In my experience, rental car companies are not meticulous in their upkeep. I had a "mini-lease" (long term, month-to-month) rental from Avis at one point. During the five months that I had the car I drove around 3000 miles per month. They never wanted the car back for an oil change or any other maintenance. I had coworkers in similar situations and they got the same response from the company. The company was aware of our mileage, as we called to renew the lease and report the mileage every month.
Hopefully you have a good experience with your car, but I would not recommend to anyone buying a former rental car.
I bought a used car for my first car, out of college. I paid for it with cash, part of which was cash loaned to me by my boyfriend at the time. I paid him back within a few months. I drove this car for nine years. I LOVED this car. (I still think of it fondly.) I bought it directly from the owners. I think this is a great way to buy as you can usually tell if people are honest when you deal with them. I would never buy used from any dealer. I just don't trust them. Then, I purchased a new New Beetle in 1998 with cash. It's 2011 and it is still in amazing, like-new condition. I plan on keeping it until it rusts/starts looking old as it will go at least a half million miles on its diesel engine. Both my husband and I believe in paying in cash and keeping each car a minimum of ten years. That gives us time to save more money for the next cars and also the freedom to use the money that would be going for car payments for wonderful vacations. I think buying used is fine but after doing both, I would rather buy new and keep the car 10+ years. The key to either a used or new purchase, I think, is to buy a nice style that will "age well", and as much as I love bumperstickers, don't put them on your car. Also, I think alloy wheels are key. Nothing makes a car look junkier than a missing hubcap. Spend the extra for alloys. They are pricelesss.
I've only purchased used cars, and I've driven every one of them into the dirt.
I had a '65 Mustang I fixed up in High school. Sold it (mistake) for a $3,000 profit after driving it for 3 years. Bought a used Toyota pickup. Drove that for 10 years and 300,000 miles. Recently sold that and I'm now on my third vehicle, which is actually worth more than what I paid.
Aside from new cars losing so much value, I find used vehicles a good investment due to the fact that after about 30,000 miles, most of the kinks are worked out. I have friends who buy brand new vehicles and they spend the first 20,000 miles or so back and forth between the shop for repairs, warranties, etc.
I look at vehicles as a mode of transport from point A to point B. I do consider aesthetics when I purchase, but ultimately it's about price and condition.
New or used, it's still a big purchase and you should do your due diligence prior to purchasing.
I'm only 22, so I haven't had many cars.... the two cars I have bought have been used. I think I would only buy a new car if I could put a substantial amount down on it!
We buy used cars with lower mileage. In cash. Even the two times we've gotten lemons, it's cost us far less per year than new ones would have. Most have far exceeded our expectations, as we put a lot of miles on them, and they've held up.
Actually, John Cummata's program is a little different than Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball. I actually thought John's program was the better of the two. I thought it was interesting that the author criticized Cummata's commercials for being "loose" with the numbers, but the author himself wasn't altogether spotless. As a financial planner, I can tell you that I can get numbers to say almost anything. To critique the plan using numbers that you made it is a little underhanded to me. I'm not saying that Cummata's program should be bought, and some of the assertions may be true; but, apparently this review isn't even based on Cummata's program but on programs like his, even though Cummata is singled out.
I use bar soap on my head (the sort without sodium laurel sulfate), followed by a vinegar rinse. I haven't figured out how much it costs compared to shampoo because I haven't yet figured out how long it takes me to go through products. It's pretty cheap though. A bar of soap can often be found for around a dollar, and lasts around a year. My skin hates detergents, so a natural soap is required, and bar soap smells pretty while baking soda doesn't. I'm just glad that it mostly fixed my flaky scalp problem (which dandruff shampoos made worse). I wash my hair once or twice a week, and try to take reasonably good care of it, because it is hip-length. When I was in the midwest, conditioner aside from vinegar was unnecessary. In the desert of SoCal, I cannot do without it.
Used. I bought a 2005 Honda Accord last year. It's a lot cheaper than a new one, but has all of the safety features that the new ones do and works like a dream. I really adore it: it's perfect in every way. The premium for a car being new isn't worth it.
Neither hubby or I know much about fixing cars. We buy new and keep our cars for 10 years. We'v been successfully at staggering our new car purchases every 5 years. We've done heavy traveling, so our milage is usually closing in on 200,000 miles. Just recently I was looking for a used car for DS16. The prices are high. My car was purchased in Sept 2001. I eneded up buyingmyself a new car and passing my old one on to him. I was also able to take advantage of Jan sales and got a 2010 Prius for below sticker price.
