What kind of car do you drive?

[rodi]

Me - 2006 Highlander Hybrid (bought in 2005 when it first came out). Good family car for long drive vacations, etc.

DH - 1995 Dodge Ram PU. It doesn't seat all 4 of us since it's a standard cab - but we've dealt with that for the 12 years since we had our second child. It's reliable and I can't justify the cost of a new car while it's so darn reliable. And PUs are convenient to have.

At some point we'll get a plug in car of some kind. Like Major Tom - if we had a budget of $60k we'd seriously look at the Tesla. Instead the Nissan Leaf is in the running for "next car". (Our budget for next car is $30k.) The tesla sure checks off all my boxes for what I want in a car (except price).

 

[bingybear]

2009 Mazda 5 (wife)
2005 Nissan Sentra

ultra high end I know... but that is what we drive

likely will get a subaru outback or forester if either of these die... maybe 5 or 10 years from now..or longer

Its always a trade of what you can afford and what opportunity you'll give up when you afford.

 

[golfnut]

Me - 2004 Acura TL with manual trans. 79,000 miles - Bought new. Great car. Cons - Premium Gas.

DW - 2009 Saturn Vue (with v6) 35,000 miles - Bought new- Served us well so far.

Mpierce - Interested in a Volkswagen GTI as I love manual trans (like you). Just wondering how much $$ they are.

 

[foxfirev5]

DW 2005 Lexus ES - 90k miles, bought new and just put new tires and brakes
Me - 2005 Chevy Equinox = 150k miles , lots of systems - A/C, check engine, etc don't work. Looking to replace when I lose my company vehicle at ER.

 

[Mr. Paul]

We're different than most folks here, in just about every category one can imagine, except ER

1998 4Runner, 206K
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel, 125K

Whenever we leave our place we drive 5 mi of dirt road to get out (and return). We use our vehicle to adventure on 4WD routes in the mountains. The 98 4Runner has the highest ground clearance of any 4Runner body style. We got stuck on a trail last fall and when I backed into a tree it was good for a "whoops" and a chuckle.

The truck is also 4WD and we use it to adventure in our truck camper.

I've done the german car thing and it was good but that was a lifetime ago.

Life is good.

 

[ls99]

95 Jaguar XJ6
99 GMC suburban 7.4 engine
98 GMC pickup 5.0 winter beater.

DW has 2013 Caddy AWD

 

[Midpack]

2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2012 Toyota Prius

We went through our flashy car phase 1988 thru 2001. Now we're trying to cure ourselves of flashy boats.

 

[poorcarver]

2010 Hyundai Elantra purchased new at around $17,000 all in
1999 Acura with 167k still runs good used around town.

 

[photoguy]

What kind of car do I drive? One that gets me where I want to go. Why would anyone drive anything else?

That's what i think as well, but after living in LA I can understand why people want a nicer car -- because they spend so much time in it.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Sine the 1990s I've tried to find well-depreciated BMWs or Mercedes that were treated with kid gloves by the previous owners. I've had pretty good luck with that practice -- my one misstep was when I strayed with an Audi, a money pit built with components that simply weren't designed to last. Since then, whenever I'm tempted by a VW product I look at the brand's reliability record and I regain my senses.

My latest acquisition may be the best, a 1995 BMW 540i I got in late 2005 with 84000 miles on it and a new short block at 62K. Mileage currently stands at 256,000. I have done a lot of work on it, but it has let me down on the road just once, when the fuel pump died at just over 200K. My fault -- I should have anticipated it was near the end of its service life and replaced it before it failed.

My wife has a 2007 Prius Touring edition, and the family backup vehicle is a 2005 Ford Ranger FX4.

 

[cooch96]

2004 Acura RSX-S, manual transmission of course. Bought new for $21k. I've driven it across country a couple of times and it still handles as well as the day I bought it. part of me wants to keep it until it's a classic and has a million miles on it, but if it gets totaled, I'll likely replace it with a Miata.

I remember at the time people made fun of me for buying a new car when I could've gotten a used at a third the price, but my luxury/sporty Acura continues to give me joy and pride of ownership. And $21k seems pretty reasonable now.

Do a cost benefit analysis. If $60k can bring you more life satisfaction somewhere else, than go spend it there. If not, go for it! You only live once.

The next vehicle I plan on buying is a heavy duty F150 (3/4 ton performance in a 1/2 ton body, with a half ton price tag) as my RV. Currently all my trucking needs are done by renting from Uhaul or bumming the neighbor's rig, but this isn't practical for anything more than a few hours.

