New Vehicle...Rav 4, CRV, Others ???

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

For a lot of people the peace of mind of driving a new car with warranty is a huge issue. A lot of people are scared of dealing with repairs because there are many unscrupulous mechanics out there.

The other big issue I find is that people want to manage their monthly costs. And with manufacturer incentives around 0-2% vs the 5-7% for used cars, this really drives a lot of people to buying new cars. My mother for example is looking at new RAV4, she wouldn't consider a used car becasue she it very scared of unexpected repair costs.

If your mom is wealthy then she can go ahead and buy new and be happy about it. If she's concerned about her monthly budget, it's incumbent upon you as a good son to save her a good $15,000 by helping her find the right used RAV4 that is still on warranty. It will be easy to do, so that's good at least. The warranty will alleviate her fears about repairs and she can get financing at her bank instead of through the dealership.

As for unscrupulous mechanics, she can canvas her friends and family to find a good one. They're not that hard to find.

[Hockeyguy15]

Why do you have so much hate for new cars? If people want to buy a car brand new should it cause you so much stress?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by polak

Something like a Rav 4 I wouldn't care about buying new. Almost no one "drives the crap" out of a Rav 4 or CR-V and they're cheap to fix, fairly reliable and most likely have a lot of warranty left if you buy one that is a year or two old.

If I was buying anything remotely sporty I'd only look at new or EXTREMELY low KMs. But even then, for the latter I would still be really deligent. 10,000 km's of being driven into the ground without proper maintnence will cost you huge in the long run.

I'm the exact opposite. Something like a Rav4 I find almost no one "gives a crap" about and IMO it's a lot less likely that you'll find a used one taken care of as well as something luxury/sporty.

Also, I'm kind of impressed that it took 55 posts before Sliver chimed into this thread

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I'm the exact opposite. Something like a Rav4 I find almost no one "gives a crap" about and IMO it's a lot less likely that you'll find a used one taken care of as well as something luxury/sporty.

Also, I'm kind of impressed that it took 55 posts before Sliver chimed into this thread

In my mind most used cars are not properly taken care of. I'm not saying I am right but my reasoning is this; why would a person sell their car? Sure some need something bigger or smaller, maybe they don't need it anymore, or maybe they just want something newer. In my mind those situations are in the minority and most people want a new car because theirs is starting to break down. So why would I want to buy a car that is starting to break down?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Why do you have so much hate for new cars? If people want to buy a car brand new should it cause you so much stress?

I don't hate new cars. I hate watching people put themselves in compromising financial positions when they don't need to. I also like to help people. I also like educating people on how they can have exactly what they want for half the price of new. It feels good to get what you want and keep tens of thousands of dollars that some other guy would have spent.

Like buying a new RAV, for example. In my opinion somebody buying a brand new RAV has likely wasted $15K or so versus a model a couple of years old that is basically the same thing. I'd have preferred to see them use that money to put into their retirement savings so it would have been $50,000 when they're 65. Then that person could retire 18 months earlier or take a couple of exotic vacations in their retirement that now they won't be able to take. When they are that age, that RAV4 will be a new refrigerator or something as it will have rusted out and been recycled long ago.

^ That's not because I hate new cars. Being a car guy is one of the ways I define myself. I just think most people who get excited about financing and leasing rates are also the same people that should be spending less on cars. If you are wealthy enough that my advice doesn't apply to you, then you probably already know that and you can just ignore it.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I'm the exact opposite. Something like a Rav4 I find almost no one "gives a crap" about and IMO it's a lot less likely that you'll find a used one taken care of as well as something luxury/sporty.

Also, I'm kind of impressed that it took 55 posts before Sliver chimed into this thread

Haha, I wasn't going to bother with this thread, but when I saw somebody was going to buy a $36,000 Mazda I couldn't keep quiet.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

In my mind most used cars are not properly taken care of. I'm not saying I am right but my reasoning is this; why would a person sell their car? Sure some need something bigger or smaller, maybe they don't need it anymore, or maybe they just want something newer. In my mind those situations are in the minority and most people want a new car because theirs is starting to break down. So why would I want to buy a car that is starting to break down?

Every car, whether new or used, is breaking down. Every km put on it breaks it down a bit more. Luckily, we know generally how long cars lasts. If you buy a car with 50,000 kms on it, you know it has a really good 100,000 kms in it and can keep going up to 300,000 kms if you want to keep it going. Original owners that sell their cars at 50,000 kms incur very high per-km costs versus somebody else buying their car at 50,000 kms or 100,000 kms. You should look at your cost per km. Buying new it'll be high; buying used it'll be relatively low.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't hate new cars. I hate watching people put themselves in compromising financial positions when they don't need to. I also like to help people. I also like educating people on how they can have exactly what they want for half the price of new. It feels good to get what you want and keep tens of thousands of dollars that some other guy would have spent.

