Just curious - how many people here have bought a new car?

MadScientistMatt · Nov 11, 2005

I also hang out on a couple of car related message boards. On one board, someone asked how many others had never owned a new car. It seems that most of the people there had only bought used cars. I thought I'd see how that compared to a message board that wasn't about cars.

* (For poll purposes, I'm lumping cars, SUV's, pickups, etc. together.)

three seven · Nov 11, 2005

I've only ever bought used cars. If I could afford to buy a new car, I'd still only buy used cars because I'm not in the habit of throwing money down the toilet. New car prices, certainly in England, are enough of a rip-off even without the massive instant depreciation. I certainly don't begrudge anyone owning a brand-new car, but I will be laughing at their incredible lack of foresight.

three seven · Nov 11, 2005

They speak the truth.

Unique · Nov 11, 2005

I have bought new but the last 3 have been one year old trade ins with less than 10,000 miles. I still get a 'new' car but without the 'new car' price!

Works for me.

Jaycinth · Nov 11, 2005

Do a cost/benefit analysis, include insurance, payments, interest expense, gas and repair then extraoplate over a 5 year period, taking into account a 15 to 25% per year increase in the cost of gas.( No, I'm getting on people's nerves, I won't post the figures.) A new car is not worth it unless you are into conspicuous status flaunting. Even then. ( I REALLY need to stop bringing my work here.)

three seven · Nov 11, 2005

Of course, if we convinced everyone to never buy another new car, there wouldn't be any used ones left for us...

Tiaga · Nov 11, 2005

I have bought both. The depreciation is about 20% as soon as it's off the lot.

Without hijacking the thread er well maybe I have a question.
Currently I have a Honda CRV. I hate the fact that the Japanese always seem to use letters instead of names. CRV,NSX,MD6 etc. A friend and I were discussing this when the subject of names for cars came around to what would Americans buy. So, whew, would you our American members buy a car or SUV etc that does not have American names. ie Sierra, Montana,Tahoe, Cheyenne. How about an Alberta or to keep our UK friends happy a Bristol or Hyde Park instead of a Park Avenue or New Yorker how about a London or Ottawa.

your thoughts?
ps the only Canadian name we could remember is the Yukon are there others I've missed?

DenimSoul · Nov 11, 2005

I bought a new car right off the show room floor when I was fresh out of high school and I had to work two jobs all the time to pay for it. I needed a car though and didn't have enough money at one time to buy one. Used car lots wouldn't help me way back then since I didn't have any credit being so young. Well. The new car was in the shop all the time for something! Under warranties etc., but still I had to constantly hassle with that junk. I didn't think I'd ever get that thing paid off. Thankfully I did.

Ever since then I just buy used cars and they are in the shop a lot too, not under warranty!

Basically to tell you the truth I hate cars and I hate driving. If I ever win the lottery the first thing I'm going to do is either start taking taxi cabs everywhere or hire a service to haul me around. Darn cars!

MadScientistMatt · Nov 11, 2005

Tiaga said:
I have bought both. The depreciation is about 20% as soon as it's off the lot.

Without hijacking the thread er well maybe I have a question.
Currently I have a Honda CRV. I hate the fact that the Japanese always seem to use letters instead of names. CRV,NSX,MD6 etc. A friend and I were discussing this when the subject of names for cars came around to what would Americans buy. So, whew, would you our American members buy a car or SUV etc that does not have American names. ie Sierra, Montana,Tahoe, Cheyenne. How about an Alberta or to keep our UK friends happy a Bristol or Hyde Park instead of a Park Avenue or New Yorker how about a London or Ottawa.

your thoughts?
ps the only Canadian name we could remember is the Yukon are there others I've missed?

This does sometimes draw its share of jokes where people try to figure out what the initials stand for. From what I've heard, the usual reason for doing this is when a company wants to build loyalty to the brand itself and not a particular model, in the hopes of avoiding things like Chevy fans who love Camaros and hate Cavaliers. Or perhaps it's an effort to avoid bad jokes about names. The Ford Probe gets a lot more tasteless humor directed at it than the identical Mazda MX-6.

Sometimes, though, the choice between names and letters seems totally arbitrary. For example, there's Honda's CRV and Element, and the Civic and CRX - two cases where they took a common mechanical design, built it into two different vehicles, and gave one a name but not the other.

But I try not to pay attention to model names when I buy a car. I haven't owned a car with a purely alphanumeric designation yet. I certainly didn't buy my Ford Focus because the name sounded patriotic. I'm not entirely sure why Ford thought that would be a good, catchy model name. At the other end of the extreme, I think the Triumph Spitfire has one of the coolest names ever put on a car. Unfortunately, mine lived up to its name far too well, actually catching on fire.

