You've stumped me, Oppo.

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
11/29/2018 at 23:51 • Filed to: None

One of you (unfortunately I can’t remember who) posted a question which has me absolutely stumped. And it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. The question was:

“If you had to use your own money to buy a brand new vehicle, what would you buy?”

The kicker here is that it has to be a brand new vehicle. I find this a really difficult question. I’ve personally ever owned one vehicle - my Civic. I bought it used, with 79,000 km on it at the time. It was roughly 5 years old then . Now it has 282,000 km on it, and it’s 17 years old. Mrs. BaconSandwich has owned a few vehicles since we met. All of them have been purchased used. Buying a new vehicle seems like a huge investment, and I really would struggle with forcing myself to spend that much money on something that isn’t a house .

As critical as a reliable vehicle is, it’s still potentially such a huge “investment”. I say investment in quotes because let’s be honest - it’s not going to gain value, it’s going to lose value. And I think that’s where I would struggle. At least with buying a used vehicle lower down on the depreciation curve, you take a bit less of a hit. My parents always taught us to be frugal, and I don’t think they’ve ever bought a brand new vehicle either. Maybe that’s where I get it.

Even though this question was posted quite a while ago, it’s still something that my brain as been ruminating on, and I still don’t have a good answer for it. You’ve stumped me, Oppo.

DISCUSSION (19)

NKato > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 00:11

If I'm going to spend my own money on a car, you damn well bet I expect it to be capable of not folding in on itself in a 10-20mph accident.

CompactLuxuryFan > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 00:13

You can just get a Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Wrangler, or Crosstrek, depending on the budget. Those depreciate less brand new than most cars used. Too bad all of them except the Land Cruiser are awful. * hides *

CB > CompactLuxuryFan
11/30/2018 at 00:17

Hold on, maybe two of them aren’t awful!

CB > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 00:22

I mean, you could make a WRX STi undrivable and it would still only knock $10k off the value of a new one.

Future Heap Owner > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 00:46

I have much the same thoughts on buying a new car as you, and don’t plan to do it for many years, if ever. If forced, I would probably go for a Honda Fit, since Hondas have a good reputation so it shouldn’t depreciate *as* much, everybody seems to like the thing, you can get it in manual, and most importantly it’s fairly cheap (at least as cars go these days).

On the other hand, “frugality” is why CofL bought that Kia a few months ago, and look where that’s gotten him.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 00:58

I would almost certainly get a Kia Rio EX hatchback. It’s similar in size and function to my current ride, a 2010 Honda Fit, but with nearly a decade’s worth of advancements in refinement. And it just looks so handsome and understated.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 01:18

I can’t afford a new Land Cruiser, I’d probably get a Corolla hatchback XSE or Elantra GT Sport. Each less than $25k, so I won’t lose that much money on depreciation compared to, say, a loaded hybrid crossover. Or Lexus GS (which I also cannot afford). Simple reliable basic transportation with a stick so I can amuse myself.

Derpwagon > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 01:45

Hm, things I’d buy new, if of course I needed a new car and could afford it (reasonably, not talking McLarens)

Civic SI

Accord sport 2.0t

That new passport, I really like it for some reason

4runner if I decided I needed a bromobile

That new Corolla looks neat, pending reviews

Genesis

Stinger

Wrx or sti

Probably more

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 02:56

We’ve been thinking on this question for the last five years. Both of our vehicles were purchased new just after the turn of the century. One is the SF Forester and the other is the VW Transporter dual cab chassis.

The problem with the modern Forester is that it may not have the legroom for our son as he grows up over the next ten years whilst sitting behind a couple of six footers. The other problem is that it no longer comes with a manual gearbox in this market.

The issue with the Transporter is that the current version is a factory order only so there’s a 6 month lead time and the AWD version is DSG only. It’s also heroically priced. Anything else similar is bigger.

Current favourite to replace the Forester is the Isuzu MU-X, a body on frame 4x4. No idea what to replace the VW with but it might end up being a Suzuki Jimny or one of the forthcoming e lectric hatch things, simply as a here and there runner.

W already have a Nissan Patrol ute for the property but if we want to go traveling again then it’s either the MU-X with a camper trailer or used cab over truck with a service body.

So in reality...like you, we have no idea.

CRider > CompactLuxuryFan
11/30/2018 at 03:43

The Land Cruiser is just awfully overpriced.

The answer, of course, is to buy a Raptor. You can buy one of those in the midwe st, drive it to California and se ll i t for a $5,000 profit.

pip bip - choose Corrour > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 04:04

just think of the joy of being the first owner , yes it isn’t cheap.

but if you treat it right from day one, it will last several decades (hopefully)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 07:26

My answer: I wouldn’t.

I’m not spending my hard earned money to get something “almost” or “close enough” to what I want.

The Dummy Gummy > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 08:36

These questions are hypothetical, don’t stress so much about a non-factor .

The Dummy Gummy > CompactLuxuryFan
11/30/2018 at 08:37

They’re overpriced, but I wouldn’t say the Tacoma or Crosstrek is awful. Crosstrek is underpowered and lame but not awful at what it does. Tacoma is on a legacy system but it works - making it overpriced.

The Dummy Gummy > CRider
11/30/2018 at 08:38

That has to be before fuel costs haha

The Dummy Gummy > Future Heap Owner
11/30/2018 at 08:39

Where has it got ole langley? Did he get rid of the kia?

Quadradeuce > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 08:41

I would only buy new for a vehicle I plan to hold onto for a long time. For example, my work truck.

Otherwise, I usually buy gently used, letting sometime else take the initial depreciation hit. We’re actually starting a car search right now to replace my wife’s 9-7x, and we have not considered a new car.

As a side note, buying a new car comes with a lot of bullshit fees that often do no come with used. Delivery, paperwork (I've gotten this waived on used) , etc. Also in my state you pay sales tax based on MSRP not actual transaction price. For used, you just pay tax on transaction price.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 08:57

Canyon Denali or Colorado ZR2 Duramax. Probably the ZR2 because it’ll hold it’s value better.

I’m not going to be crammed into a shitbox just because I have to buy new.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BaconSandwich is tasty.
11/30/2018 at 09:01

I bought a new Tacoma this year with my own money. I plan on it staying in the family for couple decades.

Other cars I’d consider buying new:

Honda Accord
Mazda 3

That’s about it.