Why do I have to make this so difficult? Because it is an important decision.
March 5, 2012 9:39 AM Subscribe
Used Car Purchase Filter: I need to purchase a used vehicle. Easy, right? I can't decide what is most important to me and NEED your valued opinions. Lots to read inside ->
After selling our Nissan Xterra due to a transmission issue, we are in the market for a used car. With a family of 6, I have a few requirements, but I am finding it hard to fulfill them all. My family of 6 includes my wife, 3 kids ages 9-13, and a 2 month old baby, and myself. We currently have a 99 4Runner, most likely with another 100k miles left in it (currently at 190k miles).
My wife currently works days and I work a night shift. We currently share the one vehicle and that works for us now with little to no issue. I am not in a major rush to buy another vehicle, but would like to do so in the next couple months. To be honest, this is what we use or vehicle for 80%-90% of the time. It is kind of rare for all 6 of us to be in the vehicle at the same time. But when we want/need to be, it is a pain in the ass and not safe (oldest in the far back without a seat belt).
We are both in debt and have poor credit. We currently pay out about $1000-$1200 a month on about $35,000 worth of debt. We are actively working to fix our debt and credit situation so we can buy a house. This is pretty much our main priority over the next 2.5 years.
After selling our Xterra and with some money I had stocked away I currently have $5,500 towards a vehicle. Any day now I will receive another $7,000 from tax refunds. I can, effectively, purchase a vehicle in the range of $12,500 to $15,000 using negotiation and additional funds from upcoming paychecks this week.
If I am patient and wait another month or two, I would be able to purchase in the $15k-$18k range (with negotiation maybe purchase something in the $19k or $20k range). While I do have additional savings to fall back on for emergencies, this would bring my savings down to about as low as I am comfortable with. Now that you have an idea of my financial situation let me say that I am not trying to suggest that I HAVE to spend that much, or anywhere near. That is part of the decision I am having trouble with.
Ok, moving on to my ‘requirements’, or maybe better put, my wishes/desires. In order of most desired to least:
- Reliability
- 6 seats
- Style
- Truck
- Fuel economy
Do I have to have every one of these options? No. Hell, fuel economy and truck really don’t go together at all.
So, with reliability in mind, I purchased a Consumer Reports account and started checking out what trucks (and cars) are available to me with the BEST reliability. Here is a list of the vehicles I have decided may work, and the pros and cons of each:
Trucks:
- Nissan Titan (2007): The 2007 Nissan titan was pretty much the most solid of the Titans other than 2010, which is out of my price range. The Crew Cabs have an optional 40/20/40 front seat (center console folds up and makes an additional seat), thus giving me 6 seats. So most of my needs covered here: Reliability, 6 seats, Style, Truck. Fuel economy is better than, say, a Tahoe or something larger, but who am I kidding, it isn’t great.
- Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Tacoma (any year): As far as reliability goes, these are all great trucks. I do not believe though, that any of them come with 6 seats (I may be wrong). They have decent style (The Toyotas are kind of meh) and they are trucks. Same as above with fuel economy.
- Chevy Avalanche (2009 or newer): The Avalanche has been pretty dependable since 2009. I am not sure about 6 seats on this one, but I am pretty sure 2009 and newer is out of my range.
Cars:
- Honda Civic (any year): Tried and true as far as reliability; cheap to fix as well. Not six seats (barely 5). Decent style and pretty good fuel economy.
- Mazda Protege, Mazda3 (2006 and newer): Pretty much the same as above. Very reliable.
- Toyota Matrix (pretty much all, although the ’06 and ’07 model have minor issues): Again, pretty much the same as above, although I am not sold on ‘style.’
- Toyota Prius (minor issues from ’02-’06 but pretty damn reliable overall): The newer years are pretty bullet proof. Style is out the window, but fuel economy is maxed out. As with the other cars, I am not going to be fitting my whole family in it. I don’t really see myself driving this vehicle, but I would be stupid not to contemplate it with the direction gas prices are headed.
