Looking at new cars *Found One*

Topic: Looking at new cars *Found One* (Read 7130 times) previous topic - next topic

Looking at new cars Found One

April 16, 2005, 01:13:48 AM

Today after my '84 T-bird took a shiznit for the second time in a week, I decided to start thinking seriously about buying a new car. I love these cars and they're great fun, but I need a car I can rely on and not have to be concerned about what part is going to fall off or break next. I'll keep the 80's cars to play around with, not to rely on. Being that every car I've owned has been at least 11 years old, often times older, I have NO idea what to do when it comes to buying a brand new car. I'm thinking I can afford a $15k car, maybe something a little more, bt $20k is the maximum I'm betting that I can afford. I bring in about $700 a month and my only regular expense is my cell phone, which never exceeds $50. This makes me think I can spare $250 - $300 a month. My mother even said she'd help with the monthly payments if need be (her Focus is almost paid off). At this moment I have a credit card bill that needs paid off. It's never been late and until now have paid the full balance every month.

I looked at a couple car lots today. I'm probably not going to get a Ford, only because they have nothing new that really interests me. I'm definitely not getting a truck or an SUV (unless I can afford a small-ish one that's still 4wd). I'd rather not get a Focus, the Five Hundred and Crown Vic are WAY too expensive, and a Mustang... well, I couldn't even afford a V6. I did look at a Nissan lot today and on the way back to the car I noticed a nice Sentra SE-R with a ton of options for $20k. (Sunroof, 6-speed, RF 9-speaker audio, 17" wheels) This is sort of at the top of my price range, but the car has stuck in my mind all day long. Anyway, I'm sure I'll get infatuated over a ton more cars before this is all said and done. So, I know some of you have new cars and have words of advice to offer, so let me know where to start.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #1 – April 16, 2005, 01:44:58 AM

OK, lets start with some more specifics on the financial status. How much are you willing to/able to use as a down payment? How long of a payment plan would be good for you (4 yr loan or 5 yr loan)? How's your driving record so far? And the clincher because insurance companies love to bone new clients with new cars: Have you had insurance IN YOUR NAME for 3 years or more? I'm not saying have you been covered under someone else's policy, but have you had your own insurance?
With your age and the fact that you live in the northeast US I'd have to say the Nissan Sentra SE-R will leave you stretched tight between payments and insurance even if you put down $5k. I don't know ALL your specifics, but if I were you I would bring that cieling down to about $12K.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #2 – April 16, 2005, 02:09:20 AM

Yikes! Quite a reality check. I'd have to say a big NO on that insurance question, so that probably hurts my status even more. I figured the SE-R was quite a pipe dream, but man. With a jump start from the income tax refund I'mma try to start saving some extra money for a down payment if I need one. (I know occasionally you'll hear about Zero Down at certain dealers, then again, that's probably for those "qualified" buyers). Lemme recap those questions:

Down Payment: Nothing at this moment, but if I try, I could save $2k or so in a few months, I bet.

Loan: Not sure on the loan, longer ones leave me with smaller payments but I end up paying more in total, correct? If I'm getting a new car, then I"d have to say 5 years. But, at this point I'm seriously considering a lightly-used "certified" used car. Definitelty 2001+, thoguh.

Driving Record: 100% Clean for the past year and I'm betting no wrecks in the past 1.5 to 2. I'd have to check, but the last wreck I was involved in was in Jan of '03 I think. Other than that just a ticket or two. I did have a couple wrecks waaay at the beginning of my driving career, but that's been a few good years. Dunno if you're familiar with Ohio's points system, but if you are, I have between 2 and 4 points on my license. It's a 12 point system where, at 12 points you lose it for a good long while. Various offenses warrant various penalties. Racing, for example is either a 6 or a 12 point-er, real serious. Most wrecks are 2 points, etc.

Insurance: Nope... been on parents policy since forever. :disappoin

The idea of a "new-used" car is looking better and better.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #3 – April 16, 2005, 02:27:21 AM

The longer the loan, the lower the monthly payments, hoever the more you will pay overall.

As far as the points system, its basically the same in NY. If you take a defensive driving course willl that remove some points? You can remove up to 4 at a time in NY (can be done once every three years) and the course will get you a 10% deduction on the liability portion of your car insurance, about 5% overall if you have full collision.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #4 – April 16, 2005, 02:36:15 AM

DONT HURT ME!

You need cheap reliable basic transportation right? get a cavalier or sunfire *ducks* cheap to buy, cheap to repair, cheap to drive, and decent quality. Around here you can grab a '02-03 for less than $7000 CDN still with warranty and if you get the urge to modify *cringe* there is an aftermarket for them...

