Reddit frugal new car keep up Buy a "new car". 4M subscribers in the Frugal community. Im 22 so obviously rates will be higher but insurance is a big expense of mine. What I wonder about is why the OP isn’t exploring the 5-10 year-old used market. Remember every month is new car sales month at your new car dealerships. Should we spend another $1500 to get another hybrid battery or look for a new vehicle? Is $1500 worth 1. This is true of all cars. Dealerships make MORE money on trade ins then NEW cars. g. So no. Or check it out in the app stores     TOPICS I have to get a new car due to an accident and I, knowing little about cars, trusted my sister blindly when she said she knew of insurance companies I could go to. r/Frugal Used cars are just as expensive as brand new cars right now, you’ll be paying an inflated price Reply reply This is the Reddit community for EV owners and enthusiasts. It’s a hoopdy doopdy but I refuse to have a car payment. I'm having a similar experience now. They were designed and built with Volvo. Big picture: Think if it this way. Everytime he got a pay raise his lifestyle would creep up on him. Keeping an old car running is often the most frugal. Uninsured is good to keep high, too, since it's becoming very common for hit-and-runs and people without insurance. So you’re going have thousands in loans to pay on a cars you no longer have, plus two new car payments, instead of you paying $8,000 to repair your existing car. My ex convinced me that my civic would fall apart and be worthless as a trade in unless I traded it in right away. Plenty of people buy brand new cars, make $500+ per month in payments and pay for comprehensive auto insurance (usually about 2x the price of liability only). Well our 23 year old junker caught on fire while driving and was given to the scrapyard. New car is 14000 used with 70k on it. That's like wanting your favorite food. People should make whatever choice they want in their purchase of a car, but not from a "hurr durr I'm frugal and people who buy new cars are dumb" state of mind. It’s compact and sporty perfect for city living. With new cars, it was all about hitting unit tiers with the franchise. In my (limited but non-trivial) experience, it was cheaper to buy the low-featured car I wanted new than to buy one of the higher-featured car that seemed to be for sale slightly used. A cheaper car might be cheaper but you might spend more on gas. That's in addition to peace of mind. I looked what other people said were their operating cost on reddit but none of them included repairs and maintenance. It depends on credit score, payment history, vehicle you drive, extent of coverage, accident history, ticket history, etc. It includes time I'm starting my very first full-time job soon and I want to focus more on saving than spending money on a new car. Monthly payments for the next who knows how many years. I don't want to keep buying cars every 8 years. I have never bought a new car and my 'newest' car was still several years used. Insurance is $100. You also seem to be a frugal mature adult. Now the car is sitting on my driveway with a broken power steering pump. The used car you get may just be someone's problem car. I’ve owned a few of both. Outside of that, get all the quotes you can and keep your deductible as high as possible. Or check it out in the app stores     TOPICS looks like it’s gonna be totaled but i will get some money to buy a new car. Replacing an engine is a big deal and there could be other things that come up afterwards making it a money pit. Rates are very high and it sounds like you don’t drive a lot. Buying new is a terrible decision from a frugality standpoint. Car prices are still high. We currently have allstate but our renewal is coming up and they've sent us a notice about how much we'll be paying. New cars are a commodity - every 2022 Toyota Camry LE is basically the same, regardless of which dealer it's coming from. Definitely check with a lock shop. Bought it brand new 8 years ago and will ride it til the damn wheels fall off. If I don't have that in cash, that means that I'm being irresponsible financially. If you want the "frugal" purchase for your "forever car," buy new in this market. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. Financing about $17,000 meant that my payment on a $27,000 used truck was only about $40 or $50 less a month than a new car. 6M subscribers in the Frugal community. Tires should last about 5 to 10 years, or about 50k miles, absent extreme driving conditions. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource Toyota and Honda both make pretty reliable cars. Im the last car expert, but here's how i learn how maintence and fix my car as a dummy. We took our eleven-year-old Honda to Texas from prairie Canada last year. He was upside down on the car by $600. It's running great. All I can think of is facebook marketplace/craigslist and looking I think people make a mistake assume that buying a new car means you’re getting a “good” car. At this point should I just cut my losses and buy a new car? Owning your own vehicle gives you better control of your time; public transportation schedules tend to chew up time if you have to go any distance. You can choose exactly what you want and save some of the new car price. . I will be replacing it next week when