General

[doc Zox]

I got offered 1.8 percent on a 28k $ used Subaru TriBeCa yesterday

[desertT1]

Originally Posted by mrmag11

Yeah $28k for a 2012 TDI or $24k for a 2010 with 46k miles. Just trying to decide if it is worth another $100 a month for the new features/warranties, etc.

I have seen many times where you can get a new car for 0% or .9% if you qualify. Never went through the process, but that might be an alternative to your USAA option.

[cwest1977]

The easiest way to lose money is to drive a brand new car off the lot. The biggest mistake in car buying is financing through the dealer. Unless it is 0% interest, your bank can do better. The best way to get a deal on a new or used car, is to pay cash which you can do with a check in your pocket from the bank. So, check with your bank! A lot of the best used car dealers are not at new car dealers. Check out the local used car lots. Ask how long they back up their product. The one I use in my town backs up all repairs for 1 year after purchase date and 2 years for any drive train issues. Also, you should always ask where they buy their cars. Unfortunately due to ice and snow, the further north a car is from, the worse the condition of the car is probably going to be.

[mrmag11]

Originally Posted by Lohman446

Its not hard to justify an extra $4,000. IIRC they came with like 225/45/17 tires. Thats roughly $500 worth of tires if they have not been replaced - and that 50K is roughly the life of tires. If I was buying a car with 50K miles on it that was within $4,000 of a new one I would look at the new one. Obviously I buy cars that have more depreciation in the short term. It does not take much to justify an extra $4,000

There is new rubber on the 2010, that's one of the selling points. Plus they just tinted it, making it look bad *** all black!

Originally Posted by desertT1

I have seen many times where you can get a new car for 0% or .9% if you qualify. Never went through the process, but that might be an alternative to your USAA option.

Nope, the best they could do was 6% at the dealer and that was after the finance manager "haggling" with the lender to knock off 0.5%. We don't fall in the "excellent" credit tier, but not too bad that we get crappy interest rates otherwise.

Originally Posted by cwest1977

The easiest way to lose money is to drive a brand new car off the lot. The biggest mistake in car buying is financing through the dealer. Unless it is 0% interest, your bank can do better. The best way to get a deal on a new or used car, is to pay cash which you can do with a check in your pocket from the bank. So, check with your bank! A lot of the best used car dealers are not at new car dealers. Check out the local used car lots. Ask how long they back up their product. The one I use in my town backs up all repairs for 1 year after purchase date and 2 years for any drive train issues. Also, you should always ask where they buy their cars. Unfortunately due to ice and snow, the further north a car is from, the worse the condition of the car is probably going to be.

I'm new to the area and have looked around for the cars we want at local used car dealers and unfortunately none of them have them, nor were there any available for private sale. So that's what brought us to Carmax, which IMO, hasn't been that bad. All three cars are under KBB and Edmonds, so that makes me feel good. And we won't be adding any negative equity from the trade in.

[storminnorman]

Originally Posted by mrmag11

There is new rubber on the 2010, that's one of the selling points. Plus they just tinted it, making it look bad *** all black!



Nope, the best they could do was 6% at the dealer and that was after the finance manager "haggling" with the lender to knock off 0.5%. We don't fall in the "excellent" credit tier, but not too bad that we get crappy interest rates otherwise.



I'm new to the area and have looked around for the cars we want at local used car dealers and unfortunately none of them have them, nor were there any available for private sale. So that's what brought us to Carmax, which IMO, hasn't been that bad. All three cars are under KBB and Edmonds, so that makes me feel good. And we won't be adding any negative equity from the trade in.

Carmax is great, their a corporation and have to stick to there word. We got the extended warranty and we even got to use are own mechanic for the repairs.

[CJOttawa]

MrMag: of the vehicles you've listed, the Element would be the one I'd go with.

After sticking my head in one at EMR last year, I was sold on the design. Fold away chairs, floor you can WASH WITH A HOSE. Insanely great design, not a huge vehicle and reasonable on fuel. Sitting a bit higher, it's easier to get in and out of than a car.

[mrmag11]

Originally Posted by CJOttawa

MrMag: of the vehicles you've listed, the Element would be the one I'd go with.

After sticking my head in one at EMR last year, I was sold on the design. Fold away chairs, floor you can WASH WITH A HOSE. Insanely great design, not a huge vehicle and reasonable on fuel. Sitting a bit higher, it's easier to get in and out of than a car.

Yeah, I owned one in 2006 for about ten months, but ended up getting rid of it because I wanted to ditch the super high car payment. I like that one a lot, even with the miles and age.

[B.R.]

ive always taken it one step further and bought wrecked or broke down.
another option to consider. for example
my 06 impreza 4wd i have about 3500$ into it had 85k? when i got it
06 f550 4wd diesel dump truck have about 9k into it.
granted i did the repairs myself so add some labor rates to that but still 50% off used car lot prices.
drive them a couple years and sell for the same price

[cwest1977]

Originally Posted by mrmag11

I'm new to the area and have looked around for the cars we want at local used car dealers and unfortunately none of them have them, nor were there any available for private sale. So that's what brought us to Carmax, which IMO, hasn't been that bad. All three cars are under KBB and Edmonds, so that makes me feel good. And we won't be adding any negative equity from the trade in.

There is nothing at all wrong with CarMax. I love their no haggle policy. It almost makes car buying fun!