At what point do you get a new car?

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: spasm3
If you want something new, buy it and keep the existing car. Use it to drive to work and keep the miles down on the new one. Drive the old one in bad weather. Keep no more insurance on the old one than you need. ( keep plenty of liability though, just not comp and collision if the car is not worth it).

So buy a new car so that it can mainly sit in the garage and depreciate while you drive the old one and still have to pay to maintain it, register it, and insure it? We are a no fault state here so even basic liability insurance is expensive.

\

Its what i do, thats why my 03 avalanche only has 74k miles. New vehicles are expensive, i don't wear them out day to day. Drive them on the weekends or a few times a week, let the beater take the parking lot dings and the everyday miles.

 

[Chris142]

My daily driver is a 30 yr old f250. Its been all around. Only had 1 problem on a trip. The autozone alternator quit.

 

[Powerglide]

In can respect that.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: Powerglide
Those neighbors that are on the new car every couple years treadmill won't admit it. But they secretly admire your self reliance, fix it yourself, drive it forever M. O. and refusal to participate in the "keep up with the joneses" falsetto class stigma is a freedom many of them deseperaty wish they could be a part of. Their upper middle class sensibilities won't permit it. Yet they're still MISERABLE.


OR-they just buy a new car because they want to and are perfectly happy with their lives.......


Your post is a typical of the "anti-new car sentiment" I have frequently mentioned here on this forum.

 

[d00df00d]

Just gonna make up some numbers here; substitute your own and it works just the same.

Let's say:
- My car needs a $500 repair to get back on the road
- It's worth $1000 as it sits
- I've been averaging $700 a month in total ownership costs -- fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, payments, everything.

The question is this: What kind of car could I get with a $1500 downpayment and a $700 monthly budget, or less?

If it's better than what I have now, I should go for it. If not, I should stick with my current car -- unless I'm willing and able to shell out more.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: spasm3
If you want something new, buy it and keep the existing car. Use it to drive to work and keep the miles down on the new one. Drive the old one in bad weather. Keep no more insurance on the old one than you need. ( keep plenty of liability though, just not comp and collision if the car is not worth it).

So buy a new car so that it can mainly sit in the garage and depreciate while you drive the old one and still have to pay to maintain it, register it, and insure it? We are a no fault state here so even basic liability insurance is expensive.

\

Its what i do, thats why my 03 avalanche only has 74k miles. New vehicles are expensive, i don't wear them out day to day. Drive them on the weekends or a few times a week, let the beater take the parking lot dings and the everyday miles.

Where I live, price difference between an '03 Avalanche with 75k miles and one with 150k miles is about $1,600. Over 14 years of ownership, I would have spent a ton more than $1,600 if I had to keep another car alongside it.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I say buy one because you *want* one. You only live once,life is short,so enjoy life and have fun!!

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
I've had the same car for the last 10 years, purchased new and maintained well. It has 136k and has some mild surface rust, nothing major. It is still my daily driver, and my only car.

I live in a rather rural area, and winters can be pretty brutal. I'd hate to be stranded if I ever had to get somewhere, although this car hasn't let me down yet.

Run it into the ground, or sell it while it's still running and get something new?


What do you currently drive ?

If you are bored and can afford a new vehicle, go for it.

 

[ZZman]

Usually when my kids need a car. They get mine and I get another. I am pretty sure I will never get a actual "new" car again.

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted By: Powerglide
Those neighbors that are on the new car every couple years treadmill won't admit it. But they secretly admire your self reliance, fix it yourself, drive it forever M. O. and refusal to participate in the "keep up with the joneses" falsetto class stigma is a freedom many of them deseperaty wish they could be a part of. Their upper middle class sensibilities won't permit it. Yet they're still MISERABLE.


Lots of wealthy people don't get a new vehicle every 2-3 years.

 

[69GTX]

Just went through this same drill a week ago on my 2002 Lincoln with 78K miles. Sell it and get another 30K mile vehicle in the 7 year old range for $9,000. Or make the current $3K valued car go another 5-10 yrs hoping no major engine or trans repairs occur. It's a roll of the dice. My last Lincoln went 232K miles/8 years on original drive train. This one is short tripped more so it will never run up more than 140K miles for me. The short trips are much tougher on the drive train.