the $75 part arrives. You will spend the same Here's another car post Frugal Win 🎉 The fun factor has not worn off at all. Another thing to keep in mind is gas mileage. No dealer is gonna blow their brains out on a used car just because its the end of the year. Even new cars come with repairs, tires changed, rotated, breaks, etc. Is there a particular city or location where I could deliver a car to?. I'll be buying used vehicles as Really struggling to understand what car to buy right now. Do NOT leave comments about how we don’t need two cars. The last car I had done it cost me 2K for a rebuild and a new clutch. The chosen car I want is best-in class for resale value (read: not a sports car or Even a $1000 car is too much car for you -- between, gas, maintenance, insurance, and repairs that a cheap car like that will require, that will be way more money than it's worth. I consider a car an essential tool, and your escape plan. being "frugal/cheap" with This exactly. It's not really a practical option to just start driving around all the neighboring towns, and hoping you picked the right obscure not-a-main road View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. It's better than last year but car prices have not returned to normal. Financing cars you cannot afford is simply a tax on the "professionals" out there that keep the hamster wheel spinning. The difference was so small between new & used, I bought a new car. You say you are going to drive it into the ground. Sell your car yourself. And in a few cases more. Also, if you look at prices online, they never include the tax, for my past two cars I've simply asked them to drop the taxes and both time it was done without hesitation, never be afraid to negotiate. Now I could probably drive this thing around for another 50,000 miles for the next 6 years with 2k a year in repairs (I'm expecting much less). I only traded it in because I couldn't have 2 vehicles. Usually used is the best but, but with used car prices being wild still, a new car might be just as good or better deal. Find a reliable car, pay a reasonable amount for it (if you get something too cheap it pretty much guarantees there is something quite wrong with it), expect to pay at least a bit in repairs immediately and then some more later. Buy a new Toyota, don’t overpay for BS markups, warranties, or service contracts. Even if I had a few million in the bank I would get a certified pre-owned vehicle. If you Google top 10 most reliable cars those two brands usually take all the spots on any decent list. Car needs nothing and is a reliable old tank. Hopefully that money comes out of your savings. I’m endlessly amazed at what I pay for car insurance, so you aren’t alone. It may not be cash frugal but it’s definitely time frugal! View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. negotiating Well, yes an nothe ads are built with specific parameters. Join and Discuss evolving technology, new entrants, charging infrastructure, government policy, and the ins and outs of EV ownership So new "under the car bits", brakes, tires -- that's all just normal 10 year old car stuff. The above comments are 💯% correct. I don't like to risk taking it on long trips due to age etc so I rent a new car a few times a year when I need to. Now my wife and I do have a non-negotioable which is whoever has the kids gets the terrain. We should easily get another 5 years out of it, barring an accident. r/Frugal It only got 13 miles per gallon. Buying a new car without leasing doesn't make much sense anymore unless they're offering an incredible deal. As a car “hater” there’s no way I’ll spend a dime on another car until this one dies. That came with a 15K warranty. EDIT: I guess I should say a bit more. I spent 1,100 to repair another oil leak in March of this year. As a former car salesman/internet manager, I find it to only be 50% correct. It’s more work but I laugh at people who do trade ins. Research the car you want. The dealer will not offer anything near what she owes on her car. Or check it out in the app stores     TOPICS Go to Frugal r/Frugal. The liability is tricky because you definitely want to cover your car's value, but if you are driving another car, you want to cover that value too. Your buying process should be roughly, for new cars. 4) thank you all so much it's funny how reddit you mean the most caring people 😂 😂 😂 It's either fix the Lexus or buy another Not sure what your experience has been, but car insurance has given me a new car, a rental car, physical therapy, two hospital visits, two prescriptions, and three tow trucks at no cost other than my monthly rate. Buying a brand new Prius is a horrible car buying decision, no matter how you look at it. He gets a one dollar raise and trades in the car to get a new truck. Our community supports side hustles, small businesses, venture-backed startups, lemonade stands, 1-person-grinds, and most forms of revenue generation! However, no one cares about your blog. You might also look at some lease options, to always stay with a new car, the Kia stinger is sweet and only the snobbiest old money types would bat an eye. My chip key (2005 Honda) finally broke (plastic part snapped in half) after 10 years and the local place cut and programmed a new one for hardly anything. Deep research. My car died (175k miles, RIP) so