Do you buy new, used, or very well used cars?

[kdonnel]

As an adult I have only ever bought new.

As a kid I had very well used cars (20+ years old) that often left me stranded. I think that has influenced my belief that new is for me.

I know that from a purely financial standpoint a 1-3 year old used car is the best buy but I really enjoy the feeling of driving off the lot in a brand new car.

One of my neighbors previously only bought used, that 1-3 year old range, but at the beginning of Covid snagged a new car at a price he could not pass up. Since then though he has continued to buy used.

When he sticks to that 1-3 year old range he always seems to end up with a reliable car but he puts so much more effort into his car purchases than I do. He often travels out of the state to get the used car he wants and sometimes makes a 500 mile round trip only to return without the car because it smelled or something else was misrepresented in the ad. My new buying process seems to involve so much less effort, I guess that is what I get for the price premium.

 

[starry_solo]

New, all the way.

Sure, when I was younger, my parents would give me their car while they bought new.

 

[Kitty 34]

Right now I'm driving an 11 year old car but it was new when I bought it. I don't drive a whole lot anymore and I love the fact that my car is small and easy to park. We're starting to look around, tho for a newbie.

 

[robinb]

We usually buy new and keep them for at least 10 years.

I’ve also bought 2 used cars in my life. One was a 2008 Saab 9-5 to replace one lost in an accident. We loved the original car but the replacement was a real lemon. We traded it in after we replaced the O2 sensor for the 3rd time and the warranty was expiring. The second used car was a 2016 Subaru Outback. We still have that car and it’s a real workhorse. My daughter, who lives in a rural area, drives it. It keeps her safe and I rarely worry about her while she’s driving it no matter how bad the weather.

 

[ronandannette]

New, and I lease; it's part of my compensation package at work. I turn my vehicles over every 3 years.

 

[kymom99]

I haven’t bought a new car in ages. However, the last 4 were less that one year old. One had 1100 miles (accord), two others around 3000 (Altima and rogue), and another 19000 (Camry). Simple process each time and able to find locally. Last one was in fall of 2020 so I know things are different now.

 

[mamamary]

Only new. We helped dd shop and buy a used car when she was in college because that is what she could afford.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

I was 43 before I got my first brand new car. Prior to that it was usually hand-me-downs from my in-laws that instead of trading it in they would sell it to us interest free. They were always several years old. I drove my first new car which was a Subaru for 13 years before buying a new one with some inheritance I got. Then traded that one in 4 years later on another one cause they gave me such an awesome trade in amount. Practically what we had paid for it 4 years earlier.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've purchased one new car in my life. The rest have been used. Each time we purchase for DW or myself, the difference between the age of the car and the "latest" model decreases. I got a 2020 car for myself last year after my 2015 was totaled in an accident. The last car we purchased was a 2007 model for DD. That was when the 2023s were out.

I don't think I'll ever purchase a truly new car again. It just doesn't make financial sense to me. If I can find something that's 2-3 years old, save thousands of dollars in purchase price, and have it last 10-15 years, great!

 

[AussieFan8]

We buy new and keep for eight years, alternating cars. So my husband gets a new car, we usually pay it off in around two years, put the amount that was his car payment in savings for an additional two years, then I buy a new car and do the same. That means we only have one car payment at a time and about half the time we don't have one at all and are putting that money in savings.

We did buy a used car for my daughter when she started driving. We had intended to give her mine as it was time for me to buy a new car, but she wasn't comfortable with the size of my car. Since she was an anxious new driver, we got her something smaller.

 

[mjkacmom]

The only new vehicles I’ve owned were a 1996 ford windstar (sold my 2 seater Mazda rx7 when I found out I was pregnant, went with a minivan because I knew I wanted more children and planned on driving it for 20 years), and a 2002 honda Odyssey because I found out we were expecting #4 and #5 and it was the only minivan with 5 shoulder belts and I had 5 in car seats/boosters (and paid $31,000 for it, at the time they were selling over sticker price).

DH and I buy newer vehicles, he just bought a 2021 with only 1000 miles, I drive a 2016 I bought a few years ago. The kids have only driven 10+ year old cars, right now 2 own 2007’s, the others share a 2007. We always pay cash in full and are very good with regular maintenance. 20 years is always the goal, every single car we’ve gotten rid of has been towed. My oldest has totaled 3 vehicles so far. We don’t carry collision on the older cars, which saves money on insurance.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We buy new every 10 years or so. DS 16 will be getting a used car in a few months, though.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Bought used, new, and leased.
Right now bought to used cars from family member that couldn't be beat and the cars I drive now are older than the last new cars I leased.

 

[mjkacmom]

As an adult I have only ever bought new.

As a kid I had very well used cars (20+ years old) that often left me stranded. I think that has influenced my belief that new is for me.

I know that from a purely financial standpoint a 1-3 year old used car is the best buy but I really enjoy the feeling of driving off the lot in a brand new car.

One of my neighbors previously only bought used, that 1-3 year old range, but at the beginning of Covid snagged a new car at a price he could not pass up. Since then though he has continued to buy used.

When he sticks to that 1-3 year old range he always seems to end up with a reliable car but he puts so much more effort into his car purchases than I do. He often travels out of the state to get the used car he wants and sometimes makes a 500 mile round trip only to return without the car because it smelled or something else was misrepresented in the ad. My new buying process seems to involve so much less effort, I guess that is what I get for the price premium.

Our last purchase of a used car took 45 minutes, total. Our minivan died 2 days before a vacation we had to drive to, fortunately my sister had been buying used Kia’s for a year, she is a crazy researcher, turns out the best dealership is in my town (she lives many states away). Bought the second one they showed us, DH filled out the paperwork, I drove home and got proof on insurance and went to the bank to get a check.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Bought used, new, and leased.
Right now bought to used cars from family member that couldn't be beat and the cars I drive now are older than the last new cars I leased. And one is older than the last new car I bought. Very strange.

 

[Christine]

I buy new and keep for 10 years at least. I have bought used before and it's just so much trouble, IMO, and I haven't had the best luck.

 

[mjkacmom]

Bought used, new, and leased.
Right now bought to used cars from family member that couldn't be beat and the cars I drive now are older than the last new cars I leased.

Ugh, I’ve been eying up FIL’s 2007 civic for years, super low mileage. He’s 95 and shouldn’t be driving. Well, he fell asleep at the wheel and went through a fence. Good news, he was ok, the hospital actually found a ton of fluid around his lungs which was causing him to randomly fall asleep, and drained it, plus now he doesn’t have a car to drive. Bad news is we couldn’t buy his car.

 

[Meriweather]

I only buy new for me.
DH buys used for him.
When the kids were first driving, used for them

 

[loves to dive]

My first car was used because that was what I could afford. After that all new. I'm hoping my current car is my last one. I don't work outside the home any more and only drive it to the occasional doctor visit, garden center and WDW. Hubby has a 20 year old car he drives about every 3 months and a truck both he bought new. The truck actually cost more than our 5th wheel we also bought new.

 

[Dan Murphy]

First car was used 1956 Ford, bought in 1961, 5 years old, $695. Next 6 cars were new, purchased. Next 11 cars were new, leased. Most recent car, new, and now that I am retired and no tax benefit to leasing, purchased.