Do you REALLY need a new vehicle?

[brin]

I have a Jeep Cherokee Classic that I bought new in 2000....Black and I love that Jeep - I can't imagine finding anything I'd like better...It has the pep of a sports car and the ride of one too yet it has the utility of a lot of cargo space when needed...I only have 84,000 miles on it and the only thing that has ever been a problem is the AC....and it has been a constant source of aggravation for me and revenue for the Dealer and others....I had a Dodge Ram Pick up I bought new in 1989 and the AC on it was awful too...and their service manager told me Chrysler undersized all the AC units and used the K Car units for their vehicles...my bet it was intentional ...to generate service revenue...But I will drive the wheels of this Jeep before I ever get something else...

 

[Oaktree]

Vehicles are cheaper accordingly and offer more than they did 25 years ago

With unleaded fuel and fuel injection. Engines now last 300,000 miles instead of a barely ruining rattling cloud of smoke at 100,000 miles like 1970's and early 80's vehicles where.

I've only ever had one car that I got rid of because of engine trouble (threw a rod at 250k), then again I live in New England where rust claims them first. Even the one that blew the engine would need some rust repair to get inspected next time around.

I don't know how much you make, but my income sure hasn't kept up with with the price increases on vehicles. $20-30k is a pretty major chunk of what I earn, but you're not going to get much worth driving for under that. Yeah, you get a lot more gadgets, most of which I could live without just fine. I don't know that durability has increased much in the last 10-15 years...everything's so light-duty now to save weight.

I buy a new one about every four years, my accountant said you can drive a new truck or give the money to the government it's your choice!

How does buying a new truck reduce what the government takes from me?

 

[smstonypoint]

In South Carolina there's a limit to how much you pay in sales tax on a new vehicle. Where they get you is the various counties get to charge you annually whatever they want it seems like! You might pay $300 in sales tax at time of sale but next year when you pay your property taxes your one year old truck is $700 according to the thieves that run the local government. It doesn't depreciate much each year either. My friend has a 2004 Z71 with 200,000 miles on it and he still pays over $150 a year on vehicle taxes. Absolutely rediculous!

Which county?

Steve

 

[RollingsFarms]

Which county? Steve

Sumter. Third highest taxes in the state last time I checked.

 

[Renze]

I've never bought a new vehicle, not spent somebody elses (the finance company) money on it. My last vehicle i bought from an older gentleman in a rich neighbourhood, it was well maintained and its one of the last genuine Volvos. it had 320.000km on it and runs like new. If i spent 5 times as much on a younger compact car, i wouldnt have half the comfort and spend a lot more on maintenance because compact cars arent made for the long run.

 

[Looking4new]

I'm impressed you're 67 and still can get in-and-out of a Jeep TJ!

It only has a 2" lift on it with 30x9.5x15's.
I still work, too. 2 ladders per load. Up & down to load and up & down again to unload.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a Jeep Cherokee Classic that I bought new in 2000....Black and I love that Jeep - I can't imagine finding anything I'd like better...It has the pep of a sports car and the ride of one too yet it has the utility of a lot of cargo space when needed...I only have 84,000 miles on it and the only thing that has ever been a problem is the AC....and it has been a constant source of aggravation for me and revenue for the Dealer and others....I had a Dodge Ram Pick up I bought new in 1989 and the AC on it was awful too...and their service manager told me Chrysler undersized all the AC units and used the K Car units for their vehicles...my bet it was intentional ...to generate service revenue...But I will drive the wheels of this Jeep before I ever get something else...

Interesting. The only vehicle I have had AC issues with of the 26 vehicles I have now owned is my one and only Dodge.

Chris

 

[Looking4new]

IF the new vehicle is a tax deduction, then it makes sense to buy new every 4-5 years. If not, then keep it until the wheels rot off.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Just read the post in this thread. 187,000,240,000 and still going strong. 25 years ago this was unheard of. Up until about the 90s, if a car made it to 125,000 without major problems, you were lucky. Autos today are incredible. They cost more, but you get more.

 

[D7E]

Just read the post in this thread. 187,000,240,000 and still going strong. 25 years ago this was unheard of. Up until about the 90s, if a car made it to 125,000 without major problems, you were lucky. Autos today are incredible. They cost more, but you get more.

I dissagree . We were gettting just the same miles back in the 80's , But they were simpler , more reliable without electronics and cheaper to repair .