Car Buying Advice

[Pete Incaviglia]

Okay, I've been thinking of getting a new car for a weeks now.

Here's what we own:
2004 Cavalier. Low mileage. Very low. Great shape. Paid off in full.

2000 Chrysler Cirrus. High mileage. Its only worth is the new set of tires and new used transmission. Paid off in full.

The Cirrus is bigger, four doors and more convenient for hauling Baby Inky around if we have to. The Cavalier is a total pain in the ass for getting Baby Inky into and out of.

Which do I trade in for either a used or new minivan (yes, I want a minivan — and I haven't decided new or used yet)?

I'm not sure if I should trade in the Cavalier, knowing it's worth more and would cut the cost of a new or new used minivan way down. But then I'm stuck with a car that may go at any moment. And, I'm keeping the car that's worse on gas.

If I trade in the Cirrus, I'm stuck with a car that's too small for me (6'7" 315 pounds) — but its better on gas.

I'm not sure what to do.

 

[User 1019]

Damned if you do. Damned if you don't, sounds like, to me.

I'd probably get rid of the Cav.

 

[jps]

My vote goes to keeping the Cavalier -- baby's gonna go into the mini anyway, right? So keep the one that gets you solid mileage.

That is, of course, if you can deal with the small cockpit.

 

[User 1019]

I must retract my post. I just reread your info, Inc. I originally thought the Cav was better on gas. Naw, man. **** that. Drop the Cav on the new van. The money you save by getting rid of it (although it won't be recognized in a true cash flow), you'll be able to use to fix the Cirrus.

 

[User 1019]

Also, I don't know what type of car research you do, but consumer reports has a tremendous car buying guide for like 24 bucks.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

Also, I don't know what type of car research you do, but consumer reports has a tremendous car buying guide for like 24 bucks.

I highly, highly recommend this. The again, I don't buy anything costing more than about $100 without consulting CR. Just bought a new car with the help of a lot of research and feel great about the car and what I paid for it.

 

[OTD]

Pete:

I worry about the Cirrus. True, the transmissions were a weak spot, but I'd be worried that the rest of it's going belly up soon.

When you say the Cav is too small, can you not fit in it at all, or is it good enough for a short drive to work? I'd trade the Cirrus if you can make the Cav work for you at all.

Also, check your PMs.

 

[qtlaw]

Drop the weaker car. It will drop any second and the minute you do, you are paying out the nose to Vinnie to get it fixed until the next problem comes up 6 mos. later.

As for minivans, we got a Sienna in '05 and we cannot be happier (middle of the road version LE, not XLE). It runs beautifully and is solid. Even three years later, nothing has gone, no nagging little niggling problems. Sounds just the same as the day we brought it home.

Its the only new car I've bought in the past 20 years. I've had great luck with buying used cars 1-3 years old. Do your research and you can still get a great deal; still get a car with the new car smell while saving the premium on a "new" car. Set up the loan with your bank ahead of time and buy from a private party. Good luck.

 

[playthrough]

As a longtime connoiseur of horse**** Chrysler products, I'd say ditch the Cirrus too. Not seeing any upside if it's high mileage. Find a dealer who will give you a generous price and fire away.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

I've had great luck with buying used cars 1-3 years old. Do your research and you can still get a great deal; still get a car with the new car smell while saving the premium on a "new" car. Set up the loan with your bank ahead of time and buy from a private party. Good luck.

Really good advice, but anyone in the market should consider that this might be one time to make an exception. It's an amazingly good time to buy a new car, because they are desperate and have overproduced for the model year. I just got a car for almost $10K (!) under sticker, with 2.9 financing. I literally couldn't buy a two-year-old version of the same car that cheap.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Trade the Cirrus, Pete.

1) The Cavalier is better on gasoline.
2) The Cirrus has the rebuilt transmission.
3) You would come out with two more dependable vehicles than before the transaction.
4) I would strongly assume that the baby will likely take the majority of rides in the van, where the extra room and convenience for a baby seat will come in handy. To boot, you can use the Cavalier for more long-distance driving that doesn't involve the little one, helping your mileage.

