‘Stop buying ’em. Buy a Toyota’: Mechanic goes viral after brutal rant about luxury car owners who can’t handle one thing

A Chicago mechanic has gone viral after calling out luxury car owners who complain about repair costs. Rob Wa, who goes by @toyotarobb on social media, posted a Facebook Reel that has been viewed more than 11,000 times. In the video, he criticizes people who buy expensive cars but get upset when maintenance bills arrive.

“You buy these fancy cars, you want all the work done to them. When you find out what it costs, it costs too much money,” Wa said in the Facebook clip. “Stop buying them. Buy a Toyota.” He explained that many customers bring in cars like the BMW X1 with tire problems or brake issues and act surprised when the repair estimate is high.

According to Motor1, Wa said owners often pretend they don’t know how bad the problem really is. He mimicked customers saying their brakes “just started” making noise, suggesting they waited too long to fix the issue and now face bigger bills.

Mechanics across the country are dealing with the same problem

Many mechanics commented on Wa’s video, sharing similar experiences with luxury car owners. Several pointed out that people often buy used German luxury cars with 80,000 to 100,000 miles on them. These vehicles need expensive repairs at this point, including suspension parts, brakes, wheel bearings, and electronic systems.

Even cheaper luxury models like the BMW X1 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class still use premium parts that cost more than regular car parts. One mechanic recalled being told early in his career that “everyone wants a Mercedes, but no one has Mercedes repair money.” Another said that just because someone can afford monthly payments doesn’t mean they can afford to maintain the car.

Data from RepairPal shows that BMW ranks below average for long-term reliability compared to Toyota and Honda. The brand also has higher annual repair costs. Consumer Reports has found that European luxury brands are less reliable than Japanese brands, especially as cars get older and drive more miles. While some drivers face unexpected issues with their vehicles, luxury car owners deal with consistently higher repair bills.

Mechanics also explained that modern luxury cars need special tools and software to diagnose problems. Shops must pay for manufacturer subscriptions just to access these systems, which adds to repair costs. Luxury cars have more technology packed into smaller spaces, making even simple repairs take longer. 

Features like multi-link suspensions and adaptive brakes require more labor hours than basic car systems. Some newer vehicles even come with technology that frustrates their owners, adding another layer of complexity to ownership.

Some people in the comments accused shops of overcharging. But shops must cover liability, provide warranties, and invest in training and equipment. The main issue is that used luxury cars lose value quickly, making them seem affordable to buy. However, maintenance costs stay high regardless of how much the car is worth. A used BMW might cost less than a Honda Accord, but fixing it will always cost more.