ISPKI
Welding/metallurgical engineer/Metalsmith
My wife and I have only had 1 car each with a payment, both to build credit for a house. Mine was my 2007 speed 3, paid 7k for it, did a bare minimum 5k loan on it. Bought at 72k, now has 192k and finally needing some work (body stuff, new england winters take their toll).
Hers is a 2012 XC60 Polestar. Bought with 102k and some light damage on front bumper for 8500$. I fixed the damage on it and its been a fantastic car. Quiet, safe, fast, comfortable, did I mention safe? She has around 2500$ left on it.
Everything else I buy used and needing work for barely anything, fix it and drive it into the ground or until someone offers to buy it. I still get why people buy newer vehicles. Not sure I get those buying new every year though but the lease programs actually seem like a good way to go sometimes. My buddy has a 2021 CRV and they only pay maybe 150$ a month for it. They trade it in every 2 years for the next model. It never breaks down and they never have to do work on them because they just dont keep them long enough.
Hers is a 2012 XC60 Polestar. Bought with 102k and some light damage on front bumper for 8500$. I fixed the damage on it and its been a fantastic car. Quiet, safe, fast, comfortable, did I mention safe? She has around 2500$ left on it.
Everything else I buy used and needing work for barely anything, fix it and drive it into the ground or until someone offers to buy it. I still get why people buy newer vehicles. Not sure I get those buying new every year though but the lease programs actually seem like a good way to go sometimes. My buddy has a 2021 CRV and they only pay maybe 150$ a month for it. They trade it in every 2 years for the next model. It never breaks down and they never have to do work on them because they just dont keep them long enough.