Did the person ask about BMW ? If they didn’t then just stop making things more complicated . Frankly I don’t think you have any business advising anyone about a vehicle purchase. I learned a long time ago that it is best to stay out of peoples way because it is a losing deal trying to help someone with a large purchase like this.
The common advice here is do not buy used European luxury vehicle.
The maintenance on the BMW will be far higher than the Lexus. Edmunds True Cost to Own calculator estimates a 2022 BMW 330i will cost $12,680 to maintain over the next five years. A 2022 Lexus ES350 will cost $8250. Even if there are no repairs over the next five years for either car, the BMW will cost about 50% more to maintain.
BTW, Edmunds estimates $9000 to repair the Bimmer and $3200 for a 2022 ES350.
You don’t know what’s in my coffee mug while I’m sitting in traffic! 
But seriously, I drove an hour and 10 minutes to get to work this morning. I would rather arrive relaxed and ready to start than irritated from driving a small tinny uncomfortable car.
I recently traveled for work and the rental car was a 2023 Corolla. I was disappointed in the ride quality and fit and finish of the car. There’s no way I would want that as a daily commuter.
Actually, I would recommend the Mazda 3 and you get a little zoom-zoom with the experience.
I can see we are looking at two ends of the timeline. My present to myself would be to save as much as possible and get rid of that 70-to-140 minute daily drive by retiring sooner.
When I was new car shopping earlier this year, I never considered a Corolla
A few bucks more gets you a much more substantial car, imo
Thanks, Jtsanders. This was really helpful, and I’ll share this with the relative.
The German car makers are really creative with their designs. In my eyes and a lot of people’s, German designs are very appealing. But sadly, their vehicles are unreliable and expensive to maintain.
Like I said before, the relative is leaning more towards the NX for its modern design but also looking at Cadillac for its design.
She shares her car shopping plans with me all the time.
I don’t know anything about Cadillacs.
EDIT - The recent Cadillacs have either much worse than average (Lyriq), worse than average (Escalade, XT4), or average (CT4, CT5, XT5, XT6) reliability ratings on Consumer Reports.
My girlfriend has a 2018 C-class
I think it’s quite poorly equipped for the money
And it’s definitely not roomier than a Camry or an ES
Replacing tires and brakes might cost as much as it does on a Lexus IS300 w/F-Sport package.
What would be repaired for $3200?
$8250 for maintenance plus $3200 for repairs? Sounds like those owners spend a lot at the automotive service center.
Consumer reports information shows the Mazda3 has the same 0 to 60 mph time as the Toyota Prius and Camry. Is your recommendation based on an advertising campaign?
Me thinks the Zoom-Zoom was a joke .
I have an older Mazda3 manual with 200K. I think the zoom-zoom is more in the handling pleasure, rather than the 0 to 60…which is just fine as it is. It is amazing for me to think about how very few times I used the 0-60 power, but the handling feel is constant.
It’s over 5 years at a dealership.
I would like to know what is included in those $8250 for maintenance plus $3200 for repairs are… That is over the 1st 5 years, well doesn’t Lexus have free 2 year maintenance, so that would be more like a 3 year cost right??
Additionally, the Lexus bumper-to-bumper warranty runs for 4 years/50k miles, and the Powertrain Warranty runs for 6 years/70k miles.
Exactly, that is why I can’t wrap my head around costing that much to drive unless it includes gas once a week, and new wipers ever 6 months or something…
If a customer bought a 3 year old CPO Lexus with 30,000 miles, from my estimate using inflated dealer prices the scheduled maintenance for the 3 years after the included services would cost about $2,200.
Brake replacement is $700 per axle. Tires $1200, wheel alignment $250.
Edmonds estimates the repair cost based on the price of an extended warranty, not owner surveys.
“the replacement of items such as the battery, brakes, headlamps, hoses, exhaust system parts, taillight/turn signal bulbs, tires and wiper blades/inserts.”
Replacement of headlamps, hoses, exhaust systems and light bulbs are a thing of the past.
And that is way cheaper than the $8250 estimate…
Edmunds True Cost to Own calculator estimates a 2022 BMW 330i will cost $12,680 to maintain over the next five years. A 2022 Lexus ES350 will cost $8250
Unless that $8250 includes gas, cause 8250/5 years and then /52 weeks in the year is $31.73 per 7 days in a week in gas… So remove your $2200 from the $8250 and that leaves $23.27 per week in gas, which is doable, giving the (15K a year) 58 miles a day ish round trip average for 5 day work weeks, not including days off, trips, after work activity’s etc etc etc…
But removing gas from the $8250, I find that ($1,650 a year) way over inflated… for a newer Lexus… Members on here will tell an OP to buy a brand new car if the OP is spending that kind of money per year on a given vehicle… lol
I have to revise that; the Lexus maintenance schedule is for 10,000 miles/year.
With 15,000/year, the courtesy services would be completed after 16 months/20,000 miles. For the remaining miles during the 5-year period, the services would cost about $3,600 (plus unnecessary upsells).
My son owned a Mazda 3 and whenever you turned the car on the screen would display Zoom Zoom.
