Used cars are still expensive

[ua_guy]

The Model Y is the best selling EV, in the world, as of last year. I have not driven one myself, but one wonders if the build quality and ride are perceived to be terrible, and it's uncomfortable, why did you buy it? It doesn't seem like FSD would make up for those shortcomings, given the existing shortcomings of FSD itself. Hopefully the car ends up growing on you and you get a little more used to it?

[QuarterMillionMan]

This is the price I paid but with taxes & fees about $24,000 total. My old 2018 Dodge Journey trade-in value was $1500. I could have gotten $4000 on Carvana or Carmax but too much hassle and took the quick $1500 trade-in value.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Don't pay the manufacturer's price or the dealer's price.

[QuarterMillionMan]

$299 for nitro filled tires is a rip-off. Even the $499 Clearshield highway robbery.

[Jluke]

$299 for nitro filled tires is a rip-off. Even the $499 Clearshield highway robbery.

I agree but the NitroFill is a 1 year coverage for tire repair and replacement too. It appears to be a national program with different terms and coverage.

[ua_guy]

Congrats on the new car, QMM. I hope it serves you well.

That's a nice dealer cash discount. I hope you were able to negotiate or decline some of the extras.

[ua_guy]

I've been looking at new pickups. Sent a few inquiries out to dealers and visited one of the local outfits. GM has a 0% incentive right now, so why not borrow $70k of their money for free (other than the prudent advice I'll receive here to simply not spend that money because who in their good financial sense buys a brand new full-size pickup?). Looking at a 2024 Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss with the diesel engine. 1-2 years used, these go for about $55k.

I basically received the same deal/offer from all 3 dealers on similar trucks within $1k MSRP of each other.

$69,000 MSRP
-$6125 Costco member pricing discount
+$200 doc fee
+$250 title/tag fees
+$6,649 sales tax
-$1,000 Costco bonus rebate
-$500 healthcare appreciation rebate
-$500 GM card rebate

$64,724 out the door, $0 down and 0% for 48 months = $1,348/month

Subtract an additional $500 from the dealer I visited in person, sales manager offered it if I'd go home with the truck (yesterday).

I can't bring myself to sign up for a $1,348/month payment, nor can I imagine writing a $70k check for a new vehicle. The 0% offer does save some scratch though, about $7k over 4 years if I had to go to market for a new car loan, ~5.24%.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Can you use the full size pickup? If so then there isn't a problem. Does it pull your RV? One would argue I don't need a minivan with 2 kids. I would say probably true. However it is a nice luxury to have so I do. Same thing. You may not need a full size pickup but you want one. You might get away with a smaller one. I don't know enough other than you don't always needs a nicer car or truck but if you can afford it.

I will that GOSH i myself also struggle with seeing these large car payment numbers. I know mentally it's fine but ugh. Another payment. 0% is great free money and with inflation possibly coming even better.

[EasyMoney00]

I'm about to purchase my father's 2019 Silverado lt70. He's in the market for a new so I'll get his hand me down. I'm guessing it'll be around $30k.

I currently have an older Tacoma. It was a year where frames rusted. It was also my dad's previously. He elected to get the spray on stuff to slow rust. Well, it's starting to rust. Still safe and drives, but the inevitable will happen. Sad part is the truck is immaculate. I've owned it 7 years and put 12k miles on it. Still sub 100k miles. I'll probably list it and see if anyone wants to buy it. If not, I'll have Dad trade it to the dealer. It's probably not worth more than $10k at this point, and with frame rot, who knows.


When I do buy his truck, first thing I'm doing is crawling under it and wire brushing any rust sports. Then a liberal coat of surface shield...inside the frame and out, on everything I can reach underneath. I won't be using the crap dealerships have used for years. That rubber coating garbage can actually seal moisture in.

[ua_guy]

When I do buy his truck, first thing I'm doing is crawling under it and wire brushing any rust sports. Then a liberal coat of surface shield...inside the frame and out, on everything I can reach underneath. I won't be using the crap dealerships have used for years. That rubber coating garbage can actually seal moisture in.

GM uses a wax coating on their frames from the factory. It's actually really good stuff. If you ever need to touch it up or repair a spot, Daubert Nox-Rust was recommended to me and is supposedly the material that GM uses. I used it to repair a section of frame that I dragged on a rock on a truck I owned previously. Can be purchased in a spray can. Can be used on other components as well, and doesn't wash off like surface shield or other petroleum products. Man that stuff is toxic though, make sure you've got fresh air around when you do it. But you do need to prep the surface really well, you wouldn't want to spray it on top of rust, obviously.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Trailer hitch installation $228 total (does not include the price of the trailer hitch), pretty good deal.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I had used this $50 off a $250 or more labor purchase.

[QuarterMillionMan]

This is the exact fit tow hitch. I'm glad not to have to talk about catalytic converters.

[srblanco7]

FWIW (from WSJ) used car prices have dropped this year, to the tune of 6.2% in the first 3Q of 2024. This has increased the spread between average new ($47k) and used car prices ($27k) to $20k. One of the reasons that used car prices have dropped is because the supply has increased. However the cost of car ownership, in general, remains higher because of increased repair, maintenance, and insurance costs.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Definitely I like used cars. It's crazy how expensive new cars have gotten with the exception of what QMM found.