I agree, driving long distances or if you put a lot of miles on your car a new car is a good investment. Honestly a Subaru impreza with a warranty will get you through almost anything
what do you drive?
- Thread starter 98blasterworked
- Start date
In October 1985 I bought a 1986 turbo diesel VW Jetta for $11,000 before taxes ($1850 then). Three years later, the Euro had jumped higher and VW had "upscaled" their lines so that a 1989 Jetta was now worth $20,000. The dealer was offering me $9500 on a trade in, only $1500 less than I had paid for the car 3 years previously!
... but those 3 years of upscaled ownership were going to cost me $3500/yr (plus taxes). I kept the car for 10years, it cost a lot in repairs after year 7 (should have sold it before then) and still sold it 10 years old and 350,000kms for $3000. Cost less than $1000/year and almost completely trouble free for the first 7 years (250,000kms). All this in a car that gave better fuel mileage than most motorcycles.
Moral of this story?
If you need a car and money is tight, you have to do your own thinking.
Real need and overall cost per year is what you need to be thinking.
If you make $20,000/yr and drive 20,000 miles a year, don't look at pickup trucks unless you can get you buddies to ride in the back and pay for the gas. Nobody told me this when I was young. I was told the same "money lost when you drive it off the lot" story when I was young so I tried used cars when I had a job that involved long distances. I nearly went broke keeping used cars running. I was always looking for yet another good buy, because this one was on its last legs!
I just bought a new van, but I looked for a "just off the lot" deal everywhere.
The best life of a vehicle in these northern climes is 10yrs and/or 250,000kms (150,000 miles), remembering the first 5 years are the best.
So if you can find a 5 year old vehicle for 1/2 the price of new, you are no better off because you have all the upcoming repairs.
1 year old, 15,000 miles and less than 90% new price? I couldn't find it.
Factor in dealer financing and there were no "used" deals to be had.
Cost of driving = Purchase+Taxes+Insurance+registration+gas+repairs+fines - what it resells for.
$12,000 new econo-car, $1800(Canada!), $300/yr, $100, $2000/yr(20k@40mpg@$4/gal), $200 (oil changes), $0 fines (it's slow and I'm careful) for 5 years and $5000 resale = $4360/yr
$1200 truck/sportscar, $180, $300/yr, $100, $4000 (half the mileage, could be worse), $1200/yr (not including lost time) and probably no resale after 2 years = $6290/yr Seriously!
Mileage and fuel costs and repairs can really fudge these figures but you see what I mean, you have to do your own thinking.
Steve
selling it for 300$ no rust no scratches no dents.... to many flakers out here in ny....ended up parting it out and cutting it up
I drive a 01 white ford ranger XLT with a 2.8 L 4cyl as my comuter. So it's a little better than average still gets me off of the line with some authority.
i have a $400 winter beater with a $250 sound system and for the summer i have a Mazda MX-5 Miata. Top down all the time!
i'll have to get a current pic of my 1983 chevy G20 3/4 ton passenger van tomorrow
Does it have "free candy and puppies" spray painted on each side? Haha, SBC 350?
Re: Re: what do you drive?
I'll bet it's a 2.3l with 8 spark plugs. Good motors and great mpg lol
I'll bet it's a 2.3l with 8 spark plugs. Good motors and great mpg lol
78 z28 aluminum headed 350 sbc everyday
Weekends...heh peep my sig pic
87 c10 505 c.i. bbc th400 w brake
Best of 6.43 at 104 1.40 60 ft 1/8 mile
Weekends...heh peep my sig pic
87 c10 505 c.i. bbc th400 w brake
Best of 6.43 at 104 1.40 60 ft 1/8 mile
i'll have to get a current pic of my 1983 chevy G20 3/4 ton passenger van tomorrow
What to do with a full sized van? Some ideas:
Steve
I have a 1961 dodge d100 pickup shortbed push button automatic 74k original miles with the 318 poly my project truck and a 2003 Honda civic coupe fast little car fun to drive easy to get tickets lol
1978 cj-5 jeep fiberglass body got it for 1600 down the road running,
i dont know why people buy the polaris rzrs for like 14000 when you could buy a old jeep that just as good with bigger engine and wheels but bout same size body
i dont know why people buy the polaris rzrs for like 14000 when you could buy a old jeep that just as good with bigger engine and wheels but bout same size body
Well let me see wife's car is an 05 Dodge Magnum, work car is 2012 Ford Focus and play car is a 1986 Porsche 911/930. Oh and I also have an 89 Honda civic turbo.
Me work commuter - 98 camry 4 cyl 25 mpg needs tune up. considering hauling blaster on trunk/roof. Just sold first gen cummins.
Wife / weekends / trips we tow blaster and trailblazer 250 on 6x8 trailer with 09 tdi 6 speed jetta. 30 mpg avg
Wife / weekends / trips we tow blaster and trailblazer 250 on 6x8 trailer with 09 tdi 6 speed jetta. 30 mpg avg
They are letting them on the trails here that is why. They are dumb and slow!! I wanted to race some last weekend
