Am I the only one that hates buying a car?

As others have said, never buy a new car. There is no reason other than Vanity or to show off, to buy a NEW car. We decided long ago that building a garage and buying tools so we could do most of our own maintenance and repairs was much cheaper than buying a new car. Only new car we got was a 1971 Ford van, now our newest vehicle is my 1998 Ford Ranger pickup that cost $2000 last summer. Our latest vehicle is a 1982 VW Rabbit diesel--oh boy, now we need to buy diesel maintence tools, time for new dial indicators etc.

And I would never live where I had to drive more than 15 minutes to work every day.

Well, unlike Jim in WI, I don't have the luxury of living within 15 minutes of my office.

But like Jim and others, I agree: Don't Buy New!

When I think of the $$$$ I've tossed down the hole of new-car ownership, I could just scream!

Buy a five-year old car if you must have something newer. With the closed systems and other technology, you really can do well with a used vehicle. Have you checked out Carmax or any of the rental car places? You can get very good, reliable, clean transportation for a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle.

The cheapest car you'll ever own is the one that's already paid for.

Question: Not knowing what's wrong with your current vehicle, but might it not be cheaper to take some of the money you've set aside to have someone else fix it if you don't have the time? In the long run, getting a rental or loaner car for now plus the cost of repairs may be a heckuva lot cheaper than buying new -- or even "new" used.

Just my thoughts on it...

Pony! (whose "new" vehicle is an '89 Cherokee)

Hate it too!!!
the last 2 cars DH and I bought, we bought off of Ford.com. We got the price we wanted and the car was shipped to the closest dealership. If you didn't want it after that, then the dealer could sell it himself. I hate the haggling crap. Tell me the price and let me think about it.

I made an error in buying my first ever brand new vehicle a year ago. Each month I make the payment I think how much less I would have been spending if I had purchases one a couple of years older. But you know, I want the car to last a really long time, I want to know what gets done to it in the way of repairs and maint. and I got a pretty good deal on the vehicle. Listed at 33K and after small trade in and rebates etc I paid 19K. I would have like to have been able to sell my trade in personally and had more money for the down payment on the new one, but living in the middle of nowhere kind of puts the crimp on folks driving over to see your car! Anyway 4 more years of high payments and high insurance and then it will be mine till some bigger truck sits on it and wrecks it. Such is life...

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www.MontanaSticksAndStones.com at Goshen Farm

DO NOT BUY A NEW CAR!!!!!!!! If wasting money makes you physically ill, wait until you look at the depreciation on your purchase. Look for a 3-5 year old car in good shape. I don't know your area, but around here a 5 year old car can be had for less than $5k, one that sold for $20k or more new.

I hate the process of buying a car, new or used. Which is very strange seeing as how I am a car guy through and though. My main hobby is owning and driving a race-car in fact.

Yet I absolutely hate listening to peoples story about how great the car is they are trying to sell you, has never had any problems etc. Then there is the case where the actual car looks nothing like the owner had described it in the add.

As far as buying new vs used, I purchased my current truck brand new in 2000, after 26 years of only buying used vehicles. Just had to get that buying a new car thing out of my system I guess. I will buy late model used vehicles for the rest of my time on this earth I believe.

I had mixed emotions when driving that new truck off the lot. I was feeling good because I payed cash for it and it was all mine. Yet, I also knew that the minute I drove that thing off the lot I had lost 6K in depreciation. Not having financed it made that 6K loss even more painful. It really hit home with me, like that 6K litterly went out of my pocket the moment those front tires hit the public road.

Wayne

When buying a new car, "It's not the deal you get...It's the deal you think you get..." And if you don't get up and walk out at least once... "You left money on the table"...

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Just my opinion...
Just my luk...

