After 25 years working on engines, gearboxes, suspension systems and electrical faults, I have learned one thing about used cars: the purchase price is only the beginning.
Some cars look like bargains because they have already scared off everyone who knows what they cost to maintain. And if there is one used car I would never let my own kids buy as a first vehicle, it is a cheap, high-mileage Range Rover.
Not because every Range Rover is a bad car. When they are new, well maintained and under warranty, they can be comfortable, capable and impressive. The problem begins when they reach the used market at a price that suddenly looks affordable.
That is when the real bill often starts.
The badge hides the risk
A young driver sees the leather seats, the high driving position and the prestige badge. They think they are getting luxury for the price of a small hatchback.
A mechanic sees something else: air suspension, complex electronics, expensive tyres, heavy brakes, ageing sensors, potential coolant leaks, gearbox issues and repair bills that can arrive without warning.
The danger is not that the car will always break down. The danger is that when it does, even a routine repair can cost far more than the owner expected.
Maintenance is not optional
Luxury SUVs age differently from simple cars. They are heavier, more complicated and packed with systems that were expensive when new. Those systems do not become cheaper just because the car is now on its fourth owner.
A neglected service history is the biggest red flag. Missed oil changes, cheap parts, warning lights that have been ignored, or repairs done “just enough to sell it” can turn a tempting deal into a financial trap.
For a young driver, that matters. A first car should be predictable, affordable to insure, easy to repair and forgiving when something goes wrong. A high-mileage luxury SUV is rarely any of those things.
The real problem is not image — it is cost
I would rather see my kids in a boring, well-maintained Toyota, Honda, Mazda or Ford than in a luxury badge they can barely afford to keep on the road.
A car should not drain your savings every time it needs tyres, brakes or a diagnostic check. It should not leave you choosing between fixing the suspension and paying rent.
That is why I warn people about these cars. Not because they are never enjoyable, but because the cheap ones are often cheap for a reason.
My rule is simple
If you cannot afford to maintain it when it was new, be very careful buying it used.
A high-mileage Range Rover may look like the deal of the year. But for a young driver, it can become the lesson of a lifetime: the most expensive car is often the one with the lowest price on the windscreen.