Vans (I don’t see myself in a van, at all really, but for the sake of discussion, the only reliable van I found was the):
- Toyota Sienna (’04 and newer): Great reliability, enough seats (I assume), decent fuel economy, and no style.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, with all this research I have done, why am I having such a hard time making a decision?
So far, I have been favoring style, reliability, and 6 seats over everything else. I currently favor the Titan. The ones I have been looking at range from $12k-$18k ($12k with 100k-140k miles, $15k with 70k-90k miles, and $18k with 30k-50k miles). For $15k-18k I can get a truck that is pretty damn close to brand new. The rest of the trucks I listed above are probably $2k-3k cheaper but I lose 6 seats and style points.
Then I start thinking about how often we are all 6 going to be in the vehicle. Right now, not a whole lot. So, if I want to sacrifice 6 seats and truck from my list of wants, I can go out and purchase a decent to nice Honda at probably half the price of a Titan. This is maybe the smarter decision (but not necessarily what I want).
And then, the smartest decision of all would probably be the Prius. Eww.. a Prius. Again, probably half the cost of a Titan, AND I will save $2k or more a year on gas as compared to a Titan. Ohh... the decisions. I doubt I will buy a Prius. My wife isn't even really interested in it, but I have to weigh all options.
MetaFilter, UNITE!!!! Let it rip. I am open to all advice, opinions, and whacks over the head for being too (your favorite description here) about it.
Relative info: My wife an I are very early 30s. We live in the Phoenix area. We make roughly 100k a year before taxes. I am willing to travel to border states to make a purchase. I want to buy private and not from a dealer. Trying to think of other possibly relative information that could help you give sound advice. Let me know any questions you have and I will try to answer the best I can.
After selling our Nissan Xterra due to a transmission issue, we are in the market for a used car. With a family of 6, I have a few requirements, but I am finding it hard to fulfill them all. My family of 6 includes my wife, 3 kids ages 9-13, and a 2 month old baby, and myself. We currently have a 99 4Runner, most likely with another 100k miles left in it (currently at 190k miles).
My wife currently works days and I work a night shift. We currently share the one vehicle and that works for us now with little to no issue. I am not in a major rush to buy another vehicle, but would like to do so in the next couple months. To be honest, this is what we use or vehicle for 80%-90% of the time. It is kind of rare for all 6 of us to be in the vehicle at the same time. But when we want/need to be, it is a pain in the ass and not safe (oldest in the far back without a seat belt).
We are both in debt and have poor credit. We currently pay out about $1000-$1200 a month on about $35,000 worth of debt. We are actively working to fix our debt and credit situation so we can buy a house. This is pretty much our main priority over the next 2.5 years.
After selling our Xterra and with some money I had stocked away I currently have $5,500 towards a vehicle. Any day now I will receive another $7,000 from tax refunds. I can, effectively, purchase a vehicle in the range of $12,500 to $15,000 using negotiation and additional funds from upcoming paychecks this week.
If I am patient and wait another month or two, I would be able to purchase in the $15k-$18k range (with negotiation maybe purchase something in the $19k or $20k range). While I do have additional savings to fall back on for emergencies, this would bring my savings down to about as low as I am comfortable with. Now that you have an idea of my financial situation let me say that I am not trying to suggest that I HAVE to spend that much, or anywhere near. That is part of the decision I am having trouble with.
Ok, moving on to my ‘requirements’, or maybe better put, my wishes/desires. In order of most desired to least:
- Reliability
- 6 seats
- Style
- Truck
- Fuel economy
Do I have to have every one of these options? No. Hell, fuel economy and truck really don’t go together at all.
So, with reliability in mind, I purchased a Consumer Reports account and started checking out what trucks (and cars) are available to me with the BEST reliability. Here is a list of the vehicles I have decided may work, and the pros and cons of each:
Trucks:
- Nissan Titan (2007): The 2007 Nissan titan was pretty much the most solid of the Titans other than 2010, which is out of my price range. The Crew Cabs have an optional 40/20/40 front seat (center console folds up and makes an additional seat), thus giving me 6 seats. So most of my needs covered here: Reliability, 6 seats, Style, Truck. Fuel economy is better than, say, a Tahoe or something larger, but who am I kidding, it isn’t great.
- Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Tacoma (any year): As far as reliability goes, these are all great trucks. I do not believe though, that any of them come with 6 seats (I may be wrong). They have decent style (The Toyotas are kind of meh) and they are trucks. Same as above with fuel economy.
- Chevy Avalanche (2009 or newer): The Avalanche has been pretty dependable since 2009. I am not sure about 6 seats on this one, but I am pretty sure 2009 and newer is out of my range.
Cars:
- Honda Civic (any year): Tried and true as far as reliability; cheap to fix as well. Not six seats (barely 5). Decent style and pretty good fuel economy.
- Mazda Protege, Mazda3 (2006 and newer): Pretty much the same as above. Very reliable.
- Toyota Matrix (pretty much all, although the ’06 and ’07 model have minor issues): Again, pretty much the same as above, although I am not sold on ‘style.’
- Toyota Prius (minor issues from ’02-’06 but pretty damn reliable overall): The newer years are pretty bullet proof. Style is out the window, but fuel economy is maxed out. As with the other cars, I am not going to be fitting my whole family in it. I don’t really see myself driving this vehicle, but I would be stupid not to contemplate it with the direction gas prices are headed.
Vans (I don’t see myself in a van, at all really, but for the sake of discussion, the only reliable van I found was the):
- Toyota Sienna (’04 and newer): Great reliability, enough seats (I assume), decent fuel economy, and no style.
So, with all this research I have done, why am I having such a hard time making a decision?
So far, I have been favoring style, reliability, and 6 seats over everything else. I currently favor the Titan. The ones I have been looking at range from $12k-$18k ($12k with 100k-140k miles, $15k with 70k-90k miles, and $18k with 30k-50k miles). For $15k-18k I can get a truck that is pretty damn close to brand new. The rest of the trucks I listed above are probably $2k-3k cheaper but I lose 6 seats and style points.
Then I start thinking about how often we are all 6 going to be in the vehicle. Right now, not a whole lot. So, if I want to sacrifice 6 seats and truck from my list of wants, I can go out and purchase a decent to nice Honda at probably half the price of a Titan. This is maybe the smarter decision (but not necessarily what I want).
And then, the smartest decision of all would probably be the Prius. Eww.. a Prius. Again, probably half the cost of a Titan, AND I will save $2k or more a year on gas as compared to a Titan. Ohh... the decisions. I doubt I will buy a Prius. My wife isn't even really interested in it, but I have to weigh all options.
MetaFilter, UNITE!!!! Let it rip. I am open to all advice, opinions, and whacks over the head for being too (your favorite description here) about it.
Relative info: My wife an I are very early 30s. We live in the Phoenix area. We make roughly 100k a year before taxes. I am willing to travel to border states to make a purchase. I want to buy private and not from a dealer. Trying to think of other possibly relative information that could help you give sound advice. Let me know any questions you have and I will try to answer the best I can.
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- jessamyn
Response by poster: Sorry, one more thing. I should also state that I favor Nissan because, for one, they are pretty reliable, but for two, I have a mechanic who specializes in Nissan and charges me parts at his cost and half of what the dealership charges for labor. He was a mechanic for a Nissan dealership for something like 20 years and knows his stuff. Knowing that I can trust my mechanic, his prices, and his work is another reason I favor Nissan.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 9:55 AM on March 5, 2012
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 9:55 AM on March 5, 2012
I also wondered the same thing as Rodrigo, but I assumed that the ability to make a smart, no-pressure purchase outweighed the "Oh crap our car is broken/vacation pending/kid sick, we need another vehicle/six-seater" factor, but renting as a 'oh crap' option kinda makes that even more relevant. You could set aside some money as a safety-fund, put the rest towards bills, and forgo the vehicle purchase until it's absolutely necessary.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:00 AM on March 5, 2012
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:00 AM on March 5, 2012
I would also suggest dragging your feet on the purchase and planning to rent a van for weekend trips.