There are a few cases where I'm convinced that not giving a car a proper name might have sunk its sales. Like when Ford came out with the Merkur XR4Ti. How are you supposed to pronounce that? Never mind the trouble with pronouncing "Merkur," I always want to call it an "Exerati."

Meanwhile, in Europe, they sold it under the entirely sensible name of the Ford Sierra, and it sold quite well over there.

BlueTexas · Nov 11, 2005

My current car was purchased as new, and I'll not do it again. My two previous cars were used, and while both had time in the shop, overall it was a better deal. That new car was a 1998 that I'm still driving it because after all those years of car payments, I'm going to drive the damn thing into the ground!

At the time I bought it, I drove all over the country for my work, and wanted something reliable, and the car certainly has been that. The only work it's needed has been maintenance--tires and battery.

Vanessa · Nov 11, 2005

I've done both, but after the last one which was new, the future cars will also be new.

Mac H. · Nov 12, 2005

three seven said:
I certainly don't begrudge anyone owning a brand-new car, but I will be laughing at their incredible lack of foresight.

Feel free to laugh at me.

I'd always had second hand cars until last year, when I bought a brand new one. The car before that was about 19 years old.

Around here new cars have gotten quite a bit cheaper, as the government has been trying to get older (lead based fuel) cars off the road. (The average age of the cars on the road here in Australia is about 11 years old.)

With car prices dropping, they are quite cheap now. When working out the cost of a car it's often easier to view it as 'renting' the car per year. After all, if you buy a $45,000 car and sell it 2 years later for $43,000, then you haven't really spend $45k on a car - you've been renting the car for $1k per year (plus any lost interest on the money, or plus interest if you'd borrowed the money)

So far I'm happy with the decision..

Mac.

aspier · Nov 12, 2005

Cars are out! Only get stolen, damaged and/or burnt by god fearing people spreading the word of convivial society building in my vicinity. Where I live, and since the Berlin Wall went down, 140 000 cars get stolen per year (mine's gone too) and smuggled to the Eastern Blok. Belgium is as big as Chicago. Then, since 14 days a 1000 cars get burnt out every night by the beloved Islamic troopers. My town too. Last night 20. And cars get bashed up. My daughter had her mirror fixed last week - today its broken off again. Wham! 2 or 300 dollars or more. Now re the greatness of the Islamic belief - I have to say this - they know how to tackle the global warming thing and get rid of cars quick. And what's more, they solve parking problems too. Our street is empty now and looks like Bagdad 47th street. Puts one to thinking, eh? Great societies allway produced great culture and prosperity. I'm all for that.

Now bicycles ... from my kids 4 got stolen. And cables got slashed. Oeee i don't know! Second hand cars? Yes maybe. Walking? Then you get mugged. What about Cyber Flight. Not better transport?

Anyway to answer your question: So far I have always bought new. But since sometime now I have beginning to think about secondhand ones. Before the change in society even. One can get tremendous bargains. It's not that I rich that I buy new. I have to save for it. Its just, new cars are new ... you know. Its gives a kick, new.

Unique · Nov 12, 2005

Definitely the kick, new - aspier. I agree. But one year old new is still new. That's it for me!

But it sounds like you need a new 'personal safety device' more than a car, no?

(psd is an American euphemism for something that shoots)

aspier · Nov 12, 2005

Unique said:
Definitely the kick, new - aspier. I agree. But one year old new is still new. That's it for me!

But it sounds like you need a new 'personal safety device' more than a car, no?

(psd is an American euphemism for something that shoots)

No no! A bundle of red shoes to hide under! Smile! Psst! if more people buy 2nd hand then prices will go down for new! Wink! Soon a six-monther for you!

three seven · Nov 12, 2005

Mac H. said:
if you buy a $45,000 car and sell it 2 years later for $43,000,

Good luck with that, and make sure you send that buyer my way when you're done. I've got some Barings stock they might be interested in.

MadScientistMatt said:
Ford came out with the Merkur XR4Ti. How are you supposed to pronounce that? Never mind the trouble with pronouncing "Merkur," I always want to call it an "Exerati."

Meanwhile, in Europe, they sold it under the entirely sensible name of the Ford Sierra, and it sold quite well over there.

Good call. They did the same with the Scorpio (badged it a Merkur) and as far as I know sold about four of them. Which is a shame. Good car. I've had six of them (they cost about £200, last at least a year and give me enough back for a Chinese - can't say fairer than that). Same with the Sierra - it sold considerably better than 'quite well', was a properly good car at the time (in fact both of these were European Cars of the Year) and the XR4i went like s**t off a shovel. Just goes to show what's in a name.

