Buying a new car - do you think I'm crazy?

[pbjmaker]

Quote:
My daughter has a 2006 Scion Xb and LOVES it to death. She 'bout got into a fight with her uncle when he called it a toaster with wheels.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

HA! I call mine a toaster all the time.

The great thing about the Scion Xb is that it will fit an 8' 2x4 and half a sheet of plywood. Coop building supplies!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Perhaps if you buy a ten year old car you may be getting somebody else's junk. In my opinion if you get a two or three year old, low to average mileage car, it's almost as good as new and any bugs should have been worked out by that time. The "assurance" of a full warranty is not worth the huge hit on depreciation that you'd take in those first couple of years. You could take that money you'll lose and pay for any out-of-warranty repairs many, many times over. You're better off setting aside money each month for repairs rather than relying on a very expensive warranty. I set aside $50 a month in our budget for auto repairs on three vehicles. I haven't used any of it in ten months, so I had $500 set aside this week when the wife's truck needed a $150 alternator and I spent $120 on yearly oil changes (we use synthetic, extended life oil). Barring any other unforeseen repairs, in a few months there will be enough there for a new set of tires on my truck.

 

[Mahonri]

I've been trying to convince my wife I need to dump my 2000 BMW (with only 71,000 miles on it) for a new Honda Pilot.

I've found that in marriage it always takes two people. The one that is always right and the husband. (Joke)

I imagine I'll soon be driving a used Ford Focus and we'll have new furniture in the family room.

Seriously, though, I'd make a compromise somewhere in the middle.

 

[silkiechicken]

I would not get a Mercedes or even a Benz if you don't want to pay out your rear for repairs. They are just not reliable as far as I've seen them. My Lexus has far less repair costs than those German cars, but it is still about 2x than that of Toyota despite being essentially the same thing.

If you're on a funding crunch as is, get something middle of the road and not brand new. Something 5 years old and checked out for soundness would be the best. My car is turning 18 in a few months and she's still pretty good for her age. Has nearly 160k miles and I'm sure she'll see 200k. Much MUCH better than my mom's Lincoln that is just two years older.


It's not just the up front cost, most of the cost of a car is it's maintenance.


She'll be getting a new timing belt for her 20th B-day. Dealer quotes 2400 for the job, but I know a shop that will do it for 1500. In contrast, the same timing belt on the Honda CRV is only 700 at the same shop and it's just as reliable... plus practical... has storage space...seats 5 instead of 2...can carry feed better... LOL But it certainly isn't as fun to drive.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Holy smokes! For a timing belt? Buy yourself some wrenches and a shop manual and save $1300.

I know most folks aren't too inclined to that sort of work, but I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money on repairs, I do everything myself, hence my mere $600 a year budget for repairs on three vehicles.

 

[AllAlaskan]

Alot of it depends on how well the vehicle has been taken care of too.

My ford Ranger has over 200k miles on it and still kicking, and it has had the crap beaten out of it too( used as a Daily Driver/hunting/fishing/hauling firewood truck). Its the second Ranger I have owned that has made it over 200k miles with the orignal Engine and tranny. Chances are after this one dies I will get another ranger, they are tough little trucks. And I use my trucks, they arnt just pavement pounders, they see trails and hard work.


But Hondas and Toyotas if they are taken care of will last a long time. I will say though that parts for my wifes old Toyota Celica were much more expensive than any of my domestics cost. Example a few years ago a ICM cost $550 for the celica, and just to see what it cost for my Chevy silvarado I had at the time it was $150. So parts on em can be spendy BUT they do have a long life if they are kept up on.


And If you can work on your cars your self they are alot cheeper to keep up on lol. I do most the work on my cars.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Holy smokes! For a timing belt? Buy yourself some wrenches and a shop manual and save $1300.

I know most folks aren't too inclined to that sort of work, but I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money on repairs, I do everything myself, hence my mere $600 a year budget for repairs on three vehicles.

I actually do most of my own work and have most of the tools. I even have the body, engine, and electrical manuals for the car.

I do all routine oil and fluid changes. I've even replaced my alternator and fan belt. However... that timing belt. That one is a doozy on the 2JZ engine, which I just don't have the time or all the tools for. It requires taking off the exhaust manifold and 15 billion steps. I usually get my spark plugs and wires changed at the same time as it's all taken apart to get to the timing belt anyways (the back two plugs are under the exhaust manifold). It doesn't seem too bad per se, as the "timing belt change" includes a water pump replacement, radiator flush, drive belt, and thermostat... as those all have to come apart/ are right there anyways for service.

So really... it's timing belt, drive belt, water pump, radiator flush, thermostat, spark plugs, and plug wires. Parts alone are something like 500 bucks so that is a big chunk.

Oh... and I got the car manuals before the cheap CD online versions... those three books cost me 240 bucks. Sure did make up for the cost of a aftermarket CD player though, as I was quoted 1200 in labor for a custom install. Said, no thank you. Spent 200 at crutchfield (which is totally awesome by the way) for a alpine head unit and did my own custom install. Then instead of paying for speaker install, I spent 200 on 4, 2 way speakers to replace the OEM ones and took apart the entire interior to re do them, all made possible by that book.


The next project is to replace the oem sub with one in the trunk!


But I agree, doing your own work saves a TON of cash