But if you are intent on buying, why are you not including full size suvs and minivans, both of which routinely offer seating for 7 and adequate luggage space? A number of vehicles on your list only seat five, which makes zero sense to me.
posted by Forktine at 10:15 AM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
But if you are intent on buying, why are you not including full size suvs and minivans, both of which routinely offer seating for 7 and adequate luggage space? A number of vehicles on your list only seat five, which makes zero sense to me.
posted by Forktine at 10:15 AM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I'm with RolandOfEld on this. In this neck of the country, you can get a decently-maintained Honda / Toyota sedan with medium miles (high five-digits) for what you've already got in hand, especially if you're not pressed for time. It's not going to seat six, and it won't be stylish, but it definitely frees up some of your tax refund to go towards servicing your debt or the rainy day fund and gives you some added flexibility.
I hate to fight the premises of your question, but from my perspective, if you're in debt, you should really think about how you're spending on big-ticket items, to make sure you're not making the same sorts of decisions that landed you in debt in the first place. Especially if you're already restricting your choices to the very, very narrow gamut of stylish cars that seat 6.
posted by gauche at 10:18 AM on March 5, 2012
I hate to fight the premises of your question, but from my perspective, if you're in debt, you should really think about how you're spending on big-ticket items, to make sure you're not making the same sorts of decisions that landed you in debt in the first place. Especially if you're already restricting your choices to the very, very narrow gamut of stylish cars that seat 6.
posted by gauche at 10:18 AM on March 5, 2012
Response by poster: Thank you two for your opinions, I do appreciate them. I posted my debt in there for a reason. I know it is something I need to be aware of and act on. Let me explain a couple things (and how stuff works in my head).
- A majority of the debt is mine. 75% of it is my school loans.
- I was never responsible with money. Up until maybe 3-4 years ago I couldn't have cared less about credit. Even now, I am not sure I am always making the smartest decisions with my funds, but I am actively working that out (hence the $1k a month we are currently paying). I keep my bills paid (no new debt in 4 years) and my kids well cared for. I have a nice savings, but I still sometimes have a problem rationalizing purchases.
Your comments actually help me see that I am probably doing the same here.
My thoughts in this purchase (which I admit, probably aren't the wisest):
- I want something reliable in the driveway that I don't have to worry about having a major mechanical failure.
- I don't want to have to worry about getting the car back home in time so she can get to work and vice versa. Also, I do PC repair work on the side, maybe once times a week, so this is where we do have a small issue sometimes.
- I don't want to have my child in the back, unsecured, when we all have to go somewhere.
- Being honest with myself, I obviously want something nice. If I am worrying about style over fuel economy, then I would be lying to say that wasn't the case. I guess I justify that because I work my ass off (60-70 hours a week).
I'll stop here and maybe add some more after a few more responses come in. So far, what I am getting is that it would be a mistake for me to make such a large purchase with my debt over my head. I can't refute that.
Thank you for the feedback so far. Again, I don't always make the most sound decisions, but am trying to turn that around and only posted here to get other opinions.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 10:27 AM on March 5, 2012
- A majority of the debt is mine. 75% of it is my school loans.
- I was never responsible with money. Up until maybe 3-4 years ago I couldn't have cared less about credit. Even now, I am not sure I am always making the smartest decisions with my funds, but I am actively working that out (hence the $1k a month we are currently paying). I keep my bills paid (no new debt in 4 years) and my kids well cared for. I have a nice savings, but I still sometimes have a problem rationalizing purchases.
Your comments actually help me see that I am probably doing the same here.
My thoughts in this purchase (which I admit, probably aren't the wisest):
- I want something reliable in the driveway that I don't have to worry about having a major mechanical failure.
- I don't want to have to worry about getting the car back home in time so she can get to work and vice versa. Also, I do PC repair work on the side, maybe once times a week, so this is where we do have a small issue sometimes.
- I don't want to have my child in the back, unsecured, when we all have to go somewhere.
