Been thinking about getting a new car, but I'm torn between buying brand new and taking that immediate value drop, or grabbing something gently used and saving some cash. Curious what others prefer and why?
"grabbing something gently used and saving some cash"
Totally agree with this. Bought my last car brand new, and honestly, the depreciation hit was painful to watch. A friend of mine went the gently-used route, got a two-year-old model with low mileage, and saved thousands. Plus, he avoided that initial recall hassle that seems common with brand-new models. Personally, I'd lean towards used next time—less risk, more value... just my two cents.
Yeah, depreciation on new cars can be brutal. But sometimes the peace of mind from a full warranty and knowing exactly how it's been driven can balance things out. Ever had issues with hidden problems on used cars?
I feel that pain—bought a used car once that seemed perfect, until the transmission decided to retire early just two months later. Ouch. But honestly, even new cars aren't foolproof... had a friend whose brand-new SUV spent more time in the dealership than on the road due to weird electrical issues. Makes me wonder, is an extended warranty worth it, or just another sneaky upsell?
I get what you're saying about warranties being a bit of a gamble. Had a similar experience myself—bought used to save money, and it worked out pretty well overall, but I did have to replace the brakes sooner than expected. Still, even with that expense, I came out ahead compared to buying new. I think if you do your homework and maybe get an inspection first, buying used can be worth the savings. But yeah, there's always that element of luck involved...
