Luxury Cars: More Trouble Than They’re Worth?
When browsing for a new car, the allure of a “luxury” vehicle often shines brightly. Yet, as many social media users are pointing out, owning a high-end car can bring a surprising number of downsides. From the high cost of fuel to the inflated expenses associated with maintenance, the price of luxury ownership often outweighs the benefits, especially when the quality isn’t always what one might expect.
Now, a TikTok user is advising others to seriously reconsider that luxury car purchase. Her experience? She made the switch from a Mercedes-Benz to a Mazda.
What’s Wrong with Mercedes-Benz?
In a TikTok video that has garnered over 32,000 views, user Rosie (@rosies.journeyy) shares why she’s thrilled she traded her Mercedes-Benz for a Mazda. “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you do not need a luxury vehicle. And here is why I believe that as somebody who loved my Mercedes,” she says at the outset.
One of the primary issues she identifies is the elevated cost of ownership, regardless of whether or not the car is paid off. She highlights how expensive it is to replace almost anything, and that finding a repair shop that wasn’t a Mercedes-Benz dealership proved difficult.
Rosie also points out that the average car has improved dramatically in quality and features, making the driving experience comparable to that of a luxury car. She suggests you can access more features in other brands for the same price as a base-level Mercedes. Moreover, she reports a far more positive dealership experience with Mazda. Besides, luxury cars attract unwanted attention that can raise safety concerns, such as when she was worried about parking the car on the street.
Rosie cautions viewers that the extravagant lifestyles often portrayed on social media are not the reality for everyone. “On this app, you open it and you see all the influencers getting super luxury vehicles,” she concludes. “This is just more of, like, a normal person, down-to-earth perspective.”
Are Luxury Cars More Expensive to Maintain?
Beyond the subjective issues related to the perception of luxury cars, Rosie claims they are indeed more expensive to service. So, is this true?
In March 2025, Consumer Reports published an article that revealed 5- and 10-year repair costs of various auto manufacturers. The research found that luxury cars are, in fact, costlier to maintain than non-luxury brands. In many cases, the difference was significant.
According to author Jeff S. Bartlett, “Several European luxury marques are clustered as the most expensive brands, namely Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo.”
For example, the 6- to 10-year repair cost for a Toyota was $5,300, while the Mercedes-Benz figure was $13,100.
Viewers Largely Agree
In the comments section, viewers supported the sentiments expressed in the video with comments such as “Luxury vehicles – luxury maintenance,” and “Your Mazda is a much more reliable vehicle than your Mercedes.”
Another user added, “We had a benz for a few years and it was such a responsibility, liability, and a gamble lmao…loved her but it was a lot…Have a prius now and we love it.”