- Being honest with myself, I obviously want something nice. If I am worrying about style over fuel economy, then I would be lying to say that wasn't the case. I guess I justify that because I work my ass off (60-70 hours a week).
I'll stop here and maybe add some more after a few more responses come in. So far, what I am getting is that it would be a mistake for me to make such a large purchase with my debt over my head. I can't refute that.
Thank you for the feedback so far. Again, I don't always make the most sound decisions, but am trying to turn that around and only posted here to get other opinions.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 10:27 AM on March 5, 2012
Buy an older minivan. You absolutely need a vehicle that can safely carry your entire family. That means seatbelts for all. Style is very much a tertiary consideration compared to safety.
posted by 6550 at 10:30 AM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by 6550 at 10:30 AM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
If a six-seater would help, why not look at the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo? The Rondo has seven seats with the V-6, and has conventional (swing) doors. I didn't like it because to me, why have a third-row if you have to climb or fold down the second row to get to it. I have a 2009 Mazda5. Some people get freaked out by the proximity of the third-row to the rear door, but I constantly have kids back there and I am not worried about their safety in a collision. With the seats adjusted correctly, I can even sit in the third-row and I'm over six feet tall. One of the biggest things to me is it was available with a manual transmission. The 2.3L in the Mazda has a timing chain, so no timing belt changes. I'd recommend a late 2009, the oil filter was switched to a spin-on from a canister. If you don't do your own oil changes you might not care, but it is less of a mess with the spin-on.
posted by narcoleptic at 10:33 AM on March 5, 2012
posted by narcoleptic at 10:33 AM on March 5, 2012
You are in debt and actively trying to dig out of it. If I were in your shoes, things like style would go straight out the window and I'd focus on nothing but practicality, reliability, and affordability. If I were you, these are the two options I'd consider:
1. Buy a Japanese mini-van. I've known several Honda Odysseys that ran great with 200k+ miles on them. They're very comfortable to drive (especially on long trips), and are just as (if not more) utilitarian than a pickup truck if you take all the seats out. Save the "style mobile" for later in life as a reward for digging out of debt. You've got plenty of time.
2. If you don't need the people/cargo carrying utility of a van, get an economy car. Again, preferably from a Japanese manufacturer. You can find a civic/corrolla/3/maxima in your price range easily.
You should find vehicles to fit both of those options quite easily in your cash-in-hand range right now ($5000).
Remember, a car is one of the worst debts/liabilities in the world. The second you purchase it, the value tanks considerably, and keeps on tanking throughout ownership. If you're on a path to financial freedom, buying a car outside of your means is a huge step backwards if you ask me.
If you insist on something newer/more expensive, most full-size SUV's have an option for "third row seats" The safety is compromised, and the seating is cramped, but it allows you to seat 7-8. See here for examples in the Honda Pilot. See here for example. Realize that gas is more in a truck/suv and all maintenance will cost you more too. Those big tires on a Nissan Titan, yeah, those are a lot more expensive than the little donuts on a civic. They wear faster too.
And, for full disclosure, I drive a 30 year old BMW 325 everyday as a matter of keeping my financial overhead low. So, hopefully, you know I have your best interests in mind.
posted by teriyaki_tornado at 10:38 AM on March 5, 2012
1. Buy a Japanese mini-van. I've known several Honda Odysseys that ran great with 200k+ miles on them. They're very comfortable to drive (especially on long trips), and are just as (if not more) utilitarian than a pickup truck if you take all the seats out. Save the "style mobile" for later in life as a reward for digging out of debt. You've got plenty of time.
2. If you don't need the people/cargo carrying utility of a van, get an economy car. Again, preferably from a Japanese manufacturer. You can find a civic/corrolla/3/maxima in your price range easily.
You should find vehicles to fit both of those options quite easily in your cash-in-hand range right now ($5000).
Remember, a car is one of the worst debts/liabilities in the world. The second you purchase it, the value tanks considerably, and keeps on tanking throughout ownership. If you're on a path to financial freedom, buying a car outside of your means is a huge step backwards if you ask me.
