Motor named five luxury cars that can be bought for 2 million rubles

With a budget for a new Chinese crossover in Russia, you can aim for a luxury car in the Bentley or Maserati format. A first-generation Bentley Continental coupe, a mid-engine Porsche Boxster sports car, and even a large Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan will cost a modest 2 million rubles. You can even find a Rolls-Royce from a time when the British marque was not yet owned by BMW. However, as they say, there are also nuances, more about them in the material Motor.

Bentley

According to classification data, the most affordable first-generation Bentley Continental GT can be purchased for 1.5–2 million rubles. A car produced in 2004–2006 with a stated mileage of 150–200 thousand km will cost this amount. Under the hood is a W12 6.0 with two turbines, 560 hp. and 650 Nm, acceleration to “hundreds” in 4.8 s.

But when choosing such a car, and even one with a high mileage, you should remember the risks and difficulties with its further maintenance. The W12 engine is complex and expensive to maintain: carbon deposits on the valves appear after 60-80 thousand kilometers, wear of the timing chain tensioners is indicated by a characteristic knocking sound on a cold engine, and sudden failure of the pump is also possible.

Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Bentley Continental GT engine
Bentley Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Bentley Continental GT interior
Bentley

It should be taken into account that when replacing the water pump or cylinder head gasket, the engine will have to be dismantled – in Russian services such work is estimated at 150 thousand rubles only for removal and installation. The air suspension also faces problems: the struts lose their tightness over time, the compressor fails after 100 thousand kilometers. At the same time, replacing one air strut in Russia will cost 50-80 thousand rubles, a compressor – from 70 thousand rubles.

Electrical equipment is also capable of unpleasant surprises: control units under the hood can be damaged by water due to clogged drain holes. The result will be spontaneous lowering of the windows, climate control failures and the inability to start the engine. It is worth considering that replacing the wiring in this case will cost from 200 thousand rubles.

Routine maintenance of a first-generation Bentley Continental GT with replacement of all fluids and filters will cost 50-70 thousand rubles, and fuel consumption with a W12 engine is about 20 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle.

Porsche

For 1.8–2 million rubles you can buy a Boxster made in 1997–2001 with a mileage of 150–200 thousand km. The basic version was equipped with a 2.5 liter (204 hp) or 2.7 liter (220 hp) flat-six engine, the S version was equipped with a 3.2 liter (250–258 hp) engine. Transmission – five- or six-speed manual or automatic.

Boxster boxer engines (M96 series engines) have two chronic ailments. The first problem is related to the valve stem seals. When they wear out, the oil begins to be consumed in liters, and if repairs are delayed, the hydraulic compensators may knock. A major overhaul of the block head will require expenses of at least 80 thousand rubles.

Porsche Boxster first generation
Porsche Porsche Boxster first generation
Porsche Interior of the first generation Porsche Boxster
Porsche Porsche Boxster first generation
Porsche Interior of the first generation Porsche Boxster
Porsche Porsche Boxster first generation
Porsche

The second and most terrible of the typical problems of this motor is the intermediate shaft bearing, if destroyed, metal shavings can condemn the motor to replacement. Preventive replacement of this bearing will cost 150–250 thousand rubles in Russia, and if the bearing has already crumbled, then replacing the engine with a contract one will cost 400–600 thousand rubles.

Electrical equipment malfunctions with age: soft roof control units fail (replacement costs 40–60 thousand rubles), climate control unit (30–50 thousand rubles), crankshaft and camshaft position sensors. Specialized services involved in Porsche repairs in Russia charge from 5 thousand rubles to 12 thousand rubles per standard hour. Oil consumption on engines like the Boxster reaches 1 liter per 1 thousand kilometers, and this is considered the norm.

Maserati

On the secondary market in Russia, the fifth generation Quattroporte from 2004–2007 with the DuoSelect robotic gearbox is valued at 1.5–2.5 million rubles. With this budget, you can pick up a copy with a mileage of up to 150 thousand km and a well-preserved body. The engine is a naturally aspirated V8 4.2 with 400 hp, developed jointly with Ferrari.

