[cuban leaf]

What’s absurd is buying a new car.

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When I was looking for a Scion xB in 2006, I wanted a used one. Problem was, used ones were almost as expensive as new. I bought new. I borrowed the money. (btw, you can get car loans now for just a couple of percentage points.)

I drive 122 miles a day to work. The car now has 115k miles on it and has never left me on the side of the road. That has hard value. I’ll replace it with a new car. And I can get one for my purposes for well under $20k and I’ll drive it into the ground too. I’m done with used.

[John O]

You are the exception that proves the rule. You keep your cars so long that the instant loss of value while driving off teh lot doesn’t really affect you.

Most folks who buy new trade off every three years or so. They are always underwater on their cars and never seem to learn the lesson.

While I still think you get a better deal by buying used I don’t think you are too far off because you hold the vehicle a long time.

I’m just too cheap to take that depreciation hit. (And I’ve only been stranded once in 35 years because of a mechanical breakdown. Wheel bearing went out. The other three were still in perfect shape.)