13 Car Brands That Make You Look Rich

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have enough money to live your dream life? While that may not be reality (yet), you can always fake it ’til you make it.

In the automotive world, that could mean buying a used luxury car rather than a new economy model.

We’ve come up with 13 brands known for their prestigious cars, but it’s possible to find some affordable used models that still make you look wealthy.

Land Rover

Land Rover is one of the biggest names in the SUV market, and the British manufacturer earned its spot by building some of the most off-road-capable vehicles money can buy.

A new Land Rover or Range Rover certainly isn’t cheap, but you can find plenty of bargains if you check out the used market for models from a decade or so. It’s also the go-to brand for British aristocrats, and nothing exudes class quite like old money.

BMW

Since the 1970s, BMW has concentrated on making driver-focused cars for the premium segment. Sure, its ‘M’ cars are proper performance cars, but even the lesser models offer excellent driving dynamics.

If you want to show that you’re a real driving enthusiast, check out one of the Bavarian carmaker’s models. The 1-, 3-, and 5-Series from 8-15 years ago still look great today, and they’re available for chump change.

Mercedes-Benz

Another German luxury carmaker, and perhaps BMW’s biggest competitor, Mercedes-Benz, tends to focus more on comfort than BMW. However, when they build a performance car, they tend to go all-out.

Everyone recognizes the Three-Pointed Star brand, and a 10–12-year-old Mercedes C-Class, E-Class, or S-Class will set you back much less than you may think.

Maserati

These days, everyone seems to know Maserati. The brand is mentioned in songs, and their cars appear in movies and TV shows… Maserati’s PR people must be doing something right.

What you may not know about Maserati is that you can buy their cars with a 70% discount if you look for a ten-year-old model. Yes, there’s a good reason behind the massive price drop. Maserati’s are very high maintenance, and keeping one running can cost a small fortune.

Porsche

Nowadays, classic air-cooled Porsches are ridiculously expensive, and the latest models aren’t cheap either. However, plenty of awesome-looking P-cars are available if you have a budget between $10,000 and $30,000.

Within that budget, you can find the first two generations of the Boxster, the first Cayman, and both the 996 and 997 generations of the 911. More practical models, such as the Macan, Panamera, and Cayenne, are also available.

Lexus

Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, and its build quality is arguably even better than that of Toyota. Lexus also offers high-end materials, fancy tech, and all the gadgetry and creature comforts you’ll ever need.

Lexus has built its vehicles to compete against the Germans, so they’re not to be sniffed at. Their compact models are just as agile as BMW’s 3-Series but with lower ownership costs.

Jaguar

The old Top Gear trio loved to stereotype Jaguar owners as wealthy people lacking morals — people who can get away with murder thanks to their charm… and because they drive a Jaaag.

Jaguars certainly make a statement, and it’s fair to say their owners appreciate the finer things in life. If you want a piece of that action, the third and fourth-generation Jaguar XJs are relatively affordable now, but you’ll also need some cash to pay the maintenance bills.

Cadillac

American carmaker Cadillac was popular among wealthy retirees for decades thanks to its comfortable interior and soft suspension. Classic Cadillacs had their approach to luxury, and it was pretty much the opposite of what made a car fun and sporty.

Fast-forward to today, and Cadillac has taken a similar approach to luxury cars to the Germans. It’s no longer about soft land yachts, but cutting-edge technology, power, and suspension setups. A 10-year-old Cadillac CTS-V still looks great today, it’s secretly a supercar, and will set you back as little as $15,000.

Audi

Audi has probably appeared in more blockbuster movies over the last couple of decades than any other brand. Their models are fairly sporty and luxurious, and thanks to the Quattro AWD system, they’re perfect for colder climates.

Even some of the brand’s high-performance models, such as the V10-powered Audi S6, are available for less than $10,000.

Aston Martin

That’s right! You can buy an Aston Martin even if you’re on a tight budget. Unless you have money for servicing and maintenance, we don’t recommend buying one, but it’s technically possible.

We’ve found that the DB7, DB9, and V8 Vantage are all available in the $25,000 to $30,000 range. That’s about the same as a base-model 2024 Toyota Prius — for a proper grand tourer!

Bentley

Bentley makes some of the finest British grand touring cars money can buy, so it makes sense that they’re ridiculously expensive. However, many owners will let them go after a few years as the maintenance bills keep adding up.

That means you can swoop in and get your hands on a bargain-priced piece of British automotive engineering excellence. However, you probably shouldn’t buy one unless you’re actually loaded or an excellent mechanic.

Volvo

Volvo is known for cars jam-packed with technology and safety features. However, if you want something flashy, you should look elsewhere.

This is all about understated coolness, perfect for architects and civil engineers, professionals who let their work do the talking. These Swedish sedans, station wagons, and SUVs are readily available on the used market, and they’re reasonably priced, too.

Tesla

If EVs are more your thing, a Tesla is the way to go. The brand’s top-spec Model S costs a fortune, and many people believe all Teslas come with ridiculous price tags. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If you look at the used car market, a 2018 Model S can be found for under $20,000 on the used market. Even brand-new Model 3s can cost as little as $40,000.