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First "new" car?

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KR1245's avatar

KR1245

Senior Member

4,317 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:02 PM
I've decided to buy my first new car. I'm not looking for a brand new car, just a newer car than what I have. I'm def going to be looking at used cars. I havent done alot of research just yet but I have narrowed my list down to 4. I'm thinking 2006 or younger

Honda Pilot
GMC Acadia
Toyota 4Runner
Nissan Pathfinder

Do you guys have any recommendations or suggestions?

First time car buying tips?
Jan 16, 2011 9:02pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:12 PM
Hmmm. Out of your list Pathfinder.
Jan 16, 2011 9:12pm
Tobias Fünke's avatar

Tobias Fünke

formerly "sjmvsfscs08"

2,387 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:15 PM
ccrunner609;640832 wrote:buying a new car is the largest waste of money you could invest in.

Winner winner.

God damn you, ccrunner. Outside of the college football threads I tend to agree with you. :( :D
Jan 16, 2011 9:15pm
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:21 PM
Tobias Fünke;640841 wrote:Winner winner.

God damn you, ccrunner. Outside of the college football threads I tend to agree with you. :( :D

Hate to say it, but I also agree.
Jan 16, 2011 9:21pm
KR1245's avatar

KR1245

Senior Member

4,317 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:23 PM
Maybe I should clairfy, I've decided to buy a "newer" car.

I graduated last spring and figured it was time to get rid of my college car, plus the thing has close to 150,000 miles on it
Jan 16, 2011 9:23pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:25 PM
be a tree hugger....Prius
Jan 16, 2011 9:25pm
KR1245's avatar

KR1245

Senior Member

4,317 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:31 PM
wes_mantooth;640852 wrote:be a tree hugger....Prius

Great idea. Thaaaaankssss!

Jan 16, 2011 9:31pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:36 PM
Do some research you can find some very nice used cars with low mileage for reasonable prices. I will never buy a new car again. I bought a new honda and it dropped about 6k in value as soon as i drove it off the lot.
Jan 16, 2011 9:36pm
BGFalcons82's avatar

BGFalcons82

Senior Member

2,173 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:39 PM
KR1245;640827 wrote:I've decided to buy my first new car. I havent done alot of research just yet but I have narrowed my list down to 4

Honda Pilot
GMC Acadia
Toyota 4Runner
Nissan Pathfinder

Do you guys have any recommendations or suggestions?

First time car buying tips?
Tip #1 - Do NOT buy new. Buy a year old version with warranty left. You'll be amazed at the savings and you get a protection of a warranty.
Tip #2 - Don't be afraid to expand your search outside of the town you live in.
Tip #3 - The Acadia is nice, but the Buick Enclave is the same vehicle and is much quieter and rides nicer for some reason. The Chevy Traverse is the same car as well...probably the most economical.
Tip #4 - I'm partial to Toyotas, so anything they make is better than the rest. HA!
Tip #5 - Do your homework on the internetz and don't let them fool you.
Jan 16, 2011 9:39pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 16, 2011 9:41 PM
I can't imagine I would ever buy a new car. The first car I actually bought for myself was my '03 Monte Carlo. It had 35k on it, and I paid 9k for it. I make my last payment w/ my next paycheck, and it only has 100k on it, and still looks great. Paying more than 10k for a car isn't worth it, imo.
Jan 16, 2011 9:41pm
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Jan 16, 2011 10:10 PM
I won't say "never" buy a new car...

We've bought about half of our cars "new" over the years, but we tend to hang on to them forever - like about ten years. What you have to look is how much it costs you per mile to just own the car. The trick is to buy something that's been in production for several years - they have most of the major design errors corrected, and the repair parts you may need later will be relatively easy to find.

I'm getting ready to sell a 1999 Plymouth Voyager minivan - we bought it new from Cousin Fred for $19K and have 190,000 miles on it - the only major repair was a new transmission at 110K miles and a new AC compressor at 136K miles, plus routine maintenance. Ten cents a mile is pretty darn good.
Jan 16, 2011 10:10pm
S

slingshot4ever

Senior Member

4,085 posts
Jan 16, 2011 10:17 PM
Cat Food Flambe';640896 wrote:I won't say "never" buy a new car...

