Ask the Car People.SM


Got a Quick Question for a Car Dealer?

3257 messages,  Last post on Jun 16, 2013 at 3:04 PM

You are in the Smart Shopper Forum.

What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Car Selling

Messages Page 310 of 326

#3088 of 3257 Re: Buying a Used car that was a multiple short term lease vehicle [ps004ynos] by stickguy

Jan 16, 2013 (2:02 pm)

Replying to: ps004ynos (Jan 15, 2013 11:03 pm)
IIRC, from our recent looking, the Q5 was not all that roomy. I would say if yo uare planning on kid 2 soon, so 2 car seats, get something a bit roomier. Maybe MDX sized?

#3089 of 3257 Re: Buying a Used car that was a multiple short term lease vehicle [stickguy] by ps004ynos

Jan 16, 2013 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 16, 2013 2:02 pm)
I happened to drive behind an MDX today and the width did look roomier, at least from the outside. We already planned to test drive one soon. My wife's only concern is she has never driven an SUV before (this would be her primary vehicle) so hopefully maneuvering one isn't too challenging for her.
 
We'll probably look at the CR-V, Highlander, and Prius V as well. I have my doubts about the Prius V though, probably too small?

#3090 of 3257 Re: Buying a Used car that was a multiple short term lease vehicle [ps004ynos] by qbrozen

Jan 16, 2013 (4:42 pm)

Replying to: ps004ynos (Jan 16, 2013 4:38 pm)
Prius and CRV both too small.
 
Maybe the new Cmax hybrid? I have no idea how wide it is, but if its like the mazda5, its pretty roomy. At least easy to get kids in and out of. Too bad they don't have the sliding doors.

#3091 of 3257 Re: Buying a Used car that was a multiple short term lease vehicle [ps004ynos] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 16, 2013 (4:44 pm)

Replying to: ps004ynos (Jan 16, 2013 4:38 pm)
Once you drive a Q5, X3, etc.. It will be hard to step back to the CR-V or RAV4. None of those models are large or hard to maneuver. Most women love the higher seating position. I know my wife does.

#3093 of 3257 Re: Buying a Used car that was a multiple short term lease vehicle [ps004ynos] by robr2

Jan 16, 2013 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: ps004ynos (Jan 16, 2013 4:38 pm)
Have you thought about a minivan??
 
I know, I know - who wants to drive a minivan? Nobody - at first. But once you live with one for a while and haul kids around, go on vacation with them, et al, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
 
We've had an Odyssey for 12 years now and although it's relegated to 3rd car status, it still gets used due to its superior ability to comfortably haul people and gear.

#3094 of 3257 Re: Buying a Used car that was a multiple short term lease vehicle [robr2] by stickguy

Jan 16, 2013 (9:30 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Jan 16, 2013 8:45 pm)
agreed about the van. We got our first when we had our 2nd kid, and only got out of a van a few months ago, when the Baby was turning 17 and could drive herself around!

#3095 of 3257 Trade or sell a car? by uga91

Jan 28, 2013 (11:56 am)

I may have a confusing question. I bought a 2011 Nissan Maxima in January 2011 through Nissan Motor Acceptace at 1.9% for 72 months. I owe about $18,850 on it. It's in near perfect condition, completely dealership maintained and has less than 21,000 miles on it. I'm wondering if I'd personally be better off making about 6 more payments and then trading it or should I try to sell it in 3-4 months, bank a couple of payments and get that loan off of my credit report for a couple of months and then just buy a new car? I know most of my payment each month is going toward the principal, so each payment I make will help.
 
There is nothing wrong with the Maxima and I love driving it--I'm just thinking about getting a car with a more functional back seat and doesn't use premium unleaded gasoline.

#3096 of 3257 Re: Trade or sell a car? [uga91] by timadams

Jan 28, 2013 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: uga91 (Jan 28, 2013 11:56 am)
I'm curious what kind of vehicles you are entertaining. I've driven a 2011 Maxima, and had an older model myself, and thought the back seats in both were fine. Certainly, there are cars with roomier back seats, including the Subaru Legacy I bought in 2011.
 
But if finances are an issue - and I'm guessing they are if you took out a 72-month loan - you pay sales taxes and registration fees every time you buy a car, and that can add up. Also, I understand that premium fuel costs a bit more than regular. But it looks like you drive about 11k miles per year. If premium costs 20 cents more per gallon and you are getting 25 MPG, that really adds up to only $88 per year.
 
And one more thing - when you trade a car, you will only get a wholesale price, whereas when you buy a car you are paying retail. In other words, if you sold and bought the same identical car, you would likely lose at least a couple of thousand dollars in the process. Add the wholesale/retail issue, sales taxes and other transaction costs, and you will come out far ahead by simply keeping your Maxima longer.
 
I know, buying a new car is exciting. But it is very costly to do so every couple of years. What you should really do is pay extra every month so you can pay off the car loan in two years. Then, keep the Maxima an additional two years and save the monthly car payments in a savings account. At that point - four years down the road - you will have a fully paid-off car and two years of payments in the bank as a down payment on your next car. Then, take out a 3-year car loan, keep the car six or seven years and pocket the monthly payments. Do that a couple of times, and you will have enough money to buy cars for cash with no loans.
 
The bottom line is if you need a 4-, 5- or 6-year loan to buy a car, you really can't afford the car and should look at something a lot cheaper.

#3097 of 3257 Re: Trade or sell a car? [timadams] by uga91

Jan 28, 2013 (1:07 pm)

Replying to: timadams (Jan 28, 2013 12:31 pm)
Thanks for the lecture. No, I don't trade cars every 2 years--I had my last 2 cars over 5 years each. That's why I'm not sure which way to go may be the better personal option. No, it's not finances. I took the 6 year loan to get the payments low when I need a low payment and I pay extra when I can, as well--that's how I got a $30k loan to $18.8k in 2 years. If NMAC wants to give away 0% for 60 months or 1.9% for 72 months, then I might as well take advantage of it and use my money to pay off thinks that will have higher interest rates.
 
I have 3 children and they are only getting bigger and when the 5 of us go places in my car, someone always complains of being cramped. We do have a Sienna, so please don't suggest I get a van or SUV. I was thinking about something like a new Accord or Altima.
 
This is the first car I've ever owned that used premium and I'm no longer having fun paying the premium for it (I get 21-22 mpg back & forth from work, not 25). At 11k miles per year at 22mpg, that's 500 gallons per year at $4 per gallon (right now, this is the cheapest premium has been for a while) or $2000 a year. In a new car getting 28 mpg on $3.30 regular fuel, that's $1296 a year, or $704 a year cheaper--quite a bit more than the $88 calculated above.
 
I was just wondering if anyone out there had any helpful advice for this question or not. Maybe it really is a stupid question; but, I'd rather get advice than a lecture from someone who doesn't know me.

Messages Page 310 of 326

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement