may decide aren't a major factor, but they do exist and go into the cost of the car.

 

Also to compare the gas mileage of a car that has to power 4 wheels as opposed to only two is comparing apples to oranges.

Yes the RL is heavier and it's powering two more wheels. Of course it's not going to get the same gas mileage.

 

Some of these might be right on like the ES and the Camry but an RX is not a Veracruz. I always love these 'bargin' articles and the people who come in believing this stuff. So what if the cheaper car doesn't have stability control or the head curtain airbags are optional or maybe just more steel was used instead of ultra-high strength steel... it all looks the same, right?

Not really sure how this is germane to the RL, however.

 

The way the RL is selling, the discounts get it pretty close to a decked out Accord if you bought the Base RL. With the Accord being such a good seller I doubt the discounts would be as deep. I'm thinking $8-9K instead of $14K.

 

When I was deciding between the RL, G, M, Accord, I could get the RL Tech before tax roughly $42.5K (with the $2500 incentive). Now with the $4K incentive, it would be roughly $41K or a bit less, add tax, I'd be at roughly $45K The non tech would be about $38 to $38.5K, before tax, add tax, I'd be at roughly $42K. I'm pretty sure that Accord EX-L V6 would be OTD at roughly $30-31. The Accord EX-L Navi V6 OTD would be roughly $32-$33K

So, the $8-9K difference is possible, if you can find a base RL, which is rare right now. The 2 dealers closest to me have 1 Tech left between the 2 of them.

 

Agreed. The RL is in a different category. However, to many people who look at the RL, it is just a large Honda Accord (at least when compared to the previous gen Accord.

I know the RL is a great car. If you asked me would I buy a RL or an Accord, hands down the RL..

 

If you needed a car that isn't as technologially laden as the RL, the accord would be perfect, but for the 14K more, you get a lot:
Better warranty
Better Interior Materials
Better exterior and Interior
SH-AWD
Rear Sunshade
Being Unique
Active Front Lighting
XM Nav Weather
CMBS/PAX option (also active cruise control)
Symbolism (accord<RL)

I would personally spend the 14K just for the SH-AWD and the better interior, the RL has an interior light years ahead of the accord, it is much more elegant than the accord's large buttoned, wide stack.

Symbolism is present in today's society, you can clearly see the difference between the connotation of driving a Camry vs. a lexus, or driving an VW vs. an audi. My favorite in there, drive a crossfire instead of a benz.

 

Yes, but the new Accord looks like and RL, plus the general public doesn't really respect the Acura brand. Therefore, "symbolism" doesn't mean that much in this case.

I wonder why the article didn't mention the Toyota Avalon and the Lexus ES? Biased!

 

while you and I actively would compare the es350 to the Toyota Avalon, the "experts" don't because the Avalon is much larger than the es350. size wise, the mentioned Camry is more of a direct comparison. The Avalon, which my wife has, does have the largest back seat leg room of any car in its class

 

+1. Well said. (Accord is very an excellent car but I go with RL).

 

If you think that an Accord looks like an RL and that Acura is not respected then maybe Kia has your car. Do you also mistake a Hummer for a Tahoe?

 

Very few will also recognize, while similar in size and engine, the structure of the RL is far above the Accord. The amount of aluminum in structural components as well as body panels. The underside surfaces and details are very underappreciated. This engineering has costs, as does SHAWD. But most consumers are simply listing & comparing accessories.

As much as I find our RL a beautiful vehicle, the true beauty of the RL is beneath the skin.

You can put an Accord skin on a KIA platform, and many would still consider it a cheaper RL alternative.