Like buying a new RAV, for example. In my opinion somebody buying a brand new RAV has likely wasted $15K or so versus a model a couple of years old that is basically the same thing. I'd have preferred to see them use that money to put into their retirement savings so it would have been $50,000 when they're 65. Then that person could retire 18 months earlier or take a couple of exotic vacations in their retirement that now they won't be able to take. When they are that age, that RAV4 will be a new refrigerator or something as it will have rusted out and been recycled long ago.

^ That's not because I hate new cars. Being a car guy is one of the ways I define myself. I just think most people who get excited about financing and leasing rates are also the same people that should be spending less on cars. If you are wealthy enough that my advice doesn't apply to you, then you probably already know that and you can just ignore it.

Wow. Was that supposed to come off as pompous as it sounded?

[Sliver]

What?

[Sliver]

I don't see how you can apply an adjective like pompous to objective fact.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't hate new cars. I hate watching people put themselves in compromising financial positions when they don't need to. I also like to help people. I also like educating people on how they can have exactly what they want for half the price of new. It feels good to get what you want and keep tens of thousands of dollars that some other guy would have spent.

Like buying a new RAV, for example. In my opinion somebody buying a brand new RAV has likely wasted $15K or so versus a model a couple of years old that is basically the same thing. I'd have preferred to see them use that money to put into their retirement savings so it would have been $50,000 when they're 65. Then that person could retire 18 months earlier or take a couple of exotic vacations in their retirement that now they won't be able to take. When they are that age, that RAV4 will be a new refrigerator or something as it will have rusted out and been recycled long ago.

^ That's not because I hate new cars. Being a car guy is one of the ways I define myself. I just think most people who get excited about financing and leasing rates are also the same people that should be spending less on cars. If you are wealthy enough that my advice doesn't apply to you, then you probably already know that and you can just ignore it.

Echoing other opinions on this thread, I like new cars for the peace of mind of having warranty, and the fact that I have something new. I know not everyone shares that opinion with me, however this is my mindset and how I purchase cars. All that being said, I respect those who are of the opinion that cars are a waste of money, and that it's simply a vehicle to get from point A to point B. I am not in that boat, as I absolutely love driving, and love to drive something that I enjoy being in. If I spending time in a vehicle for as long as I do on a daily basis, I want to be in something I enjoy. I don't expect everyone to understand this.

I am well aware of the depreciating value of a car, and while I appreciate the advice on fiscal responsibility, I think I'm capable of making fiscal decisions on my own. I am a fiscally responsible person, and my wife even more so. Just because we are buying a new car doesn't mean we're making financially irresponsible decisions. We're not wealthy, but we make enough to a live a life that we're both proud of. This is a thread regarding thoughts on new cars.

All this being said, this vehicle I plan to buy is to be a 10 year car for my wife, for our future kids, and for the safety and peace of mind I will have knowing that she (and them) will be safer on the road (Please don't go into the tangent about other drivers etc, as I am aware).

To each their own.

Back on topic, there are plenty of dealers right now offering massive rebates or even 0% financing. Mazda is one of those with the 2013 CX5, which is a big reason why we're going this route.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by manwiches

Echoing other opinions on this thread, I like new cars for the peace of mind of having warranty, and the fact that I have something new. I know not everyone shares that opinion with me, however this is my mindset and how I purchase cars. All that being said, I respect those who are of the opinion that cars are a waste of money, and that it's simply a vehicle to get from point A to point B. I am not in that boat, as I absolutely love driving, and love to drive something that I enjoy being in. If I spending time in a vehicle for as long as I do on a daily basis, I want to be in something I enjoy. I don't expect everyone to understand this.

I am well aware of the depreciating value of a car, and while I appreciate the advice on fiscal responsibility, I think I'm capable of making fiscal decisions on my own. I am a fiscally responsible person, and my wife even more so. Just because we are buying a new car doesn't mean we're making financially irresponsible decisions. We're not wealthy, but we make enough to a live a life that we're both proud of. This is a thread regarding thoughts on new cars.

All this being said, this vehicle I plan to buy is to be a 10 year car for my wife, for our future kids, and for the safety and peace of mind I will have knowing that she (and them) will be safer on the road (Please don't go into the tangent about other drivers etc, as I am aware).

To each their own.

Back on topic, there are plenty of dealers right now offering massive rebates or even 0% financing. Mazda is one of those with the 2013 CX5, which is a big reason why we're going this route.

Okay, I will drop it. But for the record, you can have everything you listed as being reasons you like new, but in used (i.e. safety, warranty, enjoyable car, etc.) for half the price.

I won't bring it up again in this thread unless somebody asks me a direct question.

