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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 2:21 PM

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I have a car, that I *just* paid off. And it works. Why buy a new one NOW?

Also, my friend has a car that doesn't have AC any more, is barely running - but since he isn't actively repairing anything on it, his operating cost is pretty much only gas and regular oil changes. So, even though his car is a piece of junk, will he be buying a new car any time soon? No.

14 replies

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April 2, 2009 1:37 AM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese:
Take out the cost of any oil changes and you have my car.
I plan on buying one when I get a cheaper apartment.

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April 1, 2009 7:49 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: I think you misread his statement like I did, he said \"Never over insure your beaters\"

My car is heading towards beater status, hence why I don't have collision coverage on it anymore, but I still keep Liability, property damage, comprehensive, and uninsured drivers insurance on my car.

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April 1, 2009 9:18 PM

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@theblackdog: You are correct. My earlier sarcasm laden comment from before the \"beater car lifestyle\" one WAS about not insuring and not inspecting. I truely do not advocate that...

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Traveshamockery

April 1, 2009 3:29 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese: If you're like me, and are lucky enough to have a spewing oil leak, you don't even need oil changes...just pour in new oil, and the old comes out the bottom! Viola!

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April 1, 2009 3:59 PM

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@Coach Cal Is My Dream Weaver: Now THAT is convenient!

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April 1, 2009 3:23 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: Yeah, I cheer on thrift until thrift results in a car breaking down on the center lane of the highway at 8:00am and makes me late for work. Thrift can die in a fire at that point.

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 4:10 PM

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@Kaellorian: Yeah especially in this economy in which the bosses who are laying off people are taking into consideration a lot more than just work performance. I'm not about to risk my job because I can't be bothered to have more reliable transportation. It's one thing if the bus you're on breaks down, it's another to drive a car that barely goes.

And emissions/inspection tests are nothing to scoff at - if your car doesn't pass, you're up to your knees in repair costs.

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Anonymous

April 1, 2009 2:43 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese:

And how about when state inspections time comes? Is it worth it to put $1-2k into fixing the car OR put that as a downpayment toward a new, incentive-full car? Things to consider

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 5:38 PM

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@AmbrosineBabawaba: @Hil-fish: What state inspections? I live in Florida.

@nakedscience: Even then, he will have only put off the cost of purchasing a new car - and theoretically, they should be cheaper by then anyway. How is running a car into the ground, and then buying a new one less cost effective then giving away a car with residual value and buying a new one?

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Blinky987

April 1, 2009 5:59 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese: Cool story bro.

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April 1, 2009 5:54 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese: Unless it breaks on the side of the road (\"barley running\" to me isn't the same as \"very old but still running decently!\" -- it means it'll die any minute now), and then he'll have to pay to get it towed, call in to work, then pay to get it fixed so he's not without a car...

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April 1, 2009 2:34 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese: \" is barely running\"

What happens when \"barely running\" turns into \"dead on the side of the road\", though? I understand wanting to get as much use from a car as possible, but \"barely running\" to me means \"will die soon and then I'll be screwed and it will cost me more in the long run.\"

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gStein_*|bringing starpipe back|*

April 1, 2009 4:39 PM

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What happens when \"barely running\" turns into \"dead on the side of the road\"

in my family, we call those Found On Roadside Dead.
also known as FORD.

okok, all kidding aside, when it does die, THEN buy a new car, unless he thinks it's worth his time/energy to pawn his dying car off on someone else before it completely dies. (it helps if you have no moral issue doing this, btw.)
think about this- the shelf bar on my refrigerator is cracked, GE wants me to pay $40 to replace it. right now, it's fairly functional, and will probably last 6 more months before it dies. should i replace it now, or wait until it FAILS, then replace it? (NOTE: please no banking parallels)

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April 1, 2009 6:01 PM

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The first rule of the \"driving beater car\" [or the \"earth friendly recycled car\"] lifestyle is:

1. Never own only one beater. Own several cars of the same value. Sure you can own one $6000 car but why not own three $2000 cars or mix and match and go for a compact commuter, a minivan, and small pickup all worth $2000 each. Or make sure you have access to extra cars via relatives, friends, or work, etc. If you can concentrate on one model car even the better for parts exchanging, wheel tire swapping, etc.

And the second rule is:
2. Work on your own cars. This here internet thingee helps alot to source repair info and inexpensive parts.

3. Never over insure your beaters. Insurance is always cheaper since you never ever get theft/fire on beaters. Even if it means leaving the doors unlocked and an older cassette radio sitting on the passenger seat hooked up via long wires into the dash for the crack heads to get without breaking the windows.

RE your refrigerator shelf bar could probably be fixed with the right combo of glue or using a substitute rod inplace of it. Don't wait until it is totally broken but get in there with epoxy and say a chunk of broken plastic CD case to reinforce it from behind.

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 6:15 PM

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@econobiker: If you get into a car crash and you're not insured, doesn't the other person's insurance have to foot the bill even if you're the one at fault? Or do you just have to pay out of pocket?

I'm actually curious about this.

/has never gone uninsured

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theboomboomcars

April 1, 2009 9:46 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: The person at fault is responsible for paying for the accident, so if you cause the accident you get to pay for it, which is why having insurance is good, then you have someone to make up the difference between what you have and what you are responsible for.

You cause the accident the other person doesn't have to give you any money.

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April 1, 2009 9:16 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: Typically the other person's insurance pays for their car repairs/ hospital.

Then the insurance company lawyers come after you and sue you to recover the amounts. Garnish you until you retire if need be. That is why most uninsured drivers usually have very little to be sued for anyhow or are illegal immigrants using bogus names and driving a buy-here/pay-here dealer car which is only one payment away from being repo-ed.

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April 3, 2009 3:19 PM

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@econobiker: I'm with you on not over-insuring the CAR. Having a higher limit on uininsured and underinsured motorist coverage is important. People with bargain basement insurance that have the minimum 20K UM/UIM policies will wind up screwed over if they're involved in a serious injury with an under/uninsured motorist.

Without that higher coverage, you had better hope that the negligent driver has discoverable assets. Common sense will tell you that most UM/UIM drivers will not have friendly looking balance sheets.

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April 1, 2009 5:46 PM

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@gStein: But a car is not a fridge. A dead fridge isn't going to strand you on the side of the road and make you late to work. Or not pass emissions.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 5:39 PM

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@gStein: Exactly, why waste remaining value on something for the convenience of having a new one now?

