Driving exam today. Tempted to buy a car!

[Reef Pilot]

Biggest cost with cars is depreciation if you buy new, and leasing is even worse. So if you can buy an older, good, low mileage Toyota or Honda for cheap, you are far better off. You can save a few bucks on insurance, too, by just carrying liability, no collision. And make sure the tires and brakes are still good, too, or that will run up your after purchase price.

In my younger years, I did that, and even resold vehicles after driving them for a couple years for pretty close to what I bought them for. But you need to shop really wisely.

Just don't buy an older GM, Ford or Chrysler product...

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Just don't buy an older GM, Ford or Chrysler product...

That's funny...
My 89 Plymouth minivan had over 360,000kms when I put it to rest.
95 Neon we owned had 235,000 without any issues. We out grew it and sold it.
My 03 Ford Taurus has 185,000 on it with only regular maintenance.

My family and inlaws have:
Pontiac Montana's with 180,000 and 215,000, 350,000 and 375,000 on them,
Pontiac Grand am with 185,000 on it,
91 GMC 2500 with 300,000+ on it,
etc etc.
2001 neon with 260,000 on it.

2006 nissan xterra (highway driven with 140,000 that blows smoke like a chimney)

Unless we are somehow lucky and our domestics are exemplary, I'd say buy a vehicle that has been maintained over a particular brand as lemons exist in all brands.
If you ride a vehicle hard regardless of what it is it wont last.

[don.ald]

Buying a car gives you so much freedom to do what you want when you want!
Go for it...it's like buying a fish tank:
When you sell it you will never get what you paid for it.
Cars tend to empty your wallet.
Doesn't matter what you purchase you will always upgrade to something else.
Everyone else's car will seem better than yours.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Ross

That's funny...
.
.
.
Unless we are somehow lucky and our domestics are exemplary, I'd say buy a vehicle that has been maintained over a particular brand as lemons exist in all brands.
If you ride a vehicle hard regardless of what it is it wont last.

Yup, I'd say you have been lucky, or I have been very unlucky. I have owned many domestic and non-domestic vehicles, and by far the non-domestic have been far superior both in quality and longevity along with low maintenance costs.

Actually, the best vehicles I have owned are Subarus (had 3 of them) in terms of quality and driving experience (especially when driving to Whistler after a heavy snowfall). Not the cheapest, but basically bullet proof, and very low maintenance costs.