How Important Is a Car to You?

All the people I know with new cars every year lease them. When a BMW is less than $200 a month, why not? Far less than the loan for buying a $50,000 car.

Personally I DO buy my cars... because I don't want to keep them showroom perfect, and I like paying ZERO a month after they're paid off. But, quite frankly, next time I may lease. Why? Because I've already paid out of pocket 10k in car repairs in the past 2 years on our 2 (paid off) cars. When I THINK of what I could have used that money on instead!!! Oy. If we leased, they would have fixed those problems for free, or they wouldn't have happened at ALL because they're NEW! I'm beginning to think "So what I'd have to spend $500 on getting it detailed before returning it???" And, quite frankly, the resale on our cars would be peanuts. Less than the repair costs, for sure.

You're not allowed to drive fast enough in this country to make buying a sports car something I would do unless I had EVERYTHING ELSE I could possibly want. Having a car that can go zoom zoom, when the speed limit is putter-putter would just be frustrating for me. The Jeep's fine.

BUT when it's time to get a new car... I'm SERIOUSLY thinking of leasing.
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Added: My dad bought himself a 75,000 car a couple years ago. Why? Because over the past 50 odd years of working, he'd done everything else. He'd raised a family on a shoestring. He'd made it to the top of his field (doesn't pay well though, the military), he'd "retired" and started working as a civillian making 4-8x what he made in the military. They bought their 'forever' house. They sent two of my siblings to school. He'd stacked away their retirement money. He'd done every responsible thing, his entire life. And at 65, he bought himself a REALLY nice car.

I think he's earned it.

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We don't. We are practical. We buy quality cars that require no maintenance (Hondas).

I love my minivan. Minivan drivers are cool! Automatic doors totally rock.

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I like my cars one one way: Paid Off!

We don't "do" car payments.

I require a reliable car. Couldn't care less what it "looks like" or what message it sends.

I have driven Fords, Mercuries, Chevys, Pontiacs and Cadillacs.
Guess what? they all get you from point A to point B.
The ones that are PAID FOR drive better! LOL

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I have bought 2 new cars. The first one had no CD Player, No tape deck nothing, it was just a car. I drove it 12 years before I totaled it 1-1/2 years ago. I don't have anything fancy now. I do like a little fun in a car like my new one now has keyless entry and keyless start. to me thats fun. I'm the type that will drive the car into the ground. I don't need all the fancy gadgets.

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I've never owned a new car till my son bought me one a few years ago.
Cars were not that important to me either. To many it's a status symbol, just like a huge house and pricey furnishings. I never wanted to be car or mortgage poor, life is too short. Investing in the college fund and spending money on other things that "enrich" your childs life and future is better spent money in my book as well. Raising a successful kid might just get you a new car one day like me :) Oh, and by the way, it's not a fancy car, it's a Honda, wouldnt have it any other way.

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I always choose for my needs...& not the namebrand. I try to buy gently-used & drive it until I am ready for something else.

My last vehicle was a minivan & we drove it past 200,000 miles. My current vehicle is 9 years old & is about to roll 150,000. After Jan 1st, we are turning it over to our son & selling his junker to pay the taxes on our replacement. A win-win situation!

Please, please pat yourself on the back! Kudos to you for not needing to keep up with the Joneses!

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Ever see people's garages?
There can be a Mercedes in their garage..... in a garage that is falling apart, attached to a puny rundown home with overgrown grass or weeds in the yard and a mail-box that is rusted or falling apart too.
But they have a Mercedes in their garage. Nice and shiny and new.
(I am speaking of what I see here... in many types of neighborhoods).

Who knows, maybe they value their car, more than their home. Or, they are just real frugal and rather spend money on their car... because it is transportation and portable 'image' symbols, at which they can show off. Versus they have a rundown falling apart home, that they either can't afford to fix or don't want to.

Me: I just want a vehicle that is safe and works and paid off.
And even if it is old, I will maintain it and detail it and keep it nice and washed.

Many people, lease their cars. Thus, that is why it appears that they have a new/different car, all the time.
They don't own it. They lease it. Many business people do that.
My late Dad, included.
It was not for the sake of image, but just what he preferred to do.

We don't do car payments. If you can't buy the car outright, we don't buy it. We don't live in debt either.