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April 1, 2009 5:05 PM

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@gStein: My favorite one of those is Fiat, which stands for \"Fix it again, Tony.\"

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 3:02 PM

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@nakedscience: Yeah there's a lot to account for when you need reliability. If I get stuck on the side of the highway during rush hour - no one's coming to get me out of that mess without sitting in an hour of rush hour traffic themselves. I'd rather feel safe that I'm in a reliable vehicle.

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April 1, 2009 3:09 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: Exactly. No a/c? That's fine. But \"barely running\" to me means \"time to get a new car\" (if one can afford it, of course).

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Hil-fish

April 1, 2009 2:31 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese: But does your friend live in a state that requires annual inspections? Because if he does, and his car really is \"barely running,\" he might be much better off getting a new car and donating/selling the old one. A friend of mine had a car that was doing more than just barely running, but it couldn't pass state inspection without several thousand dollars in repairs, and it was more cost-effective to get a new car then to try to fix the old one. And, frankly, if he's looking at replacing the clunker sometime in the next couple of years, he might be better off buying now, when deals are awesome, than trying to wring more life out of the clunker.

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April 1, 2009 5:46 PM

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@Hil-fish:
You are never \"better off getting a new car\" than either fixing the old one or buying a newer, better condition used car. The interest and costs to buy a new car can be crushing.

Another cure for that issue is to have a domicile in a state or county which does not have annual inspections. You can often get cheaper insurance that way too.

This is illegal, though, but often also practiced by those wacky and fun new illegally-entered immigrants to the United States so why shouldn't citizens let the opportunity go too? [sarcasm intended]

","

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Saboth

April 1, 2009 2:25 PM

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I'd love to buy a new car now, but I honestly don't want the stress of haggling. Most dealers aren't really throwing out deals that look that great, and I get the feeling you aren't going to get deals like 10k off of 25k unless you have a battle of the wills for 3 hours with the finance manager. Most deals I see now are more like \"2k off of 18k or 2.9% financing for 60 months\". Whoopdedoo.

9 replies

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ssaoi

April 1, 2009 6:00 PM

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If you are buying a car or a computer or TV, what is your time worth? Unless you earn hundreds per hour, it's worth it to haggle AND research for the big ticket items.

If someone offered you $2000 to have a 3 hour uncomfortable conversation with a stranger, would you do it?

But if you truely want to avoid the haggle, I do love the idea of outsourcing it. Find somebody who is good at negotiation and loves doing it. Just remember to make it worth their time! Steak is usually enough payment for me.

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shepd

April 1, 2009 4:39 PM

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Bring a gameboy/netbook and a bottle of water. Write out a cheque to the dealership with the amount you'll pay with a sticky note \"I can wait all day\" -- don't sign it yet of course. Hand it to the salesman.

Sit in his office and play the gameboy or do some work on the netbook. Each time he comes back with an offer that doesn't match yours, tell him \"Hey, stop interrupting me unless you're ready to take the cheque.\"

Eventually, he'll either come back with \"We won't take it, sorry\" or \"Yes, we'll take it\". Whichever it is, at least your time was well spent. :)

Well, that's my plan if I ever go to buy a car.

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 6:39 PM

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@shepd: Just don't pay them with a drawing of a spider.

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)

April 1, 2009 4:23 PM

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@Saboth: Not always. I got me a brand new Kia Sedona worth $26K and the dealership was practically giving them away for $16,888. You just go in, pick the van you want out.... Got a great interest rate myself, it was easy as pie.

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Saboth

April 1, 2009 4:40 PM

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Hmm I might have to give that a try. I live in a smaller \"city\", so the dealers think they don't have to haggle (nevermind I can drive up to Northern VA in 2 hours and the dealers have 10x the stock).

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 6:40 PM

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@Saboth: We in N.Va. love to haggle. I've found that dealers are quick to revise their offers if you make it very clear you can just go down the road to their competition.

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April 1, 2009 3:24 PM

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@Saboth: You can handle most everything by e-mail now. Most dealerships have internet managers that will price things out for you.

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April 1, 2009 3:08 PM

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@Saboth: Haggle by e-mail. If you have lots of local dealerships, you'll find several willing to deal that way.

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 3:03 PM

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@Saboth: Outsource the haggling. Find a friend (a really good friend) who just has a way with people. You know the type. He/she will haggle well.

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April 1, 2009 3:11 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: A good friend of mine used to be a cars salesman. Guess who I'm callin' up when I need a good haggler? LOL

","

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raleel

April 1, 2009 2:29 PM

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here's a question that I posed to some folks, one of whom works in the automotive industry...

Where is the notion that you won't buy from a company in bankruptcy coming from, other than \"well, that's just common sense\"? Is there any precedent for this?

11 replies

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April 1, 2009 6:03 PM

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@raleel: Daewoo when they were bought by GM.

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April 1, 2009 5:48 PM

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@raleel: I, personally, am petrified at the idea of buying a Chrysler AT ALL, much less one with a potentially worthless warranty (or one backed by the govt. for that matter)

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 4:13 PM

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@raleel: There are 3rd party warranties, so it's not as if you'd be entirely without coverage.

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April 1, 2009 3:25 PM

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@raleel: Buy a Ford.

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April 1, 2009 2:58 PM

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@raleel: Well, the precedents are all *positive*. Lots of companies have gone bankrupt or pulled out of the market. Fiat the last time, for example. Or AMC. Renault.

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Anonymous

April 1, 2009 2:51 PM

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@raleel: Well, there's resale value which for Oldsmobile did fall faster than similar models from other brands. Yet, those cars were still covered under warranty by GM. It's likely that GM isn't going to disappear completely even if bankruptcy happens. So a Saturn or Hummer will likely still be covered.

Madanthony is also wrong: The govt is now backing warranties from both companies so even if Chrysler liquidates you'll be able to get your new Challenger serviced under warranty. It might be a third party doing it, and it might be more of a pain in the arse, but it still should be covered no matter what.

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TEW

April 1, 2009 2:48 PM

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@raleel:
I would be happy to buy from a bankrupt auto company. The extended warranties are most likely from a 3rd party and there will be plenty of parts available. Most likely there will be plenty of companies making aftermarket parts for years and when that business is done the parts will be available at the junkyard. The only problem I see is lower resale value but if you don't want to sell the car you will be fine.

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April 1, 2009 2:41 PM

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The reason people are reluctant to buy cars from companies in bankruptcy is because if the company ends up liquidating, then they don't have anyone to honor the warranty, and resale value is going to plummet if your car is an \"orphan\".

With airlines or other service industries, bankruptcy isn't as big a deal - as long as they are running the day you fly, it's not a big deal. With a manufacturer of durable goods like a car, it's important that they be around for the next few years.

