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Message
Turning one car into two cars
Posted on 2/8/17 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 2/8/17 at 4:43 pm
At the moment, my wife and I own one vehicle, a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. She works at an elementary school and also is a grad student, so she uses it to drive wherever she needs to go during the day. I live within biking distance of my office, so I usually ride in or work from home. However, I have a job opportunity that is far better than what I am doing now (probably bumps my pay up to ~$100k from $80k), but is about a 20-minute drive away, so I would need a second vehicle.
My goal is to pay the same per month (~$440), but to have 2 cars instead of one. Should I buy a beater Toyota or Honda and hope it still has some legs and keep the Subaru, or trade the car in (I owe almost exactly what it is worth as a trade-in) and buy two ~$12k used vehicles? I wouldn't feel comfortable paying more than about $5k to buy a beater, but at the same time I really value having a reliable car and that would entail rolling the dice more than I would like.
My goal is to pay the same per month (~$440), but to have 2 cars instead of one. Should I buy a beater Toyota or Honda and hope it still has some legs and keep the Subaru, or trade the car in (I owe almost exactly what it is worth as a trade-in) and buy two ~$12k used vehicles? I wouldn't feel comfortable paying more than about $5k to buy a beater, but at the same time I really value having a reliable car and that would entail rolling the dice more than I would like.
11
Posted on 2/8/17 at 4:48 pm to agalloch
I would never give up a new car for a used one. I would try to find a older honda accord, those things are built like tanks. New company should throw in at least a 5K signing bonus right?
This post was edited on 2/8/17 at 4:49 pm
Posted on 2/8/17 at 7:30 pm to agalloch
quote:
I wouldn't feel comfortable paying more than about $5k to buy a beater,
My dad bought me a 1996 Honda Civic in 2002 for either 7 or 9k. I can't recall.
I drove it until 2014 and honestly did next to nothing to keep it in shape.
So you can definitely do OK in that arena.
Posted on 2/8/17 at 8:05 pm to agalloch
Used car - older Honda or something. Just use it to and from work.
Posted on 2/8/17 at 8:30 pm to agalloch
If you make $100k you should have enough saved up to buy a car for <$10k. You can get a camry, corolla, civic, accord, etc. with less than 100k miles on it for less than $10k.
Posted on 2/8/17 at 8:37 pm to yellowhammer2098
Yep, I do...just wasn't sure which made more financial sense. It sounds like a good idea to look for a Honda Civic or Accord <100k miles. My Subaru is amazing for mountain driving, which I've done several times this winter already, so it would really hurt to lose it. I'll get to researching. Thanks y'all 
Posted on 2/9/17 at 6:10 am to agalloch
Why did you think an $440/month note on a new car was okay?
This post was edited on 2/9/17 at 6:11 am
Posted on 2/9/17 at 7:21 am to agalloch
stick with the current job
I would kill to have a short bike ride to the office.
I would kill to have a short bike ride to the office.
Posted on 2/9/17 at 8:36 am to KillTheGophers
For a $20,000 a year increase in pay, I would happily drive 20 minutes each way instead of biking to work
Posted on 2/9/17 at 8:45 am to GFunk
quote:
Why did you think an $440/month note on a new car was okay?
This board cracks me up sometimes.
ETA: OP, you've already gotten some good advice. $5k should get you a reliable everyday car to get you from A to B. If you value reliability, an older Camry or Accord is definitely a safe bet. Can't speak to the prices is Oregon though.
This post was edited on 2/9/17 at 8:48 am
Posted on 2/9/17 at 8:56 am to agalloch
Smart money would say avoid honda when buying a used car. Same normally with toyota.
Just about any major car company creates a small car or compact that is super reliable and cheap to maintain. The thing is to find something well maintained.
I think you'd be better served looking corolla, Focus, Fiesta, etc. type cars than a Honda unless you find a great deal on a Civic.
I have owned a few cars that hit 200k with no issues and none of them were a honda.
Just about any major car company creates a small car or compact that is super reliable and cheap to maintain. The thing is to find something well maintained.
I think you'd be better served looking corolla, Focus, Fiesta, etc. type cars than a Honda unless you find a great deal on a Civic.
I have owned a few cars that hit 200k with no issues and none of them were a honda.
Posted on 2/9/17 at 9:39 am to agalloch
Wife in the nice new car and you in the beater. Classic.
Posted on 2/9/17 at 9:45 am to hombreman9
quote:
Wife in the nice new car and you in the beater. Classic.
Some people don't care about what they drive. There's nothing wrong with that if that's how OP feels. I'm not one of those people, but I'm definitely in the minority with regard to how I view vehicles.
I upvoted you btw, because it is funny
Posted on 2/9/17 at 9:49 am to hombreman9
quote:
Wife in the nice new car and you in the beater. Classic.
Truth. Same for my house. Wife gets the nice and luxurious T&C and I get the bare bones Escape that is 10 years old.
Posted on 2/9/17 at 10:27 am to LNCHBOX
quote:
Some people don't care about what they drive. There's nothing wrong with that if that's how OP feels. I'm not one of those people, but I'm definitely in the minority with regard to how I view vehicles.
Oh I definitely wish I had a more entertaining car.
If I had it my way I would have bought a gently-used Fiesta ST or something, but in reality all we needed was AWD and some room to keep our snowboards/fishing gear/other outdoor BS, and the Crosstrek has performed beautifully. Maybe in a decade or so I can have myself a toy, but until then it will be just the one "nice" car.Posted on 2/9/17 at 10:45 am to agalloch
If it's only a 20 minute commute have you looked at getting a used electric?
Leafs only a couple of years old that came off the lease are selling for great prices.
Granted the resale value will be horrible but you are still getting a barely used car.
Leafs only a couple of years old that came off the lease are selling for great prices.
Granted the resale value will be horrible but you are still getting a barely used car.
Posted on 2/11/17 at 2:08 pm to agalloch
I'd just buy a cheap car. generally the higher miles the better.
Posted on 2/11/17 at 3:20 pm to agalloch
2016 Toyota Camry for $16-17K. You'll be set for the next 20 years if you wish. Buy once, cry once...
Posted on 2/11/17 at 10:23 pm to notsince98
Mine has a 2016 LTZ Duramax and I drive my company Cruz.
OP you need to find how much your suburu is worth before making decisions. You could be 5k flipped and influence your previous decision.
OP you need to find how much your suburu is worth before making decisions. You could be 5k flipped and influence your previous decision.
Posted on 2/12/17 at 9:12 am to agalloch
OP: On the '16 Subaru you've taken a big lick already on the depreciation curve of the vehicle. The only reason to get out of it now is if you absolutely have to get out it (i.e. can no longer afford it).
When you start to shop for used cars, get a month subscription to CarFax.
Shop for the Honda/ Toyota beater (look up the VIN on Carfax and see where it's been registered and it's damage & ownership history). Avoid vehicles from the Rust Belt states as the undercarriage is prematurely aged due to salting the roads over winter.
Good luck.
When you start to shop for used cars, get a month subscription to CarFax.
Shop for the Honda/ Toyota beater (look up the VIN on Carfax and see where it's been registered and it's damage & ownership history). Avoid vehicles from the Rust Belt states as the undercarriage is prematurely aged due to salting the roads over winter.
Good luck.
This post was edited on 2/12/17 at 9:23 am
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