I'm the same way. My 1990 F150 had 228,000 miles on the first motor and has at least that on this motor(speedo doesn't register right anymore.lol) and I put a new transmission in it about a year and a half ago. I drive 43 miles each way to work 5 days a week and for me, a vehicle is just a way to get from point A to B. It doesn't necessarily run good and I'm not particularly attached to it, but I'm 36 (I got this t truck during college)and have never had a car payment and by not having a car payment I've been able to save and invest alot of money and buy things that are more fun and worth more like land. The money I could have put in a new car, I pretty much put in my 401k and its really added up over 15 years. The way I always looked at it, if something broke, it was always cheaper for me to fix what I can and to just pay to have things fixed that I can't do than having a new car and full coverage insurance. I told myself in July that the next big thing that broke, I'm going to get a new and smaller truck, but that was 6 months ago and more I've saved. BUt I just hate having to mess with dealers too.

Completely reasonable IMO. Those who don't get freaked out about spending that kind of money are the ones who need their heads examined IMO. Cars now are almost as much as we paid for our house. There is also a valid concern that the car might not run for as long as you live in the house that you paid the same amount of money for. We went through it this summer and ended up with an AWESOME used car, low mileage, great shape, great price. 8 years ago we bought new and what a piece of junk!!!!!!!!! The air conditioning lines run under the van - not good here in NY where they rust through every few years. Tried to replace with rubber but they couldn't do it due to the connections for some reason. Now the transmission is going - guy who will rebuild says this tranny is poorly designed with the overflow valve too small. Basically, the thing is poorly designed in more ways than one. It is a roll of the dice good or bad and a HECK of a lot of money to be gambling!!!!!!!!! Scares the witts out of me every time I face that kind of decision.

the best car deals i have ever had were under 1000 bucks and over 20 yrs old.

yeah I hate waiting to see if i made a huge mistake..

my last buy was to replace my old nissan truck, i bought 2 1988 toyota 4x4s both running and in solid shape, only 97k and 45k repectivly on their clocks.
$1000 for the set.

my little car I reserched for months, a 96 aspire. after a good inspection and checking the compression, i got it for 800 bucks. no rust and 34 mpg. I wanted a standard, as they will get 45 mpg easy (I know people who have one) but I am glad i got the auto, its a nice ride for a microcar.
festivas have the same engine and the same mpg... just in a smaller box.

thats better mpg than a new prius hybrid for.. how many K??

anyhow, i'm happy with the toyota trucks they are pretty well made. so the last 2 buys were fine.

shopping for anything thats a large buy gives me chest pains.

For me it's been a constant struggle.... My old man is big into cars ...has quite a few that's he's restored him self. have always been dragged to car shows....so that will effect me. For the last 3 years..i've wanted a dodge srt. 20g new 15g used. I've finally come to grips that i live in upstate ny and it will just rust out like every other car here in 5 to 7 years.... now I'm thinking my next car will be a 2 or 3 yr. old huyndai accent.... no need for extra insurance..just take my chances...if it wrecks so be it I lose... Cars are most enjoyable though ...my summer car is a 1969 yellow fiberglass vw dune buggy

It's a bad investment....but it is a tool that you NEED (99% anyway, esp out in the country).....just what type of tool is up to you

I just bought mine over the internet and phone. When I got to the dealer that gave me the best deal for what I wanted ,I just signed the papers and drove off. I was at the dealers less than one hour.

The first new truck I was at the dealers 6-1/2 hour swore I would never do that again.
Good luck in your new purchase.

Details please,I would like to do that.

BooBoo

I can really relate. I do not know that much about cars but I am the frugal queen so I do all the research, never buy new, just slightly used. I think the internet has really helped lots. I decided what I wanted then did dealer search on line. We are close enough to Denver that there are lots. After I figure it out, then I bring my hubby to look. I usually end up making payments for what I drive but nothing else we buy, they must be cash. My rules for payments are never pay longer than 3 years even if financed for a longer period, it must be paid off in 3 and drive it for 7-10 years. I will soon be retiring and could definitely drive it for longer than 10 years (my plan). I think the stress is spending all that money!