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April 1, 2009 5:25 PM

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@madanthony: Ha, that's a frightening image on an airplane; \"Attention passengers, due to AA's bankrupcy filing, this flight will now stop...\"

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Hil-fish

April 1, 2009 2:38 PM

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@raleel: precedent? As in, is there evidence that buying from a company entering bankruptcy or about to enter bankruptcy is a bad idea? Well, yes. Ask the folks who got Circuit City gift cards and then couldn't use them after the company went belly-up. That's kind of an apples-to-oranges comparison, but the idea is that, for some things, you need the company to keep existing in order to get full value from your purchase, and the concern with the auto companies is that warranties on new cars from GM and Chrysler will be worth $0 if they enter bankruptcy, which will negatively impact the consumer's total cost of ownership. But the feds are now talking about covering the warranties on new cars to mitigate that concern, so maybe it's moot.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 2:33 PM

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@raleel: I think the only one I can think of is the airlines. People didn't stop flying American or United whole-heartedly when they were in bankruptcy.

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April 1, 2009 2:30 PM

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Fixing up my jacked-up mustang would still be thousands cheaper than buying a new car. If I need a new set of wheels,I'm gonna plunk down for a bicycle. Thanks but no thanks.

3 replies

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April 1, 2009 6:04 PM

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@serracloud: Actually the best Mustangs are the 6 and 4 cylinder ones since they cost less yet benefit from the V-8 crowd parts sourcing...

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mbz32190

April 1, 2009 3:02 PM

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@serracloud: There's some dealer out of TX offering new 09 Mustangs for under $15,000. I would so jump on this if I had the cash :(

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gttim

April 1, 2009 2:52 PM

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@serracloud: Paid off my pony car- 2000 Mustang, 6 cylinder. I could upgrade to leather seats or something, if I really felt the need. Maybe some bling wheels. It runs great, and I like it. Why jump into more payments? I'll probably just wash it and keep driving it.

Now, I did drop some coin on a new bike- Carbon Fiber Lapierre with a SRAM Force group. However, \"now\" is always a good time for a new bike!

","

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dtmoore

April 1, 2009 2:31 PM

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Unless I could get them to take what I owe on my car as a trade-in, and get a killer deal, no way. I like my car but *gasp* I really miss having an SUV. Try hauling around a bunch of musical equipment and 3 dogs in a couple...

2 replies

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dtmoore

April 1, 2009 2:41 PM

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@dtmoore: No I meant only if they took the trade in value as what I owe on it.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 2:32 PM

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@dtmoore: Many dealerships will take a car with money owed as a trade-in... they'll just subtlety add the remaining balance onto that of your new loan.. so you're technically paying for two cars! Yay!

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pollyannacowgirl

April 1, 2009 2:32 PM

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If you don't have money or a job, you're not buying a new car.

Most people I know with jobs are seeing everyone else get laid off and they're postponing major purchases and saving their dough. I don't know anyone making any big moves right now.

But that's just the people I know...

1 replies

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 3:49 PM

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@pollyannacowgirl: But if you need a car, you need a car. If you're driving a beater that's on its very last life, it's only worth anything as parts, and you need a car, it doesn't look like there are too many options.

I'm just saying, there are people who can find themselves in a situation in which there is no choice. Not everyone works 9 to 5. Certainly last year, my car required $6,000 of work in three months and there was no coworker I could call on to give me a ride to work if I needed it. I chose to get a new car.

","

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April 1, 2009 2:32 PM

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I just bought a brand new car in October (my first one ever), and now seeing all the incentives and deals, I wish I had held out longer. My previous car needed over $2000 in engine repairs, so I figured it was as good a time an any to buy. Grr, always my luck :(

4 replies

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cmdrsass

April 1, 2009 4:52 PM

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@missi1226: a new engine is still cheaper than a new car

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 6:17 PM

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@cmdrsass: It doesn't necessarily mean the engine problems was all that was wrong, just that maybe the $2,000 in engine trouble was the most significant. There could have been a host of other, smaller problems that added up to more fees. And maybe it was on its last life.

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 3:51 PM

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@missi1226: How long could you really have waited? Your previous car was having engine problems - so what should you have done? I say you were better off getting it in October because you saved yourself $2,000 in repair costs, which would be eaten up if you had fixed your car and run it into the ground for this year's deals. Say you buy a new car now - your savings wouldn't really be so much that it completely offsets the $2,000 in repairs you would have had to do in October. Just because the incentives are there, doesn't mean you're qualified for all of them. I bet it's rare for people to be qualified to get all of the savings.

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April 1, 2009 3:00 PM

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@missi1226: Cheer up! As one of the earlier posters (\"Saboth\") said, don't believe what you read about the value of current deals actually being written.

In the end, you probably got as good a deal as anyone wanting that same car right now.

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Rectilinear Propagation

April 1, 2009 2:34 PM

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I haven't seen any new cars that are actually cheaper than the used cars I'm looking at.

3 replies

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April 1, 2009 6:06 PM

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@Rectilinear Propagation: The used car guys are actually booming since people are paying cash for lower priced used cars in place of financing new cars...

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 3:52 PM

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@Rectilinear Propagation: But with the incentives, it would be. You wouldn't get the incentives for used cars. That's the point. With the deals, new cars would be cheaper than used ones.

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April 1, 2009 4:23 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: Exactly -- with incentives (zero percent loan, plus over a couple thousand cash back and haggling), my new car was cheaper (not significantly, mind you) than the same car a few years old.

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Rectilinear Propagation

April 2, 2009 12:31 PM

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..zero percent loan...

@supercereal: HAH!

Like I was saying...

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LegoMan322

April 1, 2009 2:35 PM

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No matter how Obama helps out GM and Chrysler I am still not a fan of \"American\" cars. They really do not compare to the rest of the world.

9 replies

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April 1, 2009 3:37 PM

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@LegoMan322: You may want to cull your \"rest of the world\" comparison down a bit. Mitsubishi? Jaguar? Fiat? Peugeot? Renault? Citroen? Tata? Don't forget the unforgettable Yugo - a fine Serbian automobile.

America certainly hasn't been blowing away the competition but most of the time this European Automobile Love Fest is more a matter of trends and opinion than hard fact.

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LegoMan322

April 1, 2009 6:42 PM

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@Kaellorian: Its not a trend that my car gives me no issues at all. I have seen what Fords, Chevy's, GM's, Saturns and all the rest do. The dumbiest shit goes wrong with American cars since they are put together like shit and they look like even more shit. My current car looks nice, drives nice, and has very little maintence needed.

