What Is Parked In Your Driveway?

[mooby]

Originally Posted by MTK

Anyone got advice for buying a new car? For the last 20+ years I just bought directly from my brother who sold Fords, so now I'm on my own. Been reading up on how to approach a dealership, things like getting pre-approved before going in, focus on the "out the door" number vs monthly payment, don't talk trade-in until the end, etc. Anything else I should have in mind?

There's an argument to be made for used and new - new cars depreciate quickly. But if you plan on buying a car and making it last for 10+ years go for new - with a used car you have no idea how the previous owner drove it or why they sold it with presumably low miles.

Go get a car loan from your bank and take that to the dealership and let them convince you to finance through the manufacturer for a better rate - I got offered 2.9% from Navy Federal back in 2018 and I flipped that for 1.9% from Honda. Definitely focus on the out-the-door cost vs monthly payment - they will ask you what you want your montly payment to be and you should just tell them you want your OTD cost to be under x instead because they can do that funny math in a hurry to get you to sign. You've hit the good spots - don't talk trade in until the end because they will always try to low ball you. Treat it like a separate transaction. Actually take your car to Carmax first and get them to give you an offer then when you go to buy a car see if the dealership can beat that offer. Also never take the first offer - get it in writing and take it to another dealer and see if they can beat it.

Personal manufacturer rankings are subjective - for me it was always Toyota and Honda 1a and 1b. Now that I have a Civic that I bought brand new and it has 140k miles on it and I've witnessed firsthand the shit quality of certain aspects (battery died after 40k miles and the warranty only covered it to 36k, I've had 3 axles put in it under warranty because the boot keeps tearing and they're still having issues) I'm pretty jaded towards Honda. I think they're living off their reputation from the 90's. Going back to Toyota for my next car.

I also have the luxury of working on a fleet with 6k vehicles and most of our light duty units are Ford, Chevy, and Dodge - I'm jaded for life after working on these shitboxes. I would rank them Ford then Chevy then Dodge - Dodge has powertrain issues out the ass. We have Chargers, Caravans, Pacificas, Rams and they all have suspension and powertrain issues. Chevy is better but not by much. We're predominantly a Ford fleet and they have all kinds of issues from electronics in the new models to suspension/powertrain/etc issues in the older ones (but I also work on police cars and they beat the piss out of those). I don't think I'll ever buy domestic again unless it's an old shitbox that I can fix up and keep as a basic beater.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

There's an argument to be made for used and new - new cars depreciate quickly. But if you plan on buying a car and making it last for 10+ years go for new - with a used car you have no idea how the previous owner drove it or why they sold it with presumably low miles.

Go get a car loan from your bank and take that to the dealership and let them convince you to finance through the manufacturer for a better rate - I got offered 2.9% from Navy Federal back in 2018 and I flipped that for 1.9% from Honda. Definitely focus on the out-the-door cost vs monthly payment - they will ask you what you want your montly payment to be and you should just tell them you want your OTD cost to be under x instead because they can do that funny math in a hurry to get you to sign. You've hit the good spots - don't talk trade in until the end because they will always try to low ball you. Treat it like a separate transaction. Actually take your car to Carmax first and get them to give you an offer then when you go to buy a car see if the dealership can beat that offer. Also never take the first offer - get it in writing and take it to another dealer and see if they can beat it.

Personal manufacturer rankings are subjective - for me it was always Toyota and Honda 1a and 1b. Now that I have a Civic that I bought brand new and it has 140k miles on it and I've witnessed firsthand the shit quality of certain aspects (battery died after 40k miles and the warranty only covered it to 36k, I've had 3 axles put in it under warranty because the boot keeps tearing and they're still having issues) I'm pretty jaded towards Honda. I think they're living off their reputation from the 90's. Going back to Toyota for my next car.

I also have the luxury of working on a fleet with 6k vehicles and most of our light duty units are Ford, Chevy, and Dodge - I'm jaded for life after working on these shitboxes. I would rank them Ford then Chevy then Dodge - Dodge has powertrain issues out the ass. We have Chargers, Caravans, Pacificas, Rams and they all have suspension and powertrain issues. Chevy is better but not by much. We're predominantly a Ford fleet and they have all kinds of issues from electronics in the new models to suspension/powertrain/etc issues in the older ones (but I also work on police cars and they beat the piss out of those). I don't think I'll ever buy domestic again unless it's an old shitbox that I can fix up and keep as a basic beater.

a dead battery and multiple torn cv boots is not bad for 140k

my first runner the rear differential went out at 50K ; when they went to fix it they said it had half the required gear oil and that shit was built in japan

shit happens even to the best of the best

[mooby]

Originally Posted by mredskins

a dead battery and multiple torn cv boots is not bad for 140k

my first runner the rear differential went out at 50K ; when they went to fix it they said it had half the required gear oil and that shit was built in japan

shit happens even to the best of the best

All those issues were within the first 60k miles though - the axles were replaced under warranty around 40k, then again at 80k, and they're making noise again as of 130k (I haven't gotten them fixed though since I'm out of warranty now).

