YACT: What would you buy and why?

[FrustratedUser]

Here it goes;
Would you buy a new lower-end car or a 5 year old high-end car for the same price?

I think I'd be willing the to go with the 5 year old high-end car. High-end cars are usually well built and can take many miles. Not that lower-end breaks down, which they don't, but I'd get more car for the money.

 

[brxndxn]

I'd take a 5yo Corvette over a Daewoo any day..

 

[Anubis]

i woudl take a 5 year old BMW over a new honda wouldent you?

 

[MustangSVT]

let me ask you a similar question .

would you get punched in the face by me or would you rather get kicked in your butt by a soccor player?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Anubis
i woudl take a 5 year old BMW over a new honda wouldent you?

Sure I would. But why do people buy new cars then?

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Here it goes;
Would you buy a new lower-end car or a 5 year old high-end car for the same price?

I think I'd be willing the to go with the 5 year old high-end car. High-end cars are usually well built and can take many miles. Not that lower-end breaks down, which they don't, but I'd get more car for the money.

It really depends on specifics, but in general I'd get a new lower end car. 5 years is a complete generation for popular models, engineering, design and build quality is half a decade better. Factory warranty and new car financing is always better than used. And better selection for new cars, you are far more likely to get the trim and color you want.

 

[Vic]

Can you clarify the high and low ends?

Depending on manufacturer, many "low-end" cars can go for hundreds of thousands of miles reliably (for example: Corolla, Impreza, Civic).

And I would take the newer low-end. Nothing drives like a brand new car, even a cheaper one. There's just something about those first 30k miles...

 

[TechnoKid]

Warranty. I like warranty. I don't like 5 year old BMW that is out of it, and that has a $2k repair bill, which could have been fixed under warranty.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
let me ask you a similar question .
would you get punched in the face by me or would you rather get kicked in your butt by a soccor player?

If the violence represents the economical suicide of buying a car then it makes no difference.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
let me ask you a similar question .
would you get punched in the face by me or would you rather get kicked in your butt by a soccor player?

If the violence represents the economical suicide of buying a car then it makes no difference.

you are too deep for me mr.pink.. i fold.

/me runs away.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Anubis
i woudl take a 5 year old BMW over a new honda wouldent you?

Sure I would. But why do people buy new cars then?

cause then can afford to

you and I cant afford NEW nice cars so we buy used ones

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Anubis
i woudl take a 5 year old BMW over a new honda wouldent you?

I wouldn't and didn't. Buying a BMW with no warranty is asking for trouble. I have a 2003 accord and it's a great car.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Vic
Can you clarify the high and low ends?

Depending on manufacturer, many "low-end" cars can go for hundreds of thousands of miles reliably (for example: Corolla, Impreza, Civic).

And I would take the newer low-end. Nothing drives like a brand new car, even a cheaper one. There's just something about those first 30k miles...

I meant to do a poll. I'd go used.
Let's define this as a car in the 15k range.

 

[rpc64]

Where the hell are you finding a 5 year old Corvette for the price of a Daewoo???

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I went with a used 2001 Prelude SE over a brand new 2004 Honda Civic or 2004 Mazda M3. In general, you get more value and better trim buying used, and saving money at the same time. Buying new, you pay for the most important period for depreciation.

But hey, some people like the new car smell and knowing that their ride is still a virgin, never touched

 

[kevinthenerd]

My Saturn ION will outlast, on average, anything that's five years older. It's built with better technology, and it has a five-year head start anyway.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: PeeluckyDuckee
I went with a used 2001 Prelude SE over a brand new 2004 Honda Civic or 2004 Mazda M3. In general, you get more value and better trim buying used, and saving money at the same time. Buying new, you pay for the most important period for depreciation.

But hey, some people like the new car smell and knowing that their ride is still a virgin, never touched

2001 isn't 5 years, that's between 2-3 years. Every year a car is driven is very significant.

 

[FrustratedUser]

The 5 year gap is the point here.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

My bad! If the difference was within 2-3 yrs, I'd consider used, same model. More than 5yrs, I'd consider new with lesser trim. But there's always exceptions, depending on overall condition of vehicle, and as well, your budget.

In general though, I don't like paying money for repairs other owner'(s) fun that they had on the car.

 

[Siddhartha]

I went through that decision process recently. I chose a new Acura RSX-S because of its warranty, reliability, performance, Honda's 2.9% interest rate, and I got 190k miles on my last Integra. But I was tempted to get a car I really wanted like a Nissan 300ZX turbo, a Supra turbo, a Porsche 928 S4, a C4 Corvette, or even a MR2 turbo.

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
My Saturn ION will outlast, on average, anything that's five years older. It's built with better technology, and it has a five-year head start anyway.

Dude, toyota's are notorious for lasting forever, if you do basic maintenence. and the ion is too fugly to be on the road, damn concept cars

 

[FrustratedUser]

A few examples:

1.
Used MB C280 or New Honda Accord Base model.

2.
Used Oldsmobile Aurora or New Kia Rio

3.
Used Cadillac SLS or New Mazda Protege

Look at dealer retail prices.
Very tempting to go with 'high-end' in terms of amount of car. Never mind that the styles might not be what you prefer in this case. They are just examples.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
The 5 year gap is the point here.

This is how I see it. Daily driven cars have a finite lifetime, which is usually around 10-15 years, before it becomes unworthwhile to keep it running.

At 5 years, 1/3 to 1/2 the life of the car is already over. Most cars start needing major repairs around 100K miles, things like water pump, timing belt and who knows what else decides to start failing.

In an attempt to initially save about 1/3 the value of a new car, you gave up
1) new car condition. New car means new car, you know the condition of everything, including engine, transmission and body. There is no unseen abuse on the drivetrain nor was car potentially previously in a collision. Light to moderate collision damage is not reported to the car's title.
2) new car financing. Most people don't buy cars outright in cash. Good luck trying to get 3% interest on any used car. In fact this alone dramatically narrows the actual savings you were trying get by buying a used car.
3) car is 5 years closer to the junkyard. See above.
4) new car engineering, technology and build quality. Witness the current gen and previous gen accord. Huge difference in powertrain, interior quality, features and safety.
5) warranty. If sh*t breaks, they fix it, no matter how small if it is not normal wear and tear. 5 year old car? You pay out the ass.

You ever hear the saying that cheap people pay twice?

 

[HiTek21]

I'd go for an '04 Civic EX or an '04 Accord LX

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
My Saturn ION will outlast, on average, anything that's five years older. It's built with better technology, and it has a five-year head start anyway.

Dude, toyota's are notorious for lasting forever, if you do basic maintenence. and the ion is too fugly to be on the road, damn concept cars

I think I like my fugly car even more now that I know that others hate it. It's mine. I didn't buy it for the recognition of others. I like it, and that's all that matters.