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April 1, 2009 9:55 PM

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@LegoMan322: VW has had more than their share of \"dumb shit\" problems, such as the windows falling down in Mk.IV cars because the poorly-designed window mechanism failed on a huge percentage of the cars before VW confessed and recalled. Electrical gremlins that may not be devastating but are definitely irritating and some of which just can't be fixed. VW does not make perfect cars, and they never have. I'm glad you've had good luck with yours... in fact I had great luck with all 3 of mine (except for the fact that other people seemed to enjoy running into the Mk.III Jetta.) I've also known people who had horrible experiences with them. It's fine to find that your VW is better for you than a Malibu might be, but don't pretend that all VWs have always been perfect because you have a good experience with yours.

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April 1, 2009 3:42 PM

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@Kaellorian: Most Americans wouldn't recognize a Peugeot or a Citroen if one ran them down in the street. At least Citroens have a bit of weirdness to make them more interesting while you're waiting for le camion de remorquage. They'll begin to recognize modern Fiats here shortly, when the Fiat-Jeep-Dodge signs go up at the dealerships the new company keeps open.

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April 1, 2009 3:13 PM

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@LegoMan322: I have a 05 Chevy Malibu and it is amazing. Poo on you!

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LegoMan322

April 1, 2009 6:37 PM

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@nakedscience: hahah.....ok Tell your mom I said hi while you go downstairs to your room.

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April 1, 2009 3:05 PM

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@LegoMan322: While they quoted the price of a Malibu, I think this is a general condition across the brands and not specific to American cars. A friend of mine got a smoking deal on new Hyundai Sonata (fully tricked out) yesterday. A little under $20k for a car that lists for about $28k.

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p75hmsa

April 1, 2009 2:59 PM

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@LegoMan322: I'm assuming you would take a Hyundai Accent over a Chevrolet Malibu?

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LegoMan322

April 1, 2009 6:37 PM

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@p75hmsa: Neither. @GearheadGeek: Yes that is a good deal but depending on what your defination of Tricked out is, I probably still would not be interested. I have a VW and it is just freakin awesome. Best purchase I made ever.

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April 1, 2009 9:51 PM

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@LegoMan322: I've had several VWs (Mk.II, Mk.III, Mk.IV) and there's not one I'd trade for my current Subaru. There's not much feature-wise that the Sonata gives up to a Passat (the VW in that size class) besides being able to open the windows from outside with a key. I understand that the Sonata isn't \"German enough\" for devotees of VW's recent design, and newish VWs are very nice to be in. No one is going to buy a Passat on price, though, and if you want to pay $8k+ more for a 2.0T Passat vs. a V6 Sonata, it's your money. Just don't pretend the Passat is significantly better equipped, the difference is largely style and feel.

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April 1, 2009 4:21 PM

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try comparing apples to apples. Like looking at the cheapest sedans car companies make e.g.

Chevy Cobalt - $16000
Ford Focus - $15000
Honda Civic - $15000
Mitsubishi Lancer - $15000
Mazda 3 - $15000
Toyota Carolla - $15000
Nissan Sentra - $16000
Kia Spectra - $14000

You're telling me out of those cars you're gonna take the Chevy or Ford? Gimme a break. This is why the American companies are failing. They truly make cars that no one wants to buy. This is from a guy who's stuck in rental car hell with a cobalt.

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captadam

April 1, 2009 4:29 PM

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@jinjin1080: Those aren't good comparisons--the price you quote for the Civic is absolute base model, with no bells and whistles and a manual transmission. A dealer was trying to sell me a new Focus with bluetooth, automatic transmission, satellite radio, and all that crap for about $14,500 after incentives.

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Blinky987

April 1, 2009 6:07 PM

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@captadam: The only three cars anybody ever references when defending the American automobile are the Malibu, CTS-V, and Focus.

WE GET IT. THE MALIBU IS NICE.

Chevy only makes 11 cars that make a profit. Guess how many they're being told to be cut. It's more than 10; I'll tell you that!

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April 1, 2009 4:44 PM

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I was looking at the absolute base price of all those cars. I know people can get deals, but EVERYONE can't get the same deals. If everyone went out and just paid MSRP that's what they would pay and that's my point.

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Jenkinsbball

April 1, 2009 2:35 PM

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I can't afford a new or used car at the moment, so it doesn't hurt me. Though, I wouldn't mind being able to get a new car. My 1994 Sable is pissing me off and I want it gone. But, what can you do with two childre, a 2 year old and a 3 month old? Meh.

1 replies

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 3:52 PM

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@Jenkinsbball: And your kids won't start judging your car until they're at least 6.

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MaytagRepairman

April 1, 2009 2:39 PM

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My wife has been wanting a new car for quite some time now but it is difficult to justify when both of our employers keep announcing lower and lower customer demand each month. I don't want one of those \"we will make your car payment if you get laid off schemes\". I've been laid off before and it is stressful enough without trying to struggling against the fine print that must exist to cash in on one of those deals.

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April 1, 2009 2:41 PM

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Well, our ten year old Accord died last month (curse you, sodium chloride!), and we actually needed a new car. Since Toyota was offering $1200 rebates (it went up to $1250 this month) on new 2009 Corollas, we figured it was a better deal than a certified used car of the same model/year. So unless Fast Eddie is willing to part with said used 2009 Corolla for, oh, twelve grand (fat chance), I said we did the best thing.

It's gotta suck to be the used car guy at a new car dealership right now.

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April 1, 2009 2:42 PM

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Yeah, but it's a Chevy Malibu, BusinessWeek.

3 replies

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April 1, 2009 4:01 PM

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@karmaghost: Aaaaaand, it's a great car. That wins awards. LOL @ You.

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April 8, 2009 5:06 PM

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@nakedscience: I looked it up and it does look like the 2009 Chevy Malibu has gotten some great ratings. Good. It's still a Chevy, though, and unfortunately carries the stigma as such. I'm interested, though, why this site [usnews.rankingsandreviews.com] rates its reliability as \"10.\" How could you possibly know that a brand new model's reliability is perfect? New models are usually given reliability ratings based how past models have performed and I know that one of the recent Malibu models was a disaster and definitely didn't have \"perfect\" reliability.

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April 1, 2009 3:07 PM

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@karmaghost: You mean last years Car of the Year winner Chevrolet Malibu?

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April 1, 2009 2:42 PM

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I would care a lot more if I had a job...

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AnonymousFinger

April 1, 2009 2:46 PM

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I really, really, really want a new 2010 Camaro 2SS with 6spd manual and 426HP!!!!!!!

Yellow with black racing stripes!!!!

I hope GM can hold out till this summer/fall when I plan on buying one.

