Car buying: New vs. pre-owned

78

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Curious what your preference is and why, not just from a financial perspective but also in terms of the shopping process.

I’ve bought many a new car over the years but have never ordered one to spec. On the other hand, there’s something about finding a perfect pre-owned spec that I find enormously satisfying. It’s like finding a leather glove in pristine condition that fits to perfection.
 

Detroitgator

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Curious what your preference is and why, not just from a financial perspective but also in terms of the shopping process.

I’ve bought many a new car over the years but have never ordered one to spec. On the other hand, there’s something about finding a perfect pre-owned spec that I find enormously satisfying. It’s like finding a leather glove in pristine condition that fits to perfection.
I bought my Raptor used, but Ford certified. Had everything I wanted and 31,000 miles. It now has 170,000 miles.
 

78

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I bought my Raptor used, but Ford certified. Had everything I wanted and 31,000 miles. It now has 170,000 miles.

That obviously worked out well.
 

Detroitgator

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That obviously worked out well.
Ive found that with certain, especially higher cost, vehicles, if you get a certified used vehicle still under warranty (and I had Ford dealership go 50/50 with me on top tier extended at purchase), I think you are pretty safe as most of the higher end vehicles were properly serviced/maintained by owner.
 

78

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Ive found that with certain, especially higher cost, vehicles, if you get a certified used vehicle still under warranty (and I had Ford dealership go 50/50 with me on top tier extended at purchase), I think you are pretty safe as most of the higher end vehicles were properly serviced/maintained by owner.

Agree. An extended factory warranty beats the crap out of an after-market service plan that chews you down on parts and labor via “average national” pricing stipulations and necessitates an inspection every time the repair exceeds $1,000. Every repair on an R8 no matter how simple exceeds $1,000.
 

Detroitgator

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Agree. An extended factory warranty beats the crap out of an after-market service plan that chews you down on parts and labor via “average national” pricing stipulations and necessitates an inspection every time the repair exceeds $1,000. Every repair on an R8 no matter how simple exceeds $1,000.
Yup, they are the only warranties I ever buy especially because I keep vehicles for 10 years. Given that timeline, I can guarantee you I recoup my $2500. I got four new shocks/struts for my Raptor at 135,000 miles, no questions asked, Ford replaced them.
 

78

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Yup, they are the only warranties I ever buy especially because I keep vehicles for 10 years. Given that timeline, I can guarantee you I recoup my $2500. I got four new shocks/struts for my Raptor at 135,000 miles, no questions asked, Ford replaced them.

Struts huh? That’s a wear item. Nice to get that covered.
 
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I brought a new Toyota Camry in 2007 (approx. $27,000)when I was 69 years old and would have kept it the rest of my life as it had low mileage, but grandson totaled it this year. Loved that car. I then bought a certified pre-owed 2014 Toyota Corolla in perfect condition with 50,000 miles (approx. $11,200)and I really like this car too as it suits my needs now. I didn't want to spend a lot of money as I no longer drive out of about a 10 mile area and am now nearly 83 & probably won't drive at all in just a couple of years. So, guess new or used would depend upon your age, your finances and uses and type of car desired. I fortunately have had good luck with both.
 

78

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No idea why you’d buy a new, spec vehicle unless money isn’t an issue like with @bradgator2 , @Concrete Helmet, @divits or @78. The depreciation is real but also the issues with wear and tear.

Some people, esp those who lease, do so in order to ensure always being in a car under the factory warranty. It’s expensive, though, because you’re always trading during the steepest dip in the depreciation curve.
 

CDGator

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Funny story.
We were looking for a Toyota Tundra 4 door 4x4 to pull our camper. I mentioned it on another previously great message board and someone had one sitting in their driveway that was just shipped over from Hawaii the week before. It was 10 years old and had under 45,000 miles. It was very well taken care off and a perfect find. Bizarre and serendipitous series of events happened and they had to sell it. Long story short, I flew with the kids down to Ft Lauderdale to have lunch with @Blonde Gator and drive this cream puff back home.

We’ve driven it across the eastern US on many adventures over the past few years.
 

Concrete Helmet

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So many variables that it really boils down to individual needs vs market on preferred make and model. Then throw in the finance vs cash vs depreciation vs trade value....yada yada yada.
In my personal case I prefer to buy daily drivers new because I plan on keeping them for a long period of time(2015 Tundra & 2018 GT).

