what are the advantages of buying a used car

[MrSchaeferPants]

There's nothing untrue about that at all. I'm anti-new, but I'll admit, when it comes to DD'ing, it's nice getting in my wife's brand new Elantra and heading into town to do errands. Twice the mileage (and I have a diesel), heat, air, comfy, clean, quiet, idles, drives, runs smoother, everything is fresh and clean.

Yes I'm comparing a car to a 30 year old beat up Blazer, but it wouldn't be any less true for a brand new suv or truck (maybe not the mpg). It is nice not worrying if something'll break. I'm not saying I'm sold on new, I'm not. But I see the benefits now. If I was rich and could do a 100% restoration with all new fancy bells and whistles like heated seats, fancy digital displays, a modern engine/trans/suspension in my Blazer, yeah, it'd be a bad ass DD. But it'd also no longer be a Blazer. In fact, some here have their rigs so built, aside from the body (or parts of the body) and maybe the axles, it's no longer a K5 anyway.

Would I ever buy me a brand new DD? Probably not, not unless I get rich, maybe when I get older and have less spunk to keep up with it all.



That being said... well everyone has already said the advantage of a used car. Why spend $20k, and really $30k after interest when you could spend $7k for a used car and call it good. If you're mechanically inclined, and can spot trouble it's helpful, if you're an average person, you're shooting in the dark. Advantages? I'd say other than monetary reasons, there are 0. Unless you like a specific model year that isn't the current one. Oh and I like the post about waiting for recalls But hell, look GM finally recalled their ignition cylinders after 10 years, that's a long wait.

 

[79rustyk10]

Having a reliable car is nice. For my work it's not worth having a car that I'm making payments on for a dd. Sometimes it's north of 120 miles a day, there's dust, mud, snow, etc. tools, ladders and supplies constantly in and out. I'll keep driving $2000 ****boxes till they die rather than make payments on something my job is gonna trash.

I've been looking at a lot of trucks lately. Everything that isn't rusty or has lower miles is 20k plus, in the 05 to 06 years even. For that, I'll wait till I can afford a new z71. Even the stuff that's two years old is comparable in price to new when there's specials.

 

[tRustyK5]

May have some regret. Oh well such is life.


A lot of guys here have $10,$20,$30+ Thousand dollars into their blazers that are worth 5-10k for the higher ones? And we say they aren't an investment but a hobby etc... But in reality what's the difference... I'm not buying my car as an investment. I don't care if it's worth $6000 in 6 years... I want a daily driver, not something to buy and sell for more etc. I'm mother fockin sick of laying in the snow fixing my junk, and I want to get in a car every morning and know I can make it to work.


My k5 has I bet over $13k into it (and will have plenty more) and it's maybe worth 4k?


I don't see the big deal or difference ....

The difference is in 6 years the K5 will still be worth $4-6K (unless you wreck it) It's done depreciating.

Not directed at you, but I know so many people that buy new, only because it's using the 'easy' button.

No research involved, just trust the dealer to point you to the best car.
Easy financing

Trade in the old one.

I was young once, and got myself screwed by more than one dealer. The three card monty financial end of things is the most entertaining to sift through when it isn't your money.

My fave was $2000 for "documentation fees" and another grand for a "lien check"...on a new pick-up. Then they tried to add a three year warranty (on a new car with a three year warranty) for another grand. Then there was the agreed price $2000 higher than agreed, which ironically matched what they were 'giving' me for trade in. Funny all that was in small print, and the monthly payment was highlighted and in larger print.

Needless to say I walked.

 

[76zimmer]

A lot of guys here have $10,$20,$30+ Thousand dollars into their blazers that are worth 5-10k for the higher ones? And we say they aren't an investment but a hobby etc... But in reality what's the difference... I'm not buying my car as an investment. I don't care if it's worth $6000 in 6 years... I want a daily driver, not something to buy and sell for more etc. I'm mother fockin sick of laying in the snow fixing my junk, and I want to get in a car every morning and know I can make it to work.


....

oh yeah, well at least I drive it once or twice a year!

