boobobobobob wrote: » I own a 2005 coupe the repairs and basic maintenance is very expansive. Both my door windows have stopped rolling down at one point (almost 2 years apart) repair cost at a shop was ~$400 the second time i did the repair myself and the cost of the part (non oem) was $200 ($40 deposit). The 100k tune up will cost 1.5k at a dealership around $800 dollars everywhere else. Tires cost almost 300 each and you'll replace them every 3 years. Breaks at a shop can run up to $500 for all tires, if you buy the pads from the dealership oem ones are ~$130. I think my door locks on both side need to be replaced.. they sometimes do not lock. Lots of electronic problems with the car all of which started happening after 100K miles and 6 years. Oh and the light that tells you what gear you are in near the shift stick no longer lights up for me. Also consider the insurance it's very expensive!!! Get a quote for the insurance before you buy the car i think the price will surprise you. And after listing all these problems, would I buy the car again? Yes
gbdavidx wrote: » opinions on 2007 Volvo S60 2.5T?
gbdavidx wrote: » thank you for this, it will help me put this in perspective, how much do you pay for insurance if you dont mind me asking? and how old are you?
gbdavidx wrote: » thats not bad at all!
gbdavidx wrote: » well, my fiance just got a new job, i currently make 48k a year and pay about 500 a month for utilities, she pays the mortgage
Claymoore wrote: » They are good looking cars. I like the way the grill and headlights look as they fade away in my rearview mirror. I did a quick search in my area for 2008 G35 and found an average price of $19,500. The reason I buy used cars is to let someone else take that initial depreciation hit so I can save money and get a bit nicer car. However, at that price, you are in a decent new car price range or a used/off-lease car that is only a couple of years old. Those vehicles will still have warranties and better financing options. Features that made a car a 'luxury' model in 2008 have trickled down to be standard (or at least common) features - automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, heated seats, sat nav, sat radio, aux audio input, extra airbags, traction contol - all can be found in base models or one trim level up. Some, like traction control and tire pressure monitors, are required by law now. Examine the features you like in the G35 and see if you can't find them elsewhere. You can always find a deal on a sports car when someone realizes that a car seat won't fit in the back of a Camaro. I sold cars for a few months after the dotcom bust, and one of my reasons to do so was to learn how to buy a car. Cars are an emotional item, and an expensive one at that. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and make a financial mistake. The best thing you can do is decide on a monthly payment that you think you can afford. Loan calculators will take the price and rate and give you a monthly payment. Then make that payment to a savings account for 6 months. That should be enough time to even out any month-to-month budget fluctuations and you will see if you can really afford that payment. If you struggle, change your maximum price target to match what you can afford. Don't assume that you will make more money soon and be able to handle the payment, additional expenses are more likely to appear in the future. You now know what you can afford and have some cash to take with you. You should have enough to cover the Tax, Title, and License fees - so you don't finance and thus pay interest on taxes - plus a little something to put down. Maybe even enough to go up a trim level and keep the same payment. Buying a car is 3 separate transactions - selling your car, buying their car, and financing the car - do not combine them into one transaction. Go to CarMax (or someplace similar) that guarantees they will buy your car and get a quote. Go to your bank or credit union and get pre-approved for financing. The dealership may offer you more money or a better rate, but first you need a baseline for comparison. 0% financing isn't a great deal if $4000 worth of incentives go to the dealer instead of you, while you had a 4% rate offer from your bank. See if your bank has a car buying service. I used ours last year when I bought my wife her new minivan. I filled out a request, and they gave me their pre-negotiated price at an approved dealer in the area. I had a negotiated price and financing before we set foot on the lot for a test drive. The only thing left was to see if they would offer more for my wife's car than CarMax, and they did. Cars last longer than ever so don't be afraid of a 72 month payment if you plan to keep the car that long. My car is paid for, I financed it for 60 months, and I plan on driving it for 8 years. We financed the van for 72 months because we knew we would keep it at least that long. If you are the type that likes to be in and out of cars every couple of years, you should consider a lease.
--chris-- wrote: » Hey guys quick note on insurance quotes, it varies from metro area to metro area and even more from state to state. Living in metro Detroit, we have rather high auto insurance rates even if you have good credit and great driving history. My wife and I are 28, and for two wranglers both with full coverage its $305/month. Thats the best deal we have been able to find, and this with our home owners added to it for the discount.