For us, this has been working well. We also would not rule out a certified used car, but we've always been able to take advantage of dealer's low interest rates so that buying new was a reasonable option. Some day (probably after my kids are educated) I plan to buy with cash.
I'm currently debating this as my current vehicle needs a very expensive repair. I fully intended to repair the car until I learned how much it would cost and realized I could get a decent used car for the same amount. However, it's not a car I like. So then the hubby says you like your current car, get a used one. So I started looking at used ones and a new loaded 2011 is less than a used 2009! I don't know who is doing the math, but the used car was $4,000 more than the new one. I didn't set out with the intention of buying a new car, but it now looks like that is exactly what I'm about to do.
we've bought 7 new cars over our married life and through my research, all have been fair or relatively fair deals. Now that we are retired, used cars are on our horizon.
I purchased a 1999 Honda Civic HX new for around $15,000. I am still driving that car with over 200,000 miles on it. I have definitely got my money out of it.
Guest, thanks much for your comment. As I mentioned, this store aisle is not one I frequent. The sodium content on the frozen foods is very high, and there are a lot of additives. Hopefully, on a day you might choose to have a frozen dinner, you have eaten healthily at other meals.
I plan on buying 2/ 500 dollar ibonds in mid to late May. I like the strategy of purchasing smaller denominations to provide more flexibility when cashing. Plus if the fixed rate rises quickly or rates in general, I have the option to cash one in early (3mo's penalty) and holding one for the long haul...
I've bought 1 new car and 1 used car, and I've had no issues with either vehicle. For the next car that I buy, I will look for a used car since it is a better value if you can find a seller you can trust.
In my experience, rental car companies are not meticulous in their upkeep. I had a "mini-lease" (long term, month-to-month) rental from Avis at one point. During the five months that I had the car I drove around 3000 miles per month. They never wanted the car back for an oil change or any other maintenance. I had coworkers in similar situations and they got the same response from the company. The company was aware of our mileage, as we called to renew the lease and report the mileage every month.
Hopefully you have a good experience with your car, but I would not recommend to anyone buying a former rental car.
I bought a used car for my first car, out of college. I paid for it with cash, part of which was cash loaned to me by my boyfriend at the time. I paid him back within a few months. I drove this car for nine years. I LOVED this car. (I still think of it fondly.) I bought it directly from the owners. I think this is a great way to buy as you can usually tell if people are honest when you deal with them. I would never buy used from any dealer. I just don't trust them. Then, I purchased a new New Beetle in 1998 with cash. It's 2011 and it is still in amazing, like-new condition. I plan on keeping it until it rusts/starts looking old as it will go at least a half million miles on its diesel engine. Both my husband and I believe in paying in cash and keeping each car a minimum of ten years. That gives us time to save more money for the next cars and also the freedom to use the money that would be going for car payments for wonderful vacations. I think buying used is fine but after doing both, I would rather buy new and keep the car 10+ years. The key to either a used or new purchase, I think, is to buy a nice style that will "age well", and as much as I love bumperstickers, don't put them on your car. Also, I think alloy wheels are key. Nothing makes a car look junkier than a missing hubcap. Spend the extra for alloys. They are pricelesss.
I've only purchased used cars, and I've driven every one of them into the dirt.
I had a '65 Mustang I fixed up in High school. Sold it (mistake) for a $3,000 profit after driving it for 3 years. Bought a used Toyota pickup. Drove that for 10 years and 300,000 miles. Recently sold that and I'm now on my third vehicle, which is actually worth more than what I paid.
Aside from new cars losing so much value, I find used vehicles a good investment due to the fact that after about 30,000 miles, most of the kinks are worked out. I have friends who buy brand new vehicles and they spend the first 20,000 miles or so back and forth between the shop for repairs, warranties, etc.
I look at vehicles as a mode of transport from point A to point B. I do consider aesthetics when I purchase, but ultimately it's about price and condition.
New or used, it's still a big purchase and you should do your due diligence prior to purchasing.
I'm only 22, so I haven't had many cars.... the two cars I have bought have been used. I think I would only buy a new car if I could put a substantial amount down on it!
We buy used cars with lower mileage. In cash. Even the two times we've gotten lemons, it's cost us far less per year than new ones would have. Most have far exceeded our expectations, as we put a lot of miles on them, and they've held up.