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Patrick Mize

April 1, 2009 2:49 PM

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I need a new car but just got a new job after about 6 months of unemployment. Getting a loan is near impossible even with a good chunk of money down. The used cars aren't much better.

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April 1, 2009 2:51 PM

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I was planning on buying a used car in the next 12 months to replace my vehicle which is currently at 110K mileage.

Yes, I am now thinking of going new because of the incentives.

2 replies

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April 1, 2009 6:09 PM

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@SkokieGuy: If your car is at 110k then it probably just ready for some major maintenance to take it out to 200k. Especially if it is a Japanese or Korean model.

A family friend buys his Hondas at 100-1025k and then runs them out to 300k with highway miles...

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MissPeacock

April 1, 2009 5:31 PM

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@SkokieGuy: Me, too. I've had my current car for 8 years and it's got over 125k and isn't in the best shape. The only thing that's really making me hesitate is that my company has laid off about 40 people since December. This is the first time I've ever considered buying a new car instead of a used one.

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April 1, 2009 3:05 PM

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Give me the bottom line in cash and I will buy. Enough of the financing deals and all the other debt pusher bullshit.

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April 1, 2009 3:06 PM

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Mostly I don't want a new car because the car I want isn't in the North American market yet (Fiesta 4 door).

2 replies

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Saboth

April 1, 2009 3:32 PM

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Any clue when the Fiesta will arrive here? They say it is a 2011 model, which would put it in 2010 I guess? I'm willing to give Ford a chance (I usually buy mazda/toyota), but around 2 years is a long time to wait.

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Hil-fish

April 1, 2009 3:18 PM

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@balthisar: I'm with you - the car I want hasn't appeared on the East coast yet. As soon as the gas/electric hybrid Aptera appears on the market in DC, I'm getting one.

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April 1, 2009 3:09 PM

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I have resolved that after I pay off my car I will never have a car payment again.

The goal is to save enough each month that when I do need a new car, I can buy it with cash.

Going to take several years to pull that off, but it will be well worth it.

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April 1, 2009 3:14 PM

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My car is 16 years old. If it dies (probably of rust if anything, as it only has 93,000 miles on it), I will seriously look at these new car incentives before I inevitably buy another $1500 beater off Craigslist and run it into the ground as well.

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April 1, 2009 3:14 PM

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I'm happy with my Honda Civic hybrid, which is a good thing as I'm still paying for it. Even if I weren't, I can't handle another car payment and there are no American-made hybrids yet anyway. If it's not a hybrid, I'll pass for now.

Our other car is a Grand Caravan that is only used to haul our dogs (in crates) or groceries home from the store. Other than that, we don't drive it much anymore. We probably won't replace it when it finally dies.

4 replies

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ZukeZuke

April 2, 2009 11:42 PM

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@Urgleglurk: There are SEVERAL American-made hybrids for sale, have been for a few years now.

A Ford Escape sounds like it might suit some of your needs. Not much bigger footprint than a Civic, it gets mpg in the 20's, and you actually haul a decent amount of gear if needed.

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April 1, 2009 3:32 PM

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@Urgleglurk: Since the Civic Hybrid isn't available in a practical hatchback or wagon form, what will you use to haul the dogs around when the Grand Caravan ceases to be?

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April 1, 2009 3:22 PM

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@Urgleglurk: Ford Fusion and Escape are hybrids made in North America.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 5:47 PM

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@GearheadGeek: And they're kind of huge? I think, considering he owns a Civic, which is a pretty small sedan, he isn't willing to take the jump to gas-guzzling SUV with hybrid technologies just so they can sell a few models and look like they're being \"green\" when actually they should've hybridized a reasonable sedan model instead of the worst mileage cars they make.

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April 1, 2009 6:00 PM

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@Oranges w/ Cheese: The Fusion is not particularly huge. It's smaller than an Accord, for example. It's neither gas-guzzling nor an SUV, and in fact is rated 1mpg higher than the Civic Hybrid on the city cycle (though significantly less on the highway, at \"only\" 36 mpg.) The Escape is smaller and lighter than a Grand Caravan, which is their other vehicle. Had I wanted to suggest a ridiculous \"hybrid\" that was a gas-guzzler (and a stupidly expensive vehicle to boot) I would have suggested a Tahoe Hybrid.

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jeffbone

April 1, 2009 3:16 PM

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These deals are pretty tempting, but right now I'm hunkering down until the financial storm passes. I'm simultaneously adding to an emergency fund, paying down credit cards, and trying to save enough to do some renovations to my house. I'd really like to capitalize on the \"fire-sale\" prices some of the contractors in my area are offering since they aren't building anything new right now.

I can keep my four-year-old car and eleven-year-old truck on the road just little longer...gotta take the long view...

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T-Bone (KoKo the Monkey)

April 1, 2009 3:21 PM

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Dealers are always pushing \"savings\" by comparing the sell price with the MSRP or list price. That's not really helpful IMO, since no one pays MSRP for a car these days anyway, right? The more important point is that the car's \"value\" is really only what someone is willing to pay for it.

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April 1, 2009 3:23 PM

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We buy used cars when they are about two years old... often from individuals. We are not going to go through the stress, game-playing, and nonsense of messing with salespeople at a dealership. Just call me \"No Trust 'Em.

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April 1, 2009 3:26 PM

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Consider the cheap Tata nano @ roughly $2500 or so. Imagine the urban lanscape after Everyone can afford a new car every year. WoW!

1 replies

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April 1, 2009 3:33 PM

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@vastrightwing: It'll be littered with the carcasses of Nanos stripped of their license plates and VINs, because that will be cheaper than scrapping them or paying the dealer to take it off your hands.

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bbagdan

April 1, 2009 3:41 PM

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This is the irony of a recession. Everything gets cheap but people are too scared to take advantage of it, making things worse. It really points out what has true value, and a new car every few years isn't one of them.

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professorjonathan

April 1, 2009 3:43 PM

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As the potential buyer actually highlighted in that piece, I appreciate your linking to it! :) (I actually told the reporter that I'd first heard about the Ford deal on The Consumerist, so I suppose turnabout's fair play!) {ProfJonathan}

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minsky

April 1, 2009 3:44 PM

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I don't care how many 'deals' are out there; new cars still cost just too damn much, esp. for something that depreciates the minute you drive it away.

Buying a new car and having payments is akin to flushing money down the toilet.

Save up and buy the best used car you can in cash.

2 replies

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April 1, 2009 6:13 PM

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@minsky: Or buy new and run it into the ground ie keep it for 10 years plus...

The depreciation is worth it via the year 0 to 5 mechanical history you will have with it which increases the year 5 through 10 reliability. Then every year after 10 is gravy$$$ in the bank...

