What will your next car be?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I am just wondering, do you have money saved for your next car? If so what type of car is it and how much will it cost? Will it be new or used? What factors influenced your decision?

I am still sorting out when and if we buy our next car what it will be. I predict about 3 years out our cars will be 9 and 10 years old respectively with low mileage, but still getting older and space wise I think we'll need a bit more room. However, I would like to know what cars others are considering and for how much.

Is it okay to spend $25k on a new car if you can?

[JanH]

We have a really good dealer that we use and the last few cars have been used. And generally, we try to keep them until they keel over. After we give the college kids the cars they are using, we will be left with a truck and a mustang. Both with lots of miles. I love the truck for its usefulness and also it is the most comfortable ride. The mustang is fun, but not practical. I have thought of the next one being a truck for me--but I'd have trouble parking the thing, or a little toyota or honda that gets awesome mileage. My DS's corolla still gets 30 mpg on highways. Now Hubby is thinking of him getting a mustang and giving me the truck. Oh well. As you can see, we're still in the planning stages. Or wishing stages. Don't have a fund yet, but hope to start one next year.

[Broken Arrow]

I'm thinking of this:



Knowing my luck though, I'll probably end up with this:

[fairy74]

I want a 2000 or newer Mazda (Millenia or 929) with good mileage and one owner. While that may not seem very new, I'm currently driving a 1993 Geo Storm, so the addition of cup holders, A/C and CD player would seem downright decadent.

BA: Ha, ha that is a great response!

[JanH]

Love the training wheels, BA!

[lgslgs]

Our 90 Olds with 180,000 miles on it still gets 30+ mpg. Our '94 Trooper is less efficient, but still runs like a dream and has only 80,000 miles on it.

We have no plans on getting another vehicle until we finish using these two. Then we'll shop around for a decent $1500 car and wear that one out. I figure we're a good 100,000 miles away from needing to do that - and since we normally only drive about 15 miles per week that could take a mighty long time.

Lynda

[kealina]

Originally Posted by fairy74

I want a 2000 or newer Mazda (Millenia or 929) with good mileage and one owner. While that may not seem very new, I'm currently driving a 1993 Geo Storm, so the addition of cup holders, A/C and CD player would seem downright decadent.

BA: Ha, ha that is a great response!

i know what you mean... we have a 96 tracker (passed down from his dad) and a 94 ranger (bought for 1k for hauling/garage sales/downsizing purposes) and it definately helps to have AC... if our AC broke we would probably break down and get it fixed as hawaii can become very hot and humid in the summer...

and lol at BA too... very clever..

[cschin4]

I think I will buy an "old geezer" car. Something like a Buick LeSabre, etc. The oldsters tend to buy nice cars but never use them much for hauling, etc so they are nice and clean.

[frugalmomof1]

DH and I have each owned 1 new car...for me it was the 6 speed 35th anniversary 2002 Z28 Camaro, the last year they were made...boy did I love that car. When I bought it in 2001, I was able to get 0.9% financing for 4 years.
Although not practical, I would LOVE to buy a new one when they are reintorduced with the 'retro' styling.
Other than that, I think any other car/truck we will buy will be used....unless it makes more sense to finance a new model with a super low interest rate.

[disneysteve]

My current car is a 1998 Toyota Camry with 95,000 miles on it. I'm hoping to get at least 150,000 miles out of it, which would mean about another 5 years. So the 2012 models will be rolling out about that time. I believe in buying a quality lightly used car, so maybe a 2010 or 2009 Camry would be what I'd be looking for about that time. How much? That's a tough one. My rule has always been no more than 20K for a car, but by then I might have to adjust that number upward a bit or go with something slightly older. 2008 would be about my limit, though. So I'll say hopefully under $23,000.

[kunoichi]

I am actually at the end of a car lease. Which I will never do again. I would love to have a new car, but looking at the price tags and the monthly payments, it just seems too much. I will probably go used and am thinking something '00-03 Grand Am or the like.

[threebeansalad]

Hey BA-- before you buy the bike with training wheels, check out the Suzuki Aerio hatchback. Not as pricey as the Toyota, but a great warranty (transfers from owner to owner), great price, and gas mileage. Suzuki has comea long way in recent years. Flip side: poor resale value, but if you plan on keeping the car to the end, it's not an issue. I have one and am very pleased... I first got tipped off to this under-appreciated car on Car Talk.

[Pupart]

I have a 2005 Scion XB that I plan to keep as long as I can.
It's great on gas, relaible, and has loads of room for all those neat bargains I find at yard sales and Craigs list.
When the time comes to get another car.. I may go with Scion again.

[Bookie]

Currently, I have a 1995 Toyota Avalon with 124,000 miles on it. I bought it at the urging of a friend who encouraged me to get something I really liked.

"This might be the last car you'll ever buy," he reminded me.

So far he's been right.

[safari]

My lease ends next year, and I am planning to purchase my car at the end because the residual ($19,500) is going to be way below the market price, since I only have 16K miles on it so far after 3 years, plus I really like my car.

[pearlieq]

Our next car will very likely be a Toyota Corolla for DH, probably 3 years old or so. I'm hoping to pay under 15k, and as close to 12k as possible. This will probably be within the next 18 months or so.

The next car after that will be a Toyota Camry for me, if 2 or fewer kids are in the picture. If there are no kids, a Corolla, and if, for some crazy reason, there are more than 2 kids, it will probably be a Honda Odyssey or Toyota Rav4. I would purchase any of these cars about 2-3 years old. I am hoping this purchase won't be for a least another 4 years or so.

[lrjohnson]

My 2000 Saturn has 36000 miles on it. I put very few miles on a year, and am pretty good with preventative maintenance. I'm hoping to take her through to 2010 minimum, preferably 2015 or 2020. Who knows what will be available in 2015! I'm assuming I'll buy a used hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle.

[BEVO]

a used toyota or honda - either precertified (expensive premium in my opinion) or checked out by my trusted mechanic.

the only new car i would buy would be the toyota fj cruiser BUT that was when i thought a brand new one was under 25k MSRP. a cool 4X4 that is ultrareliable. then i found out that the dealers were asking for about 5k on top of the msrp - NO WAY. that is why i've never purchased a new toyota - dealers are all thieves.

i've always gotten gm trucks or suv's at employee discounts and low interest (last one was 0% for 3 years) but i doubt i will ever buy a new vehicle again - depreciation kills.

[tinapbeana]

as i just bought an '05 focus for 12k two months ago, my next car will likely be a flying one!

and to the OP: i've never bought a new car and don't actually intend to do so unless i'm in a lottery type situation. the depreciation is just way too significant.

[poundwise]

I presently like the idea of buying a 2007 Honda Accord, at the end of 2008 when the 2009 models are out. This would be our family vehicle and the one my wife drives daily. Although, frankly, I don't expect to need one by then. We currently have a 2003 Toyota Camry at 86,000. So we're probably set for some years to come.

I could also go domestic for something like a GMC Pickup Truck. Older. More mileage, etc. for our 2nd vehicle and my daily ride. Right now, I drive a 2001 Impala at 100,000. It's been a very good car. In a year and a half, when we clear debt completely, I could see selling it and buying a 50,000 mile or less pickup or something.