I had no choice but to buy, even though I knew it was a crap time to buy. Everything is bubbly and rounded. You could always run a Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. Get one with GPS, Bluetooth, USB, all the bells and whistles. New car I want: has many more options and is more fun, and gets twice the mileage (30 or so). I saw an article talking about the cheapest way to drive a car being get a 10 year old car, drive it for 5, then sell it and buy another 10 year old car. a reputable mechanic, or maybe even a well informed BMW nerd, will be able to give them an idea of what else is typically on the horizon around Buying a "new engine" unless it s a factor brand new crate engine, is almost always a rebuilt so be aware of what you are buying. if you priced out a major repair for that it would be around 3000 dollars for new engine/rebuild for most vehicles. Never. 5S Preferred ($28,375, at MSRP) 2023 Hyundai Elantra SEL with Convenience Package ($24,990, at MSRP) Auto insurance is regulated at the State level. Being frugal knows new isn't the way to go for a depreciating asset. Like I said before, my gut REAAAALLYY tells me to buy an old, used craigslist car. Gaming I need to move from PA to CO and I need to rent a car to get there. My car has 280000 miles, and still drives strong. So many things are left out, things that will get a new car buyer in trouble (well, things that will make a frugal new car buyer leave way too much money on the table). Stuck between purchasing a 2018/2019 with 60-90k miles outright vs using that same $$ jump to content. Its a terrible investment. The car ain’t even worth that much at this point but we’ve been doing necessary repairs to it going. Just an option. I wrecked my brand new car the day before the funeral, perfect timing huh. When I bought my car in '02 (first and only new car) it was 0% thanks to my grandfather co-signing for me. Enjoy the new car! buy a new car if you want all the new safety features, adaptive cruise control, better mpg, and that new car smell. r/Frugal Uber to work and take buss home ( Im just so tired of 2 hour + buss rides ) So reddit I'm stuck Also the update decided to get rid of the car , but I'm now out 6000$. It was almost new. I bought this car for 6k in march 2022 after my last car burned in a garage fire. Just please keep in mind. Since you live in ME rust should be a concern when you purchase a used car. View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. You may want to go to an insurance broker for help shopping policies. Respect your car like a new car, and it will feel more like a Yeah, shop around. Keep in mind that the costs for used cars isn't what it used to be. of subreddits that have [united in a coordinated protest Going through this no with our 13 Ford escape. That doesn't work for someone who simply wants new cars all of the time. The best money saving advice would be to only carry liability coverage. I could buy another used vehicle every month and not hurt the environment. I’ve owned 10 cars in my lifetime. Find the decent 50K car that will likely last another 100,000 miles. 3. I can assure you that retrofitting keyless entry and Bluetooth, especially the latter, will be much cheaper than buying a new car. Yearly maintenance on your current car The ([actual cost of a new car] - [trade in value])/[divided by the years you will keep the new car] + [yearly maintenance on the new car] Looks like your car's value would be about the same as the cost to repair, so you might not get much more than scrap for it, which is a few hundred dollars. From experience, if you’re approaching car ownership from a purely financial perspective, the two best options are:. It was a great time to get a used car before things went the way they did. Our 1 car is 9 years old and still going strong. Buying and properly maintaining a quality set of tires is the most frugal option. I know people in this Frugal Reddit will tell you not to buy a new car and I would not argue with them as most of my life I have only bought used cars, but if you buy new, here are a few things to keep in mind and I hope others will chime in about anything I missed. e. If you had other concerns--the high mileage, low efficiency, fear of a sudden breakage due to age of OEM Have your vehicle inspected before you take major trips. A lot of the cons disappear if you can rent a car when you need to, and that's still more frugal than owning a car. Posted by u/Teamhuvid - 6 votes and 43 comments Agree with this 100% - also for me the "right" answer depends on the current mileage, average miles driven in a year, and if OP is just looking to change from a luxury vehicle or change their vehicle type based on need. Frugal people who are planning on amassing wealth don't spend more than 10% of their annual salary on a car. Thoughts: I no longer have a driver's license, just a state photo ID. I work remote so don't need a daily driver, more so a "when convenient" vehicle I'll be taking short distances a few times a week Be professional, humble, and open to new ideas. It really was like getting a new car for half price. Clean it, and get new cheap tires, make sure everything is good and sell it yourself. Stereo:$150-200ish. Seat covers: $20 feels nice, covers stains, adds to the new car smell. My 2009 Suzuki SX4 is leaking oil and