Buying a car, used or new? Thats the question?

[paulip88]

I should be eating dinner...

Used cars are a better deal if you can afford the financing since the typical new car loses $10k+ in value the first year. However, used cars don't get the good financing or the same warranties. A compromise would be a certified used vehicle that has a warranty and financing.

For older cars (which you said you're not interested in), those are the best deals if you know cars (or a good mechanic).

One final note: Stay away from VW, new or used. I have a few friends who have had those cars and they've had multiple problems with them ('02 VW Golf - window assembly broke, ongoing intermittent engine light issues; '02 Audi A4 - persistent transmission problems, headlight wipers stopped working, suspension problems, eventually lemon lawed for a refund).

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
did you read the suggestion for the 9-2X Aero?

that is an ungodly price for a car that nice.

MIKE

I kinda checked the hot desl for it, its a wagon, right? Not sure I want a wagon, although it is a great deal. I will have to check it out, but like I said, I am not ready to buy yet. Probablly not for another month.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: paulip88
I should be eating dinner...

Used cars are a better deal if you can afford the financing since the typical new car loses $10k+ in value the first year. However, used cars don't get the good financing or the same warranties. A compromise would be a certified used vehicle that has a warranty and financing.

For older cars (which you said you're not interested in), those are the best deals if you know cars (or a good mechanic).

One final note: Stay away from VW, new or used. I have a few friends who have had those cars and they've had multiple problems with them ('02 VW Golf - window assembly broke, ongoing intermittent engine light issues; '02 Audi A4 - persistent transmission problems, headlight wipers stopped working, suspension problems, eventually lemon lawed for a refund).

So VW's have reliability issues, or just thing sbreak on them? Either way its not good.

 

[Ornery]

In the 30 years I've been driving, I've never owned a new car and NEVER had a car payment. Buy a car with a good, solid, foundation and just fix what breaks. You'll always need tires, batteries, exhaust systems and brakes, so you can count on that no matter what. If the car has solid engineering, you won't have to replace much more than normal wear items like that.

I'd NEVER buy a used "sports car", because it's almost guaranteed to be beat on.

 

[coolred]

Yeah I don't need a sports car, I wish I could afford to buy one outright without a payment, but thats not gonna be possible.

 

[isekii]

22k for a fully loaded Saab 9-2x turbo ~!!
Buy it~!

Du it Du it ....

 

[HOML]

What is your budge and what kind of car are you looking for?

 

[HOML]

Or check out the forum in my sig

 

[Ornery]

Can you swing $6,000? That's a good solid machine, that's easy and cheap to work on. Probably driven by a pokey old man, who had it regularly maintained at a dealer to boot!

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Can you swing $6,000? That's a good solid machine, that's easy and cheap to work on. Probably driven by a pokey old man, who had it regularly maintained at a dealer to boot!

Not everyone wants a Cab

 

[Ornery]

Why do you suppose they're used for cabs?

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: HOML
What is your budge and what kind of car are you looking for?

I posted a few posts up, I haven't set a budget yet. I will be making an extra grand per month with my new job, but not all of it will be for car payment, but I should be able to afford what I want.





Ornery, I can personally atest to that car being driven by an old man, my soon to be father in law drives one. Its too big of a car for me though. And no I don't have 6 grand I can just use to buy a car.

 

[Ornery]

Its too big of a car for me though.

Now you're sounding like my wife! :laugh:

Anyway, that's the best bang for the buck out there, that I can think of. I'd think the ride would sell itself. Test drive your father in law's. Maybe it will "grow" on you.

 

[coolred]

I don't mean to sound like your wife, but what the heck do i want to be driving around in something that big for? all that extra space would be going to waste, and its not that great on gas mileage, not bad, but its a V-8, again not something I need. I have never driven his car, but I have rode in it, and it just doesn't seem like a car I would own.

 

[Ornery]

For me, it's a matter of:

• Safety
• Dependability
• Ease & cost of repairs
• Comfort
• Cost to purchase & keep
• Parts compatiblity (with current cars) & availability
• Bells & Whistles, easy access, legroom, elbow room (all part of comfort)
• Serious trunk space & towing ability...

...stuff like that.

