BMW, MERCEDES OU AUDI? QUAL CARRO DE LUXO COMPRAR EM 2026 (Com Tiago Tcar) | Os Economistas 202
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode offers a masterclass on the financial realities of car ownership, focusing on depreciation, optimal buying strategies, the true drivers of resale value, and the significant operational costs for legitimate dealerships.
There are four key takeaways from this discussion. First, understanding depreciation is crucial, particularly for new luxury vehicles and electric models. Second, the long-term resale value of a car is ultimately dictated by its acceptance in the mainstream used car market. Third, savvy buyers often find superior value in recent used luxury vehicles or practical hybrids over new basic models or pure EVs. Finally, legitimate dealerships face significant tax burdens and operational costs that impact their pricing.
Vehicle depreciation is a major financial pitfall. French brands, high-end German sedans, and luxury electric vehicles, like the Porsche Taycan, experience rapid and severe value loss. Buying new in these categories can lead to substantial financial setbacks.
The long-term success and resale value of any vehicle are fundamentally determined by its acceptance in the lower-income used car market. If this demographic perceives a car as unreliable or prohibitively expensive to maintain, its value will plummet, becoming a difficult trade-in.
For optimal value, consider a well-maintained, recent-model used luxury car, such as a two to three-year-old BMW, over a new, less-equipped basic vehicle. Hybrids are currently the most practical and financially sound choice, balancing technology with reliability, while pure electric vehicles remain a risky investment due to range limitations and severe depreciation.
Among German luxury brands, BMW typically leads in sales and resale value, followed by Mercedes-Benz. Audi ranks lower for resale and often incurs higher maintenance costs. Critically, avoid very old, cheap luxury cars, often dubbed 'lasagnas,' as their unpredictable and high maintenance costs can lead to significant financial distress.
Legitimate car dealerships operate under significant financial pressures, including a staggering tax burden that can exceed thirty percent of gross profit, alongside compliance costs and guarantees. This explains why their pricing cannot compete with informal sellers. Customers seeking reliable vehicles with proper support should understand these operational realities that contribute to transparent pricing.
This episode provides invaluable insights for anyone navigating the complex financial landscape of car ownership in today's market.
Episode Overview
- The episode provides a masterclass on the financial aspects of car ownership, detailing which cars suffer the most from depreciation (French brands, high-end luxury, EVs) and advocating for buying recent used luxury models over new basic ones.
- A central theme is the theory that a car's long-term resale value is determined not by the wealthy who buy it new, but by its acceptance and perceived reliability within the lower-income used car market.
- The discussion includes a comparative analysis of the top German luxury brands—BMW, Mercedes, and Audi—from a sales and maintenance perspective.
- The conversation concludes with a transparent look at the harsh business realities of running a legitimate car dealership in Brazil, highlighting the staggering tax burden that influences pricing.
Key Concepts
- Vehicle Depreciation: A detailed breakdown of which car categories lose the most value, specifically identifying French brands (Peugeot, Citroën, Renault), high-end German sedans (BMW 5/7 Series, Audi A6/A7), and especially luxury electric vehicles like the Porsche Taycan.
- Resale Market Theory: The core idea that the "classe mais pobre" (lower-income class) ultimately dictates a car's success. If this group fears a car's maintenance costs or unreliability, it fails to become a "moeda de troca" (trade-in currency), causing its value to plummet.
- New vs. Used Luxury: A strong argument is made for purchasing a well-maintained, recent-model used luxury car (e.g., a 2-3 year old BMW) over a brand-new, less-equipped vehicle for the same price, offering superior value and experience.
- Impact of Chinese Brands: The influx of feature-rich Chinese cars has forced traditional manufacturers to innovate and improve their own offerings, though Chinese EVs still suffer from significant range limitations.
- Hybrid vs. Electric: Hybrid vehicles are presented as the current ideal solution, balancing modern technology with practicality, while pure electric vehicles are considered a risky investment due to range issues and severe depreciation.
- German Brand Hierarchy: From a commercial standpoint, BMW is ranked as the top brand for sales and resale value, followed closely by Mercedes-Benz. Audi is considered a more affordable but less desirable option with higher maintenance costs and weaker resale.
