General Discussion

rainbow4321

(9,974 posts)

54. I just bought a used Smart car!!!!

Wed Feb 27, 2013, 03:20 PM

Feb 2013

It may be "used" but it's NEW to me! 2009 Smart, convertable. 22K miles.

My car had been a 2001 Chevy Tracker that had accumulated 170k miles on it and was on it's last leg (or wheel?). So many problems that pouring money into with it's mileage made NO frigging sense at ALL.

So I chanced it with Carmax since we had gotten my daughter's car thru their financing company a few years back. She had NO credit (20 y/o) and I've had not the bestest of credit history stemming from a divorce in the 90's yet they let me co sign for her and she got a used car with low mileage.

They came thru for us again and I got the Smart car! Keeping in mind what I was coming from with my 2001, I feel like I have bells and whistles on this car...yeah, nowadays the features are not considered bells/whistles but to ME they are!
I know people here have dissed Carmax for various reasons but they have come thru for us that are middle income with not the best credit history!

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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