By David Kiley and David Welch

Luxury on a Budget

Besieged by layoff fears, falling home values, and shrinking 401(k) accounts, even wealthy U.S. consumers are having to make sacrifices. Many are having to trade down, whether it means buying a new Kenmore instead of a Sub-Zero fridge, or going to J.C. Penney instead of Brooks Brothers. Autos are no exception. In January and February, according to Edmunds.com, Toyota was the top brand traded into by owners of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus vehicles. BusinessWeek Senior Correspondent David Kiley and Detroit Bureau Chief David Welch have 20 suggestions for trade-ins that will help luxury-car owners save money—and face.
(Prices, from Edmunds.com, reflect base prices and factory incentives. Dealers may discount, or additional features may add thousands at the high end.)

Business Exchange related topics:
Low-Cost Cars
Consumer Spending
Global Auto Industry