Overhaulin'

Should I buy a car that is used or new?

Hi, I'm a third year college student in the US and I think I've waited long enough to buy my first car. According to this recent question of mine ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090920222305AALLkAL ), I have been convinced that my first vehicle will be a car. Now my other dilemma is whether it should be used or new. I guess it is kind of a given that usually first cars are ... used especially if you're a college student. But I'm in this rundown city of Savannah, Georgia where the used cars aren't that diverse and a lot of used cars here are well over 100,000 miles. I live on-campus and I don't commute but sometimes it is a must if I need supplies because this campus is not centrally located from any mall or convenience store. I figure that a car should be an investment anyway, and I don't want to put down 4000$ and then in 3 years' time buy a "good" car. I want to buy something which is going to last me a while, even 10 years into the future. I hate buying things just to get rid of them especially seeing that a car is gradually going to be essential. I know we can afford it although my parents think I should buy something cheap and temporary. I don't mind roadtripping across the country if I land a job far away from here or anything. I have no definite home as such besides' my boyfriend's house in LA, California (on the other side of the country). Please help me out in this matter. Thanks a lot! Some of my side considerations are also that I'll be getting my driver's license very soon and this means that the insurance is going to be high. But I want driving to be second nature to me (I have driven in the past and I'm pretty good at it) before I have to start worrying about job hunting and landing a job.

Public Comments

1. well i think you should buy a used car it's cheaper & you can use that saved money to add stuff to the car to make it you!
2. If you've worked with cars, even as a DIY mechanic... or have friends or family who have... then go used. Find a few make/models you like, find some ads in the classifieds, and take some cars for a test drive and give them a good look-over. Does the engine sound good, even at high RPMs? Does the shifting feel smooth? All the electronics work? Any sign of rusting, bodywork from a collision, a different paintjob? Any sign of leaks under the car? There's tons of things to watch for. If you or any of your friends or family aren't mechanically inclined, you can always take a vehicle in to a reputable garage for an inspection. Buying new is just throwing money out the window, since they depreciate so fast in the first three years of ownership. Better to buy a used car for $4000 and sell it for $2000 a few years later ($2000 lost), than to buy a car for $30,000 and have it be worth $15,000 a few years later ($15,000 lost). Especially considering this is your first car and you probably will have some dings and dents in the first couple years.
3. You should buy a used model maybe 5 years old with proved reliability in the past and present...forget dealer warranties, just set aside a fund to repair any issues down the road with a good reputable mechanic-subscribe to AAA plus so they can tow you if needed. Life is good, pocket the rest of the money for other priorities, repeat cycle-never buy new unless you can afford to pay cash, and intend to keep it a minimum of 14 years. Also make sure you buy something that thieves don't like stealing, so insurance won't be heavier of what it is.