General Discussion

HangOnKids

(4,291 posts)

39. I Don't Get The New Car Thing Either

Wed Feb 27, 2013, 02:03 PM

Feb 2013

Last August my daughter and I were at the Safeway when my new VW Bettle had just died in the parking lot. I had nothing but problems with this car. I was upset to say the least, and I was talking to the clerk saying" I need a car" when the woman behind me in line said "my aunt has a car she wants to sell, she lives down the block" I was skeptical but my daughter said "Mom let's go look."

We went, took a test drive and I bought it right then and there. It is a 2001 BMW 325xi, it had 53,000 miles on it and was in immaculate condition. It was their third car and they put 4500 miles a year on it. They loved my daughter, they have no grandkids and gave us a great price.

The BMW shop I took it to after wards, just to have things checked out, wanted to buy it from me. No thanks, this is a sweet ride.

New cars are a rip off.

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Highlight:

$30,500 average: New Cars Increasingly Out of Reach for Many Americans [View all] Newsjock Feb 2013 OP

Buying secondhand is almost always better. OceanEcosystem Feb 2013 #1

Agreed. I've only bought one car new. It was a good car, but it was used when I drove it off the lot Gorp Feb 2013 #18

My new car was worth more than I paid for it... Bay Boy Feb 2013 #53

lack of sales in the new market = less in the secondhand market. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #61

There are a lot less of those available due to Cash for Clunkers Freddie Stubbs Feb 2013 #72

I buy new and drive them into the ground. Cary Feb 2013 #78

I bought my last new car in 1980 CBGLuthier Feb 2013 #2

I think they are playing games here dsc Feb 2013 #3

I think you are right... WCGreen Feb 2013 #6

So true guardian Feb 2013 #15

It's a total doom and gloom financial article. Initech Feb 2013 #45

Volkswagen lowed the prices at the expense of dealer profit for market share DainBramaged Feb 2013 #120

I got an email from a dealer last week offering a Kia Soul for $12,900. And I found the same as you DeschutesRiver Feb 2013 #124

+1 uponit7771 Feb 2013 #48

The alarm bells go off at the very start. MattBaggins Feb 2013 #64

If they would keep just half of the junk off thatthey are putting on the cars now, i.e. gps, wi-fi, Purveyor Feb 2013 #4

I prefer no power windows or locks exboyfil Feb 2013 #10

Sadly, manual roll-up windows are pretty much a thing of the past. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #30

You are the micro-minority DainBramaged Feb 2013 #121

They already are out there... Bay Boy Feb 2013 #55

LOL exboyfil Feb 2013 #76

+1 HiPointDem Feb 2013 #62

now THAT is what I call an absolutely brilliant marketing strategy--price your product or service niyad Feb 2013 #5

You can't wave a magic wand at the materials that go into that technology... jberryhill Feb 2013 #7

Henry Ford also paid his work force nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #17

^^^ this^^^ TDale313 Feb 2013 #28

I'm not sure of that theory... Bay Boy Feb 2013 #56

Ford's pay idea only works on mass market products DJ13 Feb 2013 #63

It's a very narrow list... Bay Boy Feb 2013 #66

No, but if Wally word raised base pay from 8.08 to 15 nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #79

How does this work? Bay Boy Feb 2013 #92

People would spend money in things they can't afford right now nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #97

Henry ford was not building luxury yachts...so that is a nice straw man. nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #74

Chillax Bay Boy Feb 2013 #83

I gave you a very much cliff's notes of that decision nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #87

I think that was just a side benefit Bay Boy Feb 2013 #84

I'm glad we bought our Prius in 2006, when we got a $3,400 rebate frazzled Feb 2013 #20

Except that it's wildly unlikely that manufacturers would make a good which nobody could afford. dairydog91 Feb 2013 #36

So are you saying sell them Bay Boy Feb 2013 #58

The old saying is true. aaaaaa5a Feb 2013 #8

I don't even get why people buy new cars cali Feb 2013 #9

Jags are nice until... ForgoTheConsequence Feb 2013 #13

according to my friend (and granted he can work on almost any car) cali Feb 2013 #38

But, somebody has to buy new cars ... oldhippie Feb 2013 #27

Used cars can be good deals. Used Jags are, well... dairydog91 Feb 2013 #37

well, they are made by Ford. GoneOffShore Feb 2013 #117

I Don't Get The New Car Thing Either HangOnKids Feb 2013 #39

My new car is definitely not a ripoff. Lex Feb 2013 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author HangOnKids Feb 2013 #50

I think that poster was talking about your VW Politicalboi Feb 2013 #59

Of course I was. And I don't know what the hissy fit was about? Lex Feb 2013 #65

BMWs are also wonderful until you have to pay for repairs. kwassa Feb 2013 #109

Of course... rexcat Feb 2013 #51

Agreed. I just bought a 2005 Nissan Altima with all the bells and whistles and OregonBlue Feb 2013 #67

i am an Amputee, too old to work on old cars, cant afford to have em fixed, i bought a Honda Fit rabid_byter Feb 2013 #107

i think because of concern over being "ripped off" by getting a bad car JI7 Feb 2013 #122