- The Cost of Legitimacy: A breakdown of the high tax burden (over 30% of gross profit) and compliance costs (guarantees, legal reporting) faced by legitimate car dealerships, explaining why they cannot compete on price with informal sellers.
Quotes
- At 2:00 - "[Em] janeiro, vai fazer 30 anos que eu acordo, tomo banho, escovo os dentes, tomo café e vou para uma loja de carros." - Thiago Tcar explaining his extensive lifelong experience in the automotive sales industry.
- At 5:28 - "Os carros franceses desvalorizam bastante. Carro francês, quando você compra ele, Peugeot, Citroën, Renault... você perde um valor expressivo." - Tcar identifies French cars as having high depreciation despite their often attractive initial price and features.
- At 7:00 - "Quem comprou um Taycan, pagou um milhão. Hoje é quinhentos, quatrocentos." - Tcar uses the Porsche Taycan as an example of the massive depreciation luxury electric cars are currently experiencing in the market.
- At 14:42 - "Pode pegar a BMW 320i de olho fechado." - Tcar's direct answer when asked to choose between a new Toyota Corolla Cross and a 2020 BMW 320i for the same price, highlighting the superior value and reliability of the latter.
- At 15:50 - "Aí você tá morto... De rico você vai ficar pobre, de pobre você vai ficar liso." - Tcar's blunt advice against buying very old luxury cars ("lasagnas"), explaining it's a path to financial ruin due to high and frequent maintenance costs.
- At 22:59 - "Quem determina se um carro vai vender ou não é a classe mais pobre." - T-Car introduces his central thesis that the used car market, driven by lower-income buyers, is what ultimately dictates a car's long-term success.
- At 23:36 - "Quando você tem alguns carros que não tá no radar da classe mais pobre... o carro engessa, não tem uma moeda de troca. Aí começa a não ter saída. E aí trava." - T-Car details his theory on why certain cars fail in the market: they don't gain acceptance in the resale market among less affluent buyers.
- At 25:51 - "Híbrido é bom... o híbrido é o ideal hoje." - T-Car states that hybrid vehicles are currently the best option, balancing new technology with practicality.
- At 47:53 - "E a melhor de comércio é a BMW... Então assim, a BMW é a que mais vende." - Tiago Tecar establishing BMW's market leadership in sales and resale value compared to Mercedes and Audi.
- At 51:53 - "Você fala: 'Caralho, venci na vida, mano.'" - Describing the feeling of being in traffic inside a new Mercedes C300 with its modern interior, capturing the emotional reward of owning a luxury car.
- At 61:32 - "Total de imposto: R$ 3.360. Me sobrou aqui R$ 6.639." - Tecar details the taxes on a hypothetical sale with R$10,000 gross profit, showing that over 33% is consumed by various taxes.
- At 63:41 - "R$ 439.760,00 esse mês aqui de novembro eu vou pagar de imposto." - Tecar shows his phone, revealing the massive tax bill for a single month, illustrating the high cost of operating a legitimate car dealership.
- At 64:08 - "Você vai querer um carro numa loja séria, aonde vai me dar um respaldo... e querer que ele ganha pouco. Não tem, a conta não fecha." - He explains that customers cannot expect the lowest market price from a serious dealership that pays all its taxes and provides proper guarantees.
Takeaways
- To minimize financial loss, avoid buying new French cars, high-end luxury sedans, and especially pure electric vehicles, which all suffer from rapid and severe depreciation.
- Get more for your money by opting for a well-maintained, recent-model used luxury car instead of a brand-new basic model.
- Before buying any car, consider its appeal in the mainstream used market; if it's perceived as expensive to maintain or unreliable, its value will likely drop significantly.
- For now, choose hybrid vehicles over pure EVs for a more practical and financially safer entry into newer automotive technology.
- When choosing between German luxury brands for the best resale value and commercial appeal, prioritize BMW first, then Mercedes-Benz.
- Absolutely avoid buying very old, cheap luxury cars ("lasagnas"), as their potential for high and frequent repair costs can lead to financial ruin.
- When buying from a reputable dealership, expect to pay a fair price that reflects their high tax burden and the cost of providing a legal guarantee and a secure transaction.
