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

Auto Parts for an Opel GT

One of my first learning experiences pertaining to auto parts was during High School when I worked at a full service Chevron gas station in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Back then, service stations not only pumped your gas but would also perform oil changes, tire balancing and rotation, and many other full service auto mechanic car repairs. My job was mainly the light service work, oil changes, pump the gas, collect the money and beginning service writer duties. When someone would drop off their car for repair, I would write their information on the ticket and ask as many related questions as possible so the mechanic could trouble shoot their auto repair as quickly as possible. (Remember- No Cell Phones for quick contact) After the mechanic determined what the issue was, he would give me a list of parts needed and I would call around to try to find them and get the auto parts prices.

A local customer had a really cool 1970 Opel GT, baby blue, with a "When I grow up I want to be a Corvette" bumper sticker. The downside was that it was constantly broken down, parked on the curb and waiting for special order parts that might, or might not, help get it back on the road for another week or two. Although it was a beautiful car, I learned that there are just some cars where the repair cost and availability of auto parts make them fall into my "Cost too much to own" category.

It is funny how certain aspects of our jobs make their way into our everyday life. Since that time I have always considered repair cost and availability of auto parts as a factor in which vehicle to buy. It is probably why I now consider a car to be a functional item rather than a vanity purchase. I suppose I would look at it differently if I had gobs of disposable cash, but for now I will continue to buy used cars that are inexpensive to repair... and drive them until it is time to call the wrecker to pull it to the local "Pull a Part" location.

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