this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2024
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Fuck Cars

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A place to discuss problems of car centric infrastructure or how it hurts us all. Let's explore the bad world of Cars!

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Dave Ramsey hasn't tried to buy a reliable used car in the last decade, at least. You aren't going to find anything under about $10k that's actually reliable where I am. A mid-90s Toyota with 300,000 miles maybe, but not anything under 150,000.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

With the $554 average new car payment in the original post, you can afford that $10k new-to-you used car outright in cash every 18 months.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Average price of a used car in the US, right now, is $29,000. Which means that for a $554 payment, it's going to be 5.4 years rather than 1.5. From there, you need to figure out how many miles you put on a car in a year, make some rough guesses about how many miles the average car has left before the cost to repair exceeds the cost of replacing, etc. Obvs. a high mileage used car is going to require significantly more maintenance than a new car will (...in most cases, as long as you aren't buying a new Land Rover or Jaguar), so you'll need to figure that in as well. You'll probably want good insurance, even if you're only required to carry minimal liability insurance, because any accident could be catastrophic for your finances if you can't afford to repair your car.

It's a bit of a death spiral; wages are still too low, car prices are too high.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Sure, but in 2023, someone could already be selling a 2022 as used. That $29k number is going to be skewed by those who sell younger cars. You can still find used cars much cheaper than this.

For that $554 payment, you would need $6648 in additional yearly maintenance costs on an older vehicle to compare. That's like a new engine or transmission, every year!

Anecdotally, I drive a 32-year-old car that I purchased, coincidentally, for $3200 around 7 years ago. I haven't spent even close to $6648 in maintenance that entire time (probably not even another $3200).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

To my original claim - finding something that's reasonable mileage, and in good mechanical condition, for under $10k, is quite a challenge at this point. I sold a 2008 Honda Civic Si with >200,000 miles last year that was not running, had rust, and generally needed a fair amount of work, and had an asking price of $4k. I got fifty offers in under 12 hours. It was crazy.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I walk or bike to about 90% of the places I need to go. That said, I also recently bought a vehicle for $1200. Works fine except the fuel gauge is broke so I have to just keep it topped off. My neighbor is trying to sell his Kia Rio for $1500. Works fine. It'll last at least another 3 or 4 years. Likely more. I have a friend whose son totaled out his car. He wanted another. I recommended a car that was in the $1000 to $2000 price range. He didn't want it. He took out a loan and got a very nice, very sporty car. Then he got in another wreck and totaled it out too. So then he goes and gets himself another expensive car. I just don't understand.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

If I took my bike to town, it would take me about an hour, give or take. To get home would be about four hours. It's 15 miles, one way, with about 2200' of elevation change.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Sounds like you need a zip line! πŸ˜‚

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

That's just one of the many fun things about living in the mountains.