I want a new car. Talk me into or out of it please!

[fairfax]

Hi all - just a silly post for a Friday.

I really want a new car to put my new baby in, lol. We’ve been talking about it for a while, wanting to get something to replace our 2011 Outback. There’s nothing wrong with it exactly, but it’s definitely showing it’s age a bit (had to put in quite a bit of money last year due to a cracked head gasket, it idles really rough, etc). Plus it doesn’t have any of the newer safety features. Kelly Blue Book is pretty decent now, but will start to go down sharply if we put many more miles on it.

We test drove a few last weekend and fell in love with the Ascent. Usually I am the financially conservative one in the relationship, but now I want to throw caution to the wind and get one! We can afford it no problem, we’ve been saving for a while (no debt, on track retirement). But, I know the responsible thing would be to wait another year or so, see how our lives feel with a daycare payment, etc. But I also just want all the new safety stuff and bells and whistles for the little stranger on the way!

So - arguments for or against?

(Also, I know I may sound flippant but I do recognize how very privileged we are to be able to make this choice. I hope I’m not being insensitive to anyone.)

[boymomof2]

I'm having to upgrade vehicles. I currently have a corolla which is great and has been a good car to me. I just can't fit a carrier, booster and an 11 year old who isn't old enough to sit up front in my backseat together without being squished. If you've had to put a lot of money in it, you may have more repairs down the road on top of paying childcare so at least you would have something reliable to transport precious cargo.

[lo]

I would do it for the safety aspect for sure. In fact when I was pregnant with my first I did exactly that and insisted on getting a car that had the highest safety ratings in every possible category. Definitely some FTM behavior there, but I don’t regret it!!

[icedcoffee]

If you can afford it and want it...then do it. Not everything in life has to be done because it's the most financially savvy thing (and I speak as a very frugal CPA). Sometimes you can do things just because you want to.

Obviously the smarter thing to do is drive your current car into the ground, but you also only live once. Enjoy it.

Just make sure this is the car you'll want longer term.

We'll probably upgrade my CRV to a minivan this year because the sliding doors sound amazing with 2 kids and a dog.

[dcn]

I saw this on the recent posts (definitely not pregnant ha) - we recently replaced our 2012 outback with an Ascent and I say DO IT. If you can afford it, go for it - the trade in/resale value of your outback is only going to go down at this point. Our outback was totaled due to hail damage and our insurance company gave us over $15,000 for it. The ascent is great, I highly recommend it.

I'm also a frugal CPA, and there's definitely more to decisions than the money aspect. We plan to keep the ascent for a looooong time. My oldest is 6 and he will likely learn how to drive in it, fingers crossed. We bought the outback when I was pregnant with my oldest mostly because I wanted a newer car with more safety features (I drove a mazda 3 hatchback at the time). I didn't want to have to worry about repairs, etc with a new baby, my husband is in the military and is gone a lot. There's something to be said for peace of mind too!

[fairfax]

You guys are awesome! Maybe I will put us on the “daycare” budget for a month or two to satisfy my responsible side... we’d want a 2020 anyways and I think they’re just starting to hit the lots.

[Susie]

If you're going from a 2011 Outback to a 2019 (?) Ascent, you're making two changes -- more modern tech features, and a significantly bigger car.  I'm not against trading in an 8 year old car if that's what you want to do; it sounds like you can comfortably afford it.  About 2 years ago we traded in a 2008 Forester because it needed some 100k mile work, I wasn't loving it, and I wanted a car with Bluetooth connectivity.  My life demands phone accessibility and I want to do it safely (and legally, hands free!).  But I'd want to be more purposeful about the new car selection than "ooh shiny."  Which features are you looking for?  Is there a reason you want to jump up in size in addition to just modernizing?  

The Ascent is a much bigger car, with more seats, more space.  Do you need that much space, or at least do you have a good reason to want to have that much space (and blow through the gas associated with it)?  I have a VW Atlas, which is a similar size to the Ascent.  We got it before we had baby #2, because we needed something pretty big to road trip with all our vacation stuff, 2 kids, and 2 large dogs (one of whom has since passed away, but that doesn't change space needs much).  We previously had a Sportwagen, similar size to an Outback, and on vacations with 1 kid it was packed but doable, with one car seat, the rest of the backseat full of stuff, dogs in the cargo area, a cargo box on the roof, and a bike rack on the hatch.  It was fine with 1 kid, and worth it to have a smaller/less gas guzzling car, but adding a 2nd car seat and another person's stuff was a tipping point.  My dad has a beach house about 5 hours away, so that ride is part of our lifestyle.  