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April 1, 2009 7:58 PM

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@econobiker: I live in Prince Georges County, Maryland, buying a new car is just asking for me to be ready to call my insurance company next week to file a comprehensive claim when it is stolen.

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ZoeSchizzel

April 1, 2009 3:49 PM

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We have always purchased used cars. We typically have one older car and one newer car, but with the car-shuffle as we deal with our young adult children needing cars, we now have two older cars. A 1997 Civic (170,000 miles) and a 2001 Celica (133,000) miles. When our son's Tercel goes kaput, we'll pass the Civic onto him and then we'll need a newer car. We have never considered a NEW car. Said we never would because it didn't make financial sense. Now, it looks like a new car might actually be a better deal, and we will certainly look at purchasing new and crunching the numbers. I'm still not convinced a new car will be cheaper than the 1 or 2 or 3 year-old car we'd be looking at. But if the numbers add up...

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redhelix

April 1, 2009 3:49 PM

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I've been looking into this all week, actually. I bought a Focus in 2008 and am eyeballing trading it in for a 2009, lowering my payments by almost a hundred dollars a month. Yes please.

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Mary Marsala with Fries

April 1, 2009 3:57 PM

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I will buy a NEW car when they come out with something NEW for me to buy. I'm disgusted with all the talk about \"efficiency\" when my 15-year-old Saturn gets the same gas mileage as the new models advertised on TV. How pathetic is that??

If my car needs replacing before there's an ACTUAL ALTERNATIVE FUEL CAR on the market, I'll buy a cheap-but-functional used car and continue to wait it out. Gasoline is stupid, I know it's stupid, and I'm not paying over $10K for something I still have to fill up at the pump when the alternatives have now officially been possible for more than 50 years. There's just *no* excuse for someone trying to brag with a straight face about 30MPG, and I refuse to pay \"new-car\" prices for the same old inefficient, polluting crap.

2 replies

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April 1, 2009 4:33 PM

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@Mary Marsala with Fries: While fuel consumption could definitely be better with different design choices, the comparison you made is inherently unfair. Your 15-year-old Saturn is not directly comparable to a brand-new Saturn. The new car is much safer and probably larger. The safer part is due both to regulations and to the competition for crash-test stars between manufacturers and is overall a good thing. The larger is the disturbing trend... For what we use cars for, they are way too big and they get heavier from both the safety requirements AND the overall size, which causes them to require more energy to attain the same level of performance.

Let's say your average semi-thrifty family of 4 chooses a V6 Camry to replace their thirsty SUV. It's an improvement, sure, but do they really need the 268-hp V6 for taking the kids to grandma's house or out for ice cream? As a point of comparison, the last, most-powerful of the Ferrari 308s sold in the US (the Magnum PI car) made 245 hp, and that was rated under a more-generous testing regime, it would probably rate 240 or so under the current test. The 4 cylinder is cheaper and gets better mileage, and has enough power for a family car in a country that has maximum speed limits of 75 mph.

The alternative-fuel ENGINE isn't the problem, it's choosing a truly viable alternative fuel, and setting up the infrastructure to provide it.

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April 1, 2009 6:19 PM

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@GearheadGeek:
I think Mary Marsala with Fries has an excellent point.

I often wondered why does the micro sized Honda Fit only get a reported 30mpg? Is there than much more stuff on it than a 1995 Dodge Neon 5sp -which running badly still gets 27-31mpg.

Some of the Civics from the late 80's early 90s got upto 50mpg. Look how people were going batty over the used but over 40mpg Geos when gas was over $4gal.

Sumptin' stinks here...

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April 1, 2009 10:05 PM

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@econobiker: The '89 Civic CRX HF may be one of the cars you're thinking of... a 2-seater tuned for mileage, it claimed over 50 mpg highway. It also weighed over 600lb less than the Fit, and made just over half the horsepower (62 hp vs. 117) so it really isn't the apples-to-apples comparison you're convincing yourself that it is.

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April 1, 2009 10:02 PM

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@econobiker: Compare the Honda Fit to a '90 Civic Wagon. The Fit has 25 hp more, WAY lower emissions, more safety equipment and weighs a couple hundred pounds more. Rated mileage for the Fit is 27/33, for the '90 Civic Wagon is 31/34, and that difference could easily be due to adding over 25% more horsepower, never mind the 8% weight gain.

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April 1, 2009 4:10 PM

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Note to Business Week:

2007 - Borrow. Spend. Consume
2009 - Earn . Save . Invest

Sorry that the car manufactirers aren't having their needs met,but a lot of folks are scared shitless that they are going to lose that shiny new ride when they get pink slipped.Just about any car made in the last 10 years can be pieced together for another 8-12 months to get through the fog of uncertainty in the economy. I think that this situation may be evidence that some people are waking up to thrift at long last.

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oregongal (lynnie421 on Twitter)

April 1, 2009 4:16 PM

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I'm not only keeping mine but if I need to get a new one, it will definitely be ANYTHING but an American made product. I just had to get the timing chain replaced on my 2000 Dodge Stratus. Thanks to GM's clusterfuck designing, the parts that would have been used to replace the broken ones didn't fit. Oh no, they decided mid-stream to re-design the system and charge more, of course, for the part. A estimated $450 job ended up costing me $719.35. I have a great mechanic who did not charge me for the actual number of hours that he put into it. Again all thanks to GM. I hope they burn in hell.

1 replies

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April 1, 2009 4:21 PM

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@oregongal (lynnie421 on Twitter): Well, it sounds like your problem is that you were putting GM parts on a Chrysler product. It would probably have been much easier to fix if you'd bought Chrysler parts for your Chrysler-produced Dodge.

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captadam

April 1, 2009 4:26 PM

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I just bought a used 2008 Civic for about $4000 or less than a new 2009 Civic. I had considered a Focus and a Cobalt. Despite all the cautions about domestic, I've driven my 2000 Neon 144,000 miles, and I have few complaints, so I was willing to give the domestics another shot. But I would up with a Civic anyway.

Now I'm thinking I should have given more consideration to a new Cobalt. The local dealership was advertising them at about $12,000 new with 0% APR for 60 months. That would've been a payment of $200 a month assuming I paid tax and title out of pocket and had no other down payment. Plus, I could've written the sales tax off my income tax return and had a 100,000-mile power train warranty backed by the federal government.

2 replies

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become

April 1, 2009 5:51 PM

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@captadam: I think in 5 years you will be happy with the Civic, and you would be very unhappy with the Cobalt. Don't just look at the upfront cost, where you could have saved a bit, look also that you won't have to constantly repair your car or replace it prematurely as well.

