Car

[dancerjodi]

My car is at around 115k miles. I replaced the transmission at around 97k miles (thankfully under warranty). The transmission is starting to act odd again like it did before (it did it for a while before it totally crapped out). The alignment is constantly off despite best efforts to realign/balance. It isn't the most efficient or safest thing out there. But I own it.

I don't want to be put in a "oh crap I need a new car" position. I'm trying to do some research and make a plan for the next thing.

I like the size/feel/trunk of my car. I'm a 70s hot rod girl at heart, and the impala is the best modern option to get near that. But it isn't efficient. I love the huge trunk, but Brian has a truck, so do I really need that much space?

I've debating the hybrid options but the cars that are big don't have that much more efficiency. I'm kind of curious about the Prius V, but there is the cost of that, the drastic change of moving from a kind of slick/cool car to a WAGON. And then adjusting to a car payment.

Maybe I should just start saving more to purchase something, should the time come and let it go. Hrm. Thoughts?

Comments

[lsl.livejournal.com]

My standard advice when thinking about buying a new (or new to you) car, is to start making the car payments now (into an account set aside for your new car) and keep driving the one you own until it no longer makes sense to keep it. "No longer makes sense to keep it" might be the next time it needs a costly repair or if it gets unreliable enough that you are no longer comfortable driving it. Or you have found the next car you want to buy and are ready to make the change.

In the mean time you are used to making the payment already and you may save a substantial chunk of the new car's price allowing you to save money by taking a shorter loan term (or maybe even pay for it outright).

It is almost always more cost effective to continue driving a car you own outright (even factoring in worse gas mileage and some repairs) than to buy a new car.