If no one did there would be few or no used cars. TheKentuckian Feb 2013 #123

I NEVER buy new... aristocles Feb 2013 #11

I could afford a new vehicle in the sub-40k price zone IDemo Feb 2013 #12

You think? We had to replace the truck nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #14

Using average cost is meaningless Tempest Feb 2013 #16

agreed I got the 12 Focus qazplm Feb 2013 #112

The mandatory features are getting way out of hand bhikkhu Feb 2013 #19

Most of the things you posted, like the rear view camera nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #23

RVC mandatory starting in 2014. nt dmallind Feb 2013 #49

Yup. bhikkhu Feb 2013 #93

My first new car was a 1967 Rambler. GreenStormCloud Feb 2013 #24

Not everything you listed are mandatory Tempest Feb 2013 #25

Cameras are mandatory 2014, tire pressure monitors are mandatory since 2007 bhikkhu Feb 2013 #95

Speaking of 'easily maintained' Bay Boy Feb 2013 #60

I don't ever expect a new car supernova Feb 2013 #21

The problem with buying used canoeist52 Feb 2013 #22

SMART car (That is a brand name.) Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price, basic car, $12,490. N/T GreenStormCloud Feb 2013 #26

I'd be scared to drive a smart car tabbycat31 Feb 2013 #40

I just bought a used Smart car!!!! rainbow4321 Feb 2013 #54

old technology, at this point. kwassa Feb 2013 #110

I am so happy with my new 2013 Ford Focus. Lex Feb 2013 #29

Nice ride Union Scribe Feb 2013 #31

The Focus is an excellent car. Brickbat Feb 2013 #32

I'm leasing a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid RedSpartan Feb 2013 #33

We got a 2012 Focus last year, traded in a 2005 Sable. I've found the Focus easier to get in and bike man Feb 2013 #34

My daughter bought a Focus last August aristocles Feb 2013 #35

Great car. llmart Feb 2013 #99

The problem with averages... Jeff In Milwaukee Feb 2013 #41

Plenty of cars under $20,000, and some MineralMan Feb 2013 #42

yep. I've never paid more than 16K - used ones Liberal_in_LA Feb 2013 #69

I'm talking about new cars, actually. MineralMan Feb 2013 #70

I know what you meant. I prefer the next size up, so I pay that amount for a used one. Liberal_in_LA Feb 2013 #71

How are they calculating the average? justanidea Feb 2013 #43

Yes, this. ^^^ Lex Feb 2013 #46

There is quite a spread at the top end as well. bluedigger Feb 2013 #75

they ought to have stats on that hfojvt Feb 2013 #47

I bought my first new car at age 67. MineralMan Feb 2013 #77

It has been years since we were able to afford a new car. appleannie1 Feb 2013 #52

This Article is Pure Hogwash LTX Feb 2013 #57

Staying put Mr Dixon Feb 2013 #68

Here's an interesting list of new cars under $20,000 MineralMan Feb 2013 #73

I saw all kinds of articles a month ago that said average personal income last year went up about 7% Southerner Feb 2013 #80

I'm always amazed at how many later-model cars I see. Arugula Latte Feb 2013 #81

Lots are renting them on 2 or 3 year leases Lex Feb 2013 #82

I saw a 2013 Scion at a Lexus dealership BainsBane Feb 2013 #86

I bought a 2010 model BainsBane Feb 2013 #85

Bought my 02 Ranger xtended cab new(25miles on it) and am now looking oneshooter Feb 2013 #88

^^^this^^^ it took us six months nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #90

The truck will be inspected by Ford and be "Certified pre owned" oneshooter Feb 2013 #94

We had ours certified nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #96

I do most of the preventive maintenance on our vehicles. oneshooter Feb 2013 #105

Nerf bars. bluedigger Feb 2013 #114

Yes, nerf nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #115

It's an uncommon word. bluedigger Feb 2013 #116

$20,000 is my maximum. You can get a good car for that much. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #89

This is news? Where have these people been? DearHeart Feb 2013 #91

I would probably double that for Australia. Number23 Feb 2013 #98

My wife and I make six figures plus titaniumsalute Feb 2013 #100

Back in the 80's pipoman Feb 2013 #104

I'll never buy new RedCappedBandit Feb 2013 #101

richest 20% hold 95.4% of the Financial wealth in the USA, poorest 80% have 4.6% rabid_byter Feb 2013 #102

If you want a new car, great! pipoman Feb 2013 #103

As someone who delivers new cars to dealerships..... A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #106

Here comes ten samplegirl Feb 2013 #108

Cars are more reliable and the average age of cars on the road is up by 2 years in the last decade FarCenter Feb 2013 #111

I'll drive my '90s-era car until it won't drive no more Rochester Feb 2013 #113

You can buy VERY GOOD cars from ALL the manufacturers for under $15,000 DainBramaged Feb 2013 #118

I never buy new quaker bill Feb 2013 #119