The DuoSelect robotic gearbox is the main Achilles heel of this model. The fact is that the clutch life when used in the urban cycle does not exceed 20–30 thousand km, especially if the owner likes to accelerate at traffic lights. Replacing the DuoSelect clutch will cost the Russian owner of the Quattroporte 150–250 thousand rubles.

Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati Interior of Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati

Hydraulic actuators, pump and gearbox control unit regularly fail. Repairing or replacing the actuator costs from 100 thousand rubles. In addition, there are only a few DuoSelect specialists throughout the country; prices for their services start from 10 thousand rubles per standard hour of diagnostics.

The V8 engine from Ferrari requires an oil change every 10 thousand km: only high-quality 5W-40 oil is acceptable, 9-10 liters are needed. This is at least 15 thousand rubles for oil and filter. The spark plugs are changed along with the coils: a kit for an 8-cylinder engine will cost 40–60 thousand rubles.

The Quattroporte’s electronics are also capricious: the control units for doors, power windows and seats are at risk. Fuel consumption is also not encouraging: in the city it will take 22-25 liters of gasoline per 100 km.

Mercedes-Benz

With a budget of 2 million rubles, you can find a sedan of any of three generations on the secondary market: W140, W220 or W221. The W140 (1991–1998) has the main problem with the electrics. Wiring harnesses in the engine bay tend to fall apart in your hands due to the biodegradable insulation that was used in the 1990s. A complete replacement of a wiring harness in Russia costs about 150–200 thousand rubles.

Another scourge is body corrosion. The sills, wheel arches, lower parts of the doors and the trunk lid bloom even with good care. To eliminate corrosion and paint one element it will cost from 15,000 rubles. The next generation S-Class with the factory index W220, which was produced from 1998 to 2005, regularly breaks down the Airmatic air suspension.

Replacing one air strut in the service will cost at least 40 thousand rubles, a compressor – from 70 thousand rubles, an air suspension control unit – from 50 thousand rubles. The electrics of the W220 cannot be called reliable either: you will have to pay 30-50 thousand rubles to repair a faulty immobilizer unit.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class W220
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class W220
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221
Mercedes-Benz

The next generation W221 (2005–2013) has better build quality, but for 2 million rubles pre-styling copies from 2006–2008 with a mileage of 200–250 thousand km are offered. It should be taken into account that on diesel V-shaped sixes with the factory index OM642, particulate filters regularly become clogged and EGR valves fail.

Cleaning the filter will cost 30–50 thousand rubles, replacement – ​​100–200 thousand rubles. In gasoline V8s with the factory designation M273, the timing chains stretch: this is manifested by a characteristic ringing “when cold.” Fixing the malfunction will cost from 80 thousand rubles to 250 thousand rubles.

Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit sedan and its extended version Silver Spur from the early 1980s on the secondary market in Russia also fit into the budget of 2 million rubles. True, most often they were transported in the form of “cuts”, through the Far East from Japan.

Under the hood of the Silver Spirit is the legendary 6.75 liter V8 engine with a power of about 240–260 hp. with an outstanding torque reserve (about 500 Nm already from the bottom). The equipment includes hydropneumatic suspension, a hand-assembled interior with natural wood and leather, and natural wool carpets on the floor.

The age of such cars, as a rule, is over 40 years, and you should be prepared for the fact that all the rubber products (gaskets, seals, hoses, seals) on them have long since become stiff or crumbled and will begin to leak at the first serious trip. This applies to the engine, power steering and hydropneumatic suspension.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Silver Spur
Rolls-Royce

It is impossible to find spare parts for such machines in Russia: you will have to order them via roundabout routes from the USA, Great Britain or Germany. As a result, the most ordinary original cooling system pipe will cost 100–150 euros, and its delivery will take a month.

Original hydropneumatic suspension elements cost from 1 thousand euros per unit. Cars of this generation do not have catalysts and modern engine management systems, so they are relatively easy to repair in the garage, but only if you are a motor mechanic and electrician yourself.