Is buying new worth the hit, or better to grab used and save?

"Sure, there's always that tiny worry about hidden issues, but careful inspections and maintenance records usually ease my mind."

Couldn't agree more—due diligence really makes a difference. Still, do you find certain brands or models hold their value better, even when bought used? Curious if anyone's tracked that in their spreadsheets...

I've definitely kept tabs on this—maybe a little too obsessively, according to my wife. From my own spreadsheet adventures, I've noticed certain brands (like Toyota or Honda) consistently holding their value better over time, even when bought used. Still, I once bought a used luxury sedan—maintenance records pristine, inspection perfect—and it depreciated faster than my crypto investments... lesson learned. So yeah,

"careful inspections and maintenance records usually ease my mind,"

Haha, your crypto analogy hits home! I've seen similar things happen in real estate—buying the fanciest house on the block doesn't always mean it'll appreciate fastest.

"brand reputation and market demand are pretty big factors too."

Yeah, good point about practicality. I've seen plenty of cases where a modest home in a solid neighborhood outpaces the flashy new builds nearby. Those luxury upgrades are nice, but they don't always translate to resale value down the road...

"Those luxury upgrades are nice, but they don't always translate to resale value down the road..."

Haha, tell me about it. My cousin went all-in on a fancy new build—heated floors, smart fridge that texts you when you're out of milk, the whole deal. Fast forward five years and he's scratching his head why buyers aren't lining up to pay extra for his techy kitchen. Makes me wonder, is there a sweet spot between "just enough upgrades" and "over-the-top gadgets"?