If you insist on something newer/more expensive, most full-size SUV's have an option for "third row seats" The safety is compromised, and the seating is cramped, but it allows you to seat 7-8. See here for examples in the Honda Pilot. See here for example. Realize that gas is more in a truck/suv and all maintenance will cost you more too. Those big tires on a Nissan Titan, yeah, those are a lot more expensive than the little donuts on a civic. They wear faster too.
And, for full disclosure, I drive a 30 year old BMW 325 everyday as a matter of keeping my financial overhead low. So, hopefully, you know I have your best interests in mind.
posted by teriyaki_tornado at 10:38 AM on March 5, 2012
No worries, you're talking it out and if we're a decent sounding board we can respect your intent/situation.
Regarding not having to worry about a major mechanical failure point, I was the same way for a long time, I put way too much weight onto worrying about getting stuck on the side of the road. I've had to reconcile the fact that a breakdown is the same thing as money lost. I'm not driving an ambulance or time sensitive documents for the govm't. If my (or your) transmission goes out on me, it equates to a call to AAA and a repair bill (and perhaps a rental car). Just money. So in your case it boils down to should you spend X amount more for a car that is some amount Y less likely to have a failure that costs Z dollars. It's just one of those things that I've learned rarely ever converges to the "I should buy a new/high dollar car because it's financially prudent" response. Buy used, have a safety net for the repairs, and you're going to save money almost every time.
The other bullet points (excluding the style one, c'mon...) are handled equally well by pretty much any vehicle you choose that moves and seats the required number. No need to limit yourself to various makes/models.
That said, my mom had a Matrix and wasn't too pleased with it's maintenance/problem record, and it was dealer serviced all the way to the trade-in. She does drive them hard though...
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:40 AM on March 5, 2012
Regarding not having to worry about a major mechanical failure point, I was the same way for a long time, I put way too much weight onto worrying about getting stuck on the side of the road. I've had to reconcile the fact that a breakdown is the same thing as money lost. I'm not driving an ambulance or time sensitive documents for the govm't. If my (or your) transmission goes out on me, it equates to a call to AAA and a repair bill (and perhaps a rental car). Just money. So in your case it boils down to should you spend X amount more for a car that is some amount Y less likely to have a failure that costs Z dollars. It's just one of those things that I've learned rarely ever converges to the "I should buy a new/high dollar car because it's financially prudent" response. Buy used, have a safety net for the repairs, and you're going to save money almost every time.
The other bullet points (excluding the style one, c'mon...) are handled equally well by pretty much any vehicle you choose that moves and seats the required number. No need to limit yourself to various makes/models.
That said, my mom had a Matrix and wasn't too pleased with it's maintenance/problem record, and it was dealer serviced all the way to the trade-in. She does drive them hard though...
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:40 AM on March 5, 2012
Also, just to reiterate what 6550 said, and I forgot to mention: Safety is paramount. You need a vehicle that can safely and properly transport your entire family. Stuffing the 13 year old in the cargo space of an SUV is NOT an option. This is so important, its not even worth mentioning, as it should be a given.
posted by teriyaki_tornado at 10:41 AM on March 5, 2012
posted by teriyaki_tornado at 10:41 AM on March 5, 2012
Minivan. All those pickups sounds like way cooler dad mobiles, but for safety, convenience and reliability issues I'd go with the newest Japanese minivan you can afford.
posted by BurntHombre at 10:46 AM on March 5, 2012
posted by BurntHombre at 10:46 AM on March 5, 2012
Response by poster: Roland... it is a given. And for that reason alone, I really feel that I do need a second vehicle. If not a 6 seater, something that we can pile into two vehicles and all safely get to our destination.
I think it is time that I start searching for a reliable (still a big requirement for me) smaller car or possibly van in the $4k - $6k range. I can appreciate the advice to throw all my funds at my debt, but if I am being both practical and responsible, I think I need to do both.
Please keep the opinions and advice coming. It isn't falling on deaf ears (blind eyes?).
