budget: cant decide between losing 10-12k cash buying a used car or pay monthly installments to buy <20k car or lease a car?

i have no clue what i should be looking for in a car?

sometimes, i feel like i should get a nice sports car and sometimes i feel like getting a suv and sometimes i feel conservative and wanna get a used toyota/honda...how the hell can you decide when you got so mannnnnnny options out there!!! damnit

[Edited on June 30, 2009 at 4:15 PM. Reason : HALLLLLP me decide]

6/30/2009 4:11:33 PM

v6 accord

[Edited on June 30, 2009 at 4:45 PM. Reason : .]

6/30/2009 4:44:21 PM

do you normally haul around friends? if so, count out the 2-seaters

6/30/2009 4:50:58 PM

lol, you made a thread in chit chat like 2 weeks ago...and finally came over here



you're young, fuck your friends. rock a 2 seater (if ya want)

6/30/2009 4:55:08 PM

Quote :

"do you normally haul around friends? if so, count out the 2-seaters "

but i want a audi tt or a s2000
i am screwed

chit-chat was all good but i am still not sure if i should cough up 10k and lose all my saving at once or get a car loan and end up paying lots of money...i need more advice about cut down my list of cars as well as how to finance it?

so i come to the gurus

[Edited on June 30, 2009 at 5:08 PM. Reason : ...]

6/30/2009 5:06:17 PM

Quote :

"as how to finance it"

Drugs, dawg

6/30/2009 5:10:33 PM

pay up front if you can. otherwise you will just be paying someone interest.

you dont have to lose all of your savings or settle for something ho-hum.. try to find something fun to drive with a back seat that you can afford.

like a gti, for example. (what can i say, i'm a vw guy..)

edit:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1236465488.html


[Edited on June 30, 2009 at 5:40 PM. Reason : example]

6/30/2009 5:38:45 PM

^I would say finance at this point if he can get a really low rate like a 0.9 APR and put his savings in a HSBC or similar savings account or a CD that has a higher return. $profit.

6/30/2009 5:41:08 PM

S2000 is a terrible first car.
$12k Audi TT is just a terrible car.

Get something forgiving like an RSX and learn to drive the hell out of it first.

6/30/2009 10:05:47 PM

buy my integra GSR

7/1/2009 12:00:47 AM

just get a wrx

7/1/2009 12:46:07 AM

^^^^ probably not going to find a rate that low on a used car

7/1/2009 10:46:07 AM

@ Tarun did u just get a job?

7/1/2009 10:50:46 AM

get a honda civic or toyota celica or some shit for 4-5k that is in good shape. take the rest of the money and throw a huge party

7/1/2009 1:17:00 PM

Quote :

"Get something forgiving like an RSX and learn to drive the hell out of it first."

7/1/2009 3:41:21 PM

if it's your first car, then get something cheap. you're bound to wreck it sooner or later anyway.

7/1/2009 3:41:41 PM

Quote :

"Age : 25 Sex : M"

+ first car = does not compute.

Unless you moved here from India recently and didn't have a car there...

7/1/2009 4:01:47 PM

maybe he means first car that he is personally buying?

7/1/2009 4:21:51 PM

Tarun, get a smart car.

(just kidding... Or am I?)

7/1/2009 4:22:10 PM

I hope you are. For a first car, I'd suggest a civic over a smart car. About the same gas mileage, about the same prie, however the civic is more utilitarian and parts are more "available."

Whatever it is, DON'T GET AN RX8

7/1/2009 4:24:23 PM

^^^If thats the case then making suggestions in terms of 'learn to drive on this car first' are invalid. Would help if he gave a little more info though.

7/1/2009 4:35:22 PM

^speaking of cars do you think it would be possible for me to check out your evo at some point in the near future?

7/1/2009 11:51:50 PM

pay cash. don't finance if you can at all help it, and definitely don't lease.

SUVs (like all trucks) are stupid if you have no use for a truck and will generally just use it as a car. Sports car? Don't waste your money (or get something compromised for everything else) unless you're a sports car nut and know for sure that's what you want, because you want to go tearing down curvy backroads or do track days.

Get a sedan. 3-series BMW, IS300, Impreza, Camry, Altima, Civic, Accord, etc.

7/2/2009 12:15:40 AM

dont buy a damn civic. what horrible advice.

7/2/2009 12:17:47 AM

pay cash. don't finance if you can at all help it, and definitely don't lease.

SUVs (like all trucks) are stupid if you have no use for a truck and will generally just use it as a car. Sports car? Don't waste your money (or get something compromised for everything else) unless you're a sports car nut and know for sure that's what you want, because you want to go tearing down curvy backroads or do track days.

Get a sedan. 3-series BMW, IS300, Impreza, Camry, Altima, Civic, Accord, etc.

7/2/2009 12:23:08 AM

pay cash. don't finance if you can at all help it, and definitely don't lease.

SUVs (like all trucks) are stupid if you have no use for a truck and will generally just use it as a car. Sports car? Don't waste your money (or get something compromised for everything else) unless you're a sports car nut and know for sure that's what you want, because you want to go tearing down curvy backroads or do track days.

Get a sedan. 3-series BMW, IS300, Impreza, Camry, Altima, Civic, Accord, etc.

7/2/2009 12:23:44 AM

^I third that

7/2/2009 1:47:16 AM

normally i'd third? or forth? what duke said .i don't know your situation but since this is your first car i'm gonna go out on a limb and say you don't have a ton of credit. rates are super low and you have a good amount of cash it may not be a bad idea to finance a SMALL portion of the vehicle purchase .

