Well folks, the time has finally come to buy a new car. After buying eight cars in my first ten years out of college thanks to my former car addition, I now dread the idea. All I want is to drive one car forever to save time, hassle, and money.
However, my 2015 Range Rover Sport, which I bought in December 2016 with only 10,600 miles, is starting to have one problem too many. Yeah, yeah, I know. Land Rovers are notorious for maintenance issues. But at least I had a nice nine-year run, right? I think so.
The average monthly cost of owning the car, including all repairs, comes out to about $555. That feels reasonable for what it is and how much I’ve enjoyed driving it. I don’t regret spending $60,000 after tax for the car nine years ago at all. So a part of me wants to be another luxury car for the next 10 years.
Switching cars every 10 years is my ideal ownership cycle. With constant improvements in safety and technology, a decade feels just about right.
The Latest Problem With My Car
The other day the check engine light came on again. I ended up spending $600 to replace an oxygen sensor and an oil gasket. The oil drips were obvious on my driveway.
At the same time, I started getting a “Battery Low” warning every other day. Huh? I had just spent ~$500 replacing the main battery in 2024, after eight years of usage. It should easily last another five years, at least.
So I drove the car around hoping to recharge it. Then, one morning, right before driving my kids to Daddy Day Camp for tennis and swimming, I got the most ominous message yet:
“Warning, system will shut down in 1 minute.”
WTF?
Instead of pulling out of the driveway and risking a shutdown on the road, I just sat there idling for a couple minutes. Nothing happened. But the warning rattled me. I felt like I was on a rocket ship, ready for it to explode.
Total Cost To Fix So Far: $1,115
When I took the car back to my local mechanic, they found the smaller auxiliary battery was dead. This is the battery that controls the auto start-stop function, door sensors, trunk, and other electrical components.
What annoyed me was that in 2024 I had specifically told them there were two batteries to replace. They said they only found one. Ah, the downside of saving money and not going to a Land Rover specialist. But boy, does the dealership charge a premium. Further, the shop wasn’t a walkable distance home.
All in, I spent $1,115 replacing the auxiliary battery and fixing the oxygen sensor and oil gasket. Totally manageable, if these were the only issues for the past 1 year and 10 months since I last visited the ship. Unfortunately, one more potential issue remains: an EVAP air leak.
To Fix Or Not To Fix
The mechanic said they weren’t sure replacing the oil gasket fully solved the leak, since oil was visible at both the top and bottom of the engine. They recommended driving for a month and coming back for a free check. If oil still leaked, I’d need a specialist who might have to remove the transmission or something similar. Labor alone: over $3,000.
And if there was still an oil leak at that point, they advised not spending another $1,000+ to fix the EVAP leak. At that stage I might be facing $5,000 in work for a ten-year-old car worth less than $20,000.
I could easily keep driving the car with a small oil leak and an EVAP air leak for another year, but it’s not ideal. Eventually, I’ll need to pass a smog check in two years, and if the EVAP leak isn’t fixed, the car won’t pass.
Care Less About Luxury or Looks In A Car
As a father now, my number one priority is safety. Reliability is part of safety. I once owned a classic 1989 BMW 635 CSi that did shut down completely as I drove into a Best Buy parking lot. Brakes, electrical, engine – everything died at once. Never again.
Since I value my time more than anything these days, I want the most reliable car possible. My mechanic is close by, so I just walk home after dropping the car off after dropping off the kids at school. But doing this year after year is getting old. It’s been three years in a row that there’s been something to fix.
After reliability and safety, then I’ll look at performance and looks. I bought the Range Rover Sport in 2016 because it looked great and could drive to Tahoe in winter without putting on chains. But now it may be time to say goodbye.
Although I think the new Range Rover Sports are beautiful and come with a 4-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, spending $110,000 out the door for this model feels egregious as dual unemployed parents.
If one of us worked in big tech making $1+ million a year or at a hot AI startup like OpenAI, spending six figures on a car might seem reasonable. But for us, we’d have to sell some Treasury bonds to afford it. Our cash flow doesn’t allow for such a purchase under my 1/10th rule for car buying, and I’m a stickler for following my own financial independence rules.