Actually, John Cummata's program is a little different than Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball. I actually thought John's program was the better of the two. I thought it was interesting that the author criticized Cummata's commercials for being "loose" with the numbers, but the author himself wasn't altogether spotless. As a financial planner, I can tell you that I can get numbers to say almost anything. To critique the plan using numbers that you made it is a little underhanded to me. I'm not saying that Cummata's program should be bought, and some of the assertions may be true; but, apparently this review isn't even based on Cummata's program but on programs like his, even though Cummata is singled out.
I like to buy used. New cars lose so much to depreciation the minute they're driven off the lot.
I use bar soap on my head (the sort without sodium laurel sulfate), followed by a vinegar rinse. I haven't figured out how much it costs compared to shampoo because I haven't yet figured out how long it takes me to go through products. It's pretty cheap though. A bar of soap can often be found for around a dollar, and lasts around a year. My skin hates detergents, so a natural soap is required, and bar soap smells pretty while baking soda doesn't. I'm just glad that it mostly fixed my flaky scalp problem (which dandruff shampoos made worse). I wash my hair once or twice a week, and try to take reasonably good care of it, because it is hip-length. When I was in the midwest, conditioner aside from vinegar was unnecessary. In the desert of SoCal, I cannot do without it.
Used. I bought a 2005 Honda Accord last year. It's a lot cheaper than a new one, but has all of the safety features that the new ones do and works like a dream. I really adore it: it's perfect in every way. The premium for a car being new isn't worth it.
Well, I am currently a student and I cannot afford to buy a new car. So, used car is the best option for me.
Neither hubby or I know much about fixing cars. We buy new and keep our cars for 10 years. We'v been successfully at staggering our new car purchases every 5 years. We've done heavy traveling, so our milage is usually closing in on 200,000 miles. Just recently I was looking for a used car for DS16. The prices are high. My car was purchased in Sept 2001. I eneded up buyingmyself a new car and passing my old one on to him. I was also able to take advantage of Jan sales and got a 2010 Prius for below sticker price.
For us, this has been working well. We also would not rule out a certified used car, but we've always been able to take advantage of dealer's low interest rates so that buying new was a reasonable option. Some day (probably after my kids are educated) I plan to buy with cash.
I'm currently debating this as my current vehicle needs a very expensive repair. I fully intended to repair the car until I learned how much it would cost and realized I could get a decent used car for the same amount. However, it's not a car I like. So then the hubby says you like your current car, get a used one. So I started looking at used ones and a new loaded 2011 is less than a used 2009! I don't know who is doing the math, but the used car was $4,000 more than the new one. I didn't set out with the intention of buying a new car, but it now looks like that is exactly what I'm about to do.
I will never buy a new car. You can save so much money and still have a nice car only a couple years old for much cheaper if you buy it used.
I always buy cars used, but still in good condition.
we've bought 7 new cars over our married life and through my research, all have been fair or relatively fair deals. Now that we are retired, used cars are on our horizon.
I purchased a 1999 Honda Civic HX new for around $15,000. I am still driving that car with over 200,000 miles on it. I have definitely got my money out of it.
Guest, thanks much for your comment. As I mentioned, this store aisle is not one I frequent. The sodium content on the frozen foods is very high, and there are a lot of additives. Hopefully, on a day you might choose to have a frozen dinner, you have eaten healthily at other meals.
I plan on buying 2/ 500 dollar ibonds in mid to late May. I like the strategy of purchasing smaller denominations to provide more flexibility when cashing. Plus if the fixed rate rises quickly or rates in general, I have the option to cash one in early (3mo's penalty) and holding one for the long haul...
used usually but our last one was new (I wanted a hybrid)
Hi, Miss Lissy, and thanks for commenting. The Garlic Chicken is great. I will look for that Orange Chicken and try it. I'm a fan of Orange Chicken.
I've bought 1 new car and 1 used car, and I've had no issues with either vehicle. For the next car that I buy, I will look for a used car since it is a better value if you can find a seller you can trust.
Thanks for the mention, another great lineup... especially thousandaire's!!!
We have bought new cars, for cash and run them into the ground. Currently have a 1998 and 2003 and have no intention of buying another soon.
Out of six cars in 32+ years, 1 new car and 5 used.
I buy new and then keep my cars 10-15 years.