apparently it will be around 3,000 dollars to fix. You can do this any way you want, or not at all. Look at the depreciation on a new car. I'm more inclined to do that now than buy a new car. Everybody who lived in my complex who had a car moved the first year rents went up, but I'm stuck here. For 24k you could buy a lightly used BMW 3 series, infinity G35, etc etc. First of all -- r/whatcarshouldIbuy is the better sub. I consider it frugal because I don’t need/want to buy another car. For the first time in my life I bought a new car June ‘23. Most 1-3 year old cars for sale are fleet vehicles, mostly meaning rental cars. OP must compare purchase price, insurance, cost of fuel (EVs are way cheaper here since most charging will be done at home), maintenance costs (much lower in an EV). is selling your content to AI farms. 90 miles every day. Reply reply roughlyround • I always go with preserving the car until I'm not saying a new car is the right choice, but I am saying that your black and white portrayal of the issue is both factually incorrect and irresponsible. With your car only being 6 years old, I doubt that carbon build up is the cause for your poor mileage. Loaded and limited edition. If you can afford a new vehicle that may be the way to go. It is not good I have also rented cars the rough Budget. I worked at Chevy dealership when in college and one time, we sold two model year old car at $2k loss after all the dealer discounts/incentives. Just because you finance a newer car doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods with car troubles. However, new cars in their area are being sold at prices significantly above the MSRP, making them expensive. Used car prices have increased by 40-50%, while new car I have been driving the same car for 21 years. Posted by u/Asleep_Effective_545 - 2 votes and 5 comments But yeah, cargo bikes; cheaper than cars, more fun than cars, and you get a bit giddy over just how much stuff you can get on there - I can do a weeks grocery shopping for 3 people and a dog in one trip, and still have room for more stuff. Even if it costs another $1000 to fix another thing, it's less than car payments or depreciation. Also you don’t really negotiate “payments” on a new car. It seems becoming a new customer is always cheaper than staying with the same company. Each used car is different, especially if you are getting something older than 4 years. You probably won't get more than a 30-day warranty. If I need a car within a month or two, is it a more frugal route to buy a new car at MSRP, or a 10-20k used car? Example new cars shown: 2022 Mazda3 Sedan 2. Average new car loan - $738/mo Average car insurance - $179/mo (your loan requires you to get full coverage) If you buy a new car and then realize you can't afford the extra $900 -- even half that, $450 if you buy a cheaper used car -- too bad, you're stuck with the loan for 5+ years. Insurers like to bundle policies. My first car was a beater that lasted about 4 years before the head gasket went bad. The later in life you buy them, the more stabile the price. Curious if there's a car that is used that is safe but reliable. 4. A rebuild is often much cheaper than a new engine and just as good. However, there is a middle ground where you can get a reasonably new car for a deep discount. Yeah that's true; I think it would partially depend on the era and model of Lexus; the sportier RWD IS, GS, and LS lines likely have more OEM parts as they have a pretty unique Lexus-specific engine and drivetrain, but I'm pretty sure at least the older ES models (that's the entry-level one with the FWD V6) are very mechanically similar to the V6 Toyota Camry and Avalon platforms. Anyhow. This was a 2011 Toyota Tacoma with about 12,000 miles. My original mechanic retired and now his son is servicing it. I understand wanting a new car but if you are ok with a 2017 or 2018, Carvana has some good cars. Keep the trash out. People pay a premium for driving a new car. Especially the people who seem to think buying a new car with payments is somehow more cost Wife is concerned with safety features and doesn't want to get an "old" car because we have a 8 month old. “The Reddit post involves a woman seeking advice on a financial disagreement with her husband regarding the purchase of a new or used car. Or check it out in the app stores Home; Popular; TOPICS. that does not include labor. I have no idea about searching for cars :(. Used cars is another game because each car is different age/condition/miles, but you can still do a lot of the work online. Now I really do not car about having a new car and will drive my truck until the repairs costs would be higher than a new car payment. They have for a long time too. Join and Discuss evolving technology, new entrants, charging infrastructure, government policy, and the ins and outs If it needs to go on a jack, it's probably going in to the shop. I personally think the 6-10 year old mark provides the best value for cars. The average price for a NEW car is a tick under $50K, while used go for a tick under $30K. You negotiate the price and @dimd” the best interest rate. The mechanic found one minor thing, we fixed it, and we had a pleasant and stress-free experience. I put $2k down and was off the lot with 0% and a $300/mo payment for 60 months. Buy the year old car and run