Anyone try and buy a new car in the last couple of years?

[Brainonska511]

I found a nearby dealer who sells at MSRP, so after putting a $500 deposit down, I got put in line for an allocation. Next month, should be getting my Elantra Hybrid - a 6 month wait. I haven't been in a huge rush to replace our car, but it is getting old and seems to be developing a few gremlins.

I did try for an Insight earlier in the year, but the discontinuation of the model and Honda dealers jerking around on the price with 'market adjustment' soured me on those dealers and the brand.

 

[Captante]

If you can afford it I can certainly see the attraction of driving a new car every year or two..... pretty crappy for the environment though.

 

[blackangst1]

I just got off the phone with the internet mgr at the only Costco dealership in the Phx area (which is an hour away). We're pretty flexible on the trim level we want, but she said when we find a model we want, she'll plug that into the Costco pricing, and we'll get the discount. She also said they get allocations about twice/month, and they'll actually deliver to us so we dont have to make the drive. All in all, the service provided by Lexus has been like the first time I bought one...SUPERIOR.

Now to be patient lol

 

[blackangst1]

If you can afford it I can certainly see the attraction of driving a new car every year or two..... pretty crappy for the environment though.

For sure. We usually get a new car every 3 or so years.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've looked for fun, but can't justify paying so much for something that is not going to last my life time, and they have easily gone up by 10-20k in the past few years. Completely absurd. If you go with gas there are some cheaper options like the Chevy Spark for around 20k but it seems everything else is like 40k minimum and if you get into EVs you're looking at closer to 70k. And inventory is pretty much non existent so they actually can justify these prices, that's the worse part. People who badly want to buy new are going to be willing to pay that.

Probably going to hang on to my rusty F150 for the foreseeable future. Even used car/truck prices are insane now. If ever my truck breaks down and it's not economical to repair I will probably compromise with whatever I can get for cheap even if it's not a truck and just get a trailer for it.

 

[Captante]

Buy a Toyota Camry, Corolla or Prius .... it might not actually last your entire life but it can sure as hell feel like it!



Seriously all three kinda suck to drive but they're made of freaking "indestructium".

 

[blackangst1]

I've looked for fun, but can't justify paying so much for something that is not going to last my life time, and they have easily gone up by 10-20k in the past few years. Completely absurd. If you go with gas there are some cheaper options like the Chevy Spark for around 20k but it seems everything else is like 40k minimum and if you get into EVs you're looking at closer to 70k. And inventory is pretty much non existent so they actually can justify these prices, that's the worse part. People who badly want to buy new are going to be willing to pay that.

Probably going to hang on to my rusty F150 for the foreseeable future. Even used car/truck prices are insane now. If ever my truck breaks down and it's not economical to repair I will probably compromise with whatever I can get for cheap even if it's not a truck and just get a trailer for it.

I understand the attraction of driving an older truck (notwithstanding the economical reasons); however, my wife drives 40 miles one way for work so a cheap used car will do nothing but give her back problems. She drove a Honda Civic till 212k miles, but when we got out first Lexus she felt so much better. Theres something to be said for a luxury car (if you can afford it!).

But...a Chevy Spark? LOL I would hate to get in an accident in one of those! Death trap!

edit: full disclosure: we also own a paid off 2020 Ford Escape, but I work 100% at home so it gets driven less than 100 miles/month. No intention of getting rid of that. But wife, as I mentioned, commutes alot, and to repeat what I already said, driving a luxury car while commuting is amazing (although the only luxury car I would own is a Lexus or Acura due to low repair costs).

 

[Captante]

But...a Chevy Spark? LOL I would hate to get in an accident in one of those! Death trap!

I test-drove a Chevy Sonic which was essentially the same as the Spark in size the same day I bought my Honda Fit and the difference was night and day... that thing was crap. (one of the lowest rated cars period vs one of the highest rated small cars ever so no real surprise there)

Crazy thing is if you told me I would LOVE my tiny Honda before I got it I would have said you were nuts but the only car I've owned that I genuinely liked more then the Fit was my Green Volvo 850 Turbo which I "chipped" to up the boost-limit ... that thing flew! (It outran my buddies '94 stock Mustang GT)

 

[Captante]

although the only luxury car I would own is a Lexus or Acura due to low repair costs

Unfortunately much as I love Honda (Acura = Honda deluxe) they have not kept up with Toyota/Lexus in pure reliability.... they are however still better than any American-made car.

At least they didn't merge with Renault and go right into the crapper like Nissan! (or Mitsubishi with Cry-Sler!)

 

[blackangst1]

Unfortunately much as I love Honda (Acura = Honda deluxe) they have not kept up with Toyota/Lexus in pure reliability.... they are however still better than any American-made car.

And at least they didn't merge with Renault and go right into the crapper like Nissan! (or Mitsubishi with Cry-Sler!)

Youre right. Thus why we're looking at my second Lexus (have an Acura now. Its been reliable, but it aint a Lexus as far as build quality).

 

[crashtech]

Unfortunately much as I love Honda (Acura = Honda deluxe) they have not kept up with Toyota/Lexus in pure reliability.... they are however still better than any American-made car.

At least they didn't merge with Renault and go right into the crapper like Nissan! (or Mitsubishi with Cry-Sler!)

Our '09 Accord has been rock-solid. Most expensive repairs by 240K have been a starter, and then axle bearings and axles, the latter being 75% prophylactic because 1 part was just barely starting to be noisy around corners. Even at its age it still drives and handles great, too.

 

[Captante]

Youre right. Thus why we're looking at my second Lexus (have an Acura now. Its been reliable, but it aint a Lexus as far as build quality).

The trick is you have to read Consumer-Reports AND Car & Driver!

Choosing the Honda over the Chevy Sonic was a complete no-brainer just based on reputation however if I didn't have advance-knowledge and went with what "felt good" only I would have very likely went with the decked out near-mint Mini-Cooper I also test-drove for the same $7200 as the Honda.

Those things have single common repair-jobs that cost nearly as much as the entire car is worth! Half the time I can fix any issues with the Honda myself for cheap.

 

[Captante]

Our '09 Accord has been rock-solid. Most expensive repairs by 240K have been a starter, and then axle bearings and axles, the latter being 75% prophylactic because 1 part was just barely starting to be noisy around corners. Even at it's age it still drives and handles great, too.

Bad news.... 2009 was 14 model-years ago! (well before Honda got worse... plus we're freaking getting old!)

My Fit is a 2012 "Base" and it's been very close to as reliable/economical as my last Corolla (which was literally unkillable) while also being fun to drive due mainly to the 5-speed manual.

 

[Red Squirrel]

But...a Chevy Spark? LOL I would hate to get in an accident in one of those! Death trap!

Haha yeah that would not be my first choice lol. Though if I really wanted to buy new I would be looking at whatever I can get in that price range. Better off spending that money on something used that will fit my needs better though.

 

[Captante]

Haha yeah that would not be my first choice lol. Though if I really wanted to buy new I would be looking at whatever I can get in that price range. Better off spending that money on something used that will fit my needs better though.

I've never had the misfortune to drive a current Mitsubishi Mirage which is known as the "worst new car money can buy" in 2022 by many, (with 78 raging ponies!) but as I mentioned I HAVE driven the ICE version of the Chevy Spark and it sucked big-time.

Shame GM decided to re-use the trashed "Sonic" nameplate after the 2019 rework/update of the car making it slightly larger and a nicer place to be. (you may have seen one on the road and confused it with a Hyundai Accent)