Automatic or Manual transmission

Maddog-

Don't buy a new car if you are in college. The value of the car drops big time soon as you leave the market. You don't know where you are going or if you need a car. Plus you will probably need something with a hatch or sizeable trunk for you to carry your shit because moving is a pain in the ass.

Go with a used foreign car with a stick shift. My first car was a Ford hand me down, which I sold for a few hundred bucks. Then a Honda Accord that I totalled. Next car was a Honda Accord- which was also totalled. Next car was Nissan 200SX that was pretty sweet and I drove that into the ground. Currently I have a Honda Civic.

You want a car that will hold value, that you can sell and get most of your money back, that won't break down, and that can last you maybe 300K miles. Plus a stick.
 
Gamble

Gamble



"New"?
Unless it's your 'dream machine' and as much a part of your public persona as the t's and jeans you wear,
cut your loses and hunt down the best, most recent, low rust, low mileage, USED auto possible.

One can upgrade the LIFE STYLE ESSENTIAL CUP HOLDERS, later.
Then maybe the speakers and stereo ...

If the auto marketeers have allowed for 'stripped down' versions,
one might find a 4 cylinder with stick. Might have to look at small trucks to get a utility vehicle.

No power steering and manual shifting means a good little upper body work out and a gentle way to burn calories ... this allows for more comfort foods and beverages AND not upgrading your clothing sizes to accommodate the body fat enhancement that is sure to come from idle idling.

Down shifting with a tachometer may provide the highway power for that 4 cylinder when you need it.
Down shifting , or clutching to neutral, is a useful option to decelerate in all weather conditions.

"Gamble?"
After buying the best all weather tires you can afford, an alignment / brake check, and perhaps a new battery, [the wear items], you may only have to fill the tank and change the oil for the next couple of years, if it's Japanese, or, ... a Consumer Report's verified, 'quality built in' . 'domestic' model.



"Gamble?"
Rather than paying monthly for a depreciating commodity, hold 500 or 1000 in reserve for the unlikely clutch or transaxle problem.
If no problems, that 'savings' always looks good on your credit report.

The market's lowest common denominator may erase manual transmissions soon, so unless you -- need -- cruise control for long commutes, or are pulling a trailer, that manual feature might have an intrinsic ''legacy value''.



4too
 
Indeed, if you have 20K to burn, perhaps consider spending 5K on a used car with say 40K miles but in pretty good working condition, might cost you a few hundred for new brakes, etc. A couple of years down, you can probably turn the car over for a minor loss in value.

Buy new and the values usually drop fast.

Could do a lease- but I don't like driving what I don't own, might as well make payments and own than lease and return.

But then, if you got 20K for a car, you spend 5K on the car and you put the other 15K in stocks for companies that sell guns, sun tan lotion and elastic pants, you might actually recoup your investment.
 
I dunno how it is in the us but in norway a car goes down 20000 kroner (somewhere around 3000 dollars) the moment you put the liscens plates on.
 
Loxley said:
I dunno how it is in the us but in norway a car goes down 20000 kroner (somewhere around 3000 dollars) the moment you put the liscens plates on.
Click to expand...

No thats not the case here. Just age and miles bring down the value.

But hey, at least it is not as bad as it is in Japan. 50K miles on your car you have to throw it away. Or risk getting in some pretty big troubble.
 
Any new car out of the dealer's lot looses considerable value.

My problem with used cars is that you mostly buy someonelse's old problems, unless like me they are too lazy to buy a second sets of snow tires and just change the car alltogether. That's what i did with my last echo, last year insted of buying new 4 seasons (for summer) and new winter tires, i found out that it would actually be cheaper to change the car... and that's what i did. I lease my cars, i don't like to buy...i know in the long run i'm spending too much money, but with kids, peace of mind is priceless. Knowing that my wife's car (the 2005 civic... she says it's hers now) will not break down in the middle of a country road in winter with her and the kids in the car is a price i'm willing to pay for leasing cars.

but don't forget about the BJs ....
 
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