 

[coolred]

Thats understandable, but I am very short, I would be swimming in a car that big. I will admit the trunks in those things are huge. Can't say much for repair costs, I know he had to have something fixed on it, not the transmission itself, but something to deal with it, cost him like 500 bucks. Like I said though, I am not saying its a bad car or anything, but I don't think it would be a good fit for me.

 

[Ornery]

My in-laws have an Avalon, which is pretty roomy, especially in the trunk. My mother-in-law is just a tiny gal, and she navigates pretty well with it. That might fit you better, but you'll pay a mega premium for a used one.

They were quoted several hundred for a stinkin' brake job. I got it done for about $100.00. As long as it's a car I can work on, it will be cheap to keep. Their's is due for a timing belt now. I'm afraid I'm going to let that project go to a local, trusted, mechanic...

 

[Fenixgoon]

if you're considering the passat, just go for the A4 instead

 

[aidanjm]

get a bicycle instead

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
if you're considering the passat, just go for the A4 instead

Why exactly, I don't know much about the A4, thats an Audi right? Are they similar cars? I am not totally sure, since as I said, I don't know much about them, but are they the luxury division of VW?


aidanjm, I have a bicycle, but its not the greatest transportation in the winter when its 2 degrees out and there is a foot of snow on the ground and I have to go 15 miles somewhere, so I will stick to a car for now. Although I have considered getting a motorcycle(along with, not in place of a car)but I doubt the family would like that. And even I would be afraid of being hit by all the other crazy drivers out there.

 

[coolred]

What cars would you say have the best interiors from a drivers perspective. Not necessarily just how nice the interior material is, or how nice the seats feel, but thw whole package. I mean how easy is it to use everything, the best laid out cockpits, the most neat featrues that are great for the driver, stuff like that. As well as comfort and material quality. And lets keep this to cars under 30,000 grand. As much as I want a nice BMW, I just can't see spending that much on a car.

 

[coolred]

Alright, let me throw another wrinkle into the situation. MY current job gets me discounts at many differant auto dealers. So if I were to buy a new car just before I quit my current job, I could get in on these discounts. But they are only available on new cars, except for one of the local nissan dealers, they also provide a discount on some pre owned models. Although I am not sure if these discounts are worth much, as they may not even net me a lower price then what I could have got just haggling.

Heres the info:

DaimlerChrysler-offers a maximum of 1% below factory invoice on all 2004-2005 models, except Benz's and Vipers.
Ford/Mercury-A-Plan + 4% + $150
Lincoln-A-Plan + 4% + $250
Volvo-A-Plan + 2%
Land Rover & Jaguar-Dealer Invoice + 4%
General Motors-looks like thier emplyee price + 4% whatever that is
Mazda-Splan pricing
Nissan-dealer invoice+ 2.87%, and special pricing on pre owned models
Saturn-again GM employee price + 4%

Thats it, so are any of those deals worth looking into?

 

[OS]

I got my 03 accord for 18K new, today it has 45K miles and autotrader shows the same car, trim and mileage asks between 15K-16K in my area.

In a case like this, you'd have to be nuts to sacrifice warranty, new car financing, 45K of a car's most trouble free life in an attempt to save a little more than 15%.

Ignoring sales tax, if my car depreciated 3K over 45K miles, it costs me 7 cents a mile to drive this car. Hell, if I ran my own business and wrote off the mileage, I would make money off driving this car. If it weren't for sales tax, I would perpetually flip off new accords every 2 years.

 

[coolred]

I completely agree with you on that, thats what others have said, buying used hondas and toyotas, and soem others is not the best move.

Basically as others have stated, if the car offers high resale value, buy it new, if its resale values are low, then buy it used. Thats a good rule of thumb, but are there any situations where its not such a great idea?

 

[Ornery]

...lets keep this to cars under 30,000 grand...

Wow, there's a thought. I take it you don't own any real estate yet, but you're willing to take out a mortgage on a tool for transportation!

Even the thought of coughing up $20,000 for a car makes me cringe. Hell, there's even interest on top of that! I've got enough trouble keeping up with bills, without throwing a car payment into the mix. I'd certainly rather put that money toward property, which is exactly what I did!

Which is the better decision? Buying new or used?

Without owning your own home yet, it seems like a no-brainer to me!