OT: Talking Cars Tuesday: Open Floor

When I read the post title, I thought it might refer to tales of auto ownership where floorboards were rusted away, yielding the "Fred Flintstone" cockpit design.  I had one such vehicle in my UM student days, a 1969 Toyota Corona Deluxe, with the optional Toyoglide 2-speed automatic transmission.  It had an unkillable driveline, but the floorboards, not so much.

I'm assuming rates are high but the used car resale values have been a blessing. WFH (for now) so sold my commute car a couple years ago for 80% of what I paid for it. Just recently traded in my wife's Blazer for a Hybrid, and only had to write a check for $7k.

Can't imagine that strike is going to be short, given what the union is asking for. 

I’m looking to replace the wife’s Nissan rogue. It’s an 18 but we’ve owned it since new and I enjoy being a backyard mechanic so it’s immaculate. Hers is a midnight edition so it’s really a sharp suv that you don’t see more than 1 of in the meijer parking lot. They came out with the same suv in a 23 and I considered it, but even with excellent credit the interest rate is still outrageous. My 21 setting in the drive was purchased at 1.9% and I can’t bring myself to burn money just to have a new car when we’re not those type of people. I was raised in a family that took care of what they had and made it last. 

I just got to the halfway point of my payment schedule, so I'm just looking. 

I lease our two cars but I'm probably paying less now than I did 10 years ago for comparable cars.  The combination of higher residual values and equity in lease turn ins are keeping the lease rates low for now.  WFH has changed my annual miles from 15-18k per year to around 12.  I drive to the office 3 days a week.  

I'm considering trading in my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica for a newer model. We also have a Nissan Quest which fits our family. My wife and I have five kids, but the oldest is two years away from college and the second oldest is a freshman in H.S. I'm torn between trading in for a new Pacifica or a lease, since we are going to be downsizing in a couple years. 

I've considered a lease before, but always end up with certified used cars with low mileage. I think I'm in hold territory for at least another year since I've plunked $3K into the Pacifica, but I might jump for the right offer. 

We own our family car (explorer) that needs to last for another 4-5 years with minimal maintenance.  Wife is off her lease in 2 years.  Was thinking of getting a jeep so kids have a car to drive to high school that is paid off. Just worried about prices in general.  After we got the explorer the redesign jumped prices over $10,000 for an equivalent model.  Not sure how anyone is affording all these new cars. 

we own older, salvage 1-ton trucks i buy at auction and fix up.  no payments, no fuss.  maybe someday i'll get something nicer, but that seems to be years away for this season of my life. 

and a hat-tip to our friend jeepinben, the high priest of TCT for so many threads over the years.  cheers, ben.  

I pay cash for used cars and drive them until they croak. One is always available for out of town trips (my wife's) and mine is for in town driving. We're getting to the point of looking to replace mine and get a replacement for her. I've been holding off as long as possible since all the "experts" said last year that used car prices will be coming down. I haven't seen that yet. Oh well, we'll just keep putting cash aside until the right deal comes along.

One life change is that 3 of our 4 kids are now out of the house. It gives you more options when looking for 3 passengers instead of 6.

I've had my 2015 GTI since new and I can't seem to find a good reason to replace it. It's the longest I've owned a car by far and the fewest miles as well thanks to WFH. I want a Mk8 Golf R, but I don't need to do anything, so I'll wait until I can get one with the better interior (MY 2024) and without paying $5-10K over sticker. 

Family and I are, thankfully, all set for local and road trip cars.

Have been hunting for a winter beater/hauler for Junior's use at his new home. Finding nothing worth buying right now as used car and truck prices are still ridiculous. This should change, for cash buyers at least, once the reality of higher borrowing costs filters more into used car purchase negotiations.

Also. Used car inventories should also start to expand (dropping prices) once new car sales revert back to some semblance of nomalcy post the Covid related production issues.

Strange days indeed. What's next? Cats and dogs living together? Mass hysteria?

My 2006 4Runner with 225K miles will eventually fail and need to be replaced (won't it?).  Since I WFH, I'm only putting on 6K miles/year, so the time horizon keeps getting extended.  I prefer to buy cars that have depreciated 40-50%, so looking in the 3-5 year old category.  Haven't found anything compelling that I can pay cash for.  I make a monthly car payment to myself, so maybe I'll keep saving until the current vehicle meets its demise.

Getting my oil changed at Quick Lube next to the Ford dealer's used car lot caused me to trade in my 21 GT for a 22 Mach1 with 2300 miles. Lucky enough to have a daily, so the seat time in the sports car is usually high value.

Trying to decide between pure electric and plug-in hybrid. Lots of good options these days. Would be curious if people have ones they recommend.

Not currently looking. My 2011 Silverado has 155k miles on it but runs perfectly so I expect to get at least another 100k out of it.

Plan at that point (5-7 years out) is to just pay cash for something (new or used depending on market conditions at the time), and drive it for the subsequent 20 years.

I've done WFH for a good decade+ prior to covid so that hasn't changed my purchase decisions. It's really just a matter of utility and needing an open truck bed for some regular hauling things I do.

1. no. i’m driving my truck until it dies (currently 144k miles) because i love that truck and it’s been paid off. i think i can get 4-5 more years of 20k miles a year on it 

2. no (see #1)

3. i have worked from home a total of 5 days since covid hit, and three of them were because i had contractors coming over to do estimates, so no

4. it doesn’t 

I have a 2018 Audi A5 with only 33K miles on it.  With mileage that low, yes, I'm a pretty good candidate for an electric vehicle.  I'm going to watch the market of new EV roll outs over the next few years.  The 2025 model year might be my point to jump back into the market.

If you think auto loan rates are bad now, you should have seen what they were in 1983 when I bought my first new car.

My family has two cars free and clear...no car payments is just an amazing feeling.  And while the cars are getting up in miles (130k on my 16 340i and 80k on her 18 Expedition), they both are running beautifully and have presented no problems outside of regular maintenance (which we are good about keeping up on).

Even though I am a 'car guy' and have historically loved refreshing the ride every few years...at this point our plan is to drive them until they will no longer drive, so to speak.  Whenever we do get another car, it will likely be electric...but i've said that my threshold for buying myself an electric is 500/20.  Meaning 500 mile range and 20 minute full charge.  Seems like we are a ways away from that.  

I buy used and keep my cars long term. I bought a used 2018 4Runner before rates went crazy, and I have planned to keep it long term. I will probably give it to my 7 year old when he turns 16. My wife is leasing an Odyssey and will need to get a new car within the next year. We haven't looked at anything as far as inventory and rates so we will need to check that out, but I assume she will lease again. 

I was looking at a mid-size truck for next spring. Some factors changed my mind, and I ended up getting a Duramax 3.0 GMC this past Friday, because it gets better mileage than a mid-size and my BIL works for GM, so I got a discount and subsequent 3-year loan at 0.9%. I got it now because we have tickets to opening week. Obviously this isn't true, but you can't tailgate without a tailgate. Will use it for camping and hauling for the DIY I do around the home. Will still use the Civic hatchback for commuting.

I got an ev. The payment is less than what I was spending on diesel to commute. Another bonus is that my diesel will last longer as it's only needed for cross country towing.

Retired guy. Lucky enough to be getting a 2024 Porsche 911 GT3, late this afternoon. Should be fun! 

Looking to replace 2 cars which are over 10 years old right now. 

I always buy cash. Never borrow money to buy something that depreciates.

This is not that hard. Buy a 3 year old car and keep it for 10 years. Use the first 5 years to pay for the loan and use the following 5 years to save the payments you would have made. And you will never have to borrow money to buy a car.