Tiaga said:
So, whew, would you our American members buy a car or SUV etc that does not have American names. ie Sierra, Montana,Tahoe, Cheyenne. How about an Alberta or to keep our UK friends happy a Bristol or Hyde Park

This is the wrong kind of patriotism - it suggests that you're deeply proud to drive an American car which, as we all know, is just plain wrong.
A Bristol, incidentally, is a car, but it sells to the landed gentry on the basis of its exclusivity, hand-hewn-from-granite craftsmanship and royal seal of approval, and not the arse-end-of-the-M4/one-way-system-from-hell connotations of its name.

Sorry, do carry on.

My-Immortal · Nov 12, 2005

My dad worked in a factory building cars and engines for nearly 32 years - and one of the very few perks he (and the rest of our family) gets is below dealer cost for new vehicles. For us, it makes sense to buy a new vehicle over used.

LloydBrown · Nov 12, 2005

MadScientistMatt said:
I also hang out on a couple of car related message boards. On one board, someone asked how many others had never owned a new car. It seems that most of the people there had only bought used cars. I thought I'd see how that compared to a message board that wasn't about cars.

* (For poll purposes, I'm lumping cars, SUV's, pickups, etc. together.)

I am insane when it comes to cars. Insane about spending as little money as possible, that is.

I used to deliver pizzas, so a car was more than just a way to get from here to there for me. So when I went looking, I added up purchase price, repair & maintenance cost, fuel cost, insurance cost--and ended up with a 4-door Toyota Corolla. I'm still driving the same car, 10 years later. I haven't had a car payment for about 8 years.

Total cost of driving, about $25,000 for the last 10 years and 183,000 miles. That's 13 cents/mile.

reph · Nov 12, 2005

MadScientistMatt said:
Like when Ford came out with the Merkur XR4Ti.

They're naming cars after passwords now?

Carole · Nov 14, 2005

The lack of warranty with a used car is the worst part. It never fails that as soon as you drive that used car off the lot, something starts clanking. In the year that hubby and I have owned this Explorer (used..2000 model...no warranty to convey) we've had to replace the transmission, The front left hub, replace the warped rotors that somehow didn't wobble when be bought it and now the fuel pump is starting to go. It's a money pit without a warranty. At least the recalls don't cost us. I have to take it in to Ford to have the cruise control thingie fixed. I just got a letter in the mail that there is a recall for it because somehow the truck can catch fire because of a wiring situation. Joy.

The used cougar we had before it blew the head gasket shortly afterward. The power steering went screwy, something witht he brakes went bonkers and when we finally parked it for good, it had a mystery illness that no one...not even ford...could diagnose.

The other used car we had..a little escort wagon, lost its transmission in the middle of an intersection at RUSH hour, no less.

Dunno. Maybe it's the used and no warranty thing and then again it might just be a Ford thing. I doubt Chevy would be any different.

According to my father in law, if you are gonna buy a car, you're an idiot to buy American no matter how unpatriotic it might seem on the surface. He only buys Toyota vehicles and he says that except for oil changes, you could pretty much just weld the hood shut.

Carole · Nov 14, 2005

Mac H. said:
if you buy a $45,000 car and sell it 2 years later for $43,000,

clintl · Nov 15, 2005

Carole said:
According to my father in law, if you are gonna buy a car, you're an idiot to buy American no matter how unpatriotic it might seem on the surface. He only buys Toyota vehicles and he says that except for oil changes, you could pretty much just weld the hood shut.

I've bought two Japanese cars, an Acura Integra in 1987, and a Mazda Miata in 1992. I had the Acura until last year, when the transmission failed after 252,000 miles. The Miata is still going strong. I've been very happy with Japanese cars.

Deleted member 42 · Nov 15, 2005

We bought a new car in 2002 when my husband's 18 year old Honda Accord (bought new) got stolen.

We bought a Toyata Prius; it's been a joy. No problems.

For the first time ever we bought the extended warranty. We bought it since the car is two thirds computer--and we know a lot about the specific boards used in the car. We figured it was worth the extra money, this time. We haven't had to pay for anything--not oil, not wipers, not tires, not bulbs . . . nothing. We occasionally buy a little gas. And we have four years of coverage left.

rtilryarms · Nov 15, 2005

My wife always gets a new car. I lease when I want new b ut alternate between used cars depending on the deal.

Right now My lease is up in 6 months and I am looking for a nice truck, new or used.

I also grabbed a 1995 Grand Am with only 28,000 original miles (verfied) for $3,000 runs great but got wet inside (long story involving son). I can just keep that for a few years and savce a few bucks.

Just curious - how many people here have bought a new car?

Have you ever bought a new car*?

Yes.

Yes, and I have never owned a used car.

No, I only buy cars used.

No, I've never owned a car, period.

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