I would strongly suspect that the difference in headroom and legroom between the Cavalier and Cirrus isn't that significant (easy for me to say, I know ... I'm also not nearly as large as you are). It's not like the Cirrus is incredibly roomy and such.

As for minivans, I would look at the Honda Odyssey or something from the MoPar line. Those two are far ahead of the minivan pack. Hondas aren't cheap, but they're bulletproof and the Odyssey my parents have handles and does the automotive-type of stuff well for a minivan. MoPar keeps pushing the envelope with the minivan as the innovator of the category and continues to be a strong performer for families.

Good luck.

 

[FileNotFound]

My wife is on her third Dodge Caravan, and we've never had a serious problem. Leased the first, and traded the second for the third when the former hit 120,000 miles (not because of anything mechanical, but because it had five years of baby-smell and dog-smell and spilled-apple-juice smell).

Also worth noting that she's had medium-severity accidents in two of them and walked away with nary a scratch.

 

[The Granny]

My wife is on her third Dodge Caravan, and we've never had a serious problem. Leased the first, and traded the second for the third when the former hit 120,000 miles (not because of anything mechanical, but because it had five years of baby-smell and dog-smell and spilled-apple-juice smell).

Also worth noting that she's had medium-severity accidents in two of them and walked away with nary a scratch.

Remember when we didn't discuss mini-vans? Sigh ... :'(

 

[rascalface]

Really good advice, but anyone in the market should consider that this might be one time to make an exception. It's an amazingly good time to buy a new car, because they are desperate and have overproduced for the model year. I just got a car for almost $10K (!) under sticker, with 2.9 financing. I literally couldn't buy a two-year-old version of the same car that cheap.

Unless you're looking for a Prius or other compact hybrid. They can't keep them in stock right now.

 

[MacDaddy]

Ditch the Cirrus. And sell it privately; don't trade it. They'll offer you about five bucks in trade, and while you're not going to get rich selling it on your own, you should at least get something.

As for the minivan, get an Odyssey, either new or gently used.

 

[I Digress]

Love the Odyssey.. crappy gas mileage though.. otherwise, terrific car

 

[bigpern23]

Whichever car you decide to give up, sell it yourself. It's a bit of a hassle, but you get so much more for it, it's worth it. In 2005, I sold my 1994 Mustang convertible for $2,500 when the dealer was offering me $1,000 on the trade. That extra $1,500 was quite handy (I also had aftermarket wheels that I took off the car and sold separately for $800, so I made a nice little chunk of change off the car).

 

[93Devil]

Sell it yourself and walk over to CarMax if they are in your area.

The Consumer Reports is gold.

Buy a Honda, Toyota or a Nissan if you can swing it.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

After long thought all night and this morning, I'm keeping the Cavalier.

It's cheaper on gas and has LOTS of life left (at one stop, my wife worked across the street from our apartment, so it's in very, very good shape). I can use it for work, to save gas seeing as I need a car to do my job. And, if that's all I'm using it for, I can survive.

I'm going to ditch the Cirrus, but not until I get my money's worth out of its new tires (bought in November) and new used transmission ($1,200 in February). I hope it lasts through the winter.

I figure it's better to have two reliable cars than one great one, which we'd be paying on, and one ****ty one that can go at a moment's notice.

I was going to get a new minivan this month, before we take a vacation in June. But, I figure we have zero payments on either car at the moment and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

I figure September this year, as is the case every year, will be ripe with tons of lots looking to move cars cheap — given the economy and all.

And if not, I'll wait through the winter and buy used (a two or three year old minivan) in the late winter/early spring.

I haven't said it yet but I ****ing HATE buying cars.

And I haven't said this yet either: Thanks to all.

 

[dixiehack]

Go ahead and start making a monthly car "payment" into a savings/money market account now. When the Chrysler goes tits up, you'll have enough for a sweet down payment or maybe even to pay cash if you're lucky.