With an average U.S. new-vehicle selling price of just over $45,000 last month, many can’t afford to buy new — even though prices are down more than $2,000 from the peak in December of 2022, according to J.D. Power.
Or perhaps people are starting to realize that you don’t need a new car as soon as your 5-year loan is paid off.
I do okay financially; if I wanted a new car, I’d buy one. I bought mine brand new off the lot 15 years ago, and I intend to keep driving it until I can no longer repair it. Why would I possibly want to buy a new, 5G-connected, spyware-infected plastic shitbox when what I have works perfectly well and probably has another 100k miles of life with a few minor repairs and maybe an engine swap at 2-300k or so?
Pretty much the same here only 12 years ago. I remember telling my dad I made the final payment and his immediate reply was something along the lines of, “Now you can trade it in and get something new again”. I learned long ago not to take financial advice from that guy lol.
Only reason I am thinking of replacing our car is because a BEV would pay for itself fairly quickly if I hear back from a job I applied to that has a 50 mile round-trip commute. Gas alone would be an extra $1000 per year compared to our current 11 year old vehicle.
I frequent the Bay Area (Cali) and wouldn’t dream of taking a car without some semi-autonomous driving features. Sitting in traffic while the car brakes, accelerates and steers is the best.
For sure. I had my last car for 20 years until it finally NEEDED to be replaced. And my current car I’ve had for five years. After paying it off early, I’ve enjoyed not having that payment, and I hope it lasts just as long as my last car.
Or perhaps people are starting to realize that you don’t need a new car as soon as your 5-year loan is paid off.
I do okay financially; if I wanted a new car, I’d buy one. I bought mine brand new off the lot 15 years ago, and I intend to keep driving it until I can no longer repair it. Why would I possibly want to buy a new, 5G-connected, spyware-infected plastic shitbox when what I have works perfectly well and probably has another 100k miles of life with a few minor repairs and maybe an engine swap at 2-300k or so?
Pretty much the same here only 12 years ago. I remember telling my dad I made the final payment and his immediate reply was something along the lines of, “Now you can trade it in and get something new again”. I learned long ago not to take financial advice from that guy lol.
Only reason I am thinking of replacing our car is because a BEV would pay for itself fairly quickly if I hear back from a job I applied to that has a 50 mile round-trip commute. Gas alone would be an extra $1000 per year compared to our current 11 year old vehicle.
CarPlay and radar cruise control are worth it for commuting imo… but beyond that I don’t care.
2021 civic I’ll be driving into the ground thank you very much.
I frequent the Bay Area (Cali) and wouldn’t dream of taking a car without some semi-autonomous driving features. Sitting in traffic while the car brakes, accelerates and steers is the best.
For sure. I had my last car for 20 years until it finally NEEDED to be replaced. And my current car I’ve had for five years. After paying it off early, I’ve enjoyed not having that payment, and I hope it lasts just as long as my last car.
Only reason Id buy a new car is to get a full electric, affordable, nontesla that has more than 150 horsepower.