Buying Used vs Buying New (Car)

[V]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

My god man, time to splurge and get yourself something from 2000/2001. Live a little!

I bought my wife a nice 2003 Toyota Sequoia last year. I wish I could afford something nice for myself!

[Table 5]

Ok, I'm going to be THAT guy, but why does anyone need a Toyota Sequoia exactly? I get the idea of wanting to buy an SUV or crossover, but man, that thing seems like the biggest overkill ever. It's the only car out there that is as big as it's namesake.....and I doubt it can even drive off-road.

[V]

Haha, I was waiting for it, actually. I was considering pre-empting it, but thought the reaction might be better this way.

We have a bunch of kids, and we need storage space. The Pilot and 4Runner didn't provide enough space for strollers in the back. This is a nice big truck. She likes that she feels safe in it. I apologize to all of you for having to deal with another soccer mom driving a tank.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Dion

A vehicles VIN number can give you a lot of info about the vehicles history. It can determine a car's entire history - where it's been registered, if it's branded salvage or rebuilt and if there are any collisions. Doing that can save a buyer a lot of grief before he/she buys.

That has nothing to do with maintenance records, I'm not sure how it relates to my post.

Now, even a VIN search won't give you all the facts. I had a car that I know was in 3 claimed, at fault accidents. When I went to sell it, I did a VIN search through several different sources ( I can only remember using CarProof, there was another one too). Nothing comes up. To the potential buyer there is nothing to be concerned about. I wanted the information to provide full disclosure when selling it. I just had to verbally notify the purchaser, who thinks the worst, when infact all the damage was cosmetic and repaired.

I'm not to sure why nothing was returned on a VIN search. I was told that it could be because I was the original owner and only when the car is sold/re-registered is that information provided to the database. Someone else may know more about this.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by V

I bought my wife a nice 2003 Toyota Sequoia last year. I wish I could afford something nice for myself!

Those are like $50,000 grand and you get stuck with the 1987 beater? Why not buy a couple of $25,000 dollar vehicles instead? Oops, just noticed you said it was used, but still not cheap I bet.

[V]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Those are like $50,000 grand and you get stuck with the 1987 beater? Why not buy a couple of $25,000 dollar vehicles instead? Oops, just noticed you said it was used, but still not cheap I bet.

20 grand. It was the first car I ever paid more than $3,000 for, but the beater was going fine, so I didn't really need a car and we spent the budget on her.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by V

...that's just a matter of paying a premium to stroke the ego.

Nice line. The old "I can't have a new car so anyone that has one is doing nothing more than stroking their ego." line.

Some people are different. It's not like people drive around with new cars with their windows down screaming "LOOK AT ME I HAVE A NEW CAR". People buy new for many different reasons, just like you may spend/waste your money on certain things I would shake my head.

[V]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Nice line. The old "I can't have a new car so anyone that has one is doing nothing more than stroking their ego." line.

Some people are different. It's not like people drive around with new cars with their windows down screaming "LOOK AT ME I HAVE A NEW CAR". People buy new for many different reasons, just like you may spend/waste your money on certain things I would shake my head.

You're right, there's another reason. I don't know if the new car owner club here is purposefully being obtuse, or if they just didn't read enough Shakespeare in high school, but there was more in that post to be read.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by V

You're right, there's another reason. I don't know if the new car owner club here is purposefully being obtuse, or if they just didn't read enough Shakespeare in high school, but there was more in that post to be read.

No I read it but you put in a useless low blow in there for people who buy new just because you don't agree or can't do it yourself.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by V

I can see how you'd come to that conclusion. You know, after reading 3 of 5 lines.

I contest though. It is the used car buyer, who enjoys the used car feel, that is the real ego stroker.

"Look at me in my used car, I am better than you in your new car. La, la la, king of the castle..."

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by V

You're right, there's another reason. I don't know if the new car owner club here is purposefully being obtuse, or if they just didn't read enough Shakespeare in high school, but there was more in that post to be read.

You're not very nice! C'mon the sun is shining, there is a Chinook, it's Friday.

[kevman]

Buying a new car is the single worst investment you can make.

I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that buying a new car might actually be one of the better "investments" you can make when compared to other consumer retail goods. Sure you lose 15% the day you drive it off the lot but what is the depreciation on a big screen TV? My guess is it's a lot more then 15%. It seems like most electronics, excluding that fancy little fruit logo'd brand, lose 50% the minute you roll through that exit. What about a couch? A used couch, even for a day, has lost much more value then a vehicle. How about jeans? When was the last time got value back from a pair of jeans? I'll admit a pair of pants is becoming closer to a need then a want but they certainly don't need to have an Italian guys name on them. Finally, sporting goods, I can't believe ANYONE would buy sporting goods new. I mean a mountain bike is worth 50% the day it rolls out the store. Go ahead and look at any bike classified and see bikes that have no more then a few hours of riding on them going for 1/2 what the owner paid. In reality I think a new car hold it's value pretty damn good...

Then theres the "investment" thing. Why does everything in life have to be an investment or financial decision? What's wrong with an investment in happiness? New cars have lots of merits and those merits justify a premium to some. I'm sure Cable TV has merits to others but I can't understand how anyone could spend $100/month to watch TV. I mean if you want to talk about a poor investment...