• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Buying an HHR... read inside please

M

MikeMike

Lifer
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2363412&page=1 thats my original thread at TCL.

ill post some key quotes in here though.

(luckydogg on tcl)

I know nothing about your financial status and by no means are you obligated to tell me, but by the sound of that comment, I think you may be making a mistake.

First and foremost, examine much you are putting down. Going under the assumption that you put NOTHING down, you would have to have a 72 month (read: 6 YEARS) loan to cover a $14,000 HHR at the monthly payment of $200 (this figure assumed 0% interest, something they would be reluctant to give to a 19 year old, as well as tax = $0 and title = $0). On any car, let alone an American branded car, that is an extremely poor decision.


Also, in terms of payments, make sure you are earning enough to cover a $500 dollar a month payment, if not more. You have a life to live in college, don't let a car strap you down.
Click to expand...
ME

i just did the calculations on my own, after including tax (but not title and liscense). i threw in $2000 off for GMS on an 18K car which is a lil bit under what i believe it will be. GM offers 1.9 and 2.9% finance on the vehicle (36/48) and i have my Saab to trade in which right now shows a dealer trade in value of about 5500, i figure i might be able to negotiate $500, plus a $500 down on top of the car.

Tax in my bracket i believe is 7%, i can only find older sheets where 6.5% is shown (last year), but i blieve it is 7%. when calculating this with the 1.9% apr on a total of 10183 or something like that, with the 1.9% i got $300 a month for 36 months, or $223 for 48 months with 2.9%

of course my father will have to cosign, and his name will be on the title in order for me to get GMS discount, however i will be making the payments, and then he will probably transfer the title over to me for a $1 after 6 months (minimum ownership under GMS) and it will basically be a "gift".

ive thought about it. i made $480 or so in a month reffing Flag Football @ $6 an hour, and i will be reffing Basketball as well. I also have a summer job most likely lined up at $8.50 an hour or so which works me 11-12 hours a day (1.5 overtime pay) 5-6 days a week. so that should be about $900 every two weeks.

i have thought about it.
Click to expand...

(TJL on TCL)

So basically you'll be spending 20 hours per week to make $6 per hour during the school year, and 55-60 hours per week to make $8.50 per hour in the summer. And you think you can afford a relatively expensive car?

Over the year, you'll be making between $10,000 and $11,000 before taxes. Pay taxes. Pay school expenses. How much will you have left?

Think of it this way: how many people buy a car that costs one and a half times their annual income?

And if you are working so much to pay for the car, how much time will you have for school work? How much you learn in school can make a big difference in your earning potential after you graduate.
Click to expand...

Me

the work hours at schol are typically 4 days a week reffing from 6-11pm, and its more enjoyable work than doiing monotonous stuff (i love basketball). I did the summer job last year and know exactly what it demands so i have no problem doing it as i know what to expect.

I do not pay for school currently and will be taking out a loan for school and repaying it later (school is way more than i can afford to pay for in general currently) and if i buy a car now, i will have this specific car for the next 6 years + since not only can it seat a family, but it is practical in storage and what not.

if i buy used, and keep it for 2-3 years at say $5000 for the car, and then purchase another $5000 car for the next 2-3 years i will have spent about the same as i would currently for the HHR which will and should last all 6 years and be very practical.

Saab = a possible ticking time bomb right now with the sludge issue it had
Click to expand...

TJL


The work may be enjoyable, but there are only so many hours in the day. Will you have enough time for school work and normal college social life?

6 years is an awfully short lifetime for a new car. You may want to learn how to take care of cars better, and select used cars that have been taken care of. I know someone who has a 32 year old car with 500,000+ miles on it, though his daily driver is 23 years old with around 200,000 miles.

You Saab doesn't need $10,000 of repairs, does it?
Click to expand...

ME

the saab has been run on Low Oil pressure due to sludge for quite some time. i already have put $1000 into the turbo, and $600 into the sludge removal. an engine for it costs $4900 installed. (the oil light flashed on me today and it scares the **** out of me when it does because last time i got stranded 5 hours away from home)

i was saying 6 years as a number. just a random number to get me into the age where i will have kids a house etc.

i DO know what i burn through at college im in my spring. Sem of Soph. year. i have things i can cut back on (mainly alcohol purchases) and my days of eating out. i burn through about $1000 in a full school year if i am not careful wiht my money and if i buy a good amount of alcohol (jaeger is expensive)

i have a social life and a GF, i managed last semester doing exactly what i plan to do this semester.
Click to expand...

i wont post cliffs as this isnt a sort of thing that can be answered by reading cliffs.

please have input,
 
do you commute to school? thats a huge factor, because if the case with your SAAB is that it really is crapping the bed, then yea, you will need a car to get you to school.

i personally don't really like the HHR, but thats personal preference.


Why not something else used? Taking a big loss going with something new. But if you DO want a new car, then go for it. HHR would get you around and stuff, so thats not too bad.

But the number one factor, to me, is if you commute to school or not.

Because if you don't, I know a few people that have made it threw college without a car and thats perfectly fine
 
Originally posted by: supastar1568
but then again you posted on a VW forum



i dislike VW's ohhhh soo much
Click to expand...


TCL != VWVortex, it is just hosted there as well.

and yes, i do commute to school, i was on my way home just about to hit Ohio when the oil pressure light came on full force and i was forced to wait for my dad to pick me up. Luckily, my GF was coming home behindme in her vehicle and we were able to go one more exit and get food, and peruse the Home Depot and Fireworks stores right there. as well as use the random wireless internet connection that i obtained.
 