The Most Reliable Cars: Toyota, Honda, and Tesla
Research shows the most reliable brands are Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, and Tesla. European cars look great, but they eat your wallet alive.
And Tesla has the best EV tech and least maintenance since there are fewer parts and no fluids. Full Self Driving is tempting, although it’s $8,000 extra if you don’t get a Model X. Still, a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y feels like the sensible choice, and prices have dropped.
The downside is that Tesla designs are getting long in the tooth and need a refresh. Also, the $7,500 instant EV credit disappeared at the end of October 2025. The good news is Tesla is offering incentives: a $6,500 credit on leases plus one free $2,000 upgrade.
The funny thing? My house already has a Tesla fast charger built in. Plus, I’ve got more than 21 solar panels on the roof. Charging would often be free during the day.
So the most obvious replacement for my 2015 Range Rover Sport seems to be a Tesla Model Y for about $48,000 out the door. A three-year lease with zero down is about $650 a month. What do you think? It would feel great to utilize more of the features of my house.
We Also Love Hondas
Since I no longer care about luxury European cars, Toyota and Honda are looking attractive again. I had a Honda Civic back in 2002–2003, and loved it. But as a 25-year-old finance employee in San Francisco, I eventually wanted something nicer, so I upgraded to a BMW M3 and later a Land Rover Discovery II.
Wow, today’s Honda Civics look fantastic. The Civic Sport runs about $28,000 before taxes and fees, roughly $31,000 out the door. It feels steep for a Civic, but these cars are incredibly reliable. My only concern? Safety. A smaller car might not hold up as well in a collision.
That’s why I’m also eyeing the Honda CR-V Sport. Clean design, roomy interior, AWD for Tahoe trips, about $38,000. Not bad, but the interior feels cheap compared to my Range Rover.
Toyota Could Be The Winner
Then I looked at a Toyota Land Cruiser and the Lexus GX 550, which is basically a more luxurious Land Cruiser for a few thousand dollars more. Prices run $72,000–$80,000 pre-tax, which feels hefty. Maybe the Toyota 4-Runner is the better-size car, priced at about $51,000.
The Civic and CR-V Sport are economical and reliable, and they don’t stand out. With my Range Rover Sport, I occasionally felt a little embarrassed in the early years, as it drew attention. Now, ten years later, I don’t feel that way at all. In fact, it’s cheaper than many new Civics, Corollas, Camrys, and Accords.
So Many Year-End Incentives, So Little Desire To Buy
What’s funny is that I could easily negotiate a lower price at any dealer, especially at the end of the year. But I don’t feel the same thrill I did in my 20s when I bought and sold cars for fun.
Honestly, all I want is to pay another $1,300 or so to fix the EVAP leak and have the Range Rover behave for two more years. The car only has 66,500 miles. My kids can kick the seats all they want. Door dings? Fine. Scratches? No problem.
There’s something peaceful about driving an older car that you don’t worry about damaging. But I’m not convinced the Range Rover’s problems will slow down. I’ve already replaced the vacuum pump, water pump, PCV valve, both batteries, oil gasket, oxygen sensor, and more. And still new issues cropped up.
Help Me Decide My Next Car
Pretend you are me: a 48-year-old dad with two young kids in San Francisco. You care about safety and reliability above all else. Annual mileage driven is about 6,500. You’re unemployed and fly Basic Economy. But you have about $360,000 a year in passive income after 26 years of saving and investing that covers almost all your after-tax living expenses. Finally, you can buy or lease through your small business.
Which car would you buy or lease?
- Stick with an economy or mid-size vehicle? Model Y, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota 4-Runner
- YOLO and get a luxury car again? Range Rover Sport, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus GX 550, Rivian RS1
- Or just keep fixing the 2015 Range Rover for $1,100–$3,000 a year, hope it doesn’t break down, and drive it into the ground?
My original goal was to keep the car until my son learns to drive in 2031 at age 15. If he dings it, no big deal. But I doubt the car will last that long without expensive repairs. And if we move to Hawaii in 2029, I would hate to overspend on a car only to sell it soon after.
Please share what you drive and what you’d recommend. What type of car do you drive, how much does it cost, and is it reliable? Thanks!
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