New Car Advice

[Teacher Terry]

I thought I would drive my 17 year old Toyota Corolla until it died but with the repeal of GPO I have decided to buy my last car. The main reason is because I want the new safety features such as the backup camera and blind spot detection.

So I have a couple of decisions to make. I just assumed I would get another Corolla because everyone I know with a Toyota has had no or very few repairs. However, the Honda Civic is also a small car that Edmunds rates as a 8.2 versus 7.4 for Toyota.

I only drive 3k miles per year because I live in town and everything is close. In the past I have bought certified like new cars with low mileage and if I do that I can save 4K. I haven’t had a brand new car in 34 years .

Carmax has a 2022 civic with 31k miles for 23k in a color I love. A new one is 5k more. If I do buy a brand new car I will order it so I get to pick the color. All the ones available even new are silver, black or white all of which I’m sick of.

I’m only going to borrow 10k. I could pay cash for the car but not sure I want to spend that much of my savings. I’m going to gain an extra 1k/month and intend to save money monthly.

If I buy from carmax the interest over 4 years would be 1k. I don’t intend to upgrade my lifestyle but it will be nice not to be on a tight budget. I intend to keep testing clients because I make an extra 8k/year.

So do I buy new or used, finance 10k or pay cash and Corolla versus civic? I’m not open to other brands of cars or bigger or more expensive cars. What say you wise people on here?

Seriously you guys have helped me make some big decisions since my divorce 4 years ago and I really appreciate it. I’m better with money than any of my friends so not asking them for advice. They always ask me.

 

[lakerunner]

I tend to lean towards used cars. But my wife likes new.

Carmax offers a great extended warranty on their cars. Normally, I don't think extended warranties are worth getting. But I have heard really good tings about theirs.

 

[Closet_Gamer]

I would buy used. Given your low driving mileage each year, a car with 30k miles will last forever.

I don’t know what your cash balance is so hard to have an informed view on cash vs finance. That said, there is almost no chance you can earn a higher interest rate on cash than you will pay interest on a car loan. So I’m always biased to paying cash. But if doing that creates risk than a rough patch would cause you to rely on credit card debt, get a car loan and then pay that down as fast as reasonable.

Honda vs Toyota? Coke vs Pepsi. Buy whichever one you like more.

Enjoy the new car!

 

[wrigley]

Check out Hyundai. The safety features are outstanding. The warranty is double most other new car warranties (5-year, 60k mile and 10-year 100,00 mile).

 

[Qs Laptop]

[Looking at Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic.]

I’m not open to other brands of cars

Check out Hyundai.

 

[wrigley]

OP: "The main reason is because I want the new safety features such as the backup camera and blind spot detection."

You seem to always have the need to chime in even when no one is addressing you.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Check out Hyundai. The safety features are outstanding. The warranty is double most other new car warranties (5-year, 60k mile and 10-year 100,00 mile).

That would be the last car I would buy. You would have to give me one for free. The people I know that own them have repairs before they are a year old. My Toyota Corolla has only needed brakes, tires and oil changes and it’s 17 years old.

 

[Murf2]

I would buy used. As far as model choice, I’d recommend you drive both & see if you like one better than the other. I don’t believe there are any significant advantages of one over the other.

Enjoy your “new” car!
Murf

 

[Qs Laptop]

I only drive 3k miles per year because I live in town and everything is close. In the past I have bought certified like new cars with low mileage and if I do that I can save 4K. I haven’t had a brand new car in 34 years .

Carmax has a 2022 civic with 31k miles for 23k in a color I love. A new one is 5k more. If I do buy a brand new car I will order it so I get to pick the color. All the ones available even new are silver, black or white all of which I’m sick of.

You have to weigh the savings of buying a used car with the ability to get what you want if you buy new, but pay more.

Since you drive only 3K miles per year you could save the money and get a used car. However, I wonder about the 2 year old Civic with 31K miles on it. That's a lot of miles for a 2 year old car. I presume most of them were highway miles, but still, it's a lot.

It's probably a fleet rental car. There's good and bad with rental cars--the good is they have likely been maintained well; the bad is that scores of people have driven them and you don't know how they treated the vehicle. Rental cars also tend to get body dings and interior blemishes. Hard to see that on a CarMax website.

Also, the factory warranty will run out in a year on a 2022 Civic.

I would suggest you look for a different used car. Look for one with lower miles and/or a year newer. Take your time and get the color you want.

Side story: My son and his girlfriend went car shopping last week. She was looking at either a new Toyota Rav4 or else a new Toyota Camry. She ended up buying a 2023 Toyota Prius Limited AWD with 14,000 miles on it.

