My first car in high school was a 1986 Chevy Spectrum that was handed
down to me from my mom. It was maroon
with black plastic bumpers, maroon cloth interior (dash, carpet, steering
wheel, and all), and sported a little 4 banger making about 80 bHP. My favorite part about that car was that it
was a manual transmission… but that’s all!
Oh, and did I mention it didn't have power steering, ABS, power windows
or even a radio! I was lucky enough that
it had a seat belt.
I am fortunate that I've come a long way since my first car nearly 24
years ago. I just turned 40 this weekend
and have been blessed in many ways; from beautiful healthy children to a great
career that affords me the opportunity to do things I enjoy. I’m also blessed with great friends…. that
afford me the opportunity to kick the tires of some really kick-ass cars! For example, last week the guys at eCarOne
gave me access to a car that I have always wanted to drive but never really
thought about owning. For a full week, I
had the chance to daily drive a 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE. This car had it all… it was finished in a
beautiful combination of metallic black exterior with ivory interior, had the
luxury package, rear DVD, and a bunch of other bells and whistles that no Range
Rover would be complete without.
The reason I say that I have always wanted to drive it but never
thought about owning it is in itself a statement that needs some further
elaboration. You see, to me and perhaps
to many others, a Land Rover is not exactly a value proposition. In general, late model Land Rovers (Range
Rover and other models) are expensive relative to their competitors (Mercedes,
BMW, Lexus) and in terms of value, they do not offer all the luxury
appointments for the same price point.
You may say “So what, who cares about value… it’s a Land Rover.” Your statement would be correct, but remember
this is an SUV we’re talking about. In
the SUV segment, most buyers are seeking good value. This is not a sports car or a weekend toy… it’s
a Utility vehicle and oftentimes value is high on the priority list for SUV
buyers.
With that said…. The whole value proposition changes when you look at
slightly used Range Rovers. In just
three years, this car has depreciated about 50% of its original purchase
price. As eCarOne is offering this car
at about $50k, now it makes much more sense to buy it if you are looking for
value.
On the other hand, if you drive this car, you will not be thinking
about value while you’re smiling from ear to ear at how this car makes you feel
while you’re behind the wheel. I absolutely
loved driving this car. This really is
no comparison to any other driving experience.
I can say that with all due honesty because I truly do not place value
high on my priority list when it comes to cars.
I would much rather enjoy my car in every way than worry about resale
value or bang for the buck. A car to me
is not an investment… it’s a cost and for me it’s an important part of my day
and of my overall life experience.
Hence, I don’t seek value when I’m purchasing a car as I do when I’m
evaluating a possible financial investment.
Case in point, I purchased a 2014 Maserati new just five months
ago. Now, less than 4,000 miles later
that car is probably worth $15k less than I paid for it. Many folks out there would call me crazy… so
be it but is it crazy to spend $100 on a bottle of wine or $200 on dinner or $500
on a pair of Lakers tickets? How long do
any of those experiences last? To each
his own, right?
Now, let’s get back to the Range Rover.
I already briefly stated that I loved it, but let me elaborate. In comparison to my Maserati Ghibli, the
Range Rover Sport does not offer the most bang for your buck when compared to
its competitors. For what I paid for the
Ghibli, I could have purchased a much more powerful AMG E63, a BMW M5, or even
a Porsche Panamera 4S. However, none of
those cars would have given me the overall experience of owning and driving an
Italian luxury sports sedan with such a rich history linked to none other than
Ferrari. By the same token, the Range
Rover is a great car for the same money, you could buy a fully optioned out BMW
X5 5.0 that is much faster, has more bells and whistles and much for suited for
daily street driving than the Rover.
However, you would not be driving a piece of history and an iconic off
road vehicle. Land Rover only makes SUVs
and makes them better than anyone else out there. Land Rovers are internationally recognized as
the crème de la crème of SUVs; at home in the African jungle as well as
escorting European royalty to the most prestigious events.
I’m not going to go into much detail about this car. I don’t need to. If you want value and bang for your buck, then you can’t go wrong with a Lexus GX460 but if you want the pure enjoyment of driving an SUV that makes you feel like royalty, then take this car for a test drive and you’ll understand what I mean.
Thanks for reading and happy driving.
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