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Old 05-13-2007, 08:02 AM   #1
Gatchaman
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Default Who are you? New or used guy?

I bought my 2000 Toyota Celica GTS brand new. Before I bought the car I loved going to the dealers and drooling over the cars in the lot. I would get all the brochures and look at them every free minute I had. Then I finally bought it. It was my first new car and I loved it. I didn’t lease the car, it was mine and it felt like mine. Owning a new car in perfect condition with 0 miles and with that new car smell, there’s nothing like it. Driving off that dealers lot was nirvana. I had the car for almost 4 years and I hated to see it go.

Then there is my STI, which I love. But I bought it used from a Ford dealership with 15,000 miles on it. The previous owner smoked in the car, which left it smelling like an old astray. He also let his dog ride with him leaving little dog hairs behind and little scratches all over the interior. Unfortunately I didn’t notice this when first looking at the car. Of coarse it wasn’t all bad, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought the car. For instance, it was in great shape inside and out (other then what I previously mentioned). It was lowered, had window tint, header, front rear strut bars, and a down & up pipe. I was even able to get the dog hairs and cigarette smell out after a couple of weeks. The car has never given me a single problem. It’s really a fantastic car, and yet I don’t feel the same as I did when owning my Celica. Something is missing, something is different and I think it’s because I bought it used. It doesn’t feel like mine.

I keep thinking about buying the ’08 STI to regain that feeling I had with the Celica even though I love the style of my ’04 STI better then the new ’08 styling. Although I think the STI version will be much much better. The ’04 is what made me fall in love with the STI. It’s not that I want to be the first one to have the new STI. I just want that special “owning a brand new car that’s all yours with 0 miles and in perfect condition” feeling back. Am I nuts to feel this way? How many people out there feel like they need to buy new cars for the same or similar reasons?
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:02 AM   #2
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No CNs = FAIL
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:15 AM   #3
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It depends. I bought my 04 STi used and it was fine. I was the third owner.

Last summer I traded it in on a new Honda. I just traded that in yesterday for a new Toyota truck. I prefer new. You get hosed, but if you can afford it it is the way to go.
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:16 AM   #4
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well.. i never bought a used cars because i thought i was going to feel the same way as u did.
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:16 AM   #5
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I am seriously considering trading in my bugeye for the new Camaro SS....
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:17 AM   #6
f4phantomii
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Uh...why isn't this a poll....seems like it would be suited for that.
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:24 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Radiohead71 View Post
You get hosed, but if you can afford it it is the way to go.
If you got the money, New > Used.
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:33 AM   #8
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Used until just this year... then again, I was a high school and college student until then. My fiancee and I both bought new cars about 6 months after we started working. I figure we'll continue buying new primary cars, but secondary cars (roadster, truck, etc.) will all be purchased used.

~~Quentin
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Old 05-13-2007, 09:32 AM   #9
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I've had 1 new car and ended up trading it in FTL like 7 months later. I' think i'm too far into not leaving things stock to buy a brand new car again. Used is cool, when you know how to find deals IMO. the new car smell does make you feel good, but they sell it in cans now so i can get it anytime
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Old 05-13-2007, 10:47 AM   #10
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I feel that with the amount of used cars out there, and the ability to have them thoroughly checked for little money, buying new is pretty much retarded. Especially in American cars. Sure, you only have to pay $299 a month for that Cobalt, but in 5 years when the car is worth $8k you're still paying that $299, have fun with that.

Buy used, save money, service properly and be happy.
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Old 05-13-2007, 10:58 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ninethreeeleven View Post
I feel that with the amount of used cars out there, and the ability to have them thoroughly checked for little money, buying new is pretty much retarded. Especially in American cars. Sure, you only have to pay $299 a month for that Cobalt, but in 5 years when the car is worth $8k you're still paying that $299, have fun with that.

Buy used, save money, service properly and be happy.
I agree, but dontcha just love that new car smell/feel? minus the random breakage of some POS part...
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Old 05-13-2007, 10:58 AM   #12
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I think in 5 years the loan is paid off. And the Cobalt is worth 4k then.
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:11 AM   #13
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I think in 5 years the loan is paid off. And the Cobalt is worth 4k then.
And dare I say that's being generous?
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:12 AM   #14
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Yeah, in 5 years the Cobalt has probably gone through three engines and been totaled twice.
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:29 AM   #15
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You will regain that feeling by buying a new car again, trust me.