I recently convinced my parents to buy an cavalier over another hyundai :hick: and they couldnt be happier (I havnt been able to convince them to let me drive it.... yet :D ) yeah theyre like belly buttons how often do you see them broke down on the side of the road?

DONT HURT ME!

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #5 – April 16, 2005, 02:41:04 AM

Meh. I'm trying not to be picky, but I will say no to the Cavalier. The things used to be made about 40 miles from here. I can sit in one spot in the parking deck at school and count 10 of them. They're way too overpopulated around here. I'm actually looking more and more at imports rather than domestics. I'm also considering used cars more and more. The VW GTI has recently caught my fancy. My mother used to have a '97 with a regular 2.0. These 1.8T cars are looking mighty shagy to me. (I can't escape the Tarbo!)

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #6 – April 16, 2005, 08:09:39 AM

I'd look at something like a Hyundai Tiburon or Accent. Yes, it's a Hyundai, but you can't argue with a 10 year/100k warranty!

Insurance companies generally go back 6-7 years when looking for things like accidents and infractions. Before you commit to buy anything I would strongly suggest that you call a few insurance companies as ask for quotes. Just pick a car out of thin air and ask them what it would cost you to insure it. Be honest when they ask about accidents, tickets, etc because if you don't tell them about something they WILL find out about it, and they WILL increase your premiums (or drop you altogether). With acouple of accidents and tickets you might find that insurance costs more than the car!

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #7 – April 16, 2005, 09:23:53 AM

Go with a Hyudai Tiburon. That's what I did. I just turned 20 in February, have only been working for 6 months, was on my parents car insurance, had no down payment and little established credit. I managed to get mine for around $15,000 and a loan through Hyundai. Granted it is not the GT V-6 with every option, but it's options are everything you need and a little more. Working part time, I have no problem making the car payment or car insurance payment. The only thing that sucks is that the monthly insurance is more than my car payment and I have a clean record with no accidents or tickets. I think I have to talk to my agent to see if I can get that lowered. The car is reliable as reliable can be, is easy on gas, looks better than the competition in it's price range(IMO), and attracts more "attention" than the cougar did.
This is mine

You are in the same boat I was in. You love your fox car but it is too much of a hassel to drive and repair every week. So get something new and enjoy the T-Bird on the weekends and such. Besides if you don't drive it every day, you don't have to worry if you decide to tear the engine down on saturday to have it back together to drive on monday.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #8 – April 16, 2005, 10:47:20 AM

the 1.8t is awesome in those lil volkswagons, my dude just paid like 14k for a wolfsburg edition jetta with the 1.8t in it and the other day I got to drive it and I must say, if I had test drove one of those before I did the truck, the truck would have been out of the question. That jetta was pretty quick, quiet and he said he gettin great gas mileage, much more than the 12mpg im gettin with the truck that I paid 14k for.

Well, it was listed for 19k on the lot, after a test drive and a bout 24 hours of some negotiating and doing my homework I told them I didnt wanna pay more than 16k total (taxes title etc) I didnt care if it was 15999 as long as its under 16 concider it sold. I told them that because I had looked up the value a dealer could sell it for on kbb.com which ended up being like 13900 and knew that if I got them to keep the total under 16 that I would get the truck for around 14.5k and they would still be makin a small profit.(do your homework) He calls me back and tells me they can do that. Keep in mind that thats over 4500 less than what they were asking and most people if they even get the dealer to come down only get them to come down about 1-2 grand less so, do your homework. Neways, after dropping 6grand a 5 year loan at a fixed 5.?%apr im paying just a hair over 180 a month and my insurance is 80. Im 23 and have been on my own insurance policy since I was 18 and driving record has been (knock on wood) clean for about 4 years.

Hopefully some of that helps you out with your decision and coming down to a pretty accurate estimate of about what you can afford. Personally, even though I am not out for buying a new car right now. I get bored and look at an autotrader, drive around and look at cars, or even just check some out on eBay.

But by personal experience 2002 is looking like a great year right now, you can snag up alot of one owner 2002's right now with low or close to average mileage. I just found my mother a 2002 Dodge Intrepid with 18k on her for 10 grand and that car is f'ing awesome! Great gas mileage, absolutely love the style, interior is really comfy but with a few blind spots you have to get used to, easily get used to with driving a cougar. Thats nothing...LMAO!!! Not saying that you must start looking at some intrepids but just using that as an example. Start checking out stuff like 2002 grand prix's, intrepids, sebrings, stratus(especially the r/t's) and even eclipse gt's(the drop top) are really cool. Most people dont realize how cool those cars actually are until they test drive one or end up going for a ride in one. Hope any of this

can help, lol. If you ever have any questions and catch me online, feel free to send an im my way..TTUL!!! :D

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #9 – April 16, 2005, 02:13:21 PM

