Monday, November 7, 2011

New Car or Used Car?


This topic is near and dear to me because I have for years been on the USED side of this equation. However, every time I start approaching the 10-12 year old vehicle threshold it becomes a new topic of consideration. In the past it was a pretty clear cut win for the used vehicle because new cars depreciated so quickly. While they certainly drop in value now, we must consider the overall length of ownership piece more these days. While a 1990 car had an expected life of 10 years, today's vehicle seems to be destined for 15 years or more (easy). The only question then becomes, "Will we be able to afford gas 15 years from now?".

This article from AskMen.com does a very good job of spelling out some real world calculations from Edmunds.com to help us make a decision. The main point I glean from the article is, "Never Lease!". Buying new vs. used then comes down to several factors that will depend on YOUR preferences. It is a good read. Even if you are not currently in the market, adding this piece to your knowledge base is well worth your time.

Autopartstomorrow

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