 

[GreenER]

Cars to me are all about utility. I want something reliable, affordable and fuel efficient. Currently I have a Prius bought used a few years ago. I am very happy with it and it holds more than the Forester I used to own. It's managed the same type forest service roads that I took the Subaru on. So far so good in the little bit of snow we've had. Saved $1000 in gas money the first year! I would love to get electric next time but first need the driving range extended and for prices to come down. Solar would be nice!

 

[pullmyfinger]

1994 Honda Civic. The only car I have ever owned. I bought it new right before I went to Officer Training School. It was shipped back and forth to Germany while I was assigned there. It has given me no trouble at all. At this point I would feel guilty getting rid of it while it is still so reliable. Yes, it does look old and I feel a little self conscious sometimes. I did FIRE last fall at 45........I think my minimal spending on vehicles helped. Also buying a new car at a dealer was such an unpleasant experience that I was not tempted to do it again.

 

[calmloki]

2000 BMW 528it wagon, 317,000 miles, auto, a great cruiser and load up to go N or S rig.

1998 BMW 318ti hatch, 248,000 miles, stick, huge cloth "California" sunroof. Low on power and loud, feels like you are going faster than you are, which makes it fun. Cheaper on gas, a good California close range car.

An '89 BMW E30 stick with 225,000 up north as the second car.

All purchased very very used.

 

[HFWR]

2011 Prius


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[ERhoosier]

Late model popular-make mid-size sedan. Most competitive segment of the car market so best bang-for-the-buck. And easiest to get repaired as parts (and mechanic experience) are more reasonably priced and readily available (now and years in future).
And, when loaded with options, today's best are very near luxury sedan nice. Unless a "bling" nameplate is worth the extra 4-figures $$.....being a target for street thugs.

IMHO- With the skyrocketing cost of major repairs (and overpriced dealer-only parts), owning an older car is a bit of a crap shoot unless you do your own maint/repairs. I've had many friends & relatives spend far more in repairs on their older rides than I've lost in depreciation over the same period. And an 8-10+yr old vehicle (generally) lacks the safety features of newer cars (often reflected in higher medical liability insurance).
Although I must admit to having bought a new car or 2 over the years, the "best" buy is prob a 2-3 yr sedan from a reliable maker in exc condition with low miles. Generally a nice ride with current technologies (safety, fuel efficiencies, etc) but avoiding the biggest depreciation hit. I've seen too many 1 yr old cars that seem to be recycled lemons.

 

[InTheSticks]

2009 Cadillac CTS. Love it. Good power and handling. Also, lots of leg room.

 

[Lakedog]

2007 Honda Element EX with 58k miles, great travel and dog rig as I leave the rear seats out 99% of the time, lots of cargo space. Will keep it at least until my old lab is gone.

 

[DFA]

Me, 2014 ZL1 Camaro and 1998 Toyota Pickup
DW, 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman

 

[travelover]

1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. Did I mention that I'm a millionaire? Pass the Grey Poupon.

 

[W2R]

1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. Did I mention that I'm a millionaire? Pass the Grey Poupon.

2015 Lamborghini convertible, but I can't trailer it behind my gigantic RV because the boat is so big. So, I just leave it parked in its garage at my [-]second[/-] third home in Paris. Did I mention that I'm a billionaire? I have a dozen cases of Grey Poupon right here so of course you can have one.

Oh, I admit it, I'm just pulling your leg, teasing. I just couldn't resist. I heard somewhere that I can be anyone I want to be on the internet.

 

[Raygun99]

2010 Prius paid cash. 2011 Prius 5 yr finance at zero pct interest one year left plan to keep both min 3 more years pending new tech for plug in types. drive a restored 1952 Ford F1 for fun nice days and local bigger hauling requirements local nursery etc.


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[Ronstar]

2009 F150 and 2001 Corvette


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[W2R]

What kind of car do I drive? One that gets me where I want to go. Why would anyone drive anything else?

Actually, that's the exact same kind of car that I drive!

It's not really a Lamborghini at all but I couldn't resist saying it was, in my previous post. It's just a practical car that has enough room in it for hurricane evacuation stuff.

 

[slowsaver]

2009 Honda Fit Sport. My DH and I share it. Mostly it sits in the garage while we both ride our bikes to work, shopping, etc.

If it rains, I drive the car and he bikes to work. Says be doesn't mind at all. *Shrug*