Well friends, the time has finally come to buy a new car. After buying eight cars in the first ten years after getting out of college thanks to my previous car, I now cringe at the idea. I just want to drive a car all the time to save time, hassle and money.
However, my 2015 Range Rover Sport, which I purchased in December 2016 with only 10,600 miles, is starting to have a problem. Yes, yes, I know. Land Rovers are notorious for maintenance issues. But at least I had a good nine-year tenure, right? I think so too.
The average monthly cost of buying a car, including all repairs, comes to about $555. It seems reasonable for what it is and how much I’ve enjoyed driving it. I don’t regret spending $60,000 after taxes on a car nine years ago. So a part of me wants to have another luxury car for the next 10 years.
Changing cars every 10 years is my ideal ownership cycle. With continued improvements in security and technology, the decade feels just right.
latest problem with my car
The next day the check engine light came on again. It cost me $600 to replace the oxygen sensor and oil gasket. There were clearly drops of oil dripping on my path.
At the same time, I started getting “battery low” warnings every other day. Huh? After eight years of use, I spent ~$500 replacing the main battery in 2024. It should easily last at least five more years.
So I drove the car around in hopes of recharging it. Then, one morning, just before I took my kids to Daddy Day Camp for tennis and swimming, I got the most ominous message ever:
“Warning, system will shut down in 1 minute.”
WTF?
Instead of backing out of the driveway and risking a shutdown on the road, I just sat there for a few minutes. Nothing happened. But the warning shocked me. I felt like I was on a rocket ship, ready to blast off.
Total cost to fix so far: $1,115
When I took the car back to my local mechanic, he discovered that the small auxiliary battery was dead. This is the battery that controls the auto start-stop function, door sensors, trunk, and other electrical components.
I was angry that in 2024 I specifically told them that there were Two Batteries to replace. He said he only found one. Ah, the downside of saving money and not having to go to a Land Rover specialist. But boy, does the dealership charge a premium. Moreover, the shop was not at a walkable distance from home.
In total, I spent $1,115 replacing the auxiliary battery and fixing the oxygen sensor and oil gasket. Completely manageable, if these were the only problems in the last 1 year and 10 months since I last visited the ship. Unfortunately, another potential issue remains: EVAP air leak.
to fix or not to fix
The mechanic said he was not certain that replacing the oil gasket completely resolved the leak, as oil was visible both at the top and bottom of the engine. He advised to drive for a month and come back for a free checkup. If oil is still leaking, I will need a specialist to remove the transmission or something similar. Labor alone: over $3,000.
And if oil was still leaking at that point, they advised No Spending an additional $1,000+ to fix an EVAP leak. At that level I might have to commit $5,000 to a ten-year-old car worth less than $20,000.
I could easily drive the car for another year with a small oil leak and EVAP air leak, but that’s not ideal. After all, I have to pass smog inspection in two years, and if the EVAP leak isn’t fixed, the car won’t pass.
care less about luxury or ostentation in a car
As a father now my first priority is safety. Reliability is part of security. I once had a classic 1989 BMW 635 CSi that completely stalled out as soon as I pulled into a Best Buy parking lot. Brakes, electrical, engine – everything went out at once. Never again.
Since I value my time more than anything these days, I want the most reliable car. My mechanic is nearby, so I leave the car after dropping the kids at school and go home. But doing this year after year is getting old. It has been three consecutive years, something remains to be corrected.
After reliability and security, Then I will look at the performance and looks. I bought a Range Rover Sport in 2016 because it looked great and could drive to Tahoe in the winter without chainsaws. But now perhaps the time has come to say goodbye.
Although I think the new Range Rover Sports are beautiful and come with a 4-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, spending $110,000 for this model seems serious as a dual unemployed parent.
If one of us works in big tech and makes more than $1 million per year or works at a popular AI startup like OpenAI, spending six figures on a car might seem reasonable. But for us, we have to sell some treasury bonds to afford it. Under my 1/10th rule for buying cars our cash flow doesn’t allow for such a purchase, and I’m determined to follow my own financial freedom rules.
