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How much did you spend on vehicle maintenance to get your vehicles running? How much to maintain them? How much in gas? How much time have you spent either fixing them or taking them to be fixed?

Sure, this is a way you can go.

But at some point you may find that your 2003 Expedition costs you more per month to MAINTAIN than a car payment on a decent new vehicle.

I've spent 1000 to replace tires since I've had it. You can be safe and get a loan, or research the problems a vehicle has and find a well maintained one.

Repairs so far? $0. Not sure why you asked about gas since that varies even with newer cars. I obviously know what kind of MPG to expect in a large SUV.

YMMV means your experience is not the experience everyone will have.

Well aware. But you didn't say YMMV my guy.

Dipshitzu boy, it’s on the car invoice. Right under the estimated miles per gallon.

I realize you want to pretend that your method of vehicle purchasing is THE WAY TO GO but it’s not, and this is less a life pro tip and more a brag post about how you don’t spend money on cars.

I mean, cool, but you could have said the same thing with buying an e-bike or public transportation and it would have been equally as useful and universally applicable to everyone’s situation.

If you are spending an average of a couple thousand dollars per year buying a used car, this adds up to be about the same as buying a new car and keeping it for 10+ years. A new car will last longer than a used car and will be more reliable.

I think the only benefit of a used car is that the environmental impact of making a new car is much more than repairing a used car.

What are you trying to say. Try thinking before you submit. You're flipping between experience in vehicle purchases, and actual "milage may vary".

I'd like to have this conversation, but you aren't being very clear.

Really simple. I’ll break it down for you.

You. Are. Bragging.

Not. Giving. Good. Advice.

This. Tip. Is. Bad.

You. Cannot. Read. Sentences.

After having been stranded on the side of the road one too many times- which it’s NEVER convenient, I had my truck towed to a local mechanic. He wanted 10k to repair the vehicle, which I only paid 8k for. I told him to kick rocks and traded in the POS ($7500 trade in value, not bad for non running) toward a new truck with the extended warranty and maintenance plan.

Sometimes you are paying for piece of mind, knowing if ever something does happen, you’ll be set. I had a check engine light come on about 2 years after ownership and took it in. It was jacking up due to a failed spark plug. not sure what the bill is on that (not just changing the plug but the cascade of problems related) but I paid ZERO.

Also this was a vehicle purchased for a business, so essentially I pre-paid for the oil changes etc.

there comes a point where you have to do what makes sense for you. if you like saving a few bucks driving a bucket of rust that’s fine. I’ll take my new car and enjoy my sack lunch, thanks.

This is a somewhat fair point. However a new large SUV (4 kids and me and missus) is around 80k.

80,000/10 is 8000. In 10 years I've spent maybe 6k, including repairs. That's less in 10 years than one year with the new vehicle. Not even counting interest.

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Nah, you being incoherent and not liking being told that. This isn't bragging. Your comment history shows your a contrary person so I won't bother with you.

Some people do need car loans because they dont want to spend 3k for an old beat up ford expedition in so called "good condition"which isnt something you would be able to see from a layman's point of view unless you think clean seats and no leaks means its "good condition"

This comment has since been heavily edited. Just FYI for people.

That's by choice BTW. Been saving to upgrade. Also having kids forced a vehicle change, and I've taken in my niece and nephew which forced a bigger vehicle.

A sentence added is not “heavily edited” unless you can’t read.

This is also a fair point. However, unless your buying absolute brand new or a used vehicle with a warranty still, I can't imagine spending 10s of thousands of dollars on a vehicle.

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Good tip, I haven't had a car payment in 10 years. The catch is I do most of the work needed myself (Mostly simple stuff like plugs or oil).

Bought a $2500 truck, put tires on it, replaced heater core and plugs, still going strong after 2 years and still looks good. Just bought an old van for $1600, I'm going to turn it into a camper. Now I have a fleet!

If i didn't have the tools or know how to fix them then I would buy a slightly more expensive used car but I wouldn't even consider a new car, it is a waste of money IMO.

I don't necessarily agree with OPs advice (because of maintenance issues that can arise despite research) but e-bikes and public transportation are not the same as a used car. A used car is still a car and much more useful when you have to transport goods a long distance. A car is almost necessary in rural places with poor public transportation access.

This is good advice with a caveat. It doesn't apply if you put a lot of miles on your vehicle, or if you're sourcing your vehicle from rust belt areas. You mentioned Ford expedition, you will have ball joints coming up, upper and lower. Do not wait on those. Keep an eye on your sway bar mounts.

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40 years old and also have never bought a new car in my life.

I find really good cars at a fair price and have been lucky enough to not have them nickel and dime me to death. I currently own a 2000 Chevy S-10 and 2004 Kia Rio, both just passed smog with flying colors.

I am far from resembling a mechanic, some of us folks just choose to be more frugal and responsible when it comes to living within our means.

I agree completely. Its just about what makes you happy if it doesnt break you.

Cool. And good for you!

But it’s not the same for everyone, is it? And when your vehicle operating expenses exceed the maintenance budget, what will you do with your used cars?

