Buying a new car

Well I've decided to shop for a new car.  Currently I have an 87 Ford 
Pickup that gets 18mpg, and I have a motorcycle that gets 51mpg.  The 
truck is more comfortable but expensive to drive, the motorcycle is the 
opposite.  I'm beginning to feel that I should sell them both and buy a 
single vehicle that is both comfortable and efficient.  I've shopped 
around online and checked out all the standard high-mpg models...Civic, 
Focus, Yaris, Corolla, and of course the hybrids.  The end result is that 
there are several vehicles that suit my personality and driving style, but 
I'm balking at how much I have to put down if I want a reasonable monthly 
payment, and even though I'd love to get a hybrid, they're still too 
expensive even if I pull every penny out of my savings for a down payment. 
  I've considered getting a certified used vehicle, which would bring down 
the cost a great deal.  Are there any other options I can consider for car 

Borgholio wrote:
> Well I've decided to shop for a new car.

> Are there any other options I can consider for car
> shopping?

Some guys are just not happy unless they are thinking about shopping for
a car or actually shopping for a car.

I think you have the greatest 'flexibility' if you keep the pickup and
the motorcycle.  Every once in a while you can rent a different kind of
car for a day or a weekend.  When you rent the car, you can rent various
sizes or models.

You will save a ton of money on a lot of things, capital outlay,
depreciation, insurance, etc.

As you might guess, I currently have two cars in the garage, a 1969 and
a 1996.  I bought the '69 in '72 and the '96 was a hand-me-down.  I
frequently rent a car when I take a trip and land in one town, rent a
car, drive to the next town and use the car a few days and drive back.
When I rent a car, it is a completely different 'kind' of car than the
69 or the 96.  That is about as much money as I want to spend on a newer
car.

I have a friend who is *always* either shopping or buying new cars or
'classic' older cars.  Typically he's a good guy and gives away the
'disposed' cars to his children, grandchildren, god-daughters or
whatever so that he only has to watch over 2 at a time, so that part of
the 'operation' is probably the most useful part of the acquisition bug.

Personally I would rather shop and buy computers and computer parts
unnecessarily.  It is a lot cheaper.

--
Mike Easter
kibitzer, not SC admin

Mike Easter wrote:
> 
> I think you have the greatest 'flexibility' if you keep the pickup and
> the motorcycle.  Every once in a while you can rent a different kind of
> car for a day or a weekend.  When you rent the car, you can rent various
> sizes or models.

That is very true, the only issue is making the motorcycle comfortable 
enough for 2+ hour rides on the weekends.  If I could do that then I 
wouldn't have much of an issue with it.

> 
> Personally I would rather shop and buy computers and computer parts
> unnecessarily.  It is a lot cheaper.

Charles wrote:
> No way it was me! It was Borgholio <borgholio@storymind.com>!
> 
>> the only issue is making the motorcycle comfortable 
>> enough for 2+ hour rides on the weekends.  If I could do that then I 
>> wouldn't have much of an issue with it.
> 
> Cheeks of steel, man, cheeks of steel!  Um.  2 hours isn't that long on a 
> bike.  Hmm.  I guess I tended to spend about 1 1/2 hours at a time in the 
> saddle - that's how long it takes to go through a tank of gas at full 
> throttle...  But there are all kinds of things you can do.  Like ride with

> your feet on the back pegs or even on the back seat.

Actually it's not my ass that has issues, it's my wrist.  Even though I 
have a primitive throttle lock, I find that my fingers and right wrist 
kill me after the 1+ hour trips.  That's where the comfort level of cruise 

"Borgholio" <borgholio@storymind.com> wrote in message 
news:fu5knp$n6l$1@news.spamcop.net...
>......Are there any other options I can consider for car shopping?

Carmax, but the best bet is deciding what you want, and "shopping"
online 
for that or those years and models, for a little while, once you have a good 
feel for what dealers and craigslisters are asking, and you feel you can 
approach that price with an offer, start shopping (actual) the local 
classifieds, stick to your guns on price , miles and model, be prepared to 
compromise on colour and fittings.

You can get fine autos through private sale, usually for much less than the 
dealers will ask.

Also, while looking get in touch with a mechanic, you trust and line up 
inspections, when you think you found the car, have it inspected.

Also there are certification services that will check if the car has ever 
needed major smash repairs in the US.Check online, I did it for my last car.

Another thing, cosmetically harmful but mechanically meaningless collision 
damage will knock serious $$ (often more than 50%) from the price. e.g. 
having scraped a guardrail, 2" gouge along the length of the car, or hail 
pings. but you need to be sure it's only ugly damage, not mechanical damage.