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 10:53 AM on March 5, 2012
I think it is time that I start searching for a reliable (still a big requirement for me) smaller car or possibly van in the $4k - $6k range. I can appreciate the advice to throw all my funds at my debt, but if I am being both practical and responsible, I think I need to do both.
Please keep the opinions and advice coming. It isn't falling on deaf ears (blind eyes?).
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 10:53 AM on March 5, 2012
Response by poster: Sorry.. @ teriyaki.. it is a given. Safety of my children is a major concern of mine.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 10:58 AM on March 5, 2012
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 10:58 AM on March 5, 2012
What's the interest rate on your debt? My advice is different if you have mostly school loans at 6% vs. some school loans and some credit card debt at 18%.
(oldest in the far back without a seat belt).
Are they in a jump seat? If so, how much to get a seat belt installed back there?
posted by Snarl Furillo at 11:15 AM on March 5, 2012
(oldest in the far back without a seat belt).
Are they in a jump seat? If so, how much to get a seat belt installed back there?
posted by Snarl Furillo at 11:15 AM on March 5, 2012
with your debt and it being a second car-suck it up and get a minivan. It is exactly what you need-it may not be what you want but it is what you need.
You NEED to get out of debt, you NEED to be able to haul all your family at once. Right good used cars are priced at a level that makes buying a new one not a bad deal. Minivans however are not part of this trend. I am not a fan of the chryslers or fords but the honda/toyota/mazda vans are pretty good.
A minivan gets even more attractive when you consider you may need to haul stuff around for your business.
Paying for and using a big truck when you don't actually need it does not make sense and just counts as a want. I am not sure you can afford a want right now.
And to echo Roland-reliability on modern cars is pretty good, and as a second car it matters somewhat less than the primary. Get an old soccormom mobile that moved up to a crossover cheap and use the rest for your debt. then in a few years when that is all cleared up you get to get a cool Dad truck.
BTW i just did this with a 5 series BMW. Me and the wife lucked into a deal on a 550i we bought way below market value. AFter driving it for about a 8 months and taking care of the maintenance we traded it in for a Nissan Juke and a fair chunk of cash to make needed repairs/upgrades to our 100 year old house. The bmw was fun and cool but it was way to much car for just the two of us, not what we really needed and very expensive to maintain properly. Hence the compact SUV.
posted by bartonlong at 11:23 AM on March 5, 2012
You NEED to get out of debt, you NEED to be able to haul all your family at once. Right good used cars are priced at a level that makes buying a new one not a bad deal. Minivans however are not part of this trend. I am not a fan of the chryslers or fords but the honda/toyota/mazda vans are pretty good.
A minivan gets even more attractive when you consider you may need to haul stuff around for your business.
Paying for and using a big truck when you don't actually need it does not make sense and just counts as a want. I am not sure you can afford a want right now.
And to echo Roland-reliability on modern cars is pretty good, and as a second car it matters somewhat less than the primary. Get an old soccormom mobile that moved up to a crossover cheap and use the rest for your debt. then in a few years when that is all cleared up you get to get a cool Dad truck.
BTW i just did this with a 5 series BMW. Me and the wife lucked into a deal on a 550i we bought way below market value. AFter driving it for about a 8 months and taking care of the maintenance we traded it in for a Nissan Juke and a fair chunk of cash to make needed repairs/upgrades to our 100 year old house. The bmw was fun and cool but it was way to much car for just the two of us, not what we really needed and very expensive to maintain properly. Hence the compact SUV.
posted by bartonlong at 11:23 AM on March 5, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
'Why would someone pay upwards of $15k-$20k for a vehicle when they are in debt and have credit problems and would like to buy a house for their moderate/large size family to live in?'
I hope I don't come across as controversial and am asking the above in good faith, I just honestly don't follow the logic.
I'd say get a used, but not abused, *insert station wagon/van/hatchback here* with the lump sum money you have (or will soon have) in hand that will get you from here to there and put the rest of the money towards whatever bill is staring you in the face the hardest.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:53 AM on March 5, 2012