Originally Posted By: fdcg27
There have been a number of posts showing that buying used saves nothing over buying new since the lower acquisition cost is typically made up for in more immediate need for maintenance and repair.
I've bought both new and used and have not typically found buying new to be any more costly over the lifecycle of a car if you run the car for its entire practical lifespan and then sell it as a beater. A used car is much farther along the path to beaterdom than is one bought new and with a new car you control maintenance and know its history from day 1 which will never be the case with one bought used.
If you want to own something you couldn't have afforded new or that you'd have considered simply too extravagant, like the guy on here who bought a used E class with all the toys for pennies on the new dollar, then that's a different story.
Depreciation over the first years, especially year one, is much higher than the equivalent number of years of maintenance.
Many years later when depreciation is much less, sure, your point starts to have potential validity.
There have been a number of posts showing that buying used saves nothing over buying new since the lower acquisition cost is typically made up for in more immediate need for maintenance and repair.
I've bought both new and used and have not typically found buying new to be any more costly over the lifecycle of a car if you run the car for its entire practical lifespan and then sell it as a beater. A used car is much farther along the path to beaterdom than is one bought new and with a new car you control maintenance and know its history from day 1 which will never be the case with one bought used.
If you want to own something you couldn't have afforded new or that you'd have considered simply too extravagant, like the guy on here who bought a used E class with all the toys for pennies on the new dollar, then that's a different story.
Depreciation over the first years, especially year one, is much higher than the equivalent number of years of maintenance.
Many years later when depreciation is much less, sure, your point starts to have potential validity.