When we couldn’t afford a new nice car, we bought a used nice car. We kind of live by the adage buy the best you can afford and take care of it so it lasts forever.
Right now we have four vehicles may be up to five in late 2023 or early 2024 (an EV).
We have a 2004 that I ordered new from the factory and took delivery Oct 2003. I searched all of California inventory and there wasn’t a single one like I wanted so I ordered, invoice price + $200. Vehicle now has 135K miles and looks new. I still get compliments on it. American made.
A 2006 we bought new off the lot after it had sat there almost a year. It now has 135K on it and now is a “leisure” vehicle…doesn’t get driven to work often, just take it out for fun once in a while. Looks new except where the leather is cracking on the driver’s seat, wife is after me to get new leather in it. American made.
A 2019 we bought new after it sat on the lot for a year – got it 25% off. Was new on the showroom floor when we bought it, now has only 3500 miles on it. Made in Italy.
A 2019 we leased new after it sat on dealer’s lot in Santa Monica for a year. We just bought out the lease on Friday…I totaled up all lease payments and the buy-out…total we paid is over 20% off MSRP sticker, approaching 25%. Made in Italy, has 28K miles on it right now.
We will probably own those four for a long, long time. Probably the last ICE vehicles we ever buy.
Next year’s EV will be a lease. I figure we’ll lease EVs until my wife retires, then turn the EV in and live the rest of our lives with the four ICE vehicles. The EV will keep the miles off the ICEs and once we retire we won’t drive much anyway.
