New Armada NISMO vs. The Used Market - What Else Can ~$85k Buy?

[Vinny Value]

Hey everyone. I've been following all the discussions about the upcoming Armada Nismo with a lot of interest. The specs are impressive, but there's one thing I haven't seen anyone talk about: the opportunity cost. Everyone is assuming this truck will land somewhere in the $80,000 - $85,000 range. Before you get too excited about paying that for a Nissan, have you looked at what else that kind of money buys on the 2-to-3-year-old used market?

I just spent 30 minutes on Autotrader, and here's what I found:

- 2023 Porsche Cayenne S: Better performance, a much more prestigious badge, and superior handling. About $85k with low miles.
- 2023 Lincoln Navigator Black Label: Way more luxury and interior space for the whole family. Around $80k.
- Certified Pre-Owned 2023 BMW X7 M60i: You get the German engineering, 500+ horsepower, and a factory-backed CPO warranty. Right in the same price ballpark.
- 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor: A completely different kind of performance and arguably the king of off-roading. About $80-85k.

I get the appeal of a new car, but are the new car smell and a full factory warranty really worth passing up one of these arguably more capable or more luxurious vehicles for the exact same money? Seems like a tough sell to me.

 

[ArmadaBound]

Hey everyone. I've been following all the discussions about the upcoming Armada Nismo with a lot of interest. The specs are impressive, but there's one thing I haven't seen anyone talk about: the opportunity cost. Everyone is assuming this truck will land somewhere in the $80,000 - $85,000 range. Before you get too excited about paying that for a Nissan, have you looked at what else that kind of money buys on the 2-to-3-year-old used market?

I just spent 30 minutes on Autotrader, and here's what I found:

- 2023 Porsche Cayenne S: Better performance, a much more prestigious badge, and superior handling. About $85k with low miles.
- 2023 Lincoln Navigator Black Label: Way more luxury and interior space for the whole family. Around $80k.
- Certified Pre-Owned 2023 BMW X7 M60i: You get the German engineering, 500+ horsepower, and a factory-backed CPO warranty. Right in the same price ballpark.
- 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor: A completely different kind of performance and arguably the king of off-roading. About $80-85k.

I get the appeal of a new car, but are the new car smell and a full factory warranty really worth passing up one of these arguably more capable or more luxurious vehicles for the exact same money? Seems like a tough sell to me.

Welcome! That's the classic "used luxury vs. new mainstream" argument, but it has a huge flaw. You're not just buying a used Porsche or BMW; you're buying a future full of expensive, out-of-warranty repairs. There's a saying: "Nothing is more expensive than a cheap German luxury car." The moment that CPO warranty is up on the X7, a single air suspension failure or an infotainment glitch could be a $5,000 bill. The maintenance costs for things like tires and brakes are also significantly higher.

I'll take the peace of mind of a brand-new, top-to-bottom factory warranty on the NISMO every single time. It's not just about the new car smell; it's about predictable running costs and knowing that no one else has thrashed on my high-performance engine before I got it.

 

[TrailHybrid]

This is a dangerous, dangerous discussion for me. You've hit on my biggest weakness: finding the best value. I hadn't really considered a CPO vehicle. The idea of getting a 2-year-old BMW X7 M60i with its V8 power, luxury interior, and a factory warranty for the same price as the Armada NISMO is incredibly tempting. You get a proven, higher-tier vehicle for the same money. It minimizes the risk of buying used. @ArmadaBound has a point about long-term repairs after the CPO warranty expires, but that's still a few years down the road. This completely re-opens my search. I have some more research to do...

 

[DIY_Dad]

Hey everyone. I've been following all the discussions about the upcoming Armada Nismo with a lot of interest. The specs are impressive, but there's one thing I haven't seen anyone talk about: the opportunity cost. Everyone is assuming this truck will land somewhere in the $80,000 - $85,000 range. Before you get too excited about paying that for a Nissan, have you looked at what else that kind of money buys on the 2-to-3-year-old used market?