The battery thing - if you buy a new battery (let's say from Interstate) it comes with a 5 year prorated warranty. That means if it goes bad before 5 years/60k miles they partially cover the cost of the replacement. Honda only covers a battery in a brand new car to 3 years/36k. That means they're putting cheap Chinese junk batteries in their brand new models.

I've also had issues with the a/c compressor and it currently has a fuel pump recall on it (parts aren't available yet).

Overall I've had more issues in 5 years of owning the Civic then I had in 10 years with the Corolla. Of course YMMV. I just think Toyota is a better company.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

All those issues were within the first 60k miles though - the axles were replaced under warranty around 40k, then again at 80k, and they're making noise again as of 130k (I haven't gotten them fixed though since I'm out of warranty now).

The battery thing - if you buy a new battery (let's say from Interstate) it comes with a 5 year prorated warranty. That means if it goes bad before 5 years/60k miles they partially cover the cost of the replacement. Honda only covers a battery in a brand new car to 3 years/36k. That means they're putting cheap Chinese junk batteries in their brand new models.

I've also had issues with the a/c compressor and it currently has a fuel pump recall on it (parts aren't available yet).

Overall I've had more issues in 5 years of owning the Civic then I had in 10 years with the Corolla. Of course YMMV. I just think Toyota is a better company.

i agree

still honda is good shit; really as far longevity of a car its engine and tranny, i use to love grand Cherokees not one made it past 100k without a major tranny issue, chrysler crap

Ford might put the worst product on the road today

the battery isue is pretty common for a new car; i don't know a car company that warrenty a battery past 3/36 or whatever there bumper to bumper is; toyota puts Panasonic batteries in their cars; plus a battery is what 200 maybe 300 i am not shitting on a car company over a bad battery

[Darrell Green Fan]

Originally Posted by mredskins

i agree

still honda is good shit; really as far longevity of a car its engine and tranny, i use to love grand Cherokees not one made it past 100k without a major tranny issue, chrysler crap

Ford might put the worst product on the road today

the battery isue is pretty common for a new car; i don't know a car company that warrenty a battery past 3/36 or whatever there bumper to bumper is; toyota puts Panasonic batteries in their cars; plus a battery is what 200 maybe 300 i am not shitting on a car company over a bad battery

I tell anyone who will listen never to buy a Jeep but they still do. I have not nor will I ever buy a Chrysler product.

Ford made crappy cars but rock solid trucks. I've had a Mustang which was good until about 130,000 miles, a Bronco II which is still my favorite vehicle we've owned, and 2 Rangers. The trucks were great, the V-8 Mustang was a blast.

I don't see much difference between Honda and Toyota, the best cars out there for reliability and longevity. I've got my 3rd Civic in the driveay now.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

There's an argument to be made for used and new - new cars depreciate quickly. But if you plan on buying a car and making it last for 10+ years go for new - with a used car you have no idea how the previous owner drove it or why they sold it with presumably low miles.

Go get a car loan from your bank and take that to the dealership and let them convince you to finance through the manufacturer for a better rate - I got offered 2.9% from Navy Federal back in 2018 and I flipped that for 1.9% from Honda. Definitely focus on the out-the-door cost vs monthly payment - they will ask you what you want your montly payment to be and you should just tell them you want your OTD cost to be under x instead because they can do that funny math in a hurry to get you to sign. You've hit the good spots - don't talk trade in until the end because they will always try to low ball you. Treat it like a separate transaction. Actually take your car to Carmax first and get them to give you an offer then when you go to buy a car see if the dealership can beat that offer. Also never take the first offer - get it in writing and take it to another dealer and see if they can beat it.

Personal manufacturer rankings are subjective - for me it was always Toyota and Honda 1a and 1b. Now that I have a Civic that I bought brand new and it has 140k miles on it and I've witnessed firsthand the shit quality of certain aspects (battery died after 40k miles and the warranty only covered it to 36k, I've had 3 axles put in it under warranty because the boot keeps tearing and they're still having issues) I'm pretty jaded towards Honda. I think they're living off their reputation from the 90's. Going back to Toyota for my next car.

I also have the luxury of working on a fleet with 6k vehicles and most of our light duty units are Ford, Chevy, and Dodge - I'm jaded for life after working on these shitboxes. I would rank them Ford then Chevy then Dodge - Dodge has powertrain issues out the ass. We have Chargers, Caravans, Pacificas, Rams and they all have suspension and powertrain issues. Chevy is better but not by much. We're predominantly a Ford fleet and they have all kinds of issues from electronics in the new models to suspension/powertrain/etc issues in the older ones (but I also work on police cars and they beat the piss out of those). I don't think I'll ever buy domestic again unless it's an old shitbox that I can fix up and keep as a basic beater.

that is great advice and what i usually do, i was thinking to add that