 

[Qs Laptop]

OP: "The main reason is because I want the new safety features such as the backup camera and blind spot detection."

You seem to always have the need to chime in even when no one is addressing you.

It is a forum. No one needs to be directly addressed to post on it.

The OP explicitly said only Toyota or Honda. Toyota and Honda have backup cameras and blind spot detection. Honda is a leader in this area and so is Toyota. So why would you suggest Hyundai?

 

[Teacher Terry]

You have to weigh the savings of buying a used car with the ability to get what you want if you buy new, but pay more.

Since you drive only 3K miles per year you could save the money and get a used car. However, I wonder about the 2 year old Civic with 31K miles on it. That's a lot of miles for a 2 year old car. I presume most of them were highway miles, but still, it's a lot.

It's probably a fleet rental car. There's good and bad with rental cars--the good is they have likely been maintained well; the bad is that scores of people have driven them and you don't know how they treated the vehicle. Rental cars also tend to get body dings and interior blemishes. Hard to see that on a CarMax website.

Also, the factory warranty will run out in a year on a 2022 Civic.

I would suggest you look for a different used car. Look for one with lower miles and/or a year newer. Take your time and get the color you want.

Side story: My son and his girlfriend went car shopping last week. She was looking at either a new Toyota Rav4 or else a new Toyota Camry. She ended up buying a 2023 Toyota Prius Limited AWD with 14,000 miles on it.

Thanks for all the information. Those were all things I hadn’t thought about. I’m definitely going to buy a car that’s in a color I like. I’m tired of not liking the color.

Also there’s a million silver Corollas. I had to put a bumper sticker on so I could tell which car was mine. I’ve tried to use my keys in the wrong car. It didn’t come with a remote. Once I went into the hospital and when I came out there’s 4 other silver Corollas parked around me.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I did consider the Impreza but I don’t know anyone that has owned one long enough to know its reliability. It rates the same as the Corolla on Edmunds.

 

[Sunset]

Are you going to wait until the bill is signed, or count your chickens before they hatch ?

I would look at interest rates offered by dealers, I've noticed some are very low on tv ads, even 0% for 5 years. Then it would be worth it to borrow the entire amount and pay off over 5 years.

Otherwise, if no great rates, a used car, will last you for a decade or two, only danger is getting one with a hidden problem , like maybe has been flooded, etc.

I personally hate buying cars, so not the greatest at it.

 

[Jerry1]

I prefer new but I doubt in your case it would matter. One thing to consider is that with a new car you might be able to get a better deal on financing, bringing total net cost a bit closer. Toyota’s current deal is 4.99% for 60 months. The new car will also have a warranty that lasts longer. More important, to me, would be that you can get exactly the car you want by ordering it if you can’t find exactly what you want on the lot. If it’s your last car, shouldn’t you get exactly what you want? I’d focus on that instead of new vs used. Also, I’d go with the Corolla. You know you like that car and you know it’s reliable.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

I purchased a new 2012 Honda Civic Ex sedan, and it is still a very reliable car with little to no maintenance and have ~180,000 miles on it.
I did have a 1996 Honda Accord Ex model with little to no problems for ~12 years with little to no problems.
I also Had a 2005 Toyota Camary for about 12 years with little to no problems before selling outright.
All have been great cars to own at a reasonable price point.
My 2012 Honda Civic is very nimble and like how it handles curves and the road, so that would be my choice for you if you buy new or used.

 

[wrigley]

That would be the last car I would buy. You would have to give me one for free. The people I know that own them have repairs before they are a year old. My Toyota Corolla has only needed brakes, tires and oil changes and it’s 17 years old.

It is a forum. No one needs to be directly addressed to post on it.

The OP explicitly said only Toyota or Honda. Toyota and Honda have backup cameras and blind spot detection. Honda is a leader in this area and so is Toyota. So why would you suggest Hyundai?

I'll make sure to check with you before posting anything in the future.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Here's something else to consider. Unless you've regularly driven a 5 year old or newer vehicle, the new technology in these cars is going to be perplexing. If I were you I'd go to a local dealer and ask to do a test drive with both Corolla and Civic. Compare the ease of using the touchscreens and safety features. You might find one is easier to use and navigate than the other. In my opinion the Toyota system is more intuitive and easier to use. (My other son has a 2019 Honda Civic and I rented a Camry last year on vacation so I've seen both systems.)

