Slick 60's

The only new vehicle I ever owned was a 1990 454SS. Traded a 280Z in on it when we were looking at layoffs, and the Z couldn't haul my tools. So, it was a must have.

Never owned a "new" veihicle so I couldn't tell ya.

Guy at work: I thought you were going to buy a new truck?
Me: Well it's "new" to me

Answer: never.
New cars are one of the worst investments you can make. You can buy the same vehicle 1-2 years old and save thousands. The only time I would consider buying new is if you need a very specific type of vehicle (like a truck for work, with specific equipment or drivetrain) and aren't likely to find one on the used market.
I've never purchased a new vehicle, and probably never will. I like to get them 4-5 years old, but well maintained. Most of the depreciation hit has already been taken, and known problems with a design have long been known and posted on internet forums so I can avoid 'turkeys' that will be long-term nightmares. Lastly, should the thing get totalled out or I decide I don't like it, I'm not going to be upside-down in a car loan and stuck with it until it rights itself.

I may be the only guy to do OK on a new truck.

My 1st new purchase was a 88 F150 6cyl, stick. rubber mats etc,
Truck was 10,025 and came with a 35" TV

I wrecked it and sold it in 94 and got $8600.
The truck/SUV market exploded after I bought it.

I am with Dwight (DV65CustomCab) on this one. Let someone else take the hit.

I seriously can't stand all the plastic in new vehicles anyway, especially the trucks, but if they came out with a 1/2 ton with a diesel in it, I would take a look. I don't need some block long monster 4x4 Hutterite truck either, like people seem to be prone to buy these days.

Since they don't make the new truck I would buy, 1/2 ton shortbox diesel, I am fairly safe, anyway. But Chrysler are getting close. They have a diesel in the Grand Cherokees now. Only a matter of time.

so the answer to your question doc "Just when (or why) should you buy a new car? " is, IMO, when they come out with the one you like , that you can make your own fuel for. I know a guy owns a Dairy Queen who has to PAY to get rid of his excess frying oil. I could take it off his hands for free. I will be happiest when I can tell the Govt and big Oil to bite me, I don't need to be raped by them anymore.

Doc i'll buy a new one when the robo chauffeur driven model, with accident aviodance comes out. won't need no stinking air bags. then i can read your posts on my windows mobile head up display terminal while i talk on my hands free cell phone and have a cold one all at the same time.

Doc, it depends on where you are in life. I grew up in a house where my dad always tried to make sure my mom had a newer vehicle and so I adopted that way of thinking when I got married. We didn't always have a new vehicle, but we have bought 4 new vehicles since the 2004 Monte SS which we traded in on her 2005 GTO. During this time we bought a 2005 Colorado which we traded in on my 2006 F150. If you think it is time, then it is probably time. We never planned our purchases, we just acted when we felt comfortable with them. If you want a new vehicle, then buy it. While buying one that someone else has suffered the depreciation on makes a better purchase, there is nothing like being the first owner and driving away in your brand new car or truck.

The Manheim Auto Auction, just a few miles from me.
This is an aerial shot. Just try to count all the cars there. Those are all sale cars, not employee vehicles! When you see this place, and realize all of these cars are without owners, you wonder why the manufacturers are even building cars.

I buy new when I need to, last one was my wife's 05' F 150, I know they're not the most attractive, lots of plastic, but the nicest riding truck I've ever had. I bought it when GM was kicking Ford's tail in sales during their employee discount thing. I've had several new cars over the years and don't regret any of them. Can't say the same about some of the used ones I've bought. Then again I'm not the most mechanically inclined person here either.
Charlie

Doc Pepper wrote:How does a person determine (either logically, emotionally, or metaphysically) when it is time to buy a new car (or truck)?

When such a SMOKIN' deal comes along, that you realize you never knew you couldn't do without that particular vehicle...I think that covers all three bases.

My latest example...$450.

Slickfan, That looks almost exactly like my latest purchase. Mine is a 79 F-250 with a Rebuilt 460 and auto in it but I paid a little more than $450 for mine..............Kid

Slick, you bought that NEW for $450?
Smokin' deal, alright..

