Do you enjoy your car payments?

[DaveInPgh]

I've even been to the manufacturer's site and did the "build you new car!!" thing.

I did the same thing the other night. Ironically, it was a thread on this site that got me thinking about it. Despite the general consensus to avoid car payments, the mere topic of cars had me curious what it would cost me.

[greenskeeper]

No car payment here. Never have, never will. "Newest" vehicle purchased was already 5 years old.

For those who finally pay of their vehicle. Take at least 50% of the old payment and put it into savings. Use that savings account for auto repairs while you build the amount for when the vehicle finally quits or you get tired of it. You'd be surprise how fast the account will grow even with drawing on it for repairs.

[Singuy]

You do realize there are many good choices between "a couple grand a month" and "a couple of beaters". The cheapest brand new cars start right around $13,000. Of course, few people actually buy those cars because they want all of the bells and whistles, but in that same price range, you could easily get a nice car that's a few years old that has the bells and whistles and is far from a beater.

My current car is a fully loaded Toyota Camry. Power everything (locks, windows, seats, sun roof), heated leather seats. Multi-disc CD changer. The works. It was $16,000 with 26,000 miles on it. Definitely not a beater.

Your definition of a "nice car" is just different than Huskar's. Perhaps to him it must be trendy(newest model/modern/updated), lots of power, leather everywhere, powerful, refined, turns head, unique, shows that he has some money, something UNRELIABLE and stupid expensive to fix(this is ridiculous but it's true..I think it's the you got to pay to play status you are showing off)...while your definition is..not a beater...

[disneysteve]

Your definition of a "nice car" is just different than Huskar's.

I'm sure.

I just find it amusing when people present the car-buying options as only having 2 basic options: a brand new high-end luxury car or a junker. Obviously, there is a whole range of cars, both new and used. New cars start around 13K and go up into 6 figures. Used cars start at hundreds and go up from there.

My daughter bought her first car this year. It was $5,000 and I would absolutely not classify it as a beater. It's a 2010 Hyundai Accent. It's got some scratches and such but overall it's in nice shape, drives well, and gets her where she needs to go. Other than needing brakes, which we knew when we decided to buy it, it's been fine so far.

[Singuy]

I'm sure.

I just find it amusing when people present the car-buying options as only having 2 basic options: a brand new high-end luxury car or a junker. Obviously, there is a whole range of cars, both new and used. New cars start around 13K and go up into 6 figures. Used cars start at hundreds and go up from there.

My daughter bought her first car this year. It was $5,000 and I would absolutely not classify it as a beater. It's a 2010 Hyundai Accent. It's got some scratches and such but overall it's in nice shape, drives well, and gets her where she needs to go. Other than needing brakes, which we knew when we decided to buy it, it's been fine so far.

I think that's how people who idolize cars think. You either go big or go home type deal. It's hard to see the diff between a 15k used Camry and a 5k used Camry..either way you end up not being enthusiastic about the car even though it has better a/c units or stereo systems. It just doesn't feel "special"..and the people who are spending a stupid amount of money on cars is paying for that "special something". The insane HP, the rarity, the oooos and ahhhhhsss.

You either spend a small amount of money for an appliance, or spend a stupid amount of money on something special...hence the gap. A good decent 15k used car or a 25k used car is still an appliance to the individual..so might as well spend 5k for one.

[JoeP]

Some people get very excited with cars, lease expensive ones, or get car loans, and trade up often. Nothing wrong with that if that's how they want to spend their money, and there is a whole sub-economy there to service those people.

We took a very small $5k loan on my car, because we didn't want to liberate cash that was working for us, and my Buick had an acute illness that required expensive surgery. It will be paid off in 3 months.

[TexasHusker]

Cars (and other things that move) have always been my interest. I don't smoke, drink, gamble, golf much, surf porn, go to the fair, watch movies, or go to the mall.

I like cars. I don't buy them for dependability. I buy them for fun mostly. At last count, I've owned over 50 cars in the last 32 years:

Several Ferraris
Several BMWs
Several Mercedes (2 of those were absolute lemons)
Several Hondas (Accords, Prelude)
Several Toyotas (including a Camry. And I now drive a Land Cruiser)
Nissan
Lexus (several SUVs)
Chevy (Tahoes, Volt)
Ford (Expedition, Ranchero)
Dodge (but only one and it sucked)
Porsche
Range Rover
VW
Audi
MG
Oldsmobile
Buick


Sorry that I'm so irresponsible. I was made that way and I can't help it.

[disneysteve]

Cars (and other things that move) have always been my interest. I don't smoke, drink, gamble, golf much, surf porn, go to the fair, watch movies, or go to the mall.

I like cars. At last count, I've owned over 50 cars in the last 32 years:

That's quite a list.

Hey, we all have our vices. If yours is cars and you can afford them, go right ahead. I'm curious, how many have you owned at one time? There was a point where my family owned 6 cars for 4 drivers (and a motorcycle). I don't even remember exactly how that ended up happening but it was a bit much.

[DaveInPgh]

Cars (and other things that move) have always been my interest. I don't smoke, drink, gamble, golf much, surf porn, go to the fair, watch movies, or go to the mall.

I like cars. I don't buy them for dependability. I buy them for fun mostly. At last count, I've owned over 50 cars in the last 32 years:

Sorry that I'm so irresponsible. I was made that way and I can't help it.

Just as an fyi, you can now indulge the bold item until your heart's content with zero impact on your finances.

Unless of course it causes marital strife leading to a costly divorce.

[DaveInPgh]

[disneysteve]

Just as an fyi, you can now indulge the bold item until your heart's content with zero impact on your finances.

One more money-saving tip. Isn't this site great?

Now I have "The Internet is for Porn" song from Avenue Q running through my head.

[TexasHusker]

That's quite a list.

Hey, we all have our vices. If yours is cars and you can afford them, go right ahead. I'm curious, how many have you owned at one time? There was a point where my family owned 6 cars for 4 drivers (and a motorcycle). I don't even remember exactly how that ended up happening but it was a bit much.

Due to garage/space issues, 4 is my max at one time. Right now we have 4. RR, two Toyotas, and a Porsche Speedster. One of the Toyotas is an 06 Tacoma with 170K miles on it - it's my son's. Drives perfect.

The cheapest cars I ever owned were the Ferraris...

[disneysteve]

The cheapest cars I ever owned were the Ferraris...

Cheapest based on purchase price? How much were they?

[DaveInPgh]

One more money-saving tip. Isn't this site great?

Now I have "The Internet is for Porn" song from Avenue Q running through my head.

I make a reference to porn being free.

The SA gets attacked by a spammer.

No moderators available to handle the attack.

Coincidence?

[bjl584]

I absolutely LOVE my car payment.

It is $0 a month.