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captadam

April 1, 2009 4:31 PM

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@captadam: Please look past the garbled language. Jesus, I need to learn to read things over before posting.

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Glenn Reno

April 1, 2009 4:46 PM

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Show me where I can buy a Chevy Malibu at a $10,000 discount off of $25,000 with a 5 year 0% loan and I will buy the damn car RIGHT NOW!

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Anonymous

April 1, 2009 4:52 PM

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I just bought a new car over the weekend. Traded in my 3-year old very reliable Scion xB for a 2008 (unsold) Pontiac G8.

You're probably thinking I'm crazy, but do a little research on the G8 and you'll discover it's an Australian based car that gets high marks. It's got more room (which I needed) and is quick and stylish. The fact that they sold at 2/3s the MSRP and gave me over the bluebook value on the Scion sealed the deal for me.

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Cyco

April 1, 2009 4:54 PM

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I'm in the market for a new car. I was in an accident and my car was totalled. Luckily, I have been saving up and have the money to buy a new car. It's been almost 10 years since I bough a car and last time I was young and nervous and got ripped off. I'd like to be more prepared. Can I get some advice on buying a new car? I've heard that car dealerships are less likely to work with someone buying the car outright since they won't be making money off them from financing.

4 replies

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April 1, 2009 6:21 PM

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@Cyco: Go to Edmunds.com for alot of good car buying advice especially the articles from the former car salesman.

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bandit

April 1, 2009 6:05 PM

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@Cyco: Just don't talk about financing or cash until you've agreed on the model, options and final price. If they ask, say you are not sure whether you will finance it or not. When I bought in November, I had the sense that they really didn't care.

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April 1, 2009 5:25 PM

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@Cyco: The first rule is that it's none of the salesman's damned business how you prefer to pay for the car, or \"how much are you looking to pay a month?\" If your salesman cannot get past his programming...er.. sales training and realize that you want to talk about the PRICE of the car, find another salesman.

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Cyco

April 1, 2009 6:10 PM

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@GearheadGeek: So what's the best way to answer th question if they ask how I plan to pay for the car? Just tell them I want to talk price first, then how I plan to pay after? What do I when they figure up a price and then tell me I wouldn't be eligible for the discounts because I'm not financing? Walk out?

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April 1, 2009 10:12 PM

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@Cyco: You have the right basic idea. Research is your friend... if \"the discounts\" are manufacturer offers, they'll be described in writing, usually on the web. You can research beforehand if any of the offers are contingent on financing, or even on financing through a specific lender. If you're not as much of a jerk as I am, you can tell them something non-committal like \"I already have financing, but once we work out a deal I'll give you a chance to beat it.\" That suggests that a) you're a serious customer, b) you're an educated one, and c) they might still have a chance to sell you financing that you're actually smart enough to avoid.

Never, EVER let the salesworm talk payments, for 2 reasons. 1st, of course, is that's the way they distract people from the real cost of a deal. 2nd is that they have no REAL influence on the monthly price other than what you AGREE TO. The \"finance guy\" at a dealership are the ones who actually get that part done, and usually dealers will make you listen to their hard sell even if you're buying cash.

Also, and this is important, don't reject the idea of financing the car out of hand. Let's say you have enough money to buy the car outright, but they have a come-on finance deal of 0%. Often these deals are only for shorter terms, so people who don't actually have the money can't afford the payment on a 24-month note for their car at 0%... but if you have the money AND can get 0% financing, it's worth it for you to leave your money invested somewhere and make a little something (as well as maintain a bigger cash cushion in case something bad happens.)

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 6:38 PM

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@Cyco: Just say you're not sure yet. Stall.

Here's what I learned from my car buying experience last fall.

1. If the salesperson is pushy, leave. If you're at a chain dealership, the cars you're looking at can be brought over from any of the dealers in the same chain of dealerships. My car was purchased in one state and picked up in another by the dealer. Pushy salespeople are going to try to confuse and blitzkrieg you into buying a car.

2. Have a price in mind, make sure it's realistic. There's no way that you're going to pay $10,000 on a $30,000 brand new car. Stick to the price you want while weighing the cost and benefit to you. Think about the overall price of the car, and not the monthly payments. It may be worth it sometimes to pay a little more to get a little more. Things like bluetooth may not necessarily be as relevant in 10 years when you trade in your car. But extra safety features might.

3. Consider the resale value. A color that is relatively easy to redo (think crimson red rather that marigold yellow) may make your car better for resale. Toyota and Honda in particular roll out these trendy colors that look good for the first few years, but can date a car in the long run.

4. Take a good friend or family member with you. Car buying is a team sport because while the salesperson's attention is on you, your friend should be studying the salesperson, watching for hints of devil horns poking out from his/her hair. Car buying can be extremely overwhelming sometimes - you're looking at pretty, shiny things, the salesperson is talking about all the luxuries you could have and your friend or family member can have the job of protecting your interests by poking you in the ribs before you potentially agree your way into talking about money before you actually settle on whether you like the car.

5. Test drive without the salesperson, because you don't want to give him/her any hints as to your feelings about the car. Salespeople salivate on eagerness. Let yourself make all the comments you want without the salesperson there. That way you can realistically judge your feelings on the car. Are the controls easy to reach, is the handling good, do you even like the interior color? Does it look cheap? All these things people tend to have trouble saying in front of strangers because it can be perceived as impolite. Take a test drive without the salesperson so you can accurately gauge how you like the car.

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Cyco

April 1, 2009 7:55 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: Thanks for all the tips. I've been checking out [www.carbuyingtips.com] as well and there is quite a bit of good advise there as well.

Is there any way to find out how much a dealer got the car for without having to pay for the info?

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pecan 3.14159265

April 1, 2009 11:57 PM

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@Cyco: I like edmunds for that kind of information. I found out the price my dealer (or dealers around him) paid for the car I eventually bought. Edmunds also tells you what price people around your zip code bought the car for, on average. I actually ended up with a price lower than the average.

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April 1, 2009 9:24 PM

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@Cyco: That is another great website.
This was the one I wrote about:
[www.edmunds.com]
and then this article:
[www.edmunds.com]

As for the dealer cost, sometimes you can backout of the retail cost of options and figure out the amount the dealer paid for the base car cost. Subtract the \"holdback\" amount (if car companies are still giving it etc.)

The general idea is(was?) not to get a car for less than actual cost but keep a few hundred dollars profit for the dealer. I don't know if this still applies with the craziness today.

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barb95

April 1, 2009 4:57 PM

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I haven't bought a new car in 10 years. I did NOT plan to buy another one for another 3 years. But with all the new incentives, I actually thought about it. Now, will I do it now, no, but maybe in the next year or so.

