£500, 20 year old Lexus LS 400 – 140 mph! Lexus owners on the forums come from different financial angles. I saw an old Top Gear (2011? repeated last night) showing a yellow McClaren MP4-12C that cost around £180,000. They also showed a Nissan Pixo, which at the time was the cheapest new car, at around £7000. For similar money Hammond and Clarkson purchased a second-hand 8 series BMW 850Ci (£6700 17 years old) and Merc CL 600 (£6695 9 years old).
http://www.topgear.com/videos/jeremy-clarkson/new-vs-used-part-12-series-17-episode-3
The argument against owning the older cars was the cost of repairs. When considering a Lexus LS400/430 – they are actually much better value AND more reliable than an old BMW or Merc. Driving my 1998 LS 400 is still a lovely experience and far better than many newer vehicles I have owned. I would rather put more fuel in my Lexus than spend half that amount running an Austin Metro (one of the most uncomfortable and rough cars I have owned) for example. The Lexus experience puts Bangernomics into a different league.