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When car purchasing...

A

archcommus

Diamond Member
I'm not in the market, just curious...

When car shopping, how do you decide which features/options/models are worth the dough, and which ones are surpassing what you'll really care about and then just wasting money? For example, say you could afford a $40k car but have never owned one or driven one. How do you know whether those luxuries would be worth the money they'll cost you? Do you just test drive like a mad man? I really see no other way to find out for sure.

Of course if you have a not-too-extravagant budget (say $25k or less) you just pick what's best, but if you CAN afford more, the question is how do you decide what justifies that cost. I'm sure a Benz would be nice to anyone but I'm sure many of us would say "Eh, not worth the price tag, I'm happy enough with my Honda."
 
Money does that to many people. If they have it, they feel that they need - or better "deserve" to spend it. Sometimes even if they don't have it 😀
 
Depending on the options, resale value is better. It's just a matter of what you can get for what you got - now and later.

ETA - But then again I'm not always wrecking cars like some of the guys around here.
 
I went in knowing that I didn't really want all the bells and whistles. Shopped for the function of the car more than anything obviously.
I wanted a fairly minimal ergonomic interior. Don't like leather and have no need for a crazy built-in gps and computer control center. Though I am looking at gps systems for work.

You can get by fine on most low level trims in cars today.
 
I went from a car with few options and bells/whistles to one that was loaded with them. Albeit the cost jump was huge, it was worth it to me and would make getting something in the future without such bells/whistles harder. I didn't get a brand new car though that may be my next jump. I got a 2002 model in June 2005 for about half what the sticker was ($50,000 sticker and paid about $25,000). Next jump would be getting a brand new car in a few years but it would probably cost ~$60,000 for a similiar feature set so I have to make sure I can afford it. I may actually lease a new car next because that allows me to get a new car every few years and it would be fully warrantied and whatnot within that period.
 
I look at Consumer Reports to find out the repair records of the two-year-old cars. If there's a car with good quality, and it's hugely depreciated already, and it doesn't have a lot of extras, it makes the list of cars to look at.

I don't spend a lot of time in the car so reliability means more to me than meaningless "features". All I really want is a comfortable seat, AM/FM/CD, air, four doors, and a big trunk.

I should be thankful for people who buy new cars, barely drive them for a couple years, then sell them for about half of what it cost them. They pay half for two years of use, I pay half and get 7-8 years of use.

It doesn't matter to me that I could afford a $40K car, I'm not interested. I can't think of a bigger waste of money.
 
Yes I'd rather have my money sitting in appreciating assets not depreciating ones.
Resale doesn't mean anything to me cause I buy heavily discounted and drive til they are at least 12-15 yrs old.
So I look first, absolute best deal I can before I even look at
brand, Bank Repo's are good, if your not afraid of not knowing the histroy. Next private deals cause most people undervalue their own cars cause they know all the flaws.
I have bought 3 new cars though cause I could write them off through business.
Then I send my buddy Kevin in to negotiate cause he's like, insane, and I write the cheque.
 
Originally posted by: Colt45
I don't buy new cars. Why buy a new japanese car when you can get a 2 year old german one for less?
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Why buy a 2 year old German when you can buy a more reliable 2 year old Japanese car for less?
 
Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: Colt45
I don't buy new cars. Why buy a new japanese car when you can get a 2 year old german one for less?
Click to expand...

Why buy a 2 year old German when you can buy a more reliable 2 year old Japanese car for less?
Click to expand...
Good point...

 
Originally posted by: enyce2k9
Also find one that you can be satisfied with the looks because remember it will represent you.
Click to expand...

I can't think of anything lower on my list of car buying concerns than looks. If my car represents me, it's only to people whose opinions would be meaningless to me.
 
first thing I look for is size 🙂
but having 3 kids with a fourth on the way will do that

than I look at nice things that will last

leather more durable than cloth?
in most cars it is

I could care less about resale as by the time I'm done with it usually ends up at a auction because no one wants that many miles 😛
 
Originally posted by: kranky
Originally posted by: enyce2k9
Also find one that you can be satisfied with the looks because remember it will represent you.
Click to expand...

I can't think of anything lower on my list of car buying concerns than looks. If my car represents me, it's only to people whose opinions would be meaningless to me.
Click to expand...
I care about looks a great deal. But not because of what others think, because I myself like the "visual presence" of my car.

 
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