I have never had a brand new car of my own. I'm looking at buying something else in the next year or two most likely. I thought this would be the time for a brand new one finally, but once again I am slipping into the mindset of buying a low mileage lease turn in - something 20k miles. My thinking is always this gets me more car for less money. Both the wife and I put about 25k miles on each of our vehicles every year.

My wife on the other hand typically gets a new one when the old one is no longer reliable.

This leads me to my question:

Question:
Have you ever had a brand new car for yourself?

Choices:
Yes
No
Only the significant other gets those

 

Never bought a new car.

Never made a car payment either.

I'm on my second new car. My next will be new as well. Saving is great but if you're spending that kind of time in it you might as well enjoy the new car experience.

Yeah, we buy new cars. Hondas and Toyotas for the last 30+ years. Drive them until they die, rinse, repeat.

Bought a brand new car once. Wasn't worth it. Everything since has been lightly used (<25k).

Did it twice. Wasn't worth it.
Now I buy one or two year old cars.

I am 41 yo....my current vehicle, specifically a Toyota Tacoma, was my first new car purchase. Decision being that the Certified Pre-Owned ones with 40K miles were only a few thousand dollars cheaper. That, coupled with a great rate from my bank, made the decision easy.

i'm never in a hurry to buy a car. i purchased the most recent new SUV (a Nissan) when the dealer had a big sale - the price was close to the same car with 20k miles. After going back and forth on price, i told the dealer I'd do the deal if they added a few accessories, including the factory towing package.

This might not have worked with other brands.... Nissan is not super popular in this neck of the woods so the dealer was hungry.

I've had two "off the lot, brand new" vehicles in my 58+ years. With the caveat that the first one I bought (1986 Mazda RX-7 GXL) was driven for 183,000 miles and LITERALLY died in 2000. That's when I bought my used 1997 Toyota Corolla DX, which I still drive to this day as my "airport car"...currently has 188,000+ miles.

In 2011, I decided I wanted to treat myself again with an off the lot, brand new vehicle and bought a 2011 Toyota Venza (has less than 44,000 miles on it). I will probably never buy another car, or if I do, it'll be 2 or 3 years old. I plan on putting a nice paint job on the Corolla in the next couple of years and giving it to my oldest nephew when he turns 17, which will be right about the time I have to retire.

Two new trucks. Never made a vehicle payment either.

As mentioned above, lightly used, low mile used trucks are only a few thousand cheaper, if that.

I have had several:
1960 Ford Falcon (sold to my mom for $1)
1966 Ford Mustang (sold to a GI in Iran)
1971 Ford Pinto (sold to a GI in Germany)
1980 Mercury Capri (traded in)
1986 Ford Mustang GT (driven 183,000 miles)
2006 Ford Mustang GT (current daily driver)

Each of those was my daily driver until the next one was purchased. My only "used" daily driver car was my first, a 1953 Ford coupe, bought in 1959 and driven only one year (sold it to my cousin for what I'd paid for it). I have had other used vehicles as "fun" drives (still have a 1966 Mustang in my garage--not my original one, though).

Both my 1960 Falcon and 1971 Pinto were "first year" vehicles, and they did have a few teething problems. The Falcon didn't get enough oil into the rocker arm assemblies and those had to be replaced (I'd moved and didn't get the recall notice from Ford). The Pinto clutch linkage broke and had to be welded (again, I'd moved and didn't get the recall notice). When in USAF, one moves around a lot. Other than those issues, I've never had any serious problems with any of my new cars.

flashguy

Sure, several of my cars (including my current one), two trucks and both of my motorcycles were bought new. This is over a 40-year period.

I get a brand new car about every 10 years. That's usually the time frame when they are falling apart.

94 Dodge Ram

2004 Seabring convertable

2014 Escape

2024 ????

Once, right out of college when GM had 0% and I needed a vehicle to start my career. Got the cheapest little Saturn I could find on the lot.

Other than that, my preference is late model used. Preferably something with under 30,000 miles that has some of the factory warranty remaining in case of issues.

One time: a 2000 Dodge Neon

I will never buy another new car from a new car dealer. Only 1-2 year old vehicles from the retail pricing model sellers like CarMax.

I’ve bought 2 new trucks. My current truck was practically new since I bought it with 609 miles on it (guy bought loaded midsize truck, drove a few weeks, and traded-in for full-size).

I've never bought a new one. I just can't see any benefit. You can buy one a year or two old that is for all intents and purposes a new car, and save significant amounts of money.

quote:

One time: a 2000 Dodge Neon

I can easily believe that POS would sour you on any more new cars.

I've historically only bought new cars. I don't have the skills to assess whether or not a used car is going to last long enough. Nor do I have the skills to fix things should something break.

However, moving forward, having built up experience and also relationship w/ the local shop, I'm more likely to buy a used car for myself. Cars I want are not affordable to me new - my budget is $20k or less for cars as they are now 90% utility expenditures for me and only 10% fun.

My wife gets new cars but again with a budget (up to $30K but they last 20+ years).

Except last two cars all of mine were made in the 80's and have only owned three cars in my life that even had power windows.

Last car was a return Ford Fusion with 60mi on ODO. Got extended warranty for buying CPO car. Technically used, but practically new.

Current car Ford Fusion Sport. I drive company vehicles. Car is for my pleasure, I want it to be taken care of and used by me only.