FMSavings

[ase]

There is nothing like working a 10 - 8 day, then catching the bus home, to make you seriously consider your priorities.

Poll #917 My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

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Should I buy a car?

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No.
1 (12.5%)

Yes.
7 (87.5%)

With zero being "new", my new car should be ____ years old.

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Mean: 4.88 Median: 5 Std. Dev 2.52

0		0 (0.0%)
1		0 (0.0%)
2		2 (25.0%)
3		1 (12.5%)
4		0 (0.0%)
5		3 (37.5%)
6		0 (0.0%)
7		1 (12.5%)
8		0 (0.0%)
9		0 (0.0%)
10		1 (12.5%)
11		0 (0.0%)
12		0 (0.0%)
13		0 (0.0%)
14		0 (0.0%)
15		0 (0.0%)

I don't know how to drive stick. Yet. Should I even pretend to look at manual cars?

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Yes.
2 (22.2%)

No.
7 (77.8%)

Did I mention I'm getting my wisdom teeth out sometime before March 2010?

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Oh snap!
1 (12.5%)

This changes my thoughts on your budget.
1 (12.5%)

But you already budgeted for that! Stop thinking about it.
6 (75.0%)

Dealbreakers:

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A/C
6 (85.7%)

Automatic transmission
4 (57.1%)

4 door
1 (14.3%)

Trunk (no hatchback)
0 (0.0%)

Power steering
4 (57.1%)

Power locks
1 (14.3%)

Power mirrors
2 (28.6%)

Power doors
1 (14.3%)

CD player
1 (14.3%)

Air bag
4 (57.1%)

Cheap car, minimal dent in savings
1 (14.3%)

Brand (please elaborate in comments)
0 (0.0%)

Something I will explain in comments
0 (0.0%)

How am I going to *pay* for this money sink?

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4 year car loan.
7 (100.0%)

Second job. Part time.
1 (14.3%)

A better idea I will elaborate on in comments.
1 (14.3%)

I am totally biasing this by mentioning my Philosophy of the First Car: there is no point in buying new, because I will drive it off the lot, hit a stationary object, and cry a lot about the dent. I'd much rather my first damage was more along the lines of, "wait, was that ding in the side there two weeks ago? Oh well."

Comments

[norabombay]

Ok, fine.

I should revise this: For cars that cost less $ than a laptop computer? AC is optional. It's not like you can't just sit it in the parking lot until it cools down. And the Volvo was a pretty fucking awesome car- plus on the old ones you can drive them with the windows down- not something to do in a lexus.

For a car that is in the 'younger than Ase' category, or the 'more than a laptop' category, get AC.

I'm also advising: 60 month (5 year loan) on a car that is less than 5 years old. Keep forever.

[ase]

If I can get a decent auto loan, I may break down and go there. (Using the baby laptop as a baseline, apparently I will put up with old stuff I bought new. Because I hate spending money, quelle surprise, and this will continue until I make, oh, about a quarter more than I do at the moment.) Getting a loan is going to be a comedy show: my credit union's online application form demands another car for collateral, so I sense shenanigans in my future.

Also, did you see TFV's dealership adventure? I want to start self-medicating now, and I haven't even 1.) gotten the preapproved loan, 2.) picked my top five cars.

[norabombay]

In life's great irony time.

I'm an EXCELLENT person to go car shopping with. Because I'm not willing to put up with much shit from sales people and I have the GLARE OF DEATH.

That said, Cathy is probably even better, and if you can bring Cathy & Bill along? Call it a game night.

Get the pre approved loan from the credit union. Pick the car specs you want- Millenia's weren't even on my list, but you know how I am still in love, 100k later.

And go to Car Max- not to buy, just to wander about. Ask them to let you into a couple of the cars you are interested in, so you can check the seats/sizing. It's an easy and low preassure way to deal with the need to winnow the field before seriously shopping.

[ase]

Carmax is going to be awesome, since it's on the way home. If I weren't house-sitting next week, I'd spend a couple evenings test driving stuff.

Between Cathy, Bill, and dad, I think I have a pool of people to beat car salesmen with.