https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:09:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797820 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:54:58 +0000 Eko 2797820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797794 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:18:12 +0000 crazydoglady 2797794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Thanks for your insights! I really wish I didn't have to decide on this now. We would likely finance all minus trade in value and a small down payment, but we were hoping to wait until my husband's car was paid off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797793 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:16:08 +0000 crazydoglady 2797793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JCCovi: The repair would be 5k+ on a 2005 Honda. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797789 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:05:00 +0000 codeitall 2797789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a similar situation with my old car. We had several expensive repairs and on the last one, they told us yet another $800 repair was coming our way in a few months.</p> <p>I stuck my head in the sand for a few weeks. I mean we'd expected that car to die for ages and it was still going haha. But then I got a job with a longer commute and suddenly I needed to face the possibility that I could get stranded from home.</p> <p>We'd been wanting to get a minivan, but I really debated getting a slightly used sedan as a midstep because we frankly had not saved enough to cashflow a minivan like our other car.</p> <p>But then I shopped for minivans. I tried out every variation over a couple weeks. I was aiming for the sweet spot of 2-3 years old but ended up finding a 1 year old gem that had been a minor accident (we checked with our favorite body shop before buying it). We got a higher trim level than I initially thought we would.</p> <p>However, we couldn't cashflow it. We had to take a loan for most of it.</p> <p>The reason I felt comfortable doing a loan is that I knew we would not be underwater on the loan right away, and we set a VERY aggressive goal to pay it off in 1 year.</p> <p>So I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you were planning on replacing the car in the next year and had made significant financial progress towards that, just take a loan for the difference. If you are thinking that you weren't ready yet and would be more comfortable buying a cheaper car than what you wanted, just repair your old car and save aggressively towards your dream car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797729 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:32:23 +0000 JCCovi 2797729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, I would probably try to fix the car I had. It might cost more than the car is worth, but should still be cheaper than buying another (even used) car. Just depends on the repair bill. I would get whatever is cheapest of buying used or fixing. We try to avoid debt and I would want to keep saving so I could get what I wanted without stretching. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797665 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 12:59:32 +0000 crazydoglady 2797665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: Thanks! If you see my post above, we are considering a used car for sure. We are going to take a look at some this weekend. Our plan is to pay off my husband's car before the baby would be in daycare. I wouldn't mind having one car but my husband works in the opposite direction and I would have to drop him off and pick him up everyday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797662 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 12:50:31 +0000 Pollywog 2797662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote neither. Can you buy your ideal car used (2-3 years old, low mileage)? That would save some costs. Could you sell your husbands carbs downgrade to a cheaper used car? Also, is it possible to go down to one car for awhile to save? We are a one car family and I have found I don't miss it at all. </p> <p>My philosophy is that we try to avoid debt as much as possible. I'd be worried to have two car notes and daycare for a second baby </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797659 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 12:35:33 +0000 crazydoglady 2797659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: @kiddosc: @snowjewelz: @Anagram: @JMOM: @krispi: @Lahela017: @rpparker: @808love: Thank you all for your advice. I should add that my "dream car" isn't really a dream car per se, but what I would really like...a gently used Kia, Hyundai, or Honda. I'm looking at something under 20k miles and around 25k or under. My husband and I are teachers so this is basically my dream car. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797634 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:44:44 +0000 skipra 2797634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Isn't there some middle ground? An affordable used car that will last for a while? We bought a used Pilot with more miles than I wanted but we could afford it without a loan and it should still have several years on it. I would see how much you could scrape together to go without a loan if money is tight. But not if it means buying a car that is going to need costly repairs or will not last for at least a few years. Then, pay yourself the money you would have paid on a loan so to save for your long term car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797629 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:24:57 +0000 kiddosc 2797629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would buy a slightly used version of the car you want. We never buy brand new, opting for something two-ish years old with lower mileage. They're much more affordable than brand new and sometimes still come with a warranty. With a new baby on the way, I would be hesitant to buy something that could potentially be unreliable and would only continue to suck money away from being able to buy a new car as you keep having to pay repairs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797627 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:16:42 +0000 snowjewelz 2797627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just get a gently used "dream car" with low mileage. To me it's just too much hassle to get another car just to get another car, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797625 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:06:26 +0000 Anagram 2797625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Without more details about how tight your budget with be with two car payments, it's hard to say what I do. We actually don't do car payments at all, we just buy a year or two used and we pay cash. The depreciation factor you mentioned applies more to new cars than to used. With a new car, yes, it depreciates the second you sign the papers and drive off the lot. With a used car, the market is so nebulous and there's such a range of prices for the same car that it's possible to buy a car for less than it's worth and get more out of it.