Used Cars Are Outselling New Vehicles: Is buying a new car worth it?

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Used Cars Are Outselling New Vehicles: Is buying a new car worth it?

by SenorBabyMan Posted February 23, 2009 19:57:33

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While new car sales stall, used vehicles are flying off dealers' lots. Automakers are desperate to sell cars as they ask "Where have all the sales gone?" The answer: Used cars. Seems reasonable to buy a used car for around $2000 - $4000 with decent MPG that will get you from point A to point B. The sad news go out the automakers... this is definitely another sign of economic recession.

My advice to you is, don't buy new. The first year depreciation is too much even in Hondas and Toyotas (american cars are even worse)
Always buy a one to two year old used car with 10k-20k miles.

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+2 raves DemonKiTTiE ♥ In MUSE I Tru... February 23, 2009 23:38:40

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Though I don't have to worry about it. I have a nice car I got some years back and shouldn't need a new or used one for a while.
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Silver April 02, 2009 01:33:38

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Buy used and let someone else eat the depreciation. What else makes sense in this economy?
Ms Missy March 11, 2009 17:06:33

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
buy a late modle used car for the best of both worlds.
lower price higher mpg
+1 raves
Heidi March 06, 2009 20:27:10

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
That is, if I were even going to have need of a car. I bike, walk, or on extremely rare occasions catch a ride, maybe all of a couple of times a year, no kidding. I cannot even begin to guess how many hundreds of thousands (I am 50) I have saved by having no justifiable need for owning one. It works for me.
Ms Missy to Heidi March 11, 2009 17:09:31

good on ya,
i try to walk where i can when i can.
explorer1618 March 01, 2009 17:04:02

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Well for right now american cars are not keeping up with what people want, MPG, eco-friendly, resale value.
+1 raves
Red Ruffansore February 25, 2009 02:04:50

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
The unions made no concessions so I say continue the recessions. They can contemplate that on their 35 million dollar golf course.
Did you notice that all of the people who are going to oversee the big three on their business restructure don't even drive American cars?
I think they're trying to tell us something.
edwardlover#1 February 24, 2009 19:49:55

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
as long as it gets you where you need to go then its good.
Lowider February 24, 2009 15:42:10

Answered: Yes. Buying a new car is worth every dollar.
Would be nice to buy one, but with the banks not loaning money like they once did, who can buy one?
bob petrolito February 24, 2009 14:19:09

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Buy the right used car and you'll be driving it for many years. Personally, I love Honda's. That's my own opinion.
Robin February 24, 2009 12:54:47

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
It has always been so....
gone February 24, 2009 12:11:42

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
I bought my first used car in 20 years this past summer. It paid for itself in 6 months as compared to the costs of my previous car. even if I have to put a couple thousand dollars a year into it that means that I am paying less than what I was making in payments on my previous vehicle
viper4358 February 24, 2009 07:44:26

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Pencil and paper or a calculator will tell you that a used vehicle is a better deal. Once you drive off the lot with a new vehicle you have depreciated the value by thousands of dollars. At 2 to 2-1/2 years you may start breaking even and can sell it without losing too much money and if you go into a New Car deal upside down it is even worse.
Joyfromky February 24, 2009 07:11:43

Answered: Yes. Buying a new car is worth every dollar.
Mega good deals..I just bought an '09 Chevy Impala...got abt 6,000 off of it...
Caroline February 24, 2009 04:24:13

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
My husband is in the car business and we always buy used. When we were young we used to buy new, we've learned. He knows cars and knows what to look for, he appraises them at work, that works for us.
XspecialX February 24, 2009 04:19:56

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
it's true, my dad did it. everyone's power nowadays.
zac February 24, 2009 03:16:56

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
most affordable new cars are ugly and gutless (MOST, i'm not saying all!) . too many laws regulate what the new cars can do
+1 raves
KiaraMaul February 24, 2009 02:54:16

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
I say not. Mine is a 2002 and is in GREAT shape and I probably saved a good 10 thousand at least. Why would I want to pay so much for a brand new vehicle when I get a great warranty and a great car for thousands upon thousands cheaper?
+1 raves
Carey February 24, 2009 01:28:52

