We live in a country (USA) that allows for people of all creeds, race, gender and color to pursue their dreams. The United States is one of the only countries in the world where this is possible. You can pursue all your dreams here and actually make them happen regardless of your social status. That mindset has allowed thousands of people to obtain wealth beyond some of their wildest dreams.
That mentality has also led American culture more so than any other place in the world to consistently display their success in many forms. One such common display of success is the automobile. Since it's invention the automobile has been a great part of American culture. It has served as basic transportation in its simplest form but has also served as a status symbol to show that you have arrived both figuratively and literally.
Until recently, owning a vehicle that was considered a status symbol was reserved only for the rich and famous. Americans were establishing wealth at a record pace throughout the Eighties and late Nineties and this led to an increase in luxury purchases that included the automobile. Luxury auto manufacturers increased their production to meet demand and the late Eighties gave birth to several new luxury auto brands. Over time there was certainly going to be a glut of inventory for luxury vehicles.
In 1993 Lexus launched their Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program with a clever marketing campaign and soon after most of the other auto manufacturers followed suit. The birth of the CPO vehicle or category has allowed the "working class" access to luxury vehicles that were once considered only an option for the rich or lottery winners. The stigma once associated with buying "used" has been brilliantly repositioned as a smart alternative to what is typically one of the worse investments any consumer can make, an automobile.
Luxury vehicles are leased at a higher percentage than non-luxury vehicles and there is a direct correlation between higher sticker prices and an increased probability that the vehicle is leased. Many luxury manufacturers have new car warranties that range from three to four years of full coverage to include standard servicing (with restrictions) ranging from 36,000 to 50,000 miles before they expire. There are restrictions on leased cars specific to mileage and luxury vehicles tend to have more restrictions. Typically leased luxury vehicles are returned with low miles and some can still be under their new car warranty.
PoorManRichCars.com will offer you insight into the vehicle offerings in the pre-owned luxury auto category via blog posts and a paid subscription newsletter that is customized based on what you are willing to spend. We will also do vehicle comparisons within certain price ranges that include both new and pre-owned as it is our belief that the "Poor Man" shops looking to see what the best deal is for the money. I love and read all the auto magazines but their comparison tests typically compare vehicles within the same category and that's not how everyone shops. If I am looking to purchase a vehicle I want to know what is the best vehicle that my money can buy regardless of category. It is our intention to offer you food for thought in a light hearted, fun and non-technical approach. Besides if you were rich it wouldn't matter as you'd just go out and buy the car you wanted. The "Poor Man" has to be smarter and more selective so he or she can still drive a "Rich Car" without ending up in the poorhouse.