it until it dies. Don't spend more than a half hour or so at any dealership. I used to buy a new car every 2-3 years just because I wanted a new car. I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of my car insurance. I'm hoping to get another 4 years out of it with minimal maintenance. That requires the car be paid off, and you understand that your car isn’t covered if you cause an accident. Having 175lbs of dog in my civic was not ideal. Most Japanese cars don't hold up as well as the europeans against rust. Very cheap to run and cheap on servicing. The best thing to do is shop within the category you want (for example, SUVs) and choose the vehicle with the best value. Due to pandemic, I found myself needing a used car. Super fun. Haven’t had a new car in years so haven’t had to get full coverage as I can replace the used cars IF I total one. I needed a large vehicle. Driving an very old beater that's paid for is going to be much cheaper to insure than a brand new vehicle on payments. youtube car model + year+ what you're trying to do with it. join r/mechanicadvice, i cant tell you how many time this subreddit help me b/c i upload a video of my car and the problem. Reply reply This is the Reddit community for EV owners and enthusiasts. I do maintenance myself and do moat of the repairs. Financing I think might be 0% since it's a new car, but my overall debt savings would be the difference between what it costs to live there vs. dont know which vehicle this is but a motor or transmision would be the most expensive things to replace. max $20000. I think it was a really good purchase. So, his down payment and the nine payments he made all went to the trash. She wants a Mazda cx-9 or Traverse and I don't want to spend 30k to buy a new car when we can get a used car for way less. They buy a 40k I've been looking into the cheapest new cars (Chevy Trax, Hyundai Venue, Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa, etc) and was hoping that some folks here may have some advice. But a new car will extract money from you in the form of a few hundred in fees, taxes and title work. Long term/high mile maintenance will cost you more sooner, and the overall lifespan of the car is that much shorter. The general consensus is that a used car is frugal and new car is money down the drain due to depreciation. New cars are always a dumb purchase no matter if you are on a tight or loose budget. Buying new you'll have a good chance of getting extended warranties, oil changes and other offers they may have to sweeten the deal. And it makes perfect sense to give you a free car because you "can't deal with buying another one". Some brands are better than others. All the advantages are true for a car that is four years old, except you get 20 or 40% more car for the same money. Should save that 5k Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 23 votes and 109 comments A super frugal option would be a 2010 Ford focus in black with the high end trim. Best car insurance for recent college grad purchasing a new car? About to purchase a car, probably a commuter sedan like a Honda Civic or a little hatchback like the Nissan Versa Note. In a hypothetical world, the used car will die one year faster, and then you just buy a new (used) car. 00 a month. Guy I work with with was shopping for a used Prius a couple months back, and found that with tax rebates and dealer incentives a brand new one was just barely more expensive than the used ones he was looking at. 5-2yrs? Replacing a motor in an 09 car - frugal or dumb? I love my car, it’s 16 years old, only got 115k miles on it and fully paid off. Keep the inside of your car clean. For something that plays music, it seems expensive, compared to a consider this. The way I see it, $2500 allowed me to drive the car additional 50k miles. are more than a car payment, usually around 10 years or more or when it is dying. I always tell people to buy new for the warranty aspect, assuming you're not going to burn through the miles and go out of warranty way before the 5 years mark. Treat your car right, maintain it well. Tell them you gotta go. I typically buy 3 or 4 year old vehicles with a good history of reliability and with a trustworthy pre-purchase inspection so I don't have to worry about any hidden problems. Buying a new car . The only maintenance I have had to do is oil changed n all that goes with that like filters etc. They'd trade old car +5k cash I drive 500 miles a week. But anyway, I've seen that Mazda for example actually even offers a slight discount sometimes, while Toyota (and others) are often adding on damn nearly 20% in "market adjustments", and it's a battle to find that one dealer that will actually sell you a Corolla at MSRP, and not a dollar over. Frugal is about value. It's cheapest to book far in advance and shop around. Frugal Man Buys $52,000 Car. They can't make you. Here you go, consider the Citroen C4 HDI Diesel, it has some of the lowest running costs on the market. The car still has around 90% of its miles ahead of Go to Frugal r/Frugal. Go to Frugal r/Frugal. dodge that depreciation and get decent insurance rates too with 90+% of the life left in the car. Not just high end cars. In 2 years if you sell for whatever reason, a 2025 is worth thousands more than a 2024 with the same mileage. I've looked at used cars in