Totally agree on the inspection part—it's saved me more than once. A few years back, I bought a used SUV that looked mint on the outside, but the mechanic found some suspension issues during inspection. Ended up negotiating the price down enough to cover repairs and still came out ahead. So yeah, buying used can definitely pay off if you're careful...but you gotta be ready to walk away if things don't feel right.
"Ended up negotiating the price down enough to cover repairs and still came out ahead."
That's exactly how you do it. I've bought both new and used over the years, and honestly, used has usually been the smarter move financially. Sure, new cars have that warranty peace-of-mind, but the depreciation hit is brutal. If you're careful and patient, you can find a solid used vehicle, get it inspected, and save yourself thousands. Just gotta be willing to walk away if something feels off...trust your gut.
"Sure, new cars have that warranty peace-of-mind, but the depreciation hit is brutal."
Yeah, exactly. I mean, warranties are nice and all, but they're basically just expensive insurance bundled into the price tag. I'd rather pocket that cash and keep it handy for unexpected repairs or other emergencies. Honestly, buying used has always felt smarter to me—as long as you're cautious and do your homework first. But hey, I’m the guy who triple-checks restaurant reviews before ordering takeout, so maybe I'm overly cautious...
I've gone both routes over the years, and honestly, buying used has usually worked out better for me. A few quick thoughts from my experience:
- Bought a brand-new SUV once—felt great for about a month, then the reality of depreciation sank in hard when I checked resale values a year later. Ouch.
- Since then, I've stuck with buying gently used cars (2-3 years old, low mileage). Still reliable, still modern enough tech-wise, but way cheaper.
- Warranty is nice, sure, but if you're detail-oriented about maintenance and inspections before buying, major surprises are pretty rare in my experience. I've only had minor repairs pop up—nothing that wiped out the savings from buying used.
- Side note: I keep detailed spreadsheets tracking maintenance costs and depreciation (yeah, I'm that guy). Consistently, my used cars have cost significantly less per year compared to that new SUV.
Bottom line for me: if you're careful and thorough upfront, going used is the smarter financial move. But I get why some people prefer new—it's just not worth it to me personally.
Totally relate to your experience. I've always been cautious about big purchases, and cars are no exception. Bought new once—loved that fresh-car smell, but man, watching the value drop was painful. Since then, I've stuck with used vehicles too. Sure, there's always that tiny worry about hidden issues, but careful inspections and maintenance records usually ease my mind. Sounds like you've got a solid system going...and honestly, spreadsheets are underrated! Glad to hear I'm not alone in tracking every penny spent on car ownership.
