New car vs. used car conundrum

[maat55]

Your problem is that you are a perfect candidate for a used van. And you know buying used will save you much more than 650. My advice to you is to tear up that 650 rebate before it causes you to do something you know you don't want to do.

Grab it with both hands and RIP!!! problem solved.

[Scanner]

Maat,

That was exactly what I was afraid of doing, until I realized that it is good towards a used car as well.

LL set me straight.

[maat55]

Hey, put that Taurus in a parking lot near me, i'll buy it for 2500.

[Snave]

Actually, I just learned (thanks to L.L.) that it's good for a used car purchase and/or repairs.

So. . .it's a no-brainor now. . .I'll just get a good used car.

As far as Honda and Toyota, yes, I agree. . .they are good cars (after all, we own a Toyota). But I am not a Honda/Toyota cultist to the point that I'll just pay for the name.

Chrysler Town and Country
Nissan Quest
Toyota Sienna
and actually Chevrolet Uplander are on my list.

Besides, we owned a Honda Civic at one point and it wasn't "all that." It had it's share of repairs and the air conditioner never worked right from day 1 of purchase. I want my car like an ice box, not for it to spit out luke cold air. We took it back 2-3x and the service center just shook it's shoulders with "I dunno. It's working fine."

The Chevy Uplander is a disaster. It is rated poorly in consumer reports and from firsthand experience, it has been a company car for my company for the last few years and all of our sales reps that got it have hated it. Just my 2 cents. I am sure some have it and love it.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Oh yeah Ford Trucks have a way better reputation than Foreign trucks. See the F-150s, 250s, 350s running around? But then people pay a premium for those trucks and no one says a word.

But everyone says "it's so not worth it for a honda/toyota sedan.." Makes you wonder if americans just aren't biased for their own instead of what's best?

[MonkeyMama]

I was going to say we saved $10k going used on our van. (It was only a year old).

I'd forget the $650!

Add me to the Toyota cult too - LOL.

I've personally driven some very old (150k-250k miles) Hondas, Toyotas, and Saturns.

With age we have been buying newer cars, but sticking with Dodge and Ford since they fit our budget better.

I long for the 15-year-old Toyota I paid $1k for in my teens. Was the best car I ever owned and the least expensive to maintain. Saturn and Civic were about the same. Which I think says much for the quality of these brands.

I think personally Honda is a little overpriced, but I think Toyota hits that sweet spot.

Dodge & Ford. I don't have much nice to say about either brand. I would easily argue we will come our behind in repair bills (behind the money saved on the purchase), so we'll probably just get a Toyota next round.

I do admit we have one awesome Ford though. So it can be rather hit and miss. But I would expect with Toyota to get much more quality and much less hit and miss. OF course I will pay more for quality.

I think what the diehards miss is brands like Saturn and Hyundai have some pretty decent quality for a fraction of the price. & also, there are some American cars that are Toyota or Honda clones. So that is another route that maybe some of the diehard Toyota/Honda fans miss. My MIL has some Chevy that is the clone to some Toyota. IT was made in the same factory, it just has a different brand name. So I will admit there is some serious branding there. The kind where people don't realize their are equal/cheaper alternatives.

[eisor]

I long for the 15-year-old Toyota I paid $1k for in my teens. Was the best car I ever owned and the least expensive to maintain. Saturn and Civic were about the same. Which I think says much for the quality of these brands.

I think personally Honda is a little overpriced, but I think Toyota hits that sweet spot.

My first car was a 1992 Nissan Sentra. I LOVE it!! It had 160k+ miles on it, but it was great. Very cheap to maintain and had great gas mileage (33+ city). Plus it was very small, so I could squeeze into any parking spot I wanted!

I agree that Honda is overprice. I originally was looking for a Honda when shopping for my car. The dealership wanted to sell me a 1997 Honda Civic Coupe w/175k miles for $8,000!! YIKES!! I purchased my 1996 Camry 4-door w/90k miles on it for $5,800!!

I couldn't find a decent Honda in my $6k price range.

[Aleta]

eidor: What year were you looking to buy that Honda Civic? I'll tell you why later.

[eisor]

eidor: What year were you looking to buy that Honda Civic? I'll tell you why later.

Last year. But, there were other Honda Civics (different years) they were trying to sell me for way more than the same year Camry. They were trying to sell me a 1996 with high mileage (not bad for a Honda though) for $7k also.

Now you've spiked my interested. Why?

[Aleta]

I have a 1999 Honda Civic LX sedan with 41,100 original miles and I'm the original owner. It has been garage kept. I can't imagine what my car is worth going by what you said. I also have a lojack in the car.

[tripods68]

KBB say your car is worth:

Excellent
$7,305

Good
$6,780

Fair
$6,125

[Aleta]

tripods68: Thank you for those figures. I had just read today on Yahoo the top ten cars stolen and they are the older cars including the civics.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

The question I have to ask is why would you pay $6700 for a use 1999 Honda Civic? That's nearly a decade old and problems are more likely to crop up?

If it holds it's value so whell that's what about 60% off for 9 years? Geez most american cars depreciate that in 3 years. So why would you buy a car for so much tha's so old?

[tripods68]

LAL, OP buy older Honda/Toyota because of its reliability and it holds its value especially against similar domestic cars which is reflected in Kelley's blue book price. I wouldn't buy a piece of crap like a ford escort, VW cuz I know you get all the headache similar mileage on their cars.