The used car market offers real finds for fans of luxury and power. One such example is the Alpina B7 model, whose current price can now compete with the cost of a new midsize sedan or even a hatchback.
Perception of the Used Market and a Real Example
Many car buyers prefer new models, which is completely understandable: reliability, warranty, and peace of mind remain with the owner. However, if you consider the used market, you can find truly exciting offers. For example, an Alpina B7 can now be purchased for a price comparable to a well-equipped Toyota Camry.
Alpina Is Dead. Long Live BMW Alpina
Recently, a 2017 example with 54,000 miles (86,900 km) on the odometer was sold at auction for $37,777. Some buyers might be wary of the mileage or minor reports of damage in the vehicle history, but the real factor for consideration should be the potentially very high costs of maintenance and repair.
Hidden Ownership Costs
Two invoices that came with the listing for this car show expenses exceeding $11,000 in just six months. One of them, from last summer, amounted to $8,162 for various repair works and a new set of tires. Another invoice for over $3,700 was issued just for replacing the glove box and reupholstering the dashboard.
With such cars, the situation often resembles a game of chance, even if the previous owner took good care of it. The smallest malfunction, or even scheduled maintenance, can turn into a four-figure expense, especially if you don’t perform the work yourself.
This is one of the main reasons for such a sharp depreciation of similar cars after the factory warranty expires. For comparison: this particular Alpina B7 originally cost $151,645. Over nine years, it has lost 75% of its value.
Luxury and Comfort That Remain
However, this does nothing to change the fact that the B7 remains one of the most luxurious sedans you could ever encounter.
The interior is exceptionally well-crafted: heated and ventilated seats upholstered in black Nappa leather, a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a head-up display, four-zone climate control, doors with a soft-close system, and spacious rear legroom even for the tallest passengers. If your family has a taste for refined things, it’s hard to imagine a cooler car than this for daily trips, for example, to school.
Power Worthy of Attention
This car, the closest thing to what was ever offered as a BMW M7, also offers serious performance. It is powered by a 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 producing 600 hp with 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque, and it features all-wheel drive. The B7 can not only be comfortably driven around the city but can also surprise some sports car owners off the line.
This example is far from the only one. At other auctions, for instance, an even better 2018 example was sold for $45,000. Its original price was $162,100, meaning a 72% loss in value over eight years.
The main thing is not to confuse the purchase price with the total cost of ownership.
The drop in prices for such powerful luxury sedans as the Alpina B7 opens up opportunities for a new circle of car enthusiasts who previously could not afford such a car. However, as the facts show, operation remains an exceptionally expensive affair. This creates an interesting paradox: a car symbolizing status and technological perfection becomes available for relatively little money after a few years, but not everyone can afford to keep it in proper condition. Thus, the market for used powerful luxury cars becomes a zone for experienced enthusiasts who clearly understand all the risks and are prepared for unforeseen expenses, or for those who possess the necessary skills for self-maintenance.