</p> <p>My husband bought a used BMWm3, drove it (lightly) for a year, and sold it for the exact same price. At the same time he bought an old Honda Accord to use as his daily driving beater car (he's weirdly obsessive about taking care of his nice cars and won't actually drive them on regular errands or in bad weather)--he bought the Accord for only 6k (it was like 5 year old) and kept it for 4.5 years and still sold it for 3.5k! SO he got 4.5 years of use out of it for 2.5 thousand dollars. </p> <p>You have a lot of options, depending on how much cash you have and how much patience you have, plus of course your drive to save money. I know to some people, they'd rather save time than money--my husband is the exact opposite, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797624 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:59:33 +0000 JMOM 2797624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would agree with Krispi, if you do decide to buy a long term car, go used. And look outside your immediate area for other car dealers. Most people just look locally for cars but if you broaden your search you can save a lot of money. When we bought our last car we drove 500 mile to buy it but it was totally worth it because it was significantly cheaper than we found anywhere else. We made a short vacation out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797617 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:21:32 +0000 krispi 2797617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get the car you want for the long term but look for one that isn't brand new to save some money. I bought a 1 year old Kia Sorento that had 29K miles on it in 2011, and it's still going strong now. I've really enjoyed driving it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797612 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 08:59:14 +0000 Lahela017 2797612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, it would depend on if I could find a cheap car that would be reliable for a good price, and also how long we would be tight on the budget if we got the better car now. If the car payments would overlap less than a year, I think I would lean in the direction of getting your SUV now. Any more than that though, I think I would find a cheaper option for a few years.</p> <p>This is similar to my situation currently actually. My car is still running, but I don't think it will last the 2-3 years that we want it to before we are ready to buy a SUV for kids/towing options. I don't really want to get the SUV now though since we are about to buy a house and I'll have a long commute for another year (car= better gas mileage). We were lucky that my parents just bought a new car last week, so I'm buying their old one. I know they have taken good care of it, and they are only charging me what the dealer offered them, so we are getting an amazing deal. Their car is 3 years newer and has 50k less miles on it, so I'm sure it will last me the 2-3 years we want until we are ready to buy an SUV.</p> <p>Good luck. I hate car shopping/dealing with this type of stuff!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797609 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 08:32:09 +0000 Adira 2797609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd buy a reliable car that will last, but it doesn't have to be new (don't know if you normally buy new or not)! I usually look for a car that's 2-3 years old with 30k (or less) miles on it. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797581 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:05:28 +0000 gingerbebe 2797581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Buy the reliable long term car. We bought a fully loaded certified used Toyota Sienna when I was 2 months pregnant with DS2 that had 38K miles on it after I had HAD it with our Jeep Grand Cherokee. We had intended to drive it into the ground but I couldnt handle the mileage and pricey repairs anymore! We paid about $20K less than if we bought a comparable vehicle new. In 2.5 years we have had zero issues with it and have only done oil changes and regular maintenance. And it uses a fraction of the gas our Jeep did. And with two kids, minivans are LIFE. Power lift gate when pregnant? Amazing.</p> <p>Essentially, it saves us money and time over dealing with car issues and we’re confident about driving this guy for at least another 4-5 years. Car buying SUCKS and it’s so time consuming I try to do it as rarely as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797549 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 20:39:25 +0000 808love 2797549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends. If you can find a car that is underpriced and you can sell it for the same price in a few months, it might be worth getting an interim car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797532 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 19:41:24 +0000 rpparker 2797532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just chiming in to say I love my Santa Fe! It was my first car to buy new and it temporarily stretched out budget too but it’s had no issues in 6 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797525 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 19:08:00 +0000 crazydoglady 2797525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: That's what I was thinking! I mean, I'm thinking like a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe, so nothing crazy! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797524 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 19:06:24 +0000 Truth Bombs 2797524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be inclined to get a car that will work in the long run. Maybe not your ideal family car if that puts too much of a strain on the budget, but something reliable and usable long term. Cheap cars very rarely actually turn out to be cheap because of repair issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-makes-more-financial-sense-car-question#post-2797522 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 18:59:19 +0000 crazydoglady 2797522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My old car has a blown head gasket and the repair estimate was much more than the car is worth. We were told to take care of it and basically drive it into the ground. We would love to buy another car but we are about 9k away from paying off my husband's car. Our plan was just to keep driving these cars until we paid off the other car and buy the family car we really want...until this morning. My car basically died in the driveway. I am leaning toward buying the family car and cut back on some things while we have two car payments. My husband thinks it would be best to just a cheap used car as an inbetween car until his car is paid off. With deappreciation, I'm just not sure that makes a lot of sense. We are also pregnant with our second (very early so who knows,) so I am also thinking about what's going to be best long-term.<br /> ETA:What I want long term is a economical SUV like a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe.</p> <p>What would you do?</p> <p>I really hope this makes sense! </p>