I would never have bought something that big if we didn't have that need, and if we only had one kid.  It's really comfortable to drive, but it's a damn lotta car.  It's a PITA to park, is too tall to put in the garage (or my work parking garage) with the cargo box on, whereas the old Sportwagen could fit, and the gas mpg sucks, although it's very much par for the course in that class.  I would not want to take on all that baggage unless the jump up in size was purposeful and a value-add.  

[fairfax]

Aug 9, 2019 14:06:58 GMT -5 Susie said:

If you're going from a 2011 Outback to a 2019 (?) Ascent, you're making two changes -- more modern tech features, and a significantly bigger car.  I'm not against trading in an 8 year old car if that's what you want to do; it sounds like you can comfortably afford it.  About 2 years ago we traded in a 2008 Forester because it needed some 100k mile work, I wasn't loving it, and I wanted a car with Bluetooth connectivity.  My life demands phone accessibility and I want to do it safely (and legally, hands free!).  But I'd want to be more purposeful about the new car selection than "ooh shiny."  Which features are you looking for?  Is there a reason you want to jump up in size in addition to just modernizing?  

The Ascent is a much bigger car, with more seats, more space.  Do you need that much space, or at least do you have a good reason to want to have that much space (and blow through the gas associated with it)?  I have a VW Atlas, which is a similar size to the Ascent.  We got it before we had baby #2, because we needed something pretty big to road trip with all our vacation stuff, 2 kids, and 2 large dogs (one of whom has since passed away, but that doesn't change space needs much).  We previously had a Sportwagen, similar size to an Outback, and on vacations with 1 kid it was packed but doable, with one car seat, the rest of the backseat full of stuff, dogs in the cargo area, a cargo box on the roof, and a bike rack on the hatch.  It was fine with 1 kid, and worth it to have a smaller/less gas guzzling car, but adding a 2nd car seat and another person's stuff was a tipping point.  My dad has a beach house about 5 hours away, so that ride is part of our lifestyle.  

I would never have bought something that big if we didn't have that need, and if we only had one kid.  It's really comfortable to drive, but it's a damn lotta car.  It's a PITA to park, is too tall to put in the garage (or my work parking garage) with the cargo box on, whereas the old Sportwagen could fit, and the gas mpg sucks, although it's very much par for the course in that class.  I would not want to take on all that baggage unless the jump up in size was purposeful and a value-add.  

These are all great points and I think part of the reason I’m feeling guilty for considering the purchase. Despite the million justifications I can come up with, we don’t NEED a bigger car. We only have the 1 child on the way, and 1 dog. If all goes to plan (which I know is a big IF) we will hopefully have another baby in 2 years (3 embryos on ice and I’m already old). And we do drive enough with my parents that the 3rd row option is very attractive (not long distances though). So part of me is thinking long-term with this car - I tend to buy and keep for at least 8 years.

But we don’t NEED it, I just want it. I like how it drives and how substantial it feels. I love a bigger vehicle, I like sitting up higher and I like all the safety features like the Eyesight system. But, I could get those same safety features in a smaller car for sure.

Our other car is Electric so I use that to justify the gas mileage, lol

[Susie]

Aug 9, 2019 14:41:22 GMT -5 fairfax said:

Our other car is Electric so I use that to justify the gas mileage, lol

Yeah, our other car isn't electric/hybrid, but it gets vastly better mpg (it's a Jetta), and all four of us ride to work/daycare together in it.  So the Atlas sits in the driveway most days.  That was also part of my decision.  If I had to drive the Atlas everyday, I'd probably have been less willing to go up in size.  

[boiler717]

I just switch from a 2008 Honda CRV. Keyless entry, auto lift gate, Bluetooth, Apple car play, etc are life changing. Highly recommend getting a new car.

[knx9211]

I love my CRV but also might be in the market for something I said I’d never get- a VAN! Our garage is SO TIGHT that I can barely open the passenger side door, so I wouldn’t be able to get a kid in. First world problems.

[fairfax]

Aug 9, 2019 16:26:24 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

I love my CRV but also might be in the market for something I said I’d never get- a VAN! Our garage is SO TIGHT that I can barely open the passenger side door, so I wouldn’t be able to get a kid in. First world problems.

We briefly considered a van as well! So many features, so much space!