evilgenius wrote:Too cheap a used car will cost you, if you get in an accident. Generally, it is so much hassle (find a new car, taxes on new car, maintenance on new car, etc.) changing cars that it is worth it not to. I drive for a living, so I have to avoid those costs. If you get hit driving something that is too cheaply valued it will be totaled in even a minor collision. You can arrange to get that cheap car back from the insurance company for less payout on it, but then you can't get full coverage anymore. You want full coverage because it is essentially protection from an at fault person's insurance not paying you if you are hit. I've learned this the hard way. Now, I try to buy cheap, but still fairly valuable cars. It has to be worth more than what a fender bender costs to repair. You want it to stay that way for as long as possible as well. I like used cars because they don't come with huge value drops over depreciation. You just have to avoid the temptation to go too cheap. If you get a Toyota, or some similar make, it may stay together long enough to make you very happy you bought it.
What does your car really cost you?
SeaGypsy wrote:Sheesh Shaved, you got burned. I do all my own mechanical work, so services cost me less than $100 for a full, $50 for basic, $20 for el cheapo oil change if things are tight. I always buy cars which are easy to find parts for, currently a 14 yo Astra (1million+ sold just in Australia). I could completely replace the aircon motor & regas it for under $200.
frankthetank wrote:Cars are money pits..i have 3. Ugh.. i think its possible to go without one, but man it would suck in winter/heat of the summer/raining...etc. etc.
Alfred Tennyson wrote:We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
SeaGypsy wrote:Downshifting moves wear from cheap brake pads to expensive clutch. False economy.
AdamB wrote:frankthetank wrote:Cars are money pits..i have 3. Ugh.. i think its possible to go without one, but man it would suck in winter/heat of the summer/raining...etc. etc.
Just collected another one myself, a 15 year old Chrysler with 55K on it, collected from original owners. Cost $1000 on 3rd party labor and parts just to get it to my minimum fleet standards, and that doesn't count the work I did on it, or my parts costs (oil and filter change, tranny fluid change, 2 radiator caps, air filter, some debugging tools for the coolant system).
One day 600 mile shakedown trip to make sure everything holds up to non-stop use, the daughter added pink fuzzy dice, bluetooth transmitter for her phone, looking for a pink steering wheel cover, I mean really, the things college girls do to family cars.
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