I just spent 30 minutes on Autotrader, and here's what I found:

- 2023 Porsche Cayenne S: Better performance, a much more prestigious badge, and superior handling. About $85k with low miles.
- 2023 Lincoln Navigator Black Label: Way more luxury and interior space for the whole family. Around $80k.
- Certified Pre-Owned 2023 BMW X7 M60i: You get the German engineering, 500+ horsepower, and a factory-backed CPO warranty. Right in the same price ballpark.
- 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor: A completely different kind of performance and arguably the king of off-roading. About $80-85k.

I get the appeal of a new car, but are the new car smell and a full factory warranty really worth passing up one of these arguably more capable or more luxurious vehicles for the exact same money? Seems like a tough sell to me.

Welcome to the community! You've just described the exact rabbit hole I try to avoid falling into! It's incredibly tempting to see what a little bit of depreciation gets you. My brain agrees with ArmadaBound, though. I'm the guy who will be doing the repairs myself once the warranty is up. The thought of diagnosing a problem with the complex electronics or hydraulic suspension on a used Porsche Cayenne gives me a headache. A brand-new vehicle, especially one with a relatively straightforward (though new) powertrain like the Armada's, means I have years of stress-free driving and a much simpler machine to understand and maintain in the long run.

For me, the "value" isn't just the purchase price; it's the total cost of ownership, including my own time and sanity. A new car warranty is worth its weight in gold from that perspective.

 

[QX_Luxury]

Vinny Value raises the most intelligent question in the world of premium automobiles. In fact, I would take his argument a step further. Why buy a new mainstream performance SUV when you can have a certified flagship luxury vehicle for the same price? A CPO BMW X7 or Mercedes GLS offers not only a higher tier of engineering and material quality but also the elevated service experience that comes with a true luxury brand. The CPO warranty mitigates the immediate risk, and the ownership experience is fundamentally different.

While ArmadaBound is correct about the potential for higher long-term costs, the savvy luxury buyer often doesn't keep these vehicles much past the CPO warranty period. They enjoy the vehicle during its most reliable years and then trade it for the next certified model. It's a way to experience a $120,000 vehicle for an $85,000 price of entry. For those who understand this cycle, it's the only way to buy.

 

[BigTex]

I'll tell you what else around $85k buys: a brand-new, top-of-the-line Ford Expedition Platinum with the Stealth Performance package and a full, unstarted 3 year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Why would I want someone else's 2 year old German SUV with a shorter remaining warranty when I can have a brand new American one with more space, more towing capacity, and a warranty that starts the day I buy it? You're not just inheriting the vehicle; you're inheriting the previous owner's problems and wear-and-tear. The "value" of a used luxury car disappears the second you have to pay for a major repair out of pocket. I'll take new, American made, and fully-covered every day of the week.

 

[ArmadaBound]

This is a small community, but I'm loving it more and more every day. Every single one of you is making a point that makes me second guess myself.

@QX_Luxury, the idea of driving a CPO luxury vehicle and trading it in before the warranty expires is a brilliant financial strategy - if you have the discipline to follow it. I tend to get attached to my cars.

@DIY_Dad, you and I are on the same page. The fear of diagnosing a complex German electronic issue in my own garage is very real.

@BigTex, your argument for the new Expedition is maybe the most powerful one for a family man. More space, a full warranty, and a lower price than the German options is a tough combination to beat.

But after all this, I keep coming back to the same thing: The Armada NISMO is new. It's different. It's a special edition that no one else will have. Buying a used X7 or a common Expedition just doesn't have that same appeal. I'm not just buying a mode of transportation; I'm buying a unique experience. I want to be part of the community that gets built around this specific, weird, wonderful truck. For me, the heart wants what it wants. And my heart wants the NISMO. I think I'm willing to accept the compromises to have something that truly excites me.