Buying a car, used or new? Thats the question?

[coolred]

I have been looking at potential cars I may want, although since I am not ready to buy yet, its all just been reasearch, no test driving or anything yet. I have also been reading through some of the threads that have been posted here from others looking for new cars. In one thread back in april, the thread turned into a big debate over buying new or used. There was some good info in it, but i was hoping to bring that debate back to life, with its own thread.

Obviously there are pros and cons to each situation, so I guess I will start a poll and see what the votes say. But also feel free to provide any info you feel will be useful. Again I know there are pros and cons to each, not sure of all of them though. Plus I assume each persons situation could be a big factor too.


BTW in case anyone is interested, some cars I am considering are the;Mazda6/3, Altima, Passat, Subaru Legacy, Hyundai Elantra/Azera(not available yet), G35. Those are just a few, I know its a range, I am actually looking at some SUV's and others too, but as I said, its early in my research, I will narrow it down.




Alright, let me throw another wrinkle into the situation. MY current job gets me discounts at many differant auto dealers. So if I were to buy a new car just before I quit my current job, I could get in on these discounts. But they are only available on new cars, except for one of the local nissan dealers, they also provide a discount on some pre owned models. Although I am not sure if these discounts are worth much, as they may not even net me a lower price then what I could have got just haggling.

Heres the info:

DaimlerChrysler-offers a maximum of 1% below factory invoice on all 2004-2005 models, except Benz's and Vipers.
Ford/Mercury-A-Plan + 4% + $150
Lincoln-A-Plan + 4% + $250
Volvo-A-Plan + 2%
Land Rover & Jaguar-Dealer Invoice + 4%
General Motors-looks like thier emplyee price + 4% whatever that is
Mazda-Splan pricing
Nissan-dealer invoice+ 2.87%, and special pricing on pre owned models
Saturn-again GM employee price + 4%

Thats it, so are any of those deals worth looking into?

 

[Demo24]

thats quite a difference, from ecnomy boxs, to low end lux cars.

I like the Legacy and G35

 

[Andrew111]

First search result for new or used car: New or Used

It's pretty much your preference and budget...some good deals on used cars can be found but a used car is more of a risk for repairs and such.

 

[Jeff7181]

I'd say used... because if you get a 2 or 3 year old car with 20-30k miles, you'll pay a lot less than you'd pay for a brand new car. And with current technology, 20-30k miles is a small fraction of what the car will last.

All 3 of my cars I've owned have been used... and sometime I'd like to get a brand new car... but I don't have enough money to justify the cost of a new car. In 2004 I bought my 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage with 22k miles for $7000. It would have cost twice that to get a new car in the same class... and it'll probably last me at least 10 years.

 

[jagec]

Do your homework, and buy used. That's my philosophy.

New cars are for people who don't want to be bothered with researching vehicle backgrounds and common problems on a given model.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: jagec
Do your homework, and buy used. That's my philosophy.

New cars are for people who don't want to be bothered with researching vehicle backgrounds and common problems on a given model.

and like to have a warranty.

MIKE

 

[Safeway]

Used. Much much much times a million better deal. Driving a car off the lot lowers the cost/worth 20%+.

 

[isekii]

get a Saab 9-2x it's all over Hot Deals and Fat Wallet

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: Andrew111
First search result for new or used car: New or Used

It's pretty much your preference and budget...some good deals on used cars can be found but a used car is more of a risk for repairs and such.

Thanks for that, I have read some of those, on other sites, I was looking for the fine people of ATOT's opinion.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: isekii
get a Saab 9-2x it's all over Hot Deals and Fat Wallet

i love you, with GMS, and this rebate, hell i could have this car for about 12 grand.

MIKE

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
thats quite a difference, from ecnomy boxs, to low end lux cars.

I like the Legacy and G35

Yeah, like I said, I will narrow it down. But if I buy used, then having the range of cars will be better since, I could get(not sure on the actual numbers, this is hypothetical)a 99 G35 for the same price as a 2001 Altima, or whatever. LIke I said, that might not be a correct setup, but you get my drift. I would likely be looking for a fully loaded lower end car, compared to a more base model luxury car

 

[Andrew111]

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: Andrew111
First search result for new or used car: New or Used

It's pretty much your preference and budget...some good deals on used cars can be found but a used car is more of a risk for repairs and such.

Thanks for that, I have read some of those, on other sites, I was looking for the fine people of ATOT's opinion.

You can afford a new car relatively easily? I know if I had the money I would rather buy it new but if I could only afford a cheapo new car...I'd definitely go used to get more bang for the buck. I've had my eye on buying an Acura RL but I'd definitely have to buy it used to do so.

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: DEMO24
thats quite a difference, from ecnomy boxs, to low end lux cars.

I like the Legacy and G35

Yeah, like I said, I will narrow it down. But if I buy used, then having the range of cars will be better since, I could get(not sure on the actual numbers, this is hypothetical)a 99 G35 for the same price as a 2001 Altima, or whatever. LIke I said, that might not be a correct setup, but you get my drift. I would likely be looking for a fully loaded lower end car, compared to a more base model luxury car

First model year for the G35 was 2003 so you are not going to be able to find a 99

 

[Thegonagle]

Used, unless it's a Honda or Toyota. (Or Acura/Lexus.)

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: mchammer187

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: DEMO24
thats quite a difference, from ecnomy boxs, to low end lux cars.

I like the Legacy and G35

Yeah, like I said, I will narrow it down. But if I buy used, then having the range of cars will be better since, I could get(not sure on the actual numbers, this is hypothetical)a 99 G35 for the same price as a 2001 Altima, or whatever. LIke I said, that might not be a correct setup, but you get my drift. I would likely be looking for a fully loaded lower end car, compared to a more base model luxury car

First model year for the G35 was 2003 so you are not going to be able to find a 99

Did you even read, where I said I wasn't sure if the numbers where right. I was just showing a hypothetical, but thatnk you for letting me know. I obviously didn't realize that.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Used, unless it's a Honda or Toyota. (Or Acura/Lexus.)

