Luxury Vehicles: A Maintenance Nightmare?
Owning a luxury vehicle might seem like a status symbol, but a recent TikTok video highlights the potential downsides. The video, created by user Rosie (@rosies.journeyy), calls for a reevaluation of the luxury car purchase, sharing her experience of switching from a Mercedes-Benz to a Mazda.
Rosie begins her argument by stating, “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 points out the increased expenses associated with luxury cars, regardless of whether they’re paid off.
“If you need to replace something, it’s going to cost so much more than if you have just like a normal car brand, and it’s just gonna be more difficult,” she says, referencing her experience with oil changes that couldn’t be performed at a non-dealership location.
Rosie further argues that the quality and features offered in non-luxury cars have improved significantly, making them comparable to luxury vehicles at a lower price point. She also notes that her experience with Mazda’s dealership was better than that of Mercedes-Benz.
Finally, Rosie points out the attention that luxury cars garner, which can be unwelcome and even raise safety concerns. She also reminds viewers that the lives portrayed on social media are not always realistic.
The Reality of Luxury Car Maintenance
Rosie’s claims about the cost of maintaining luxury cars are backed by data. Consumer Reports’ research in March 2025 detailed the 5- and 10-year repair costs of various automobile manufacturers. The study showed that luxury cars indeed have higher maintenance costs.
“Several European luxury marques are clustered as the most expensive brands, namely Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo,” writes author Jeff S. Bartlett. For example, the 6- to 10-year repair cost for a Toyota was $5,300. For Mercedes-Benz, the cost was $13,100.
Viewer Reactions
The comments section of Rosie’s video reflects widespread agreement regarding the issues with luxury vehicles. Some users summarized the issues as:
- “Luxury vehicles = luxury maintenance.”
- “Your Mazda is a much more reliable vehicle than your Mercedes. Other luxury brands like Lexus or Acura are easy to work on and not as expensive as Mercedes.”
- “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,”