Most reliable cars: Toyota, Honda and Tesla
Research shows that the most reliable brands are Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura and Tesla. European cars look great, but they eat up your wallet.
And Tesla has the best EV technology and lowest maintenance because it has less parts and no fluids. Full self-driving is attractive, however if you need the model
The downside is that Tesla designs tend to last a long time and need refreshing. Additionally, the $7,500 instant EV credit disappears at the end of October 2025. The good news is that Tesla is offering incentives: a $6,500 credit on leases and a free $2,000 upgrade.
Funny thing? I already have a Tesla fast charger installed at home. Additionally, I have over 21 solar panels installed on the roof. Charging will often be free during the day.
So the most obvious replacement for my 2015 Range Rover Sport appears to be the Tesla Model Y at around $48,000. A three-year lease with zero down is about $650 per month. What do you think? It would feel great to use more features of your home.
we also like honda
Since I don’t care about luxury European cars anymore, Toyota and Honda are looking attractive again. I had a Honda Civic in 2002-2003 and loved it. But as a 25-year-old finance worker in San Francisco, I finally wanted something nice, so I upgraded to a BMW M3 and later a Land Rover Discovery II.
Wow, today’s Honda Civic looks great. The Civic Sport is priced at around $28,000, which is around $31,000 before taxes and fees. That sounds steep for a Civic, but these cars are incredibly reliable. My only concern? Security. A small car may not survive a collision as well.
That’s why I’m also eyeing the Honda CR-V Sport. Clean design, roomy interior, AWD for Tahoe trips, about $38,000. Not bad, but the interior feels cheap compared to my Range Rover.
Toyota could be the winner
Then I looked at the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Lexus GX 550, which is basically a more luxurious Land Cruiser at a few thousand dollars more. Pre-tax prices run from $72,000-$80,000, which seems steep. Perhaps the better-sized car is the Toyota 4-Runner, which costs about $51,000.
The Civic and CR-V Sport are affordable and reliable, and they don’t look that different. With my Range Rover Sport, in the early years I sometimes felt a little embarrassed because of the attention it attracted. Now, ten years later, I don’t feel that way at all. In fact, it’s cheaper than many of the new Civics, Corollas, Camrys and Accords.
So many incentives at the end of the year, so little desire to buy
The interesting thing is that I can easily negotiate a lower price from any dealer, especially at the end of the year. But I don’t feel the same thrill I did in my 20s when I bought and sold cars for fun.
Honestly, I just want to pay another $1,300 to fix the EVAP leak and have the Range Rover run smoothly for two more years. The car only has 66,500 miles. My kids can break the seats as much as they want. The sound of the door? Good. Scratches? No problem.
There is something peaceful about driving an old car where you don’t have to worry about damage. But I’m not sure the Range Rover’s problems will go away. I have already replaced the vacuum pump, water pump, PCV valve, both batteries, oil gasket, oxygen sensor and more. And yet new issues emerged.
help me decide my next car
Pretend you’re me: a 48-year-old father of two young children in San Francisco. You care most about security and reliability. Annual mileage driven is approximately 6,500. You are unemployed and blowing the basic economy. But after 26 years of saving and investing you have about $360,000 a year in passive income that covers almost all of your after-tax living expenses. Finally, you can purchase or lease one through your small business.
Which car will you buy or lease?
- Stick to an economy or midsize vehicle? Model Y, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota 4-Runner
- YOLO and get a luxury car again? Range Rover Sport, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus GX 550, Rivian RS1
- Or just keep fixing up the 2015 Range Rover at $1,100-$3,000 a year, hope it doesn’t break, and drive it into the ground?
My original goal was to keep the car until my son learns to drive at age 15 in 2031. If he runs it, no big deal. But I doubt the car will last that long without expensive repairs. And if we move to Hawaii in 2029, I’d hate to spend so much on a car only to sell it too soon.
Please share what you run and what you recommend. What kind of car do you drive, how much does it cost and is it reliable? Thank you!
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