My sister makes about $1200 a month. She owns a 98 Taurus and just stole a 2001 Mustang GT Convertible for 14,000. The Taurus is about $70 a month after a refinance, and the mustang is about $270 on a 6 year. Insurance is 1000 every 6 months for both cars. the downpayment on the mustang was 100 cause my family has known theres for ages. plus, we've already bought about 10 vehicles from them. and plus my uncle bought a $17,000 2002 f150 fx4 the same day.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #10 – April 16, 2005, 02:51:17 PM

Was gonna say the same thing,buy an 02,03 with warranty and save half the price of new.
Especially on a stang as everybody wants the 05 so the older style sells for dirt cheap.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #11 – April 17, 2005, 12:28:27 PM

Being that I can't possibly bear to own anything else except RWD and V8, I would have to reccomend you get a 1996-1997 4.6L T-bird/Cougar.

BAR-NONE- that was THE most reliable car I have EVER owned. I drove it everyday for 3 years and sold it with 185K miles on it (bought it with 62K on it). Sold it to a guy at my job who has over 200K miles on it now and drives it 160 mi/day round trip. I replaced nothing on that car except regular wear and tear items (hoses, plugs, wires, filters, fluids, brakes). I would suggest that you try to find one that still has less than 80K miles on it. Replace the 4 rear IRS bushings (10 minute job), get an external tranny cooler and a SCT chip and you'll have a powerful, rock-solid and surprisingly fuel efficient driver. Most cars have had the plastic intake manifold break already so you shouldn't have to worry about that. I've never had a half-shaft or ball-joint go bad, and I even towed up to 2K lbs with it on numerous occasions and never had any problems (especially after the 3.73's) The car was a TANK. You can get a very nice, low mileage T-bird Sport or XR7 (30th editions are VERY nice) for about 5K. I wish that my '98 LSC was even half as solid as that car was.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #12 – April 17, 2005, 03:40:11 PM

Please, do NOT buy a Tiburon. They look good, but that's where it stops. The things are imposible to work on, have a blind spot second only to the New Beetle, and even the V6 GT sucks monkey balls when you try to get moving. The biggest dissapointment I've had behind the wheel yet, and I used to own a three cylinder Subey. I've gotten more fun out of an '80s Sprint.

You know, the Pontiac Solstice is around the $20 mark.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #13 – April 17, 2005, 06:11:12 PM

Quote from: oldraven

have a blind spot second only to the New Beetle...

And which one in the NB would you be referring to? Since my birds are both down right now I've been driving my mom's 98 NB 5 speed (not terrible to drive, I've driven sluggier cars) and anything that has to do with going left (turns, big curves) just SUCKS! I have this monstrous A piller and a giganto mirror attached to that and I can't see over there at all.

Brian, I think you see why I got pissed off and almost bought that stang (would have if ford cooperated... oh well, their loss). Bottom line is you need decent daily transport. I'm ok for the summer, but come fall I need to figure stuff out again. If you can do it, go for it, peace of mind is worth a monthly payment.

Re: Looking at new cars

Reply #14 – April 17, 2005, 06:29:27 PM

Unless you buy brand new and get something that the warranty outlasts the payments, monthly payments do not necessarily buy peace of mind. The only car I ever made payments on was a nearly new '91 T-Bird, and on top of the monthly payments I had to replace the front upper ball joints, the head gaskets, then 8 months later the crankshaft, and finally the ignition switch caught fire and left me stranded hundreds of miles from home. All of the other cars/trucks I've owned, even the shiznitty 300,000-mile 4-cyl Cherokee and the current 300,000 mile V6 Dakota 4X4 were paid for and all were more reliable than that Thunderbird. Because of that car I'll never own any V6 MN12 again, even SC's and supercharged XR7's, even if it was offered for free.

Even a brand new car is not a 100% guarantee against breaking down. New car dealerships have repair shops and roadside assistance for a reason. Cars are machines and they do break down.

Personally there is nothing on my car that could break that would make monthly payments worth it. I just spent $450 replacing the fuel tank, sending unit and alternator last month. That's one car payment. And it's the only one I've made on the car in two years of ownership except the purchase price. I've spent other money on it ($300 for custom true duals, $50 for rims, $200 for tires to fit those rims, $300 for a Kenwood stereo) but all of that money was upgrades, not repairs. I took a perfectly good 40k-mile original exhaust off for my dual exhaust, and I replaced four brand new 14" tires that were on it when I bought it when I put the 15" 10-holes on. Even if the engine was to fall out of it I could put an HO in there for less than $500, and if something really drastic were to happen I could throw it away and get another car. Can't do that when you're making payments...

Crystal, I know you blowed up the 85 TC, but what happened to the Sport?