That said, we all 3 drive Mercedes at our house. For status? no although most would harp on me for that. They are very safe, reliable cars. We've never had trouble with them at all. I can't see ever driving anything else after driving these cars. We are low mileage drivers as well.

Before making the move to our 1st Mercedes 5 yrs ago, I drove a Chrysler Town and Country for 12 years and it was one of the best vehicles we ever owned!

When our daughter as 10 is when we opted to transition away from the van and we bought a Mercedes.

We would never be driving these cars if college and retirement were not funded, if our house was in disrepair, and if we were in debt.

We have a neighbor who puts all kinds of sizzle to the appearance of his house. We know when they are having a party. Last year he spent upwards of $50,000 for a back custom stone beautiful decking area. Hubby and I jsut shook our heads because... the heating and air units are rusting out at his house, he patches things instead of actually repairing and upgrading them, and last spring I was helping him in the kitchen...opened the door under the sink and the cabinet was rotted out!! Really...

People have their own priorities...... I would hope most prioritize no debt and taking care of their families and homes before splurging on a car.

We buy new but we also drive them till the end. Then we buy new again. We drive out of state to visit family and we need something safe. We pay cash for everything and if we don't have cash then we don't get it. It's been a good plan the last 3 years. We paid cash for new couches last weekend and it felt good. DH is ready for a new car but we are trying to make his 2000 Mazda Protege last another year so we can finish paying off my suv. DH and I drive two different directions to work. I take the kids to and from school. I'm happy just having a car from A-B. I'm not materialistic so it doesn't bother me.

I bought my second only brand new car in 2006. It is a Mazda 3 with a 5 speed. I bought it because it is fun to drive. No other car would be any more fun. My son just bought a used 5 sp BMW. He admits mine is more fun.
My husband has never bought a brand new car.
They are a total waste of money for the most part. Not only do they lose value as soon as you pull out of the parking lot, the expensive ones are very expensive to repair also--as my son found out.

I'm like you, as long as it gets me from point A to point B I'll drive it. I was driving a 1990 Accord with 240,000 miles on it until 6 months ago. The ONLY reason I sold it was because we're expecting and 2 carseats don't fit in the car and allow the driver and passenger to not be in sitting on the engine. I bought a used 2008 Pilot (because I only buy Honda & it was the only one big enough for us & practical enough for what we use it for). I intend to drive it until my 2 year old daughter leaves for college and then she can have it. I don't really understand getting a new car every few years either. Personally, I think it's a waste of money just like leasing a car. I just don't care. My Accord had peeling paint and looked awful but it ran well and that's all I cared about. I don't put too much stock in driving something new, wearing something trendy, having all the latest and greatest. I guess some people do but I don't really understand that way of thinking. To each their own.

I drive a 2001 Xterra and it's my baby! Lol. It's paid for and it's not a total mom-mobile (although when I need a van, I'll get one). I hate my hubby's car. It's a huge grandma-style sedan. It's also paid for, so that's what we are keeping!

Well Darth Vader is a full size conversion van with 209K and he shows every mile. But I loooooooove him. When he dies I will have to get something smaller and more eco friendly as Vader eats a lot. I dread that day.
My hubby drives a Prius and since he picks up people on his way to the Pentagon he needs a pretty nice looking, clean car. We bougth it used from Carmax.

Not to me. When I see those types of vehicles, I often wonder (well, not OFTEN, b/c really I just don't pay them any mind, but if I DO think about it I might wonder) how much debt the owners have. Or how pretentious is the owner's personality?

I do like a "nice" vehicle. Stable. Secure. Comfortable (yes a/c is required!). Fits my lifestyle: not pretentious, but solid and stable and does what is expected to get done. I don't drive a "beater" car. But when I buy a car, it is to drive "until the wheels fall off". Well, not literally of course, but I keep them a good long time. I am careful about my choices and still like my cars after time goes by. Never in a hurry for the next newest thing. My Honda I had for almost 8 years.. then husband drove it a couple more. I got a new Subaru that I drove for 170,000 miles (about 6 years) then got the car I have now. Xterra. It just turned 230,000 miles. It's a 2005, and I still love it. If I were to sell it, I would want to just buy a newer version of the same thing, and that is just dumb. It's paid for. Very few maintenance/repair issues, mostly normal wear and tear. At 230,000 miles I've still not needed brakes done, nor a new clutch, nor nor nor... I HAVE spent a pretty penny on tires though.... tee hee... yeah... I drive alot. And I love my vehicle.
Hubby feels the same about his: 2003 Mazda 6. Bought new--- also has 230,000 miles. Just replaced the clutch this week. If he were to sell it, he wants the new Mazda 6 that is coming out next-- the one that supposedly gets over 40 mpg.