I am also a used vehicle buyer. I have only ever had one new truck and realy don't plan too have another BUT I have to say when those 0% financing adds are all over it sure is tempting.

ah slick that looks like a beauty from here. I was looking around for pretty much the same truck for a while but couldnt find one that was what I wanted for the right price.

Using my handy dandy mortgage calculator it says if I buy a 2 year old truck for $22,000 and make the payments for 4 years at 7% interest it will cost me 526.82/month. Now if I buy the same truck brand new for $30,000 on the X plan and get 0% for 5 years it will cost me 500.00/month.

Yeah I will take that deal on a new truck. Also I write off a good bit of my daily driver for business. I used to buy a new one every 2 years and hand mine on down the line to the farm hands. Another point comes up, if you are making your living with your vehicle, you gotta lessen the breakdowns as much as possible. I have not had a vehicle that needed any significant shop time since I quit driving GM back in the early 90s(best friend sold thoise POSs).

On the flip side for 2 year previous to 02/2007 I bought and sold a used vehicle every six months, my cost of ownership was very low. In a couple of years when the time comes to move on, I my buy new or I may go back to driving a new used vehicle every 6 months.

Just a bit of history, I am a certified car/truck nut, I have owned over 70 vehicles in the last 24 years. To me though the negotiation is nearly a big of a high as the actual ownership.

My vote although it may make me the black sheep here is for new.

Using my handy dandy mortgage calculator it says if I buy a 2 year old truck for $22,000 and make the payments for 4 years at 7% interest it will cost me 526.82/month. Now if I buy the same truck brand new for $30,000 on the X plan and get 0% for 5 years it will cost me 500.00/month.

Yeah I will take that deal on a new truck. Also I write off a good bit of my daily driver for business. I used to buy a new one every 2 years and hand mine on down the line to the farm hands. Another point comes up, if you are making your living with your vehicle, you gotta lessen the breakdowns as much as possible. I have not had a vehicle that needed any significant shop time since I quit driving GM back in the early 90s(best friend sold thoise POSs).

On the flip side for 2 year previous to 02/2007 I bought and sold a used vehicle every six months, my cost of ownership was very low. In a couple of years when the time comes to move on, I may buy new or I may go back to driving a new used vehicle every 6 months.

Just a bit of history, I am a certified car/truck nut, I have owned over 70 vehicles in the last 24 years. To me though the negotiation is a big high to me.

My vote although it may make me the black sheep here is for new.

DV65CustomCab wrote:Answer: never.
New cars are one of the worst investments you can make. You can buy the same vehicle 1-2 years old and save thousands. The only time I would consider buying new is if you need a very specific type of vehicle (like a truck for work, with specific equipment or drivetrain) and aren't likely to find one on the used market.
I've never purchased a new vehicle, and probably never will. I like to get them 4-5 years old, but well maintained. Most of the depreciation hit has already been taken, and known problems with a design have long been known and posted on internet forums so I can avoid 'turkeys' that will be long-term nightmares. Lastly, should the thing get totalled out or I decide I don't like it, I'm not going to be upside-down in a car loan and stuck with it until it rights itself.

I have never bought a new car and never will..... they just arn't builtas well as they used to be.. and they loss all their value the second you drive it off the lot, it just does not make sence.

I just had a "conversation" with a female friend today (that just so happened to take me past a 81 f100 for $570) about trading the old truck on a new one. or selling it and getting something else.

SOOO... I ask her: "why would I put all this time and money into it and then start all over on something else when I am so close to being where I want to be with it?"

she doesnt understand that my truck is twice the truck the other is and just because it says "runs good" on it doesnt mean it doesnt have the same problems I am fixing on mine. (with a wheezy six and looking ROUGH)

as I tried my best to not become irate and verbally abuse her for putting me in the position of defending my truck she comes out with " if its so nice and people want them so much you should sell yours and take the money and buy better one that you can drive" and "but you will never get out of it what you have in it"

ya know how Ralph Cramdon felt when he said "to the moon Alice, to the moon"

I have ended relationships over this same conversation.