I HATE CARS!!!

Ugh, I hear ya.  When my younger sibs moved out and went to college, my dad sold us the car they used in high school (funny since I *never* had a car when I lived at home and was not even allowed to drive my dad's!).  They wanted $600 so I figured, whatever.  We paid for transferring the titles, insuring the car, and putting new plates on it.  Shortly after, three major things broke costing us more like $800 so I paid my mom $100 and told her she'll have to wait for the rest, the car is a lemon and we just paid more than what it was worth to fix it!  So I still owe my mom $500...  This is in addition to over $1400 we have spent on our other beater than is only worth about $1200.

The best was when one car was in for a major repair, DH drove the other (the one we bought from my parents) to pick me up at the repair lot and on the way home the ENTIRE exhaust system just fell off that car!  So we drove it a few blocks back, left it in the repair lot next to our other POS car and called my dad for a ride.
 

Now, you know why I found it cheaper to buy a new car (2007 Pontiac Vibe.)

With my old truck, I had a rebuilt motor put in last year to the tune of $2,600. Then the transmission was acting up. The A/C was a fond, distant memory. For all the money I have put in it and would continue to put in it, I could have something new with a warranty (full extended warranty, including a pay-off in case I die. If I die, the warranty pays off the car and gives it to my wife.) For $372.10 a month. My truck traded in at $1,300 thanks to the rebuilt motor. And I put down about $1,000 cash. Plus, I'm old and married and have excellent credit with GMAC. So, I got 10.4 percent interest on $15,000.

My new car is a standard transmission which means it will last forever as long as the clutch pack gets replaced when that time comes due. The motor is a Toyota 1.8 L L-4 and gets 33 mpg on the highway. And the factory radio / cd player knocks my socks off.

Here's a tip: buy a foreign car next time. LOL. I know there are a heck of a lot of Ford lovers out there, but the truth is...Ford sucks. At least they did until very very recently. You could probably do well with a new Ford, but no more used ones!

I guess the general advice I could give is that you are going to spend money, no matter what you do. With the amount of money, it is usually better business sense to buy new with a warranty than to buy used and have to keep coughing up cash, from $500 to a couple of grand at a time. As opposed to a smallish, budgetable payment with the relative security of something new that someone else hasn't already run the wheels off of.

Sounds like your alternator went out.  (Isn't that the part that holds the charge?)  Good starter, good battery, plugs and wires probably good....what else is there?  If you know anyone at a parts place they can put an analyzer on it.  They'd have to come to you....  For the most part, it's cheaper in the long run to keep the car you have and fix it.

Ron, I feel like it's a big Catch 22 because if we buy a new/newer used car, we will be paying several hundred dollars a month for years to cover the payments and higher insurance, whereas if we stick with cars that we have already paid off (and are on cheap PLPD), we may have to pay a few hundred here and there but not every month, you know?  If/when I do get another car it will be what I want (probably a Subaru Outback or Forrester unless we go with a mini-van for more dog room) because I'm not paying any sort of loan or lease several hundred a month just to settle on something I don't really like.  I HATE both of the vehicles we have now, they are both the opposite of what we would have picked, but a paid off car is a paid off car... 

Liesje

But a paid off car is a paid off car... 

Exactly how we are around here!! We have also bought a house and getting by ok money wise after we pay the house payment every month. I am a stay at home so right now buying a new car is out of the question. And we both want brand new cars the next time we do get a new car with the way everything cost these days.  That wont be too long though because Samantha will be going to preschool next year!!! 

Years ago I had a second hand beater car......a Fiero GT....need I say more....all I can say is, one morning after a good snow storm it did not start.....the back was covered with snow and DH informed me since the engine and air intake is in the back it wouldn't start ........this car left me stranded alongside the highway in the middle of summer....the fuel gauge wasn't working right....I was afraid to let it go below a 1/4 tank......it was not my favorite car.....lol...but, hey, it was paid off, also......

We have one new car (well it was when we bought it = 2006 Trailblazer) and a used car Grand Prix (bought it when it was 2 years old).  Both of the car payments combined are $515.85 (just wrote the check about 20 minutes ago).  The Grand Prix will be paid off in December and we don't plan on getting anything new until it dies completely.  I figure, if I put the money away each month that I would normally pay for the payment and in three years when it is 10 years old I will have enough to pay cash for another good used vehicle.  Well, at least that's the plan right now. 

The only reason we bought the Trailblazer new was because we got an amazing deal at the end of the model year with retiree discount, and massive incentives (something like $12,000 OTD with w/4 wheel drive).  Of course, we can't afford it drive in any where because it sucks gas, but that's DH's car so it sits in the garage most days or is used to run errands.

P.S. Here's a hint if you are going to by a new vehicle, buy one in November for the previous model year.  The dealerships are usually desparate to get rid of them since the "new new" ones are on the lot and manufacturers usually have excellent incentives...sometimes up to $6000 just to get rid of them.  You may have to sacrifice on a color or some features, but you can usually find amazing deals.

 DH is an auto technician and at his work Explorers are called EXPLODERS! Need I say more?

I drive a Mustang (stick shift) and I love it, but none the less"

FORD = Found On Road Dead

lorib

 DH is an auto technician and at his work Explorers are called EXPLODERS! Need I say more?

I've heard that before too, but we must've gotten lucky. We have a '97 Explorer and the only mechanical problem we've ever had was with the AC a few yrs ago, and that was about $300 to fix. We also had a problem with the 4x4 sensor, but DH was able to devise a fix for that himself. Otherwise, it's been extremely reliable for us.

 Ok I feel like a real dumb***.

Wanna know what was wrong with the explorer? The big tube thing attached to the motor/transmission(?) had come loose and just needed to be put back on and the screws tightened. I even popped the hood and looked around to see if I could find anything that might have come loose. It was right in front of my face and I didnt see it!!! JJ popped the hood and pointed at the tube. How the heck did I miss that?!!!! Gosh I must be blinder than I thought.

JJ just laughed and said "It's ok. You would have seen it if it was furry,had more than 2 legs, a cold wet nose, and barked."

 I hate cars too. That is why I finally bought my first brand new car ever recently. I'm sick of repairs. I want at least 3 yrs of no car repairs.