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battra92

April 1, 2009 5:07 PM

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I have an 07 Elantra that is 100% paid for. Why go into debt again?

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April 1, 2009 5:08 PM

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Actually, I do care. Right now we are driving two old vehicles--a 1994 Jeep Cherokee and a 1999 Dodge Durango. My son turns 16 in Sept. and we plan to give him the Jeep to drive once he gets his license.

We were planning on buying a new vehicle in Sept. to replace the Jeep that we will be giving to our son, but now we are seriously considering buying a Ford Fusion in late June, just before their \"if you lose your job, we make your payments\" promotion ends. If we can get a brand-new Fusion for the same price as one made in 2008, why not buy new? We are not worried about our jobs (more than anyone else) but in this economy, you never know what will happen so having that extra piece of mind would be nice.

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April 1, 2009 6:04 PM

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My car is 12 years old and has 120k miles on it. We were going to replace it next year anyway; if that Stabenow bill goes through, that's $10k of free money for us. (Assuming I can find an American-made car that gets at least 35mpg; does one exist? Everyone I hear is all, \"ooh, our fancy new fuel-efficient car gets 30mpg\" and I'm like, yeah, ok, my 12-year-old Cavalier STILL gets that, what have you been doing for the last decade?)

But, ok, assuming I can find one, and the bill goes through, and our household income isn't too high, then YES, I am first in line to get a new car right now due to incentives.

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April 1, 2009 8:04 PM

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@glitterpig: It cracks me up to hear the folks who say they're getting 30 MPG, that's what my 11 year old Elantra gets, and that's with mixed city and highway driving.

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Jesse

April 1, 2009 6:12 PM

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I'm thinking of picking up a 2009 VW Jetta TDI. They qualify for a lean burn tax credit ($1300) plus an above the line sales tax deduction (I normally can't itemize).

Problem though is that local dealers are trying to pawn them off at $2-3k above MSRP.

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3drage

April 1, 2009 6:34 PM

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I like how people in certain industries always say it's a good time to buy.... Back when home prices were rising, it was a good time, when they fall it's a good time. Buy a car now! It's a good time!

When is it ever a good time to lose nearly half your investment by turning a key?

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April 2, 2009 3:33 AM

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@3drage: If your doing the selling, its always a good time to be buying.

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zandar

April 1, 2009 7:00 PM

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I saw plenty of \"zero percent interest for qualified buyers\" when the economy was just fine, thanks.

I see nothing earth-shattering in the way of incentives.

I'm shocked, actually, that these people are acting like it's just business as usual when we've all seen the pictures of stale inventory getting sunbaked on ports around the globe.

Even when opportunity presents itself, these jerkwads have proven they just don't have the cojones to sell cars in a recession. So they can keep it all as far as I'm concerned.

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Corporate-Shill

April 1, 2009 8:45 PM

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I buy cars with cash. New or used.

Of course I have been known to keep a car for 10, 12 or even 15 years.

My current plan is purchase a \"new\" car in 2010 because my current car will be 10 years old. Might change my mind if the economy continues to sux just because I don't want to spend all of my reserves.

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April 1, 2009 10:15 PM

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@Corporate-Shill: It is irrational to buy a car cash instead of taking 0% financing. It's certainly better to pay cash than to pay any significant interest rate, but with 0% and 0.9% deals out there, if you're going to buy anyway it makes sense to use THEIR money up front.

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April 2, 2009 3:36 AM

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@GearheadGeek: That is assuming the principal would be the same. TINSTAAFL. If you can get the cost of the car down and the market rate for the loan then, pay cash.

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April 2, 2009 6:20 AM

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@Dansc29625: The price is what the dealership will give you. *IF* there is a rebate and promo financing that are mutually exclusive, run the numbers. One deal will be better than the other. I should have included the caveat \"all other things being equal\" but anyone who doesn't run the numbers on their various options deserves what they get. The absolutist statement \"I buy cars with cash. New or used.\" ignores the possibility that there might be a logical reason to take the promo financing even if you could afford to pay cash.

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April 1, 2009 8:51 PM

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The cats probably have more money than I do, so I can't buy a new car right now.

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kmw2

April 1, 2009 9:20 PM

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I recently went through this actually, having purchased a... erm, logically new car. Choices: Buying a late-model used car for some amount around $10,000, or buying a new car for some amount around $18,000. I went with sekrit opshun 3 and bought a 12-year old Saab for $1300. And it is amazingly awesome.

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Grrrrrrr, now with two buns made of bacon.

April 1, 2009 11:51 PM

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No matter how cheap a car is, you still need a job to make the payments. Plus, dealers are discounting big cars with lots of useless options and models that get dismal gas mileage...usuall not the cheaper, smaller, and more efficient models.

I'm still waiting for the VW Rabbit TDI to show up, and I'm sure dealers won't be discounting that.

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junip

April 2, 2009 3:58 AM

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where's the option in this survey for \"I don't have a car, and I still don't want one\"?? you're leaving out all us city folks. :p

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newage44

April 2, 2009 1:35 PM

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My daughter just got rear ended in a Mazda built in Japan; the air bags didn't deploy when she was forced into the car in front and \"totalled\" the front end of the Mazda. So much for the comment on American vs. Foreign cars. I opt for safety vs. quality image on stonger US cars.

Also, if you want to keep your job in this economy, you better have a car that makes it to work. The boss doesn't want to hear about your car problems; he has enuf to do worrying how to keep his job and you better be reliable.

New cars aren't about smell, etc.; it's about having confidence and a better attitude about life in general. What value do you put on that?

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Anonymous

April 2, 2009 4:09 PM

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And this is why I own a Mustang. Yeah, it suks on gas and it's my daily driver but every time I want a new car, I just replace parts and it's either shinier or faster. For 1200 bucks I have the loudest car on the street. For 500 I now have the best looking car. The modifications are endless. And I thinks (scratch that I know) the wife loves the car more than I do. It's my daily driver but she is always wanting the keys to run and get small stuff that 3 miles from the house....

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ZukeZuke

April 2, 2009 11:38 PM

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I'm planning on buying a new car, but no way in hell will it ever be a GM.

I live in Cali and am not going to benefit from the sales tax write-off because I \"make too much\" AGI, so it actually annoys me a bit.

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ZukeZuke

April 2, 2009 11:39 PM

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@ZukeZuke: Don't even get me started on those Federal stimulus checks that went out under Bush and the stimulus tax credit under Obama that I got screwed out of!

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ZukeZuke

April 2, 2009 11:40 PM

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Oh yeah, love the KITTAYS!

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