Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
New cars are becoming less and less attractive. There's maybe 1-2 cars in each segment that I actually like.
I would rather spend money used towards a car payment to upgrade parts as they wear out on my current car, which is going on 12 years old soon. And in the South, cars don't die from rust. I plan on keeping mine around until either the engine or transmission dies.
Wife and I were in this dilemma earlier this year. Was a debate of buying a new vehicle with payments from $300 too $600 a month or paying straight cash for a beater. We wound up picking up two beaters for under $5000. One a model and year I had years ago that ran too just under 350xxx miles before dying, the other, a spare 4x4. The 4x4 now has a leaky power steering pump, 1st real issue, $60 fix the 1st one i just took too our mechanic too put in new plugs. When we went too pick it up, he offered too buy it from us. Said it was one of the cleanest vehicles he had ever seen engine wise still going (94 Ford Ranger). Im not a fan of payments, when we 1st got married we had one paid for and one with payments. After 5 years of payments, our 5 year old car was worth an eighth of what we paid for it. Im not highly impressed with the styling of vehicles nowadays, and even my 13 year old daughter made the comment all the current cars look identical, theres no originality these days. When you drive it off the lot, you used too lose 2/3 of what you agreed too pay, now you lose 3/4. There is no value in cars these days unless your looking at boutique cars. Just my 2 cents.