I bought a 07 Scion tC as my daily driver and I absolutely LOVE IT. It's not fast, no.. it's not much to look at, no.. But it's MINE and it was MINT when I bought it and it's still MINT because I take care of it. Last used car I bought (97 Accord), I felt the exact same way as you. It never felt like mine and I couldn't ever trust the car because I never knew how it was taken care of.. So I promptly traded it in with zero regrets.

Trade your STi in on a new model!
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:31 AM   #16
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Don't trade it in, sell it used and get a decent deal on it.
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:35 AM   #17
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New cars are nice because you get the feeling of being the first and only owner of a sleek new car. Just remember, though, that the $30,000 you drop on the car halfs itself the minute you drive off the lot.

For sheer monetary worth, a good used vehicle cannot be beat.

BD
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:38 AM   #18
quentinberg007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ninethreeeleven View Post
I feel that with the amount of used cars out there, and the ability to have them thoroughly checked for little money, buying new is pretty much retarded. Especially in American cars. Sure, you only have to pay $299 a month for that Cobalt, but in 5 years when the car is worth $8k you're still paying that $299, have fun with that.

Buy used, save money, service properly and be happy.
That is great and all when you are buying a model that has been out several years or only has color and transmission as options (Subaru). I wanted a 4 door GTI, 6MT, 18" OEM wheels, and factory aero kit. There was no 4 door in 06, so 07 was my only option. I could have saved myself $5k if I'd gotten not exactly what I want.

Who the hell pays $20k for something that isn't exactly what they want, though? I made a similar mistake w/ my 2.5RS. I really wanted it in white. I got silver because it was all I could find. I've regretted that decision for the period that I owned the car.

Financially, new cars are a terrible purchase. If we were all buying cars to maximize the money in our pockets, we wouldn't be driving around WRXs or STIs. There is clearly an emotional aspect to choosing and owning a car.

~~Quentin
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:45 AM   #19
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I'm definitely a "used car" kind of guy until I'm comfortable enough in my wealth that I don't mind making a poor investment.

Sure new cars may be nice to the ego, but from a financial standpoint they're a bad move, when you can pick up a two year old car thats practically new for far less than the original purchase price. I'll let the first owner absorb the $4,000 hit on the car in the first year or two and then pick up the car used.
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Old 05-13-2007, 12:21 PM   #20
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This is my third new car. I've accepted that i'll always have a car payment, so I just have to make sure it stays in good condition and resale is ok, then i can sell or trade it in on something new every few years.

Both of my previous new cars were traded/sold before i hit 40k miles.
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Old 05-13-2007, 04:39 PM   #21
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for the price of maintenance, used is the way I'll always go. Cheaper car + maint. costs < new car.
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Old 05-13-2007, 04:43 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bendavi007 View Post
New cars are nice because you get the feeling of being the first and only owner of a sleek new car. Just remember, though, that the $30,000 you drop on the car halfs itself the minute you drive off the lot.

For sheer monetary worth, a good used vehicle cannot be beat.

BD
No, its not. You don't see STi's for sale for 15k. You lose maybe 20% of its value, and 8% of that is tax (at least here.)
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Old 05-13-2007, 04:45 PM   #23
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Originally Posted by express_wagon View Post
If you got the money, New > Used.
Yeah if money isn't an issue then why would anybody even consider used?

When money is an issue, used FTW. You can typically get some of your money back on the car - unlike with new you drive it a week and you just burned $5,000 (proportionated to the value of the car - a $17,000 VW would not lose 5k, where a $65,000 corvette might).

But, new FTW too. New you know where its been, new you know how its been treated, new you have a warranty.


Myself though.... I prefer used.
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Old 05-13-2007, 05:23 PM   #24
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The thing that sticks on my mind about used cars is wondering whether or not the original owner broke the engine in correctly, and performed oil changes frequently enough. Most girls I know do not follow the 3 - 4K oil changing pattern. They need reminders from their Dad, boyfriend, me, etc. so I would be a little hesitant to buy a used car from a woman.
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Old 05-13-2007, 05:24 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bendavi007 View Post
New cars are nice because you get the feeling of being the first and only owner of a sleek new car. Just remember, though, that the $30,000 you drop on the car halfs itself the minute you drive off the lot.
Not necessarily. It varies wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from model to model. Some cars depreciate so little that instead of buying a couple years used you can get new for just a few grand more, in which case a lot of people would say "why bother with used?"
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