No. The status is not worth the extra cost. If you are in a certain career, then perhaps certain vehicles are expected-- I know for some in real estate, if you are showing million dollars homes for example, you can't show up in a Ford to drive your clients around. But for MOST people.... isn't worth it.

We were 7000 upside down in the last vehicle we owned. It cost us thousands of dollars in undiagnosed problems, so we had no choice but to trade it in. I'm currently 1400 away from paying off the van I have now. It's getting close :) My van would retail for about 8000 right now and I was offered 6000 in trade recently. So this last van was a good choice. It's going to be a beater soon enough. But it will be the first time in almost 16 years that I'll be without a payment. So right now, my van is not that important. I've put myself on a serious miles diet. It's a 2005 Kia Sadona and I only have 74000 miles on it. That's low for a vehicle of this age. Going forward, I'm trying to get my husband to rent vehicles to drive any long distance so that we can avoid putting lots of miles on my van. I figure if we are going to make it last, we have to drive very little with it. I wish ALL Americans would do that so that the gas companies would feel the pinch too.

I don't know of anything that depreciates faster than a new car, just driving off the lot, it drops in value. I have had new cars and I have had used cars, never had one that wasn't paid off before I got the next one. Low mileage used are good, but I always get the extended warranty.
Had a Nissan Quest (99) bought with 30,000 miles on it, what could be wrong with that??? Thankfully spent upwards of $1000 to get 3 yr./ 36,000 mile extended warranty and 30 days after I got it, it was leaking oil like crazy, took it back many times, they traced it back to being a rental car and had never been serviced before I got it. WOW! All repairs were under warranty and lo and behold, with 112 miles left on the 3 yr. warranty, had to replace the engine.
I drove it for 100,000 miles, then it got totaled out in a hail storm, I took the insurance money as it was going to cost more to fix it, than it was worth. Now my brother has it for a second car and it is still going and in spite of a few hail dents, doesn't look bad and runs fine.
My current car 08 Kia Rondo, bought with 11,000 miles, now has over 79,000, best car I have ever had in the snow. Of course, best to invest in really good tires. I drive 3,000 miles a month average. The key is MAINTENANCE, regular oil changes, tire rotation and brakes.
Sure a 'status symbol' car is nice, but, like you, I'd rather have the money for something else.

I have driven company cars for 15 years. Not free, part of my compensation plans but I always end up in an Impala it seems. I don't care, it gets me where I need to go. I did buy a new Jetta for my daughter when she was 15 (paid outright). She has driven so much and I didn't want her on the road in a beater car.

We have what works for us. I would frankly like a hybrid someday, but that day is not today. I drive my very reliable 2002 Saturn and our newest car is my DH's Mustang that he got when he paid off all his debts other than the mortgage and has been paid off already. Our other car is a 2000 minivan that we keep going because it's handy to have and has turned into the "kid car".

So, on a "I need to get somewhere" level, it's very important. But is my dream care more important than a good preschool? No.

I also like owning my car, so I would rather not lease. I want it to be mine in the end. Friend had a leased car and was always thinking about this or that which would break his lease. I could go cross-country in my car and not have a care about the miles. It's been paid off for several years.

I have driven a variety of cars. Yes the status is definitely a good feeling, but no not worth it.