For now, I'm keeping it as the kind of full size V8 sedan I'd expect for $8K-$9K doesn't seem to be very available in my region. If a low mileage cream puff shows up in my area in the near future, I just might change my mind.

 

[oilpsi2high]

Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
When it bends like a noodle behind the drivers seat...

Drove it to the junkyard with the middle dragging the ground...

276,000, 1980 Pontiac Phoenix (X-car) with 4 cylinder Iron Duke...


Epic!

My plan is to race it in the 24 hours of lemons when the time comes, and then retire it to the junkyard. lol

 

[The_Jeff]

When it gets to this point: sad, sad day

 

[Pajero]

My Montero is 23 years old with 125,xxxx. I've always done preventive maintenance and never been stranded. Did 1000 miles mountain driving in Colorado. I hope to get another 20 years. I use the truck to it's full potential, yet I baby it with care. I guess it depends on the environment. No salt is used in winter in New Mexico, so I have rust issues..................different strokes for different folks, as my grandfather always said.

Cheers,

Pajero

 

[oilpsi2high]

I just started the oil underspray a few years ago.

I did have rust on the trunklid. I used POR 15 and it hasn't come back in two years, solid as a rock.

On the doors, I didn't use POR 15, but just wire wheeled and painted the spots. It's starting to come back, so that POR 15 definitely works.

 

[Pajero]

Don't have rust issues, sorry typo couldn't correct.......gosh darn it

 

[Andrew1972]

When vehicle is worth less then $3.5k and the the AC finally dies.

 

[Panzerman]

You will never justify the cost of a new car over repairing a old car. This value game is what the dealership wants you think and plants that in your head.
True you can put a quarter in a old car and it's not worth a nickle more and a new car just deprieated about 10% with that first tank of gas too.
What you have to consider is if I buy a new car or another car would I spend that much in repairs and even if you put a new motor or transmission in, it's probably still lower.
Truth is you get a new car because YOU want a new car, no other reason. These people that buy cars and then drive a old car to save mileage and preserve the car is total ludicrous. It's a car, it devaluates. Now buying a winter beater isn't the same and that makes sense buying a new Mustang and saving it, makes no sense because next year they will be nicer, redesigned and you now have a low miles trade in that your still going to take a beating on and that got no value out of but the next guy will love you.
Buy it, drive it and enjoy it and when your sick of it, buy a new car because you after all want that new redesigned Mustang.

 

[Dave9]

I don't get a new car. Cradle to grave. DIY and it makes sense. Just DO get a new car if'/when needed to have a spare. Redundancy is good.

 

[ecotourist]

Interesting question. The most common reason we buy a new car is to replace a car.

My wife said she was embarrassed to be seen driving our rusty '63 Chevy II. It was still reliable, but one front fender was quite rusty. You have to keep peace in the family.

My '65 Comet left us at the side of a dangerous stretch of road twice. I think it actually needed a new ignition coil. But I had lost confidence in the car, and anyway it was smoking and using oil and starting to rust.

My '78 Fiesta was jinxed. Every body panel (including the hood and the roof) had been dented at some point. Switches and knobs came off in my hands. The heater controls didn't work properly. The heater fan was making a lot of noise - and looked like it would be a monster to repair. Time to let someone else worry about it.

The other reason we buy a new car is because someone in the family needs a car or needs a better car - which means they get our old car and we get a new one. That has happened 3 times.

We used to drive 2 cars and both needed to be reliable. If we bought a new car every 7 years, and got rid of the 14 year old one, we would always have 2 reliable cars. The newer one becomes the main car, the older one becomes the around town car. That was the plan anyway.

I currently have an 10 year old car and a 17 year old car. Both are low mileage, running fine and relatively rust free. No reason to get a new one. Unless I find a really nice Triumph TR3 or TR4! And anyway my next car may be electric and the longer I wait the better they get.