• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Buy New Car vs Buying Used Car

constant struggle

Distinguished Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
5,079
Reaction score
112
Gentlemen...

In approx 9 months the lease on my bmw is up and I am in the market for another car... I do not want to lease again as I drive approx 25K miles/year and that is not very lease friendly...

My commute is about 60 miles round trip, not too much traffic overall.

I do not want to spend more than lets say 25-26K and I do get employee discounts through work on almost any brand of car...

Now in terms of new cars... I was thinking a mazda 3 sedan, or a mazda rx8(can get very minimal with employee discount for about 26K)... perhaps a new nissan altima 2.5 (love the new body)

In terms of used cars, I would preferably like a car 3-4 years old with under 30K miles... something that is classic yet sporty ala my current 3 series... if I do get a used car I would like a japanese car as they seem to be more reliable / cheaper to repair... but I am open to other choices...

It is racing through my mind my possible options of what to get...

I've never had a used car in my life...

For reference I will be 25 years old when it is time to get this car.

Any thoughts on some possible options for me? Further thoughts on buying new cars vs used car at this point in life?
 

bdiddy

Active Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2008
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Go with a new Altima. I just got one for 18K and I couldnt be happier. The amount of car you get for the money is incredible. I dont know if youre concerned with gas mileage, but Ive been getting ~32mpg on highway commuting.
 

eqpablon

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
217
Reaction score
3
If you lease from BMW again you'll pay $.15 cent's/mile for the additional 10k miles per year. Find a vehicle whose depriciation and maintenance cost's less than $.15/mile and I'll agree that the higher mileage BMW useage isn't lease friendly. I'd lease another 3/5 series if I were you
smile.gif
 

dave

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2007
Messages
819
Reaction score
7
at 25k a year i would go used w/o a doubt. otherwise you are flushing your $$. the depreciation on a new car is bad enough with 10-15k/yr. At 25k/yr. you'll never be able to unload it if you wanted too.

I'd go for a used V6 Accord or Camry were I you. I assume you arent terribly into cars and are only considering this as transportation though so correct me if I'm wrong. Altimas are a decent choice as well and can be had at REALLY good prices used. I have had 2 Nissans previously and they were both great cars.

All that said, I have an 06 CTS right now with around 40k on it and I freakin LOVE it. it's like an Accord or Camry V6 but reeeeeeeally nice imo. good deals to be had on them as well and with a 5/50k warranty plus and extended warranty if you choose, they're relatively cheap to run. Just a few options.
 

Mauby

Senior Member
Joined
May 17, 2008
Messages
979
Reaction score
0
Maybe a used Acura TL or TSX might work for you, as it's both Japanese & sporty.
 

turboman808

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
856
Reaction score
0
If you put 25k miles on a car a year you should get the cheapest car you can.

If your rich and got to meet with clients then thats another story.
 

zjpj83

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
9,425
Reaction score
28
Originally Posted by Mauby
Maybe a used Acura TL or TSX might work for you, as it's both Japanese & sporty.

I was recently in a friend's TSX and it's really nice. Had GPS, satellite radio, all the bells and whistles. It was a dealer demo with like 2,000 miles on it - thus cheap.
 

Big Pun

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2008
Messages
6,056
Reaction score
896
Buying a new car is worst investment ever, at this point in your life used would probably be best.
 

constant struggle

Distinguished Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
5,079
Reaction score
112
Originally Posted by Rambo
USED! New is a waste of money. I'd look into an 06 or so Lexus IS300. Better engine than the 250 and they're really good drivers. Or an Infinity G35 - 37.

yeah, those 250 suck!
i test drove one around the time i leased my bmw
 

tiecollector

Distinguished Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
6,790
Reaction score
25
Unless it's a Honda or Toyota, you will lose a few grand just by driving it off the lot. I'd get a 2 year old car with not many miles on it. It is fun buy a new car, but I don't know if I'll do it again. I want a WRX, so it may be worth buying new just to make sure the previous owner didn't **** the engine. For a commuter, buy used, for a fun car, it might be worth buying new.

The Altima or Mazda 3 are great cars.
 

Asterix

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
162
Reaction score
0
Besides the economic aspect, with the amount of mileage you put on annually, you are definitely a used car candidate. Go for any of the Japanese ones (Infinity/Nissan, Lexus/Toyota, Acura/Honda or Mazda) for the ease of use and higher reliability.
 

JayJay

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
24,297
Reaction score
439
Originally Posted by Asterix
Besides the economic aspect, with the amount of mileage you put on annually, you are definitely a used car candidate. Go for any of the Japanese ones (Infinity/Nissan, Lexus/Toyota, Acura/Honda or Mazda) for the ease of use and higher reliability.
I tend to agree, but I suggest considering German makes, too.
 

Rambo

Timed Out
Timed Out
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
24,706
Reaction score
1,347
Originally Posted by JayJay
I tend to agree, but I suggest considering German makes, too.
Don't the Germans tend to have more reliability problems when they get up there in mileage?
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 45 40.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 44 39.6%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 5 4.5%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 18 16.2%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 25 22.5%

Forum statistics

Threads
504,422
Messages
10,573,938
Members
223,687
Latest member
corcelleglauru
Top