The car history for me is when I met my husband I had a Ford Escort (yes now you know my age). We traded that for a Ford Expedition. Eventually, I got a beautiful white Lexus. This car drove so nice and yes I do miss it. When my daughter went to college we scaled back into the Fords and I think I got a Ford Pick up. Then was the Nissan Armada. That vehicle probably had as nice of a drive as the Lexus. However, I always loved fast cars, so when I was pregnant, my husband surprised me with a Ford Mustang and he changed out the exhaust for me and spruced it up a bit for speed and performance. I was 8 months pregnant! I could hardly get in and out of that thing, but I did. When I had the baby I wouldn't put her in it because it was convertible, the back seat was small, the car seat didn't fit, and it was pretty fast and I was afraid it would get away from me and roll with her in it. So he traded both the vehicles in for a Ford F150 - Roush. By this time, yes we were totally upside down. We kept that truck for about 5 years. About 3 years ago when gas prices rose to over $4 a gallon, I told my husband to find me a vehicle I could pay cash for and would give 30 miles to the gallon and I got a Kia Rio. We just recently traded the F150 for a Dodge Ram and still have the Kia.

I guess there is a slight inferior feeling when someone gets out of their Mercedes and I get out of my Kia, but before long the feeling is gone and I could care less!

We live in the boonies, so a reliable car is a must. We are not "car" people... We have a 2001 Honda Civic and a 2002 Honda CRV. Both have almost 200k miles on them. The CRV is starting to show its age and we are on the big save hoping to have enough in the bank when it quits to replace it.
As much as I love Mercedes, Lexus, and the like, they just aren't worth the cost to purchase, nor are they worth the cost to repair. I'd like my husband to drive a bigger heavier car than the Civic, but he wants the gas mileage.
We also have a 1990 Toyota Camry that is my son's. It is the cream puff in our fleet with just over 60k miles. (We hope it doesn't develop problems and that he can take it to college this and subsequent summers as well as for his senior year. It seems to run through tail lights faster than anything...)
We buy our cars new because we put a TON of mileage on them and we keep them forever. We insist on air conditioning. Everything else is fluff... I would like an electric lock, but I can turn the key just fine...
We will stick with Honda as we have had very good luck with them.
LBC

For me, I just don't want to drive something that's so beat up it's embarrassing. I like to just blend in when it comes to cars. Right now I'm thrilled with our vehicles - I have a 2006 Odyssey in silver that is the exact same car that most of the families in my town drive. At soccer this morning, there were 5 of us parked in a row with the same color and in the whole row, 9 of 15 vehicles were Odysseys. I used to drive a white Chevy Venture that was just mortifying - dented, paint chips, and ugly. Our other car is a beige Infiniti that was less expensive than a comparable Maxima in black. I like knowing that if I'm driving a colleague somewhere, I can take the "luxury" car and fit in with the BMW and Mercedes cars that are ubiquitous where I work.

I also tutor and some of the homes that I go to are...well...very, very nice. It's nice to know that I can now pull into the driveway in either vehicle and not look out of place or worry about leaving leaking fluid in the driveway. When we had our old van, I wouldn't drive it to the homes of certain students.

All that said...if I could afford any car, I would probably go with an Acura or Lexus. Having driven a "luxury" brand, there is definitely a difference and I wouldn't mind the extra cost if it was in line with my income. Looking successful can be a big component of being successful.

For me, it's all about transportation and function, not fashion. I drive a minivan and don't mind a bit.

We paid cash for it, and that matters a great deal more to me than making a fashion statement with it!

i bought a really cool car in '05. an infiniti fx35. so i have been driving it to death. bought it cash so owed nothing. but it has gone downhill last few years. i really want a toyota sequoia for next year but I am thinking about leasing it. all my friends lease their cars. so, hm maybe

For me the car must fit my needs and budget. I currently drive a 05 Land Rover LR3 that we purchased this past January after my 02 Ford Explorer with 170K miles on it was going to cost us more in repairs than it was worth. We paid cash for the LR3 it had 66K miles on it and is the most solid, well build car I have ever drivien. I can easily expect to keep this car for another 100k plus miles based on how well built it is. To the poster who wonders how much debt people are in who own "those types of cars" my DH and I only have our morgage and his truck note that will be paid off in about 8 months. Since we paid cash for the LR3 there is no payment there, yes the cost of driving this car is more expensive due to the fact that parts are imported and it takes premium fuel but it is still cheaper per month than if I had gotten a car that we had to take a loan out on. So that being said we are still able to provide a comfortable lifestyle and do things that are important like maintaining our home, funding college for our LOs even though we own "one of those cars". BTW we are a singel income family as well.