Drive Car to Ground or "Trade it in While You Can"

[Duncan]

[geForce]

Seems like a pretty thorough explanation already. Nothing left to discuss, haha.

[nature boy]

i still don't think it's a good idea to drive a car to the ground for a couple reasons:
1) there's downtime. you can be out of a car for a few weeks while waiting for a new one.
2) you're in a rush to get another car. you may not have time to properly shop around and get one you really like.
3) similar to 2), you can't shop around. especially if you're looking into getting a used car, time is your best ally when looking for that solid used car.
4) "driving to the ground" suggests an element of surprise. you may not have the funds ready for a new car.

there are a lot of other reasons that i can't think of right now. but i think there's value in thinking that a car has its best years behind it so it's time to trade up, if for nothing more than peace of mind.

[nature boy]

[Duncan]

i agree, i'd only do it for peace of mind, but as i said, i'd only do it if i knew that the car was gonna crap out soon... for now, i'd say even though i hate that jetta, it's probably gonna run for another 2+ years.

And i guess my argument was mostly for those who say that you should trade it in while you can get money for it cuz the money part doesn't make sense. Your listed 4 points make more sense against the argument w/o money involved.

However, i'd argue that most of us wouldn't have much downtime because of friends/family/coworkers/buses who would be willing to give us a ride until we find a car. and most of you have 2 cars in your family anyways. Some families have zero cars and they make do.

I agree with your 2nd and 3rd point, but like i said, people can make do with zero cars... i think those of us who are used to having cars are just that, used to having a car. We're for the most part spoiled because we don't want to bus or what not. If you gotta get somewhere, there are other ways of getting there. I'm not saying you SHOULD bus or whatever, but all i'm saying is that there are other ways to get from point a to b. At least you can afford to look for or buy a car while you're busing it.

Also, to your 4th point, i guess i should've been more clear, i was implying that while you're saving money by not buying a car, you're saving the money for a car in the future. Especially if you're arguing about buying a car before your craps out, we're assuming the same person with the same funds at the same starting point... so if he can afford a car 7 years after his first purchase, i assume he can afford one at 10 yrs...

For me, i'd have to say it's mostly peace of mind again. More for safety sake because i don't want my car to crap out on the side of a ditch with my 2 kids in the back. But right now, that's not the vibe i'm getting from the jetta.

[Duncan]

[nature boy]

[nature boy]

[Duncan]

lol pastor tan...

Yes, but if you really needed a car, i'm sure you could buy a car in a day. But i understand for your situation you'd need the car immediately, but you made it for a while busing to work no? I remember because i saw you at the bus stop a few times and i think you even posted about some hot chick you saw haha... You'd only be out of a car for a little while before you bought a new one. most people would understand if you had to reschedule because your car broke down. Again, i'm not saying you should drive your car to the ground but i guess what i'm saying is if you NEED one that instant, like your car died 2 minutes ago, and you have to get to the hospital cuz someone broke a leg or even died, you could call a cab or call someone for a ride. You'd lose maybe 15/20 minutes.

I guess the argument has kinda turned into how much you need your car now. I still say that in our world, we're kinda spoiled. I don't think anyone needs one when you NEED one. but that's my opinion. needs mean necessity, and most sane people would agree that cars are luxuries. I'm sure pastors make do all around the world w/o cars and not get fired (probably because they dont work for a chinese church hah). Worst comes to worse, you can always call a cab for a bit, or bus or reschedule. A NEED NEED a car situation is for emergencies, like preggers wife pooping out a baby or whatever, and you can call 911 for that.

[Wetundies]

depends how you define needing a car. Like a delivery guy would need a car. Someone getting to and from an office job using the same route can find alternative means. All cars depreciate, unless it's some rare fancy collectable car. Eventually they'll all crap out.

[nature boy]

i bussed to (current) work like maybe twice ever, and once because my car was being serviced and i was planning on being at the office all day, and the other because i think we only had one car at the time and winnie wanted it. for most people, bussing to work is fine, i'm just saying for others it isn't (i.e. me).

[nature boy]

[Duncan]

yea, i can understand people like you who need a car for work. I guess i wouldn't recommend you driving your car to the ground. But delivery guys usually get provided a car for their work. Or if you don't have a car/truck/semi, you wouldn't get hired to be a delivery person lol...

I guess my main point for the most part is for people who say trade it in to get "money" for it while you can. As i've said, the monetary part is the part that doesn't make sense to me. if you're trading it in for other reasons, then i agree, it can be up for debate depending on each person's needs (or most of the time wants). but if we're talking dollar figures, then it doesn't make sense.

[se7entse7en]

I think people underestimate the potential of their vehicles. I mean... what do you consider crapping out? I get the sense that some people think that 'crapping out' means that it's time to change the sparkplugs, or change the battery. Admittedly I don't drive much, but I haven't even changed a headlight in my car and it's 9 years old.

My truck, which is now my dad's, is now 18 years old:
Changed the rear brakes (just 'cause I didn't like the old ones)
Changed the driver's side ball joint
Changed the passenger side ball joint
Changed the battery
Changed the windshield
Changed the passenger side window (due to break-in)
Got a CD player 'cause it had a tapedeck
We may have changed the plugs once.
Changed the oil regularly
Did something with the heater... apparently it was an easy and cheap fix. I don't quite remember what my dad did though.

My dad, who's mechanically inclined, picks up 30 year old junkers (some even for free), changes the starter or the alternator, and has himself a new ride until another junker comes around.

IMO, old vehicles, just like old computers, are worth more to you than they would be to somebody else.

Cars are not investments. Drive it to the ground.

[jeSteR]

My car has been really great. Minimal surpises, but I over schedule my maintenences. She's 11 and I'm positive she'd give me another 14-15 years of relatively affordable use should I chose to keep her. Take care of you car and you'll enjoy driving her for a long time, no need to change every 5 years