I know we been bustin your balls Adam, for me I look at the potential that 5K could have earned you over your working life...remember this when your 55 like I am and are itching to retire! If I had the 350K, I would be gone right now...as it is, I'll be working another 5 yr's or so.
For some of the same reasons you bought your econobox, reliable daily transportation...and I was sick of driving an 11mpg truck all the time, so I bought a used car last year, I paid less than 1/2 the sticker price for a 4 yr old car w/ 99K on it, got a 3.2% int rate for 3 years, and I love everything about it.... but now I am replacing the rear diff in it...had a bearing issue happen and the electromagnetic coupler for the rear diff is howling like a bastard! So a warranty can be a good thing as well, you just don't have to by NEW to get it! Good luck little buddy, I hope your snotrocket runs like a raped ape!

 

[swettysblazer]

I think what everyone has to realize here is that everybody's situation is different. I'm by no means calling anybody out here, but times have changed. Things aren't the same as they were 30 years ago. As a young guy myself, I can see where Deuling and Rich are coming from. I follow their mindset as well. But for the others, like Dave and Rene, they also have their points that are very valid and definitely have to be considered. What it comes down to is whether or not the deal (whatever it is) works for you and you are able to make it work. I can't afford a new truck. I've been looking at used stuff for the past two months, and I am ready to buy right now. When the right one comes along, I'm going to pull the trigger and probably be stuck with it for the next 6+ years just due to the fact that I am spending 20+k on a vehicle that I know will be used and taken care of. Every body gets burned in life, one way or another. When you don't get burned is when you know that you're not doing anything to better yourself.

 

[meanboyjr]

Having a reliable car is nice.

It is! I've been DDing my '76 for almost nine years now. I replaced the tranny a short while after I bought it and aside from some weird carb issues around that same time, it has been reliable as a stone.

Personally, I don't think I'd ever buy new, but it's mainly because I'm a cheap b@stard.

 

[Deuling]

oh yeah, well at least I drive it once or twice a year!

I know we been bustin your balls Adam, for me I look at the potential that 5K could have earned you over your working life...remember this when your 55 like I am and are itching to retire! If I had the 350K, I would be gone right now...as it is, I'll be working another 5 yr's or so.
For some of the same reasons you bought your econobox, reliable daily transportation...and I was sick of driving an 11mpg truck all the time, so I bought a used car last year, I paid less than 1/2 the sticker price for a 4 yr old car w/ 99K on it, got a 3.2% int rate for 3 years, and I love everything about it.... but now I am replacing the rear diff in it...had a bearing issue happen and the electromagnetic coupler for the rear diff is howling like a bastard! So a warranty can be a good thing as well, you just don't have to by NEW to get it! Good luck little buddy, I hope your snotrocket runs like a raped ape!

I know what you mean dave. Turned in all of my 401k info today and it all comes into play april 1st. So I figure ill be 23 in 2 weeks, that means I have a good amount of time to add as much as I can into that account.


But for now im just over fixing my dd. I like working on the Blazer, it is my hobby and a stress releaver and I love it. I don't want to work on my dd. It is supposed to get me to my new job (which I love the crap out of and would hate to lose) and back home worry free.


Edit: Good lord the OP better write one hell of a paper after this thread

 

[Chief Brody]

I did a lot of research and spent many hours reading all the reports on which cars were the most reliable...I finally settled on what all the reports say is and has been the most reliable car/suv for the last 8 years....and as a second witness I looked around and found car dealers selling them with 258,000 miles on them...still getting $5000 for them...
I even asked friends at work that have owned them and they said yes, very dependable and reliable.
I bought a used 2008 Honda Pilot that was loaded with the premium package...has everything...leather seats...you name it. It looked like the previous owner babied it...when washed it looks almost new...and the inside is pristine.
I really like it as my daily driver...the only downside is that they put a six cylinder in that thing that will flat out haul that 5000 LB body down the freeway in a hurry...and it does not get good gas mileage above 65 or 70. If I drive 65 or under it gets near 400 miles per tank...if I gun it and drive 75 -80 it's more like 200 miles per tank.
I really like it though...never owned a Honda before...really love the heated seats when it's cold...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh......

Oh...I think it retailed for near $40,000 and I got it for 13,000, dealer threw in a brand new set of those expensive Michelin's. And I thought I would never own a black car, but mine is black...and I swear it looks newer than the other color 2008's...when the black is shined it just looks different...maybe the body lines look a little different too...

 

[BBC]

I have been shopping for a used 2008-2012 2500HD with a dmax for the last couple of months. Everything I have been seeing has 40-80k miles and around 36 to 40k. Just out of curiosity I went and looked at new 2014 trucks. They are only a little bit more money and have 5 miles on them. I would rather pay 6k more for a new one then buy used. The diesel's seam to hold their value much better than the gassers.