If you test drive them both--and you should--you will get an idea of which one "feels" better to you. How does it handle? Which one is quieter? Do you like the seating position? Are the seats comfortable? How does it shift? Etc.

Another factor is they both likely have start/stop technology. This is a "feature" that turns off the engine when you are stopped (as at a stop sign) and restarts it when you press on the accelerator pedal. It's kind of annoying and it can be turned off, but figured I'd warn you about it.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I'll make sure to check with you before posting anything in the future.

Yeah, I didn't say that. In fact I said no one needed permission to post. But whatevs...

 

[wrigley]

That would be the last car I would buy. You would have to give me one for free. The people I know that own them have repairs before they are a year old. My Toyota Corolla has only needed brakes, tires and oil changes and it’s 17 years old.

Currently driving 2 Hyundai's and had 2 others is the past. Good cars with no issues other than routine maintenance. Good luck with your search.

 

[lauradrops]

I am on my second Honda and love it. This one I bought new but only because the price was right. I think buying a newer pre-owned model is the best bang for your buck. I normally don't buy extended warranties, but I really like Honda Care a lot. The catch is that I buy it online from a Honda dealer (Protect Your Honda | Hyannis Honda Care Service Contracts) and not the dealership I go to. The dealers want to charge 4-5k for the same Honda Care warranty for 8 year/100k mile coverage, but with the online dealer I paid $1,100 with no deductibles for a 2024 Accord Touring Hybrid. It is such a gross mark up. With my last Honda I used the warranty to replace 3 out of 4 of the door actuators and was happy to find the coverage was easy to use. I was also surprised to receive a pro-rated refund for the unused years of the coverage for the prior car. This coverage is available for pre-owned cars as well, but I think they have to be no more than 5 or 6 years old and have below a certain mileage.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Are you going to wait until the bill is signed, or count your chickens before they hatch ?

I would look at interest rates offered by dealers, I've noticed some are very low on tv ads, even 0% for 5 years. Then it would be worth it to borrow the entire amount and pay off over 5 years.

Otherwise, if no great rates, a used car, will last you for a decade or two, only danger is getting one with a hidden problem , like maybe has been flooded, etc.

I personally hate buying cars, so not the greatest at it.

I’m definitely waiting until the bill is signed. New or used at 3k miles per year the next car will probably last longer than me. Good idea about looking at the interest rate for new cars since my credit is excellent.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Here's something else to consider. Unless you've regularly driven a 5 year old or newer vehicle, the new technology in these cars is going to be perplexing. If I were you I'd go to a local dealer and ask to do a test drive with both Corolla and Civic. Compare the ease of using the touchscreens and safety features. You might find one is easier to use and navigate than the other. In my opinion the Toyota system is more intuitive and easier to use. (My other son has a 2019 Honda Civic and I rented a Camry last year on vacation so I've seen both systems.)

If you test drive them both--and you should--you will get an idea of which one "feels" better to you. How does it handle? Which one is quieter? Do you like the seating position? Are the seats comfortable? How does it shift? Etc.

Another factor is they both likely have start/stop technology. This is a "feature" that turns off the engine when you are stopped (as at a stop sign) and restarts it when you press on the accelerator pedal. It's kind of annoying and it can be turned off, but figured I'd warn you about it.

I hadn’t thought about this. I have driven my friend’s newer car when she had surgery because mine was too low for her to get in. So I have very limited experience with the new technology.

 

[Aerides]

I have always bought new but did get a CPO from a dealer the last time. The car had all my specs (color, features) and was only a year old, and I'd have to wait a few months to order the exact model I wanted brand new. The original warranty was 3 years, but they added 2 to all CPOs, so I had 2 of the original plus 2, so an extra year vs. buying new - nice bonus.

And around 4-5k difference is about right for a 1-2 year old CPO. I would test drive both a few time to decide. You might like something a bit more in the new or the old. Security features seem to improve every year, especially those cameras and side detectors and things like that, so that would lean me towards the newest options.

I do like a new car smell. If money were no object I'd get a new car every time it wore off.

But I usually keep a car for 9 years, so, my advice is: get the one you want to keep for longer than most marriages!

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

I did consider the Impreza but I don’t know anyone that has owned one long enough to know its reliability. It rates the same as the Corolla on Edmunds.

My current Impreza is 10 years old. It replaced the 15 year old one. No problems.

 

[finnski1]

Both good cars. The Corolla gets a little better reliability rating from Consumer Reports. Actually Subaru just attained the top spot. I have been very happy with the Outbacks we have owned. The Forester gets rated extremely well. Not recommending them as you have clearly narrowed it to Honda and Toyota.