buying a car: new or used?

[sarack]

not to make this difficult, but i'm wondering what you would do? my last car was new and i don't know if i want to do that again.. but i'm scared to buy used.. i need some help ladies.

yes, only 2 options.

[sarack]

i should have made 3 for mgoss.. one that says "i don't drive and i'm happy about it"

[FrozenSunshine]

I vote new. I like the warranties/securities of a new car.

That said I bought my truck brand spanking new, 13 years ago this week, and I'm still driving it.

[madDawg228]

Sept 26, 2012 10:09:56 GMT -5 sarack said:

i should have made 3 for mgoss.. one that says "i don't drive and i'm happy about it"

Thanks! I voted Used, because whenever I do start driving I would be nervous to drive a new car with all the wear and tear that comes with a new driver.

[Deleted]

I voted new, but I also keep cars forever.

[jennlin]

used..but new-used. as in 2009 or later.

[karebear219]

I think it depends on your own driving habits and the type of car you are looking for.

[amandasw]

Sept 26, 2012 10:59:17 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

I can't stand the idea of new - it's worth 25% less as soon as you sign the paperwork. That just makes me twitch.

exactly - new cars are a HUGE waste of money when you can get one that's practically new for a lot less. (like a car that had been leased or something)

[fiddles]

I voted new. Used worries me. The potential for high miles plus the lack of warranty. I like how a new car is 100% mine and I know what I'm getting with it. With a used vehicle you don't know how the previous owner treated it.

[fiddles]

Plus I love the new car smell

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2012 11:29:46 GMT -5 fiddles said:

Plus I love the new car smell

+1

[larzhope]

Sept 26, 2012 11:21:10 GMT -5 fiddles said:

I voted new. Used worries me. The potential for high miles plus the lack of warranty. I like how a new car is 100% mine and I know what I'm getting with it. With a used vehicle you don't know how the previous owner treated it.

Exactly this. I have always purchased new cars and will probably continue to do so until we are on fixed income (i.e retirement).

[tacocat]

I usually vote used but what we are looking at is almost the same price used as new (2009 or later) so I
Would compare apples to apples.

[Deleted]

I'm a vote for the gently used. Mine was a rarity, 5 years old at the time with only 12k on it. I would look for 2008 or newer.

FWIW, I HATE new car smell - gives me a headache. Y'all who love it? You're loving the smell of poisons, just so you know: formeldehyde and other off-gassing from the amount of new plastics, etc. +o(

[jennlin]

Sept 26, 2012 15:11:47 GMT -5 @ksta said:

FWIW, I HATE new car smell - gives me a headache. Y'all who love it? You're loving the smell of poisons, just so you know: formeldehyde and other off-gassing from the amount of new plastics, etc.

mmmmmm.....poison.

but yah..ditto what LL said. h's family has had really bad luck with mazdas. makes me leary. SIL ended up with a brand new car 4 years later bc her car had so many issues with it..they brought it in 3 times for an issue with the brake pedal..i'm not sure what it was... h's car (the car i drive now) has a faulty check-engine light that comes on whenever the hell it feels like it and tells us something is wrong (when it's not). we've taken his car in probably 10x's in it's first 5 years.

[tacocat]

Sept 26, 2012 14:48:56 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Sept 26, 2012 14:36:02 GMT -5 tacocat said:

I usually vote used but what we are looking at is almost the same price used as new (2009 or later) so I
Would compare apples to apples.

The difference in price on a 2009 car v. a 2012/3 car can be $10K, so it's a big difference.

Yes, I know this is typically true but what we are looking at was only a $2000 difference. I was really surprised by this.

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2012 15:33:43 GMT -5 jennlin said:

but yah..ditto what LL said. h's family has had really bad luck with mazdas. makes me leary. SIL ended up with a brand new car 4 years later bc her car had so many issues with it..they brought it in 3 times for an issue with the brake pedal..i'm not sure what it was... h's car (the car i drive now) has a faulty check-engine light that comes on whenever the hell it feels like it and tells us something is wrong (when it's not). we've taken his car in probably 10x's in it's first 5 years.

*raise hand*

I've had back luck with Mazda's too. H had a new to him Protege, the car was 5 years old (total) with just over 40k miles on it and it blew a head gasket and died.

Same exact thing happened to our friend with his '09 Mazda.

I'm never buying a Mazda again. Ever.

[tacocat]

Sept 26, 2012 16:39:26 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Sept 26, 2012 15:34:34 GMT -5 tacocat said:

Yes, I know this is typically true but what we are looking at was only a $2000 difference. I was really surprised by this.

Well, if that's the case, go new! But, if you can save closer to $10K, I'd go used. And, whether new or used, I would want to heavily resarch (or obsessively, whatevs) and get a reliable car.

It is scary though! I don't want to break it sorry to thread jack...

[Deleted]

I voted used, but I wouldn't buy anything older than 5 years old.

[mkate710]

I bought a lease return (3 years old) and love it! It had low mileage and felt like a brand new car.