Question about cars!

[piper84]

Feeling a little bored / unmotivated today. Time for another question for you all

H and I currently have 1 car (that we'll be keeping) and 1 truck (2001, so kind of old and NOT baby or kid friendly). We've been thinking of selling the truck and buying a newer, safer, vehicle that our growing family can use (as the car seat cannot even go into our current truck).

With our upcoming move, which option would you recommend?
(a) sell truck for extra $ now (although we're not in the position where we really need it, it might be nice to have in the bank), move with only 1 car, buy new car later.
(b) keep truck, move with both the car and truck, sell truck later and buy new car later.

I'm just wondering if we will even need 2 cars at first and if it's worth driving the truck (or shipping it) across the country. I'm not planning to get a job at this location, so I guess I'm essentially asking it it'd be possible for us to survive with only 1 car (if we live on base).

Thanks!

[piper84]

Oct 4, 2012 13:28:29 GMT -5 Stan said:

I think it is possible, but you are not going to want to sit in the house all day and wait for him to get home. It really depends on your base if things are walkable, when I lived on base, we were on a walkable part, but I'm more likely to walk now living out in town, even though things are further away. I work, so we both have to have cars, but even if I didn't, I would lose my mind having to wait for H to do anything like grocery shop, take the dog to the beach, etc. H is a flyer, so his schedule is not regular, and he gets stuck at work often. Your H is going to be in school, right? I NEVER knew when H was going to be home when he was in school, and I imagine it's even more so for student pilots.

Stan, you're right, he will be a student for 1 year and then we'll be moving again. You make some really good points. Our plan would be to buy another car sometime after we settle in (hopefully sooner than later) but with such an unpredictable schedule, I might drive myself crazy at home waiting.

[softspot]

We were a one car family for 2, maybe 3 years and we both worked. He carpooled a lot and I had the car. We'll be going back down to a one car family for the next year. It can take some planning, but the addition to our budget really helps. Having one car means only gas, insurance & personal property tax on one car. It saves us so much for a minor (to us) inconvenience.

I say sell the truck now, try to do one car & buy a second if it's not do-able.

[G22]

Personally I would probably wait to sell the second car until we got to our next location. We always live off base, and I would get so stinking stir-crazy if I was stuck at home all the time. Plus since H and I both work, going without 2 cars would be inconvenient. But like I said, that's what we'd probably do if we were in that situation. Its definitely depends on your situation, on what you guys are comfortable doing.

[basilosaurus]

I'd also look into availability of cars in your new location. If the selection sucks and is overpriced, you may be better off just getting a car now.

Brought to you by someone hunting for a newer car now, but I live on an island. There's a really good chance I'll have my sister find me something and ship it to me. Even with the shipping costs, I'll break even, but at least I'll have better selection.

[piper84]

Oct 4, 2012 15:33:04 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'd also look into availability of cars in your new location. If the selection sucks and is overpriced, you may be better off just getting a car now.

Brought to you by someone hunting for a newer car now, but I live on an island. There's a really good chance I'll have my sister find me something and ship it to me. Even with the shipping costs, I'll break even, but at least I'll have better selection.

Such a good point. I didn't even think of that! We have a ton of selection here in the SF Bay Area. Sibil, what kind of car are you hunting for? Anything exciting?

[piper84]

I've looked at housing online for the places we may be moving to (assuming we'll be living on base) -- they all have a single covered carport. What do people do that have a 2nd car? Is there a parking lot?

(oh man, some of my questions show just how clueless I am. haha)

[softspot]

Oct 4, 2012 15:59:53 GMT -5 @ojo said:

They park in the driveway or on the street.

This, although some communities have parking lots. Our first one was only parking lots and our current one has a 3 car lot per street on average. There is still no room and the streets are crowded. Some homes have 2 car garages.

[piper84]

Oct 4, 2012 16:03:18 GMT -5 softspot said:

Oct 4, 2012 15:59:53 GMT -5 @ojo said:

They park in the driveway or on the street.

This, although some communities have parking lots. Our first one was only parking lots and our current one has a 3 car lot per street on average. There is still no room and the streets are crowded. Some homes have 2 car garages.

This is all great news and gets me excited. I forgot what it's like to live in a regular house / home. We're currently in an urban condo - no yard, no driveway, etc. It will feel so nice to get out of here!!!

[basilosaurus]

Awww, I like my urban condo living. No grass to mow! I don't like that all units in the building only get 1 parking spot, but I'll live.

piper, I'm not looking for anything exciting. Which is why I can't get motivated to search. My car is on its last legs, so I want to sell it before another costly repair. I just want something under my budget, new within the last 4 years, and fuel efficient. It will be the 1 car we PCS off the island with, and not knowing where we're going makes it hard to make decisions. I'd get a different car for north dakota than mississippi, kwim? I've only had subarus since 2004, including in Japan, but that's just not a Hawaii car, so I'm kinda lost.

[piper84]

Oct 4, 2012 16:43:51 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'd get a different car for north dakota than mississippi, kwim? I've only had subarus since 2004, including in Japan, but that's just not a Hawaii car, so I'm kinda lost.

I know what you mean. I own a Subaru Outback, so I have no other recommendations, haha

[basilosaurus]

I have an outback now, and I'm replacing it. What do I do?! I'd love to go back to my impreza or forester, but those are in short supply around here, plus awd is kind of wasted (but it wouldn't be if we get sent to snow again!)

I'll probably end up with something sensible like a civic or a sentra. I would love a honda fit, but new ones have a 6 month wait, and 2 year old versions are selling for more expensive than new.

[ggirl]

I have a 2012 civic and I do love it. My gas mileage is fantastic on it. I also live down south though so I didn't have to worry about winters.