We've bought about half of our cars "new" over the years, but we tend to hang on to them forever - like about ten years. What you have to look is how much it costs you per mile to just own the car. The trick is to buy something that's been in production for several years - they have most of the major design errors corrected, and the repair parts you may need later will be relatively easy to find.

I'm getting ready to sell a 1999 Plymouth Voyager minivan - we bought it new from Cousin Fred for $19K and have 190,000 miles on it - the only major repair was a new transmission at 110K miles and a new AC compressor at 136K miles, plus routine maintenance. Ten cents a mile is pretty darn good.

I agree with this, but understand those that would never buy a trule new car. I plan to go at least 150-200K on my car. Acura TSX model I have started in 2004 and went through 2008. Mine is the 07 model so had a lot of confidence that all of the kinks had been worked out. Did my research and got it below invoice because the 08 were about to be release to the dealerships.

At ~55K miles right now after about 3.5 years.
Jan 16, 2011 10:17pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jan 17, 2011 8:24 AM
It's a necessary expense. So long as you pay cash and wear it completely out you can limit your total expense paid over the life of it.

I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of that "college car" just yet. You only have 15o,000 miles on it.
Jan 17, 2011 8:24am
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Jan 17, 2011 9:30 AM
Con_Alma;641151 wrote:It's a necessary expense. So long as you pay cash and wear it completely out you can limit your total expense paid over the life of it.

I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of that "college car" just yet. You only have 15o,000 miles on it.
...The last two cars I bought were both brand new ( WV Jetta's) and did pay cash for them.

The first was a turbo diesel that I ran until it couldn't go anymore (325,000+ miles) & had it for about 7 years. It got aprox 51 miles per gallon and the dealer who I bought it from had a special that cost initially 250.00 for life time oil changes, so I had it changed every 5,000 miles. I now have a 2009 (non diesel) with 85,000 (ya I drive a lot) and can't complain at all. I will hopefully keep this one as long as the other Jetta.
Jan 17, 2011 9:30am
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

14,994 posts
Jan 17, 2011 9:59 AM
My wife's vehicle and mine have a combined 400,000 miles on them. Both were our college vehicles.

This evening, we're going to trade in my '99 Ranger and get a 2008 Civic with under 30K miles on it for less than $9,000.

Do your homework. There are plenty of affordable cars out there.
Jan 17, 2011 9:59am
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
Jan 17, 2011 10:31 AM
I went out on New Years Eve shopping for a used car....My criteria was under 80,000 miles, 2004 or newer, SUV, preferably with a 3rd row seat, but not a dealbreaker.

After driving my short list of possible purchases (CRV, Pilot, Highlander, Explorer, Escape), I settled on a 2006 Honda Pilot with around 65,000 miles...

We have 1 baby now, and plan to have a few more, so this is something I plan to drive for awhile...My wife's smaller SUV is 10 years old and she'll get a few more years out of it.

I've only had the car a few weeks but I love it.....My high school/college are was a 1996 honda accord...I loved it, great car...so I'm hoping to love this Honda just as much and hopefully it will require little repairs, just regular maintenance...
Jan 17, 2011 10:31am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Jan 17, 2011 10:43 AM
GMC Acadia if it was me. But then again i have a wife, a 2 yr old, and another baby due in september, i need that 3rd row about 1/3 of the time and the fact that it folds down to make a pretty sizeable storage area is a great thing.

If I were in that situation (fresh grad, no wife, no kids (and i'm making assumptions here)) I'd get a pick up. but from your list, it'd probably be the nissan, (with the acadia a close 2nd).
Jan 17, 2011 10:43am
M

mella

Senior Member

647 posts
Jan 17, 2011 4:12 PM
I found a 2005 Honda Pilot with 26,000 miles on it at Marysville Honda about 2 years ago. I get the rest of the warranty, 3.5 years left on it or 100,000 miles. My last car was a new 2002 Ford explorer and it was a piece of crap. I will never buy a brand new car and I will never buy a Ford. It was literally Fix Or Repair Daily.
Jan 17, 2011 4:12pm