What's the most you've paid or would pay for a car?

[disneysteve]

Another thread got me wondering about this.

Two questions:

1. What is the most you have ever paid for a car?
2. In current dollars, what is the most you think you would ever pay for a car?

My answers:

1. In 2000, we paid $26,000 for a brand new minivan.
2. In current dollars, I don't think I'd spend more than $25,000 for a vehicle.

[irmanator]

6000, but next time i am buying used off the side of the road so i can pay cash

[kork13]

Good questions, the responses will be interesting...

1) In May 07, I bought my car, brand new, for $21k (financed $11k, paid it off in Feb 09). I plan to keep it as long as possible, but I think my next one will be used.

2) Normally, I would say I'd never buy a car for more than ~$25k. ........ However, I'll admit that my dream car is a BMW M3, so I know that at some point in the future, I'm gonna be spending at least $35k+ just on getting a used one -- if I were to go new, it'd be at least $50k. ....I'd better start saving my quarters...

[MonkeyMama]

Interesting Question.

1. What is the most you have ever paid for a car? We paid about $13k for a 1-year-old minivan (in 2006). This is by far the most expensive auto we ever bought. The most my spouse paid was $8k for a 1-year-old car (2001). We expect to drive both autos for 15 years.

2. In current dollars, what is the most you think you would ever pay for a car? I'd guess about $25k. The only reason being my dh really wants a hybrid and I don't mind going new for a car that doesn't lose value rapidly. Besides that, cars aren't really our thing. BUT if I had my heart set on some luxury car down the road, I'd go used. I just don't see shelling out more than $25k for a car, no matter what our economic circumstances. & that would only be if we had $25k cash to spare. I would expect the car to last 20 years if I spent that much on it. We are used to driving much older cars.

[GREENBACK]

Paid about 18k for my last truck(used). pretty good deal. 4WD, 3 years old, crew cab and not a scratch on it. I've had it for 7 yrs. and have travelled around the country in it. I've never bought a new vehicle and don't see a reason to.

I may spend more in the future but it will be because I have more, since I didn't waste it on redicoulus finance charges.

[swanson719]

I was dumb and believed the dealer when they said they couldn't get me financing for a used car because I didn't have any credit. I tried to stay under $10,000 with my first car, but ended up paying $18,600 for brand new 2006 Ford Fusion, which we paid off a few months ago. I'll never buy a new car again for me, but the most I'd spend on a car in the near future would be $10,000 tops, used. DW wants a Cadillac Escalade as her dream car, basically a big luxury SUV in general, so when she gets to be a soccer mom with a few kids who are old enough to not make a giant mess of it, we'll think about it. But even then it will take a lot of persuading to not get it used.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by swanson719

I was dumb and believed the dealer when they said they couldn't get me financing for a used car because I didn't have any credit. I tried to stay under $10,000 with my first car, but ended up paying $18,600 for brand new 2006 Ford Fusion, which we paid off a few months ago. I'll never buy a new car again for me, but the most I'd spend on a car in the near future would be $10,000 tops, used. DW wants a Cadillac Escalade as her dream car, basically a big luxury SUV in general, so when she gets to be a soccer mom with a few kids who are old enough to not make a giant mess of it, we'll think about it. But even then it will take a lot of persuading to not get it used.

If it's for soccer mom purposes just get a freakin' Mini van. Escalades are great "statement" suv's but if it really doesn't fit the budget...forget about it.

[Ima saver]

$50,000 for a new vette with everything on it! Our newest vette was actually less than that and I put half down.

[Broken Arrow]

1. $17k
2. $15k

For my next car, I just want the Toyota Yaris hatchback (or something like it). A slightly used one can be had for as little as $12k, but I'm budgeting up to $15k.

I'm just not really a car person. Might change my mind for something like a Miata some day, but ask me again in 15 years.

[mommyof4]

Um, I'd maybe go up to 25K for a new Honda Accord, but that's about it. And it's doubtful I'd actually go that high.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

$15k for a new 2000 Ford Focus out the door with taxes, loaded, etc. And $12k for a 1999 Toyota Corolla.

I think $30k?

[simpleyme]

13 K for a new 2005 nissan sentra


(we did buy a 1991 sentra in 1991 and financed,rolled an unpaid car into it so honestly I am not sure what I really paid for that car,I may look at my paperwork and find out ) but we no longer do crap like that we just pay for our cars and believe it or not the car lot was not happy that we wrote a check and paid for our 05 in full maybe that has changed

the most we would pay? I am not sure I have always declared that I would never pay more than I did for my first house which was 25K but that sort of a joke ;-)maybe I should change that to no more than I paid for my first house including interest ?

[wincrasher]

The most I ever paid was the last one I bought - 2009 Honda Odyssey Touring for $38k.

What is most I'd pay? Depends on what it is. I'd gladly pay $60k for a new Lexus LS460 that starts at $72k. I'd gladly pay $90k for an S Class Mercedes that stickers around $140k.

Most likely I'll pay around $38k later this year for a fully loaded Hyundai Genesis that stickers at $42k. It's a good value for a car that compares favorably to an LS.

[Cassandra]

1. The most I've paid for a car was about $10,500. I bought a used (2006) Dodge in May 2008. I got a pretty good deal as the price tag was originally $15,000 and the $10,500 included sales tax.

2. I'm not sure what the most I'll ever pay is. I think $15,000 for a used car and $20-25,000 for a new one. It also depends on the car.

[Inkstain82]

By time you include interest on the loan, I've probably paid $8,000 for my car, a 2004 Chevy Lumina.

There's no limit to what I would theoretically pay. If I found out tomorrow that I Bill Gates was my secret uncle and I was his sole heir, then I'd have no problem buying some ridiculous fantasy luxury car.

[feh]

1. 22K
2. 20K

I'm 43 and I've never bought a used car, but I think our next one will be. We currently own new cars number 3 and 4 (we've been married 20 years). While buying new isn't the frugal approach to vehicle purchases, it hasn't been a big money loser for us, because we always keep them 10+ years and drive them into the ground.

[boosami]

60k new a couple years ago. I'm not buying another for some time, but I'll probably expect to spend about the same (in equivalent future dollars) for the next one.

[Goldy1]

I am not sure of exact numbers but I bought a NEW SAturn in 2000. MY husband bought a new Monte Carlo in 2003. He still drives the Monte today. I traded int he SAturn a year ago for a one year old SAturn this time.
All the financial books I read state go used so I listened.

Most I would pay? It' depends, but I would say in the upper teens, but would prefer lower.

I recently heard of a story where an auto worker got a 25K voucher to buy a new car as part of a buy out and was refused financing for an additional 5K to buy a car. (the topic of conversation was tight credit) I found it too bad the person could not find a car for 25K. Cars cost a lot.

[gamecock43]

In October 07 I bought a brand new 4 door Jeep wrangler with a lifetime warranty for $21,000. I paid cash and I love it. I hope to have it for 10 plus years. If I bought it today I might have been able to save 1 or 2k, but I didn't buy it today and I still think I got a great deal.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Goldy1

I recently heard of a story where an auto worker got a 25K voucher to buy a new car as part of a buy out and was refused financing for an additional 5K to buy a car. (the topic of conversation was tight credit) I found it too bad the person could not find a car for 25K. Cars cost a lot.

It isn't that he couldn't find a car for 25K. It is that he was greedy and wouldn't buy a car for 25K. There are plenty of cars that sell for under 25K. The cheapest new cars today start at less than 10K. With 25K to spend, he had loads of choices (depending on what brands he was allowed to pick from).

Cars can cost a lot but they don't need to cost a lot.