Now in the case of my next targeted "fun" or weekend semi daily driver, 2016-2018 ZO6 Vette or 2017-2019 Shelby GT350, it will only be used because come April-June there will be some broke MFer's looking to offload what they shouldn't have bought in the first place or dealers who are tired of seeing their used inventory tied up by a large piece such as those mentioned when inexpensive inventory is what is selling....I've bought and owned 8 boats in my life and have ALWAYS bought going into an economic turndown...high end cars are very similar.
 

Blonde Gator

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Funny story.
We were looking for a Toyota Tundra 4 door 4x4 to pull our camper. I mentioned it on another previously great message board and someone had one sitting in their driveway that was just shipped over from Hawaii the week before. It was 10 years old and had under 45,000 miles. It was very well taken care off and a perfect find. Bizarre and serendipitous series of events happened and they had to sell it. Long story short, I flew with the kids down to Ft Lauderdale to have lunch with @Blonde Gator and drive this cream puff back home.

We’ve driven it across the eastern US on many adventures over the past few years.

LOL, CD, I still wish I'd bought it myself, although I absolutely didn't need a big truck like that...but it's a beaut and was fun to drive!

I've bought my last three vehicles from an off-lease place, no probs at all. All low mileage, high end options, under warranty still....let someone else eat that nasty first year's depreciation! I'd do it again, too.
 

CDGator

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LOL, CD, I still wish I'd bought it myself, although I absolutely didn't need a big truck like that...but it's a beaut and was fun to drive!

I've bought my last three vehicles from an off-lease place, no probs at all. All low mileage, high end options, under warranty still....let someone else eat that nasty first year's depreciation! I'd do it again, too.

We’ve only had one issue with the truck and it was weird. Something to do with a small hole in the gas line causing the check engine light to come on last year. Seedy researched it and the answer was to replace the line. A local shop quoted $1,000. Seedy found the tiny hole in the line and plugged it with gorilla glue. It’s worked fine ever since. :lol:

We sold the camper this summer while the market was hot! After 5 years of use we only lost a few thousand on it and made tons of great memories. On to the next adventure.
 

BNAG8R

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We’ve only had one issue with the truck and it was weird. Something to do with a small hole in the gas line causing the check engine light to come on last year. Seedy researched it and the answer was to replace the line. A local shop quoted $1,000. Seedy found the tiny hole in the line and plugged it with gorilla glue. It’s worked fine ever since. :lol:

We sold the camper this summer while the market was hot! After 5 years of use we only lost a few thousand on it and made tons of great memories. On to the next adventure.

Sold camper. :eek3::cry2:
 

bradgator2

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Cars are not a "thing" to me. I dont have multiple, I dont collect them, they are not a status symbol. I keep them a fairly long time. Usually up to the point where it is a balancing act with real maintenance issues.

Therefore, I buy new and enjoy every second of newness. When I decide to get a new one, I know what I want and I go buy it. I bought my 3rd vehicle in the past 20 years in 2018.

Besides, I dont want a front seat that is pre-loaded with someone else's beer farts.
 

Concrete Helmet

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Besides, I dont want a front seat that is pre-loaded with someone else's beer farts.
The 2002 Toyota Tacoma that I traded on my Tundra was an absolute rolling gas chamber.....those poor cloth seats were permeated with some of the foulest odors known to mankind(that's back when I used to really drink a lot of beer and eat a diet of eggs, turkey and protein shakes)I will still fart in my Tundra with leather seats but I will not fart in my Shelby...It just feels wrong kinda like farting in a girls face when she's going down on you...:lol:
 

Nalt

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Funny story.
We were looking for a Toyota Tundra 4 door 4x4 to pull our camper. I mentioned it on another previously great message board and someone had one sitting in their driveway that was just shipped over from Hawaii the week before. It was 10 years old and had under 45,000 miles. It was very well taken care off and a perfect find. Bizarre and serendipitous series of events happened and they had to sell it. Long story short, I flew with the kids down to Ft Lauderdale to have lunch with @Blonde Gator and drive this cream puff back home.

We’ve driven it across the eastern US on many adventures over the past few years.
Yes, it WAS a great board for a long time. To bad it changed into what it became...
 

78

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Yes, it WAS a great board for a long time. To bad it changed into what it became...

Certainly it couldn’t be THAT bad, Nalt. We’ll keep the light on for you, though.
 

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