Nobody is telling you not to buy a used car.

However, there’s a myopia that you and the OP have in which you assume your situation is universal to everyone out there. This is not a pro life tip. It’s not even a life tip. It’s a financial option for frugal living.

Very few people I know in the lower to mid six figure salary bracket think buying a used car is a great idea. More people in the mid to lower five figure think it’s great.

It depends entirely on whether your time is more valuable to you. And for you, it seems to be that you’re willing to spend more time to get a better deal. Cool.

Not everyone is willing to do that.

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If you are using USD, 80k is a very expensive SUV. New 2023 Toyota 4Runners start at less than $40k.

Ouch, the projecting from a point of jealousy and envy is quite pathetic.

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Yikes, what a douchebag trying extremely hard to feel better about his life choices by disparaging others’.

Not the part I had an issue with. Let's extend that quote a bit further.

"equally as useful and universally applicable"

My whole comment was about used cars having application for people in rural areas that public transit and e-bikes don't.

I bought a brand new car. I did my research to make sure it was fuel efficient, reliable, and had features I would utilize. I am working hard to pay it off asap, and then I will keep it until it literally falls apart. In my opinion, this is the way to do it. I know for a fact it’s getting the maintenance required at a quality level, and I have a damn good warranty in case by chance I got a lemon. My cousin just bought a used car and has already paid 2x what he paid for the car in repairs in the last 6 months, and with the total he could’ve bought the same car I got brand new.

You can save even more money by not having 4 kids

Those days are gone my friend. Its easier to buy new used trucks were going for more than new ones recently

So you spent 20 grand for 4 shitty cars over 10 years. I spent 20 grand for 1 good car over 10 years.

Stop teaching people how to be poor.

I never said I spent 5k each time. In another comment I say I've spent 6k in 10 years.

This advice isn't for 6 figure income lmao.

Edit; forgot the 6

I'm not sure that a 4R can fit 8 or 9. Either way, I want to be able to seat everyone while still having back storage.

Edit: standard seating is 5. Optional 3rd row but no room and almost no storage. Not idea.

I occasionally have to drive 9 people around at one time. I can seat 9 if I have to. 3 seats up front, 3 in mid, 3 in back. The center console fold up to produce a seat.

Clearly.

It’s for people who have more time than money, not less.

I'm am watching the ball joints carefully. I've already had estimates. Sway bars are fine. Rust is minimal being southern Indiana. Could be better, could be worse.

All in all I'll likely spend 3k for vehicle, 1k for tires and sensors (has a spare tire pressure sensor!), and 2k for ball joints and control arms. I'll likely do the ball joints next year, so 4 years will be 6k. But from there easily get 3 or 4 more years.

Oil changes are scheduled at my favorite shop. $40 full synthetic for my expy can't be beat doing it myself.

2 are mine. The other two I decided to take in to prevent them going "into the system". Yeah, my choice, but I stand by it.

damn bro the comments are tearing you up. I agree and it is all relative. I think car loans are crap too unless you get a good deal 1-4% apr, 3 yrs max loan , etc

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this sounds dorky but when it comes to cars you should be trying to get the safest car you can possibly afford. There are so many fucking morons out there. Next time you're driving around look closely at other people on the road and see how many of them are texting or messing around with their phones. It's like 60% of drivers.

Your gas mileage is like worse than the new car.

I spend less on my car payment than I was in gas on my old 1999 Avalon each month. Bought a brand new 2022 corrola hybrid

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I think you mean that YOU don’t need car loans. Those of us who can’t afford to pay cash for the cars we want, need car loans. Seriously.

If you can't afford 1500 for a used car, your almost certainly paying way more that you should. Try to take your tax return if possible to pay for it. Once you have a cheaper running car you can save up easier.

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You would enjoy r/personalFinance :)

Great tip. My parents had a new car every 4 years (2 - 1 each) and never paid them off. I’m disgusted to think what that cost their retirement but won’t be me.

I wander there, along with /r/povertyfinance and /r/frugal

European guy here. I started with a $ 500,- car 25 years ago. And saved money to trade in for a bigger car every couple of years. Now I buy a $ 40.000,- car and never had a loan or pay interest. Worked for me!

“Old beat up” need not apply to a mid 2000s vehicle. I bought a 2006 Toyota in 2015 for $6k and it’s still looking just fine and is not beat up or rusty.

im on that same boat i currently own 3 cars that i’ve bought for 5k and none have left me stranded and i’ve owned them for years while i have multiple friends who have been doing payments on new cars with more issues in one car than i’ve had on all 3 of mine combined

after the car is paid off and starts needing maintenance, will you do that? or buy a new car all over again to ''avoid'' said maintenance?

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I guess it depends. I put the term maintenance into the category of routine needs of the vehicle (oil changes, air filters, etc.) If a part goes out here or there, sure, I’d fix it. Once it starts leaving me stranded, or I don’t hold much trust into its reliability, then I’d look at other options. If maintained correctly, I’m far from that position.