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
And a ton of pain if there are problem with your new car and its gone out of production! Think ahead and wach the MPG and get a total report on the car.
+1 raves
Beccy February 24, 2009 01:12:33

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
I would never buy a new car. Too many head aches and they cost too much money.
concerned February 24, 2009 00:58:37

Answered: Yes. Buying a new car is worth every dollar.
because you are not getting someone else problems ...
CABT February 24, 2009 00:52:19

Answered: Yes. Buying a new car is worth every dollar.
I've bought new and used vehicles and I would perfer to buy new. I know they depreciate fast but I know how the vehicle was treated. Why would anyone really want a vehicle for 2 to 4 thousand anyway? You would spend that much or more for repair bills. I listened to my daddy.
KiaraMaul to CABT February 24, 2009 02:57:48

Well, have had no repair bills at all save for normal maintenance is: oil changes and tires
CABT to KiaraMaul February 24, 2009 06:50:55

Lucy you, I'm happy for you.
KiaraMaul to CABT February 25, 2009 04:01:15

me too
+1 raves
Fabio February 24, 2009 00:27:13 (edited)

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Would be nice to get a new one but who can afford it??
+1 raves
Bev February 24, 2009 00:22:04

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
A used care with low mileage is a much better buy than a new car. As soon as you drive that new car off the lot it decreases in value, where a used car has already had that depreciation taken off the price.
~1seahawksfan~ February 24, 2009 00:09:13

Answered: Yes. Buying a new car is worth every dollar.
If you keep them for a long time, the depreciation will not affect you and you will not be buying a car that you do not know where it has been. If you keep them for a short time then used is a better deal :-)
+2 raves
DemonKiTTiE ♥ In MUSE I Tru... February 23, 2009 23:38:40

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Though I don't have to worry about it. I have a nice car I got some years back and shouldn't need a new or used one for a while.
+2 raves
SABLE February 23, 2009 23:36:45

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
In these economic times, we have to save a buck.
+1 raves
~sexy mama~ February 23, 2009 23:07:48

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
i would only buy a new car if i needed it
+1 raves
michellenicole(theveganvixen) February 23, 2009 22:49:41

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
for me anyways.
+1 raves
AsianGirl= ] February 23, 2009 22:18:26

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
True , there's lots of cars that are good and on sale
+1 raves
Ace~Mr.Giantess~ February 23, 2009 22:16:58

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
I hate cars and have no preference as long as they fit my code of vehicles I would drive so it doesn't matter if it's new or used so I'd rather buy used to save money.
+2 raves
Dave February 23, 2009 22:14:28

Answered: Yes. Buying a new car is worth every dollar.
Since some dealers are selling at 50% of the MSRP, why not go for the full monte ?
Richard February 23, 2009 21:40:01 (edited)

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
moderated...
+2 raves
beebabeeba February 23, 2009 21:25:06

Answered: No. Buying a decent used car saves you thousands of dollars.
Buying a new car is for suckers, it's NEVER EVER worth it. When you drive your new car off the lot it depreciates in value by thousands of dollars! Was that 30 second drive through the parking lot worth $5,000?

Plus if you buy new you typically will be financing a car, which is also stupid. Now not only are you paying the rip-off cost of a brand new car, but you're paying a big percentage on top of that in interest to the bank. I have no idea why anyone would ever finance a new car, maybe they hate having money?
explore... to beebabeeba February 23, 2009 21:44:17

Very good point !!!!
~1seaha... to beebabeeba February 24, 2009 00:11:48

Actually, if you keep it more than 6 years, it is statistically a better deal. Most people that trade a car within the first three years, are the worst offenders of poor maintenance and you are buying future problems with repairs being $100 per hour plus labor! Keeping it for a long time merits a new car purchase.
beebabeeba to ~1seaha... February 24, 2009 01:18:08

Repairs are expensive but buying a three year old car could easily save you $5,000-10,000 or more. Just spend $100-200 on a thorough inspection before you buy the used car, then you know there aren't any significant problems and there is no way you will spend more on repair bills than you saved buying used.
~1seaha... to beebabeeba February 24, 2009 01:19:54

Actually, most problems will not show up right away. For example, the only way to inspect a transmission is to pull it apart and that will ruin it so.... It is better if you keep them forever to buy new. The depreciation will not hurt you as much and you know the history!