case it shits the bed and decided that I would probably buy a car similar to what that was to me at the time. If you buy a new car it loses 25% of its value when you drive off the lot and another 25% over the next three years. I went from a 400+ car payment and $300 insurance to $80/month for insurance. After looking at some lightly used trucks (12,000 miles and under) I saw the price was just a few thousand below MSRP for a new car. Since then, it has paid for a week-long rental during my transmission repair (the free extended warranty does not cover a rental), a new passenger strut, a new driver window motor regulator, the aforementioned A/C repair, a new gas cap (old one stopped sealing properly and the car kept throwing P0455), and a few other minor things. Bigger, non-grocery stuff we get delivered if it’s too awkward or delicate to go on the bike. When you want it, you want it, and you don't really think about the environment. Example) he bought a new car and gave 4500 down payment and made nine payments of $500. Once you get over this hump, hopefully you can get a good few years on nothing but oil changes again. You could always just keep the car and get another on loan. If you end up selling your car, you might wanna do it late summer or Not a new car, but my transmission died yesterday, and it cost more to fix than the car is worth. Most frugal way is to keep driving your car. In 2020, I rented a brand new 2020 Ford Mustang for a cross country trip and only paid $300 for an 8 day rental which included using my Costco membership discount 11 votes, 19 comments. Frugal ≠ cheap. I decided to get a certified pre-owned to save some money off of buying new, but found out later that there were a couple spots that were re Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. Due to location and work we are pretty much forced to have two cars. Saves me tons of money and I get a new car from time to time. I added renters From auto parts stores like autozone, advanceauto, oreilly to collision repair shops, to the big name overpriced dealers, to window tint shops, to body shops, to auto tool shops like harbor freight. Please ensure that anything you are posting that is work-related has been cleared to post by your legal department. Up until then I always bought used with less than 40k miles at a huge savings. It was the best price by far, 2 years old and half the price of the van new. But I think a new car is frugal since Newest model has all the latest as safety New cars are expensive, way too big, and just ugly now. every day you drive that old car put money aside for a new/used car or repairs. Now I'm having to pay almost the same amount I pay for my car. They have also removed the ability to set We got a minivan from Carvana. My mom passed and her car was left to me. When we were considering new vehicles I kept a spreadsheet of the size of the vehicles we were interested in and it was crazy, there were many SUVs actually smaller than sedans. There’s nothing frugal about a cheap car that barely runs and will need a ton of maintenance. B: new car. 5S Preferred ($26,625, at MSRP) 2023 Mazda3 Hatchback 2. Also, any Volvo sedan. So you're buying a below average priced car (with very low maintenance / running costs), while in the top 15% of income View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. Only had 3400kms on it. Even 2 years old is pushing it. what a new car costs for me. Don't buy new! Whatever route you choose, buy a certified pre-owned car, they are typically low mileage and half the cost. Like, if they were about to hit 1000 units by EOY, managers will take a loss on several units to hit that I drive an 18 year old car that's been paid off for 15 years. It’s not the best for fuel economy, but it has been very reliable. A 94 Lexus LS400 with 170,000 miles. Read your owner manual of your car to get insight of the overall car. You must have a lot of expendable wealth. It’s just over 200k miles now. not counting gas, insurance and regular maintenance (oil, tires, breaks) my used cars averaged under $1000/10000km whereas that new car was over $5000 per same distance. Go to Frugal r/Frugal your internet, streaming plans, ect. Even if I could afford a car now, or even if someone gave one to me, I would have to start all over with the insurance company and pay $200 - $300 / month for insurance. I can easily afford to buy a new 2024 $~33K model car and keep it for over 100K miles. New cars are always bad. 2M subscribers in the Frugal community. There is plenty of deals to be had for cars 1-2 years old with low miles, still under warranty. Manufacturers try to not increase prices too much, but the free market for used cars doesn’t care. r/Frugal • Dear frugal people of reddit, how did your spending habits change with Posted by u/trulyxluvs - 11 votes and 17 comments Never. New (Used) Car Owner . If storing two vehicles is a viable option of course. That advertised price typically is an aggressive sale price and little to no rate mark up(so that would be the no part) The flip side is it is usually a base unit, the advertised price will rarely have the taxes included, acquisition fees will be expected to be paid out of pocket rather than built into the payment Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. It makes a difference. My payment was $186. Frugal Car Buy . I had no credit at the time. Each State has its own laws regarding necessary coverage standards and how liability works. Related Topics And it's quite validating to have such a frugal but the same car I have. Get uninsured motorists and pl/pd and save some money for the next 5-10 year old car. Rentals, borrowing a friend or family members car, or scoping out the parking situation in advance (if you have to park in a parking garage or large full lot, your car won’t be noticed) are all good options to get you through the interview stage. Runs great. But I sure do miss that civic. Are there makers that are more reliable? Not frugal: Liking your car from 1998 except for the audio system , and buying a entirely new car simply to get Bluetooth in it. Maybe just ask what you need to put down for payments at $250/month and 0% financing. If one is going to replace a brand new car with a brand new car every few years, wouldn't it make more sense at that point to lease? I buy new, finance as little as possible, pay it early, and then drive it forever. So its mostly just a lot of car juggling but it works. The market is still crazy. For me this permeates through so many areas; setting up direct debits so you never get late fees, always take a bottle of water with you when you go out, bulk buy items you use a lot, no need to pay for express shipping, plant seeds rather than buying plants, take a snack/lunch with you, book train tickets in advance, fill up at cheap petrol stations, batch cook, The frugal rule of thumb is to fix anything up to the value of the carif the fixes exceeds the value of the car, then buy the best car you can with cash in the $2k - $3K range (this is usually the fully depreciated price of a decent car) using whatever funds 4. Currently issue us that used cars are still simply to expensive, 2-3 year old car is 20% less expensive than new one, while at same time you do get full warranty and even with Carfax you have no idea how that car was treated by prior owners, was the car in a garage or was ist constantly out side. In July, I was able to get a 2017 Elantra with just 20k miles. buying 1-2 years old could potentially cost very close to as much as new. No thank you! Hi guys, I need a new car that is reliable by the end of december, my max budget is 12k but I'd prefer to spend around 4-8k. The new car I got is now 9 years old and still gets well over 30 miles per gallon. Use your car as a Carbon build-up is mostly an issue with older cars but can still be an issue with new cars especially if you use bad gas. Or check it out in the app stores   Modern standard safety features, new cars are safer, rust can weaken metal which reduces safety, and not having to deal with any issues while working a full time job. So yesterday, my transmission went out, and I also got all my hours cut from my job/quit/fired, whatever you want to call it. If once in a while you have the freedom itch on a long weekend or something - hire a car for a few days, get all your driving done - return it, forget about it for Canadian with 35+ yrs owning. However the japanese cars are usually more reliable and better on gas. Then get a 2nd EV as you just need a new car and by Dealer finances each car in inventory from the manufacturer and each month the car sits in the lot, they must make interest payments. How long you keep the car also matters. I'm 19, going to be a college sophomore. Mazda 3 if you want to be frugal. Some people do not want to drive a car in to the ground. You are the buyer. But it does need a few thousand dollars in repair work. Replace hybrid battery or buy a new car . It's vastly different than even 4 years ago (in 2019). A new Toyota isn't going to give me any problems at all. I think the bike will pay for itself in car savings in 6-9 months. any number of awesome cars. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. wonder what your desired car would be just a few years old (but still new enough for a "new car" loan with better rates over used car loans). This is why there are usually a lot of 10 year old cars on sale, people just don't want to deal with it and move on to something newer. Man. Car manufacturers frequently offer incentives to purchase like 0% financing or a reduction in price. Initially I was going to get a uHaul but they were so expensive, so I decided I'd go with just a normal car and they're still super expensive People generally say you should buy a nearly-new car, because a new car supposedly drops in price so much in the first few months (or seconds). Even considering the cost of labor, assuming you aren't doing it yourself and of which has skyrocketed in recent years, is still a better deal. Then you could just use the old one as a commuter and run it till it’s dead and make payments and keep the miles low on the new one. I know next to nothing about cars but would like to buy a used one. They also accept the Costco membership/AARP/Military discounts. I’ve never had any major repair issues, just routine maintenance. EDIT (7:03pm) Grammar It is an amazingly simplified version of How to Buy a New Car. If we could get by one just one car or none I would absolutely be head over heels. Buying a quality used car around 3 years old 30k miles is the sweet spot. We’re not being super frugal on the car that we want, but want to make sure we are doing it as best as we can. The woman, on the other hand, advocates for buying a used car, specifically a 3-4 year old Air freshener: $5 new car scent. Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. Driving the Carolla more often these days just gets me having car envy of wanting a new car, but spending 700 a month is just crazy for a 40k 5yr loan knowing cars depreciate so fast. Frugal: Installing a $100-130 Bluetooth radio, or having a professional do it for like $200. We are in a rare situation where new cars are actually better deals than used cars. New cars lose an enormous amount of their value when you drive them off the lot and even more the first few years. A repair is a one time expense. I live in Canada and earn around $108 000 CAD a year, meaning I am "allowed" to buy a $10 000 car whenever mine dies. Buying a new car is a waste of money. Animals and Pets Anime Art Cars and Motor Vehicles Crafts and DIY Culture, Race, and Ethnicity Ethics and Philosophy Fashion Food and Drink History Hobbies Law Learning and Education Military Movies Music Place Podcasts and Streamers Politics Programming Reading, Writing, and Literature Religion and Spirituality Science Tabletop Games Well I looked through your post history & you seem completely reasonable & in a difficult situation through no fault of your own. But those were older cars, 90s mostly. New tires at year 4 a new battery a year 5. Currently Used vehicles are way over priced, so that's not even a consideration. And when it finally dies sell it for $500 as is on the marketplace and be done with it. Compare the sporty sedan (an STI is not a sports car) vs a more practical EV. I'm still driving it n it was like getting a new car for half the price. WHY? You will always get double, triple even QUADRUPLE from what they give you at a dealership. The last thing you want to do now is finance a newer car. mrmoneymustache. Definitely go with Toyota as Honda tends to be more expensive like Subaru. We have a 2013 Toyota Prius. r/Frugal Otherwise, I have lights, racks and bags and haven't had any problems (or I'd get another car). Obviously buying new isn't feasible for everyone, especially getting your feet set in life, but I swear I spent more on maintaining used cars than I did just making payments on a new car. Let some other sucker take the 5k hit for new car smell. but buying a newer used car would be the way to go, save a couple of thousands on the depreciation and choose a suv that holds its Get organised. Spending 18-20k on a older version of a car that costs 25k new isn't frugal. Even if have to expend 2000$ a year on repairs, that less than then payment on a new car. If you have the money a cheap new car from a reliable brand is going to save you in the long Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. You don't have to buy used to be frugal. Or check it out in the app stores   Need a new vehicle soon. It had already depreciated a few thousand dollars and I got a good deal. Still going to be on par with or cheaper than buying a new car, and cheaper than leasing. Edit: also, I didn't mean ONLY brand new vehicles, so get off your high horse. - Buying a new vehicle can be less of a terrible decision over a 15-20 year time, but if your likelihood of changing vehicles within the first 5 years is high, it's the worst financially. I hit a deer and totaled it after two years and instead of paying cash I got sucked back into the new car scheme. You can find them directly on sites like hertz used cars and enterprise used cars before they go to auction. Our family is looking for a new car insurance for our 4 cars (my parents' cars, my car, and my brother's). The issue with buying brand new is that no one has had that year/make/model for the long I recently purchased the newest and safest vehicle because I'm expecting and it was still less than a quarter of the price of similar new vehicles. Reddit inc. Premiums are highly individualized to your predicted level of risk (based on countless factors that insurance companies will not disclose due to it being a trade secret) that it is impossible for Reddit to give you a meaningful answer to your question. Any tips for gaining basic car knowledge, or learning a few simple things that will save money? These are all great ideas but the most frugal car tip (or any maintenance really) I've found is to The most frugal way to buy a car is to not have a specific car in mind when you go shopping. I'm sorry, but the Prius is not a "reward" if you're looking to reward yourself with a car, even if its band new, and its definitely not frugal either. Don’t buy a new car until you have a new salary, but I feel your pain. Repair list But with my husband's new car we bought in 2020, Toyota Corolla, that has comprehensive, and for all three it's $1100 a year with USAA insurance, which I've had for over 40 years. It includes time If a new car is 20k and a year old car is 15k, you are paying 5k for the first year of driving (not to mention insurance will not be less expensive for the newer car). Im looking for a way to lower my car insurance someway. I can technically afford a new car. Never buy a new vehicle off the lot. any suggestions to stay frugal? Auto 🚗 Avoid car payments at all costs. have owned 1 new (my first car) and 4 used. ulw yizrn suoogvg ngnl rkrp azqexoh xxspi yfllfwv pwg hswfdbx