This is a partnered guest post.
You already know that there are lots of wild and wacky things that can be recycled. Have you ever thought about recycling your car?
Well…okay, so maybe not recycling it but turning it in so that someone else can use it while you use the money from the sale to buy something more eco-friendly?
Which…yeah, okay, that counts as recycling.
You have already heard, probably over and over again, that if you want to save money the best thing you can do is buy used cars instead of new cars—if you have to buy cars at all. Really, though, with all of the changes that have been made to automobile technology over the last 5-10 years, it’s in your best interest to buy new.
If your current car still has good trade in value you can shop around. There are lots of great new car dealerships out there with all the best of what’s new, including Arrigo of Palm Beach new vehicles. Some of these newer cars often get put on special when they arrive at these dealership and, with your trade-in; it’s possible that you can get a car loan with monthly payments that are identical to what you are paying now.
It’s understandable if your instinct is to rebel. New cars are crazily expensive these days! Even the “budget cars” cost thousands and thousands of dollars more than the used varieties. This flies in the face of being thrifty and embracing frugality. But think about it:
Over time, the technology for cars becomes obsolete. This means that the knowledge of how to work on and repair these cars gets rarer and rarer. The rarer the skill, the more the person who has it can charge you to put it to work.
Over time, fewer and fewer replacement parts for older cars are being manufactured. This is why it’s almost impossible to track down parts for cars that are older than 5-10 years old. The rarer the part, the more expensive it becomes.
The more time a car spends on the road, the more likely it is to have problems. Parts grow old and decay—even with proper maintenance—and the likelihood of a malfunction or problem grows with every mile the car drives and every day it exists. This means that you’ll have to pay for more repairs and pricier maintenance with an older car.
Cars made even as recently as five years ago have gas mileage rates that cannot hold a candle to the mileage rates offered by today’s new cars—even cars that don’t have hybrid engines. This means that you have to fill the tank a lot more often on an older car than you do on a newer car.
Buying a new car, especially one with a hybrid engine, can help you qualify for some tax breaks, depending on where you live.
It’s sort of like any other money-savings or going-green tip: you have to spend some money now to save more money over the long haul. It’s true for light bulbs and appliances. Why can’t it be true for cars?
Buying new is definitely better in the long run, you don’t have to wonder about its past.
Buying new can really save sometimes!
We’re in the market for a new car. And while my MIL is trying to convince us to go used, I’d much prefer a new car.
We always buy new
ughhhh we need a new car SO bad. We are just throwing money away when my car keeps breaking out. It sucks.
I never buy new… always used. BUT I have never really thought about the money saving costs of buying new until now.
Our “new cars” have always been used — you can’t tell!
We buy new also.
We’ve always bought new, I think the car payments are definitely worth the peace of mind!
I buy new. I don’t know how people treated their cars and I just don’t think it’s smart to buy used.
I will never lease again. Hate it! So glad I bought my car!
After my very first car (years ago) developed major, major engine problems not long after I bought it, I decided new cars were for me. Many people have told me that I am wasting money buying new. What I always try to do is look for those 0% interest deals. We recently bought a new car and got a better deal than we would have had we purchased the same car used (a year or two old) just because of the savings on interest.
We usually keep our cars until they stop running, so it works for us. Plus, as some others have said – at least I know where it’s been and what’s been done in it. 😉
I bought new and had so many issues.. I went into a lease and had issues.. Cars just have issues for me lol
I didn’t know you could get tax breaks based on the kind of car you get!
I’m don’t normally look there first but it’s worth it I’m sure!
After I pay off my car note I am only buying something brand new.
Wow, I never considered how you could actually save by buying new.
I’m just trying to make my old SUV last as long as possible. No loan is the cheapest 😉
I feel the same way…I bought my car and it’s still going great 12 years later.
We have never purchased brand new but I did get my slightly used 2012 for an amazing deal last year!
We usually go for slightly used, but there are lots of variables to consider when buying a car!
Except for my first car (when I was 16) I have always gone new. I’ve always heard that it’s better to buy a used car with low miles, but I prefer to be the first person to have the car. It’s nice to know that buying new can be seen as a good thing. You’ve got to buy new just to have that great new car smell ;-).
We ended up saving a lot in the long run with my husband’s current car since he went with a diesel- it gets AMAZING gas mileage!
Buying new is a good idea that’s true – but keeping the car you already own in the clear with no payments and fixing it is actually more affordable and smarter than getting rid of it to buy a new car. It will almost always cost you less when you factor in insurance to fix a vehicle you already own then to buy a new one even with a trade in.
I usually buy gently used, and try my best to away from F-O-R-D (my oldest brother works at Toyota, but he loves Ford for some reason. I hate them!). 😉