I bought a 2012 Lexus RX 350 for $14,000 in 2020. Six years later, it has more than 200,000 miles, and I still drive it every day. Here’s why I believe buying this used Lexus was one of the best financial decisions I’ve made.

When I bought my 2012 Lexus RX 350 on September 12, 2020, it already had 127,090 miles on the odometer. I paid $14,000 at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, including taxes and fees. Some people might have looked at a six-year-old luxury SUV with more than 127,000 miles and walked away. I saw an opportunity to own a comfortable, capable, and reliable vehicle without spending a fortune. Looking back at my records, I’m glad I made that decision.

1. I Let Someone Else Pay for the Depreciation

One of the biggest financial advantages of buying a used car is avoiding the steepest years of depreciation. The Lexus RX 350 originally sold as a luxury SUV, but by the time I bought mine, someone else had already absorbed much of its initial loss in value. I was able to purchase it for $14,000 with 127,090 miles on it. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a newer vehicle, I bought an older model that still met my needs. And I didn't need a car loan to do it. That decision gave me something more valuable than a new-car smell: the freedom to keep my money available for other priorities, including saving and investing.

2. My Maintenance Costs Were Manageable

Buying a used luxury vehicle does come with a trade-off. Maintenance and repairs are part of the ownership experience, and a Lexus is no exception. I tracked my expenses carefully. From September 2020 through March 2026, my records show the following:

That maintenance total covers more than five and a half years of ownership, during which I added roughly 69,000 miles to the vehicle by the end of the records shown. My expenses included routine oil changes, a battery, brake work, tires, transmission and differential fluid service, spark plugs, a water pump replacement, and exhaust gaskets. Some repairs were expensive. For example, the water pump service in September 2024 cost $1,799.33, including brake fluid service and an oil change. In November 2021, I spent $757.57 on brake work. Those bills weren't fun to pay, but they were manageable because I didn't also have a monthly car payment. I also learned where I could save. My oil changes at commercial shops and dealerships generally cost more than doing the work myself. By March 2026, I was doing my own oil change for about $45 in parts and supplies. The lesson isn't that old cars never need expensive repairs. It's that maintenance costs need to be compared with the cost of replacing the vehicle, not viewed in isolation.

3. I Kept Driving Instead of Upgrading

My maintenance records show that the Lexus reached 196,227 miles by March 2026. Since then, I've continued driving it, and it has passed 200,000 miles. That means I added more than 75,000 miles after buying it. Throughout that time, the vehicle continued serving its main purpose: getting me where I needed to go. I didn't need to upgrade just because a newer model had a larger screen, more technology, or a fresher design. I already had a comfortable SUV with a smooth 3.5-liter V6, plenty of power, and the features I valued. When something needed attention, I evaluated the repair. When the vehicle needed routine maintenance, I took care of it. Rather than continually resetting the clock with a newer vehicle, I chose to get more use out of the one I already owned.

4. I Avoided the Cycle of Monthly Car Payments

This is probably the biggest financial benefit of my decision. A new vehicle can easily come with a payment of several hundred dollars every month. Even a $500 monthly payment adds up to $6,000 per year, or $36,000 over six years, before considering interest and other ownership expenses. My Lexus purchase required $14,000 upfront, and I didn't have a monthly car payment afterward. Of course, that doesn't mean the Lexus was free to own. I still paid for fuel, insurance, registration, taxes where applicable, maintenance, and repairs. But I avoided financing a much more expensive vehicle. And because I wasn't making a monthly car payment, I had more flexibility to direct money toward my other financial goals. For someone working toward financial independence, that flexibility matters.

5. I Got the Luxury Without Paying the New-Car Price

One reason I wanted the RX 350 was that it offered the kind of comfort I wanted in a daily driver. The cabin is quiet, the ride is comfortable, and the 3.5-liter V6 provides smooth, capable performance. It feels like a premium vehicle without requiring me to pay a premium new-car price. I also didn't need to give up the things I enjoy about driving just to save money. Yes, my RX isn't the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the road. And yes, an older vehicle may need more attention as it ages. But I enjoy driving it, and it continues to meet my needs. To me, that is a great balance: enjoying what I own while keeping my overall spending under control.

6. I Learned That a Used Luxury Car Can Be a Smart Buy

There is a common assumption that buying a luxury vehicle is automatically a bad financial decision. I don't think it's that simple. Buying an expensive new luxury vehicle and replacing it every few years can be costly. Buying a well-maintained used luxury vehicle at a much lower price—and keeping it for years—can be a very different financial decision. The key is choosing carefully.

My RX had a clean Carfax report, three previous owners, and two minor accidents with small bumper repairs noted in its history. It had also been sold as Lexus Certified to its previous owner. Those details helped me evaluate the vehicle, although no history report can guarantee that a used car will be trouble-free. I still had to budget for maintenance and repairs. But I bought at a price that made sense to me, tracked my expenses, and kept driving. That approach has worked well for my situation.

7. The Numbers Tell the Story

Here is what my records show through March 2026:

• Purchase price: $14,000, including taxes and fees

• Maintenance and repairs recorded: $6,716.33

• Total purchase plus recorded maintenance: $20,716.33

• Mileage when purchased: 127,000

• Mileage as of 10/2026: 203,500

• Additional miles driven: 76,400

The total of $20,716.33 is not my complete cost of ownership. It excludes fuel, insurance, registration, and other expenses not included in the maintenance records. It also does not subtract the vehicle's remaining resale value. Still, the numbers show how much use I got from a $14,000 purchase before reaching 200,000 miles. The real value is not just the purchase price. It's the years of transportation I received without needing to replace the vehicle.

Final Thoughts: The Best Car Is Often the One You Can Keep

Buying my 2012 Lexus RX 350 wasn't about finding a car that would never need repairs. No car can promise that. It was about finding a vehicle I liked, paying a reasonable price, maintaining it, and keeping it long enough to get real value from my purchase.

Six years later, with more than 203,000 miles on the odometer (as of 10/2026), I'm still driving it!

I could choose a newer vehicle, take on a new payment, and start paying for another car's depreciation. Instead, I'm choosing to keep maintaining my Lexus while it continues to meet my needs. My philosophy is simple:

Buy carefully. Avoid unnecessary debt. Maintain what you own. Drive it for as long as it makes financial and practical sense. Invest the money you don't need to spend replacing it.

A newer car might be nice, but it isn't automatically a better financial decision. For me, this used Lexus RX 350 has been proof that buying smart and keeping a vehicle long-term can be a practical way to save money while still enjoying what you drive.

— LexusDIYGarage