7/2/2009 5:10:50 AM

lol, someone's got a bad internet connection

7/2/2009 8:43:43 AM

Quote :

"@ Tarun did u just get a job?"

kind of...i am always looking for better opportunities

Quote :

"Unless you moved here from India recently and didn't have a car there... maybe he means first car that he is personally buying? "

yes i moved here recently and owned 2 bikes in india, my parents have cars, i drove but i personally couldnt afford it and for the past year, i moved a lot and stayed close to workplace (mostly downtown) so didnt really need a car and i couldnt afford it either

Quote :

" Tarun, get a smart car. "

if i move to london, i might consider it

Quote :

"SUVs (like all trucks) are stupid if you have no use for a truck and will generally just use it as a car. Sports car? Don't waste your money (or get something compromised for everything else) unless you're a sports car nut and know for sure that's what you want, because you want to go tearing down curvy backroads or do track days."

I was thinking SUV since it snows a lot in detroit and a sports car because of the awesome looks...i am a car n00b

7/2/2009 4:19:15 PM

I thought you all just flew around on magic carpets and shit

7/2/2009 4:38:30 PM

^that's Arabia. duh

7/2/2009 4:54:39 PM

no, its pakistan

7/5/2009 9:25:03 PM

bought a car atlast...honda accord coupe 2005

9/11/2009 3:31:05 PM

9/11/2009 8:57:11 PM

3 months of consideration and you ended up with an accord coupe?

9/11/2009 9:53:20 PM

Maybe he realized it was best to go practical and that he wasn't a car nut.

If you just want basic transportation, that's a damned fine choice.

9/11/2009 10:09:04 PM

nice car, how much did you end up paying for it?

9/11/2009 10:37:20 PM

Hey, I own an Accord Coupe...you fuckers. And you all know what kind of car nut I am.

It's been one of the smartest buys I've ever made as far as cars go for general transportation purposes. The K24A4 has plenty of grunt, especially with the 5 speed. It's rare that I top 30 mpg, but then I have my moments of fun.

What's really fun is driving a car like this fast. It's damned forgiving, and is actually pretty tight for a FWD beater. The big thing is keeping up momentum. learn to drive a car like this fast...and you've really learned something.

My favorite car and best purchase was my '87 Integra. I beat the hell out of that car...and got 35 mpg doing it regularly.

9/11/2009 11:22:43 PM

I would have gone with an accord sedan if going the accord route. the coupe falls short as a sporty car AND falls short as a family/grocery hauler.

same thing with solaras and altima coupes.

9/11/2009 11:26:48 PM

A sensible choice, and still not gay like a Solara

9/12/2009 2:40:05 AM

Quote :

"3 months of consideration and you ended up with an accord coupe?"

inorite...i need this car to search for a better car within next six months

Quote :

" Maybe he realized it was best to go practical and that he wasn't a car nut. If you just want basic transportation, that's a damned fine choice. "

kinda basic transport thing.....first car ever so i wanted something i wanted something practical and fun....v6 is pretty fun when you never owned one

Quote :

" nice car, how much did you end up paying for it? "

12k i feel i paid a lot but i feel its worth it

Quote :

" Hey, I own an Accord Coupe...you fuckers. And you all know what kind of car nut I am. It's been one of the smartest buys I've ever made as far as cars go for general transportation purposes. The K24A4 has plenty of grunt, especially with the 5 speed. It's rare that I top 30 mpg, but then I have my moments of fun. What's really fun is driving a car like this fast. It's damned forgiving, and is actually pretty tight for a FWD beater. The big thing is keeping up momentum. learn to drive a car like this fast...and you've really learned something. My favorite car and best purchase was my '87 Integra. I beat the hell out of that car...and got 35 mpg doing it regularly. "

thanks
i plan to learn more about cars and get active in this section

Quote :

" I would have gone with an accord sedan if going the accord route. the coupe falls short as a sporty car AND falls short as a family/grocery hauler. same thing with solaras and altima coupes. "

I am single and dont like looks of a sedan....i have been in love with coupes from childhood so it made sense to me atleast

btw i paid 12k for

2005 HONDA Accord (EX-V6)
Vehicle Description
Installed Options

* Driver Air Bag
* Anti-Lock Brakes
* Air Conditioning
* AM/FM Radio
* Cruise Control
* CD Changer
* CD Player
* Passenger Air Bag
* Rear Window Defroster
* AM/FM Stereo
* Leather Seats
* Power Door Locks
* Power Mirrors
* Power Windows
* Power Steering
* Power Seats
* Side Air Bag
* Sunroof/Moonroof
* Tilt Wheel

clean carfax, new tires (less than year old with bill of sale and warranty), new battery(less than year old with bill of sale), all maintainence history, extra set of wipers for winter, remote starter

[Edited on September 12, 2009 at 3:00 AM. Reason : blah]

9/12/2009 2:51:31 AM

buy a daewoo

10/15/2009 3:36:30 PM

10/15/2009 10:16:20 PM

^^youre to late homo

10/15/2009 10:41:11 PM

Don't listen to these people telling you to never finance. In the past it was definitely a bad idea for a vehicle, it just cost too much given rates, the life of the loan and the expected life of a car. But since some manufacturers are offering as low as 2% rates right now, they're basically paying you to finance the car. The catch being, you have to actually have good credit to get those rates. Otherwise, never mind what I just said.

10/15/2009 10:52:02 PM

So the thing was i moved to michigan but being a consultant, i never changed my address to Michigan (because of my job visa and lots of paper to do change address) and when i applied for car loan, they said i couldnt even apply in michigan since i wasnt a resident of michigan.

I ended up paying cash...i am kinda glad i did it anyways

10/15/2009 11:26:27 PM

gm is offering 0% again

10/19/2009 7:57:50 AM