In the other thread, many people said buying a used Honda or Toyota is stupid, since they won't be that much cheaper then new, since they hold thier value

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Used, unless it's a Honda or Toyota. (Or Acura/Lexus.)

In the other thread, many people said buying a used Honda or Toyota is stupid, since they won't be that much cheaper then new, since they hold thier value

your car choices are all over the place.

Main criteria is what kind of payment / pay out can you afford?

I really like my 98 240SX won over picking a 1988/89 944 Turbo 'S' or even a 1987 one.

I have owned a fully restored 1966 Mustang GT (vinyl hardtop, black on red (originally silverfrost), a/c, p/s, pony interior, etc...cost to finish $40k from my dad, I was 17), 1988 Mustang GT I bought, 86 RX7, 92 GSR, 96 Mits. Precis, 97 GTI VR6 (new), 96 Camaro RS (new for my wife), 96 Saturn SC limited, 98 240SX SE....

I would like a big 4x4 though and a fast 4 door sedan to cruise one day.

 

[kranky]

If the car doesn't depreciate a lot, buy it new. If it does, buy it used. I just got a 9-month-old car with 18,000 miles for 40% less than a brand new one. Factory warranty is good until December 2007. If it's a dog, I can sell it for nearly what I paid. If it's not, I can enjoy it for years.

The car I just got rid of I bought when it was a year old with 26,000 miles, for half of what a new one cost. I had it nine years without any major problems.

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: mchammer187

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: DEMO24
thats quite a difference, from ecnomy boxs, to low end lux cars.

I like the Legacy and G35

Yeah, like I said, I will narrow it down. But if I buy used, then having the range of cars will be better since, I could get(not sure on the actual numbers, this is hypothetical)a 99 G35 for the same price as a 2001 Altima, or whatever. LIke I said, that might not be a correct setup, but you get my drift. I would likely be looking for a fully loaded lower end car, compared to a more base model luxury car

First model year for the G35 was 2003 so you are not going to be able to find a 99

Did you even read, where I said I wasn't sure if the numbers where right. I was just showing a hypothetical, but thatnk you for letting me know. I obviously didn't realize that.

well just stating that

but in light of that i'm saying a G35 is not going to be an option at all unless you are going to be spending 25K minimum

and with respect to toyota and honda having a high resale value

they have a high resale value because they very good long term reliability


lets say you pay 40% of value on a 5 year old car that is going to have major problems at 8 years

or 60% of the value on a 5 year old car that isnt going to have problems for 10 years


there is a reason why they have high resale value

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: mchammer187

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: mchammer187

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: DEMO24
thats quite a difference, from ecnomy boxs, to low end lux cars.

I like the Legacy and G35

Yeah, like I said, I will narrow it down. But if I buy used, then having the range of cars will be better since, I could get(not sure on the actual numbers, this is hypothetical)a 99 G35 for the same price as a 2001 Altima, or whatever. LIke I said, that might not be a correct setup, but you get my drift. I would likely be looking for a fully loaded lower end car, compared to a more base model luxury car

First model year for the G35 was 2003 so you are not going to be able to find a 99

Did you even read, where I said I wasn't sure if the numbers where right. I was just showing a hypothetical, but thatnk you for letting me know. I obviously didn't realize that.

well just stating that

but in light of that i'm saying a G35 is not going to be an option at all unless you are going to be spending 25K minimum

and with respect to toyota and honda having a high resale value

they have a high resale value because they very good long term reliability


lets say you pay 40% of value on a 5 year old car that is going to have major problems at 8 years

or 60% of the value on a 5 year old car that isnt going to have problems for 10 years


there is a reason why they have high resale value

Oh I know why they have a high resale value, I am not disputing that at all. All I was saying is that some people in the other thread(I think Skoorb might ehave been one of them)said there is no point in buying a lightly used Hond aor Toyota, since you can get a new one for not much more. Compared to a car with a low resale, you would likely get a better deal on the used car. Like somebody just said, if it has a high resale value on it, buy it new, if it has a low resale, buy it used.

About my car choices, I know some of them are in a wide range, but like i said, I am kind alooking middle of the road, like upper low end, or lower high end. I didn't realize the G35 was 2003 or newer though, but it doesn't matter.

About a budget, I am not sure yet. I may actually end up getting 2 new(to me at least) cars, so that may change things. I can say with my new job, I will be making an extra 1000.00 or so per month. Obviously I want to have some of that to help with a house payment when I move, I want to be able to save some of it, like a 401K or something. And it would be nice to have some cash to spend, but still I should easily be able to afford one new car payment on a pretty decent car. So if I get 2 slightly used ones, I can probablly swing that too. But like I said, I am early in my research, so I will narrow it down a bit later.

 

[coolred]

Also, since you don't like my range of cars, what others do you recommend I look at? I am actually not to into Toyota's, sure they are reliable as heck, but they seem kinda boring. Kidna feel the same way about Hondas, but could consider an accord, maybe.

 

[coolred]

Also I should clarify, by used, I was thinking just a few years old, definately nothing older then a 98, unless its a great car, at a great price.

 

[MikeMike]

did you read the suggestion for the 9-2X Aero?

that is an ungodly price for a car that nice.

MIKE

 

I bought new.
Used subaru's with 50K miles and 5 years old were only a few grand cheaper than a brand new, better one.

 

[thechinesehero]

if the car has good resale value then buy new
if the car has crappy resale value then buy a used one