Dude if you're a college student and need a car, it's generally a much much better option to go with a beater/cheaper vehicle. Unless you're parents are filthy rich or you don't ever have to pay loans, I'd honestly keep the cost of a car down to AT LEAST under 10k for the following reasons:
1) You don't want to spend all the money you make just on the car. Where's your fun money gonna come from? Save money you u can go out places and get booze.
2) In general, you don't want a nice brand-spanking new car on a college campus. There's just lots of opportunity for something to go wrong (damage, drunk drivers, vandalism, theft etc.).
 
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Dude if you're a college student and need a car, it's generally a much much better option to go with a beater/cheaper vehicle. Unless you're parents are filthy rich or you don't ever have to pay loans, I'd honestly keep the cost of a car down to AT LEAST under 10k for the following reasons:
1) You don't want to spend all the money you make just on the car. Where's your fun money gonna come from? Save money you u can go out places and get booze.
2) In general, you don't want a nice brand-spanking new car on a college campus. There's just lots of opportunity for something to go wrong (damage, drunk drivers, vandalism, theft etc.).
Click to expand...

but now compare this...

Brand new vehicle, 3 year warranty. should last for 6-10 years especially one as practical as this vehicle.

to

Beater, 3 grand-5 grand, life expectancy: 2-3 years. so in order to get 6-10 years out of a car that is a beater, id have to buy one every 3 years, or 3 $5000 cars, totalling... you guessed it 15000. plus whatever maintnence and repairs i have to put on the vehicle.
 
You seem pretty intent on buying it, so why bother posting here?

Personally, there is no way in hell I'd buy an HHR.
 
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
2) In general, you don't want a nice brand-spanking new car on a college campus. There's just lots of opportunity for something to go wrong (damage, drunk drivers, vandalism, theft etc.).
Click to expand...

that puke smell never ever comes out

plus, you'll be the guy everyone calls when they want to go anywhere. and you don't want to be that guy.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
You seem pretty intent on buying it, so why bother posting here?

Personally, there is no way in hell I'd buy an HHR.
Click to expand...

name a car as practical that isnt a square box (xB) that can be had for 15-16 grand (with GMS that i get)
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
2) In general, you don't want a nice brand-spanking new car on a college campus. There's just lots of opportunity for something to go wrong (damage, drunk drivers, vandalism, theft etc.).
Click to expand...

that puke smell never ever comes out

plus, you'll be the guy everyone calls when they want to go anywhere. and you don't want to be that guy.
Click to expand...

i dont just give rides. and no one will be driving mine as i want a 5 speed again. ive never let anyone just get a ride from me unless its an emergency and someone i know, and no one other than me and my dad and the shop where it has been serviced has ever driven mine.
 
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Dude if you're a college student and need a car, it's generally a much much better option to go with a beater/cheaper vehicle. Unless you're parents are filthy rich or you don't ever have to pay loans, I'd honestly keep the cost of a car down to AT LEAST under 10k for the following reasons:
1) You don't want to spend all the money you make just on the car. Where's your fun money gonna come from? Save money you u can go out places and get booze.
2) In general, you don't want a nice brand-spanking new car on a college campus. There's just lots of opportunity for something to go wrong (damage, drunk drivers, vandalism, theft etc.).
Click to expand...

but now compare this...

Brand new vehicle, 3 year warranty. should last for 6-10 years especially one as practical as this vehicle.

to

Beater, 3 grand-5 grand, life expectancy: 2-3 years. so in order to get 6-10 years out of a car that is a beater, id have to buy one every 3 years, or 3 $5000 cars, totalling... you guessed it 15000. plus whatever maintnence and repairs i have to put on the vehicle.
Click to expand...

I agree that the new car will be more beneficial in the long run but why do you want to pay for what you will use after 3-4 years especially when this is the time you make the least money. People invest in their future when they know that this is their most or atleast one of the most stable times. Moreover the one major risk is that what will you do if you don't get a job right after your graduation? And if you are so confident of your qualifications/capabilities then why worry for anything beyond 2-3 years? See this is your college time and you should have fun with the money that you make on other things.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
You seem pretty intent on buying it, so why bother posting here?

Personally, there is no way in hell I'd buy an HHR.
Click to expand...

name a car as practical that isnt a square box (xB) that can be had for 15-16 grand (with GMS that i get)
Click to expand...

$15k will buy you a practically new, used car. Hell, $10,000 will too.

Everything the HHR tries to be for $6,500.
Click to expand...


iamwiz82 has a point, if you want the cargo space and want a retroish car get a PT cruiser. My GF has a 2001 model and it has been great car, Just make sure you get one with a stick the automatics tend to start having trouble at 60-70k miles.
 
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
You seem pretty intent on buying it, so why bother posting here?

Personally, there is no way in hell I'd buy an HHR.
Click to expand...

name a car as practical that isnt a square box (xB) that can be had for 15-16 grand (with GMS that i get)
Click to expand...

$15k will buy you a practically new, used car. Hell, $10,000 will too.

Everything the HHR tries to be for $6,500.
Click to expand...


iamwiz82 has a point, if you want the cargo space and want a retroish car get a PT cruiser. My GF has a 2001 model and it has been great car, Just make sure you get one with a stick the automatics tend to start having trouble at 60-70k miles.
Click to expand...

i like the look of the HHR, but not the PT, call me weird, call me whatever, i just HATE the look of it. and anyways, my dad would never allow me to purchase a used DC car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top