[calgaryrocks]

^ you cant get payments at zero percent, or the newest technology (backup cameras, bluetooth) with used. yes you can add this stuff on after but it takes more effort. you won't get the same peace of mind with a used car, because unless its a friend you don't know how they really drove it, and can only go on records of maintenance. also newer vehicles tend to provide better fuel economy. the new mazdas have the skyactive engine which you can pretty much only get new.
it also depends on the model, yes you probably can save lots buying a used car that was originally $60k. but if it is a $25,000 car, the used version of a mazda would drop $5k, if you can find a used one that new. that is different than a hyundai for the same price new. and different than a 60k luxury car which drops a higher % and real dollar amount.
it is a decision that looks at more than just the financial side, such as enjoyment of the drive, having new techonology, knowing how the vehicle was driven and taken care of. if you don't have the money to pay for the car in cash but have a consistent job and make enough spread a month then 0% financing saves you some time and you can invest the rest of the cash instead of blowing it all at once on the car. anyways rant over.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by blankall

This isn't true anymore. The Fords score around the same in reliability as their Nissan and Toyota counterparts.

I'm curious, did you just make this up? Ford is ranked about the same as Nissan, which is to say they hover around the industry average. Toyota has consistently been in the top five for 25+ years, often #1.

Overall, the Fords are a lot more fun to drive and you tend to get better value.

Fun to drive is a subjective thing, cost of ownership is a completely different story. The cost of a vehicle does not end when you drive it out of a showroom, again Ford is about average in COO.

Originally Posted by Table 5

Those JD Powers awards are such BS. How can you determine the reliability of a car while it's still new?

You can't. I also consider the JD Power rankings next to worthless.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Never buy a Rav4 because of the awful, awful ads.

[Shin Pad]

Originally Posted by Cheese

My wife has the VW Tiguan and LOVES it. She had a Rav 4 before this one and she said she wouldnt go back.
Lots more kick in the Tig and far better handling. Take one for a test drive.

Havent had one issue with the vehicle in the 3 years weve had it.

Your wifes RAV 4 must have been a 4 cylinder. I have a V6 in my 2010 RAV 4 - 269 HP. I'm not sure the Tiguan has much more kick than that.

I do a lot of highway driving and I love the power that the V6 RAV 4 has..

[QuadCityImages]

New cars don't lose a third of their value when you drive off the lot anymore. Compare these 2 Ford Focuses... Foci... whatever.

Both black 2013 SE Sedans.Neither has leather or anything to out of the ordinary. One's used with 16k miles, the other is new with 7 miles. Difference in price? $1600. When you factor in Ford customer cash or rebates, the durability of the car used up over 16,000 miles, better financing rates, and the way dealerships treat new car owners, and the intangible fun of being the first owner of a car, I think that's pretty easily worth the difference.

New: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2013-...ht_2988wt_1166

Used: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SE-2-...t_19999wt_1166

Its pretty obvious that the used one is going to go for farther below asking than the new one, but we're not talking several thousands of dollars difference here.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

New cars don't lose a third of their value when you drive off the lot anymore. Compare these 2 Ford Focuses... Foci... whatever.

Both black 2013 SE Sedans.Neither has leather or anything to out of the ordinary. One's used with 16k miles, the other is new with 7 miles. Difference in price? $1600. When you factor in Ford customer cash or rebates, the durability of the car used up over 16,000 miles, better financing rates, and the way dealerships treat new car owners, and the intangible fun of being the first owner of a car, I think that's pretty easily worth the difference.

New: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2013-...ht_2988wt_1166

Used: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SE-2-...t_19999wt_1166

Its pretty obvious that the used one is going to go for farther below asking than the new one, but we're not talking several thousands of dollars difference here.

You can't be serious. First, the used one is overpriced. More importantly, you're looking at one car in Illinois and one car in Montana. There would be supply and demand differences and regional pricing differences. Finally, buying a car a few months old isn't going to save you near as much as a used car three- or four-years old.

You could make a lot of compelling arguments in favour of buying new over used, but you are the first person I've ever seen claim there isn't a price difference. One example with obvious flaws doesn't negate the millions of other examples I could spend all year pulling up and posting that definitively and indisputably illustrates used is far less expensive than new. Particularly when the sweet spot for used I've been espousing is the two- to four-year mark, not the four-month mark where clearly a used car will have suffered less depreciation.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Okay, I will drop it. But for the record, you can have everything you listed as being reasons you like new, but in used (i.e. safety, warranty, enjoyable car, etc.) for half the price.

And then proceeds to not drop it.....

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Okay, I will drop it. But for the record, you can have everything you listed as being reasons you like new, but in used (i.e. safety, warranty, enjoyable car, etc.) for half the price.

I won't bring it up again in this thread unless somebody asks me a direct question.

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

And then proceeds to not drop it.....

Wasn't a big leap to assume his comment was directed at me. It's not like he went on with the OP by giving advice on the new cars that were specifically being asked about (RAV4, CRV, etc.).