quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The right car is the one that's paid-for, and runs. You got the title? Bingo, you got the right car.

This without question. Buy what you can afford w/o payments or fleecing.

Then consider this... What does it matter if you get there faster or slower... everyone will eventually get there.

I'll take reliable over trendy or stylish or the latest gee-whiz bang do-dad. And F the battery powered BS....

Andrew

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The right car is the one that's paid-for, and runs. You got the title? Bingo, you got the right car.

Especially when his current one only has 23,000 miles. Unless he forgot a zero.

Great advice Para. It's paid off. And, only 23000 miles Haven't hardly driven since the covid shutdown started.

I'm thinking maybe I should keep this one!

I would probably be looking for a AWD panel van Ford transit type. Those touring 3.6 Outbacks looked amazing. Or the Forester Sport.

Otherwise I think this is another alternative

Having a new car and having it fully paid off are not mutually exclusive.

There's no rule in any book that says you have to drive every car you own into the ground, or that practicality is the only measure of benefit.

That said, what are the real reasons a 5 year old turbo Forester that's only barely been broken in is being put on the chopping block? What are you hoping to achieve/optimize?

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
That said, what are the real reasons a 5 year old turbo Forester that's only barely been broken in is being put on the chopping block? What are you hoping to achieve/optimize?

Mostly new and different. But the Forester is a great car. Plenty of creature comforts too. If Subaru still made the Forester XT, I'd probably just get a new one.

Smart money says keep this one.

I got some seat time in an FXT years ago, an 07 I think.
Made the trip from somewhere north of St George, through the AZ gorge & into NV.
The Forester was a blast & had no issue with the snow in UT.

Only thing it lacked was a 6MT & better economy.

Been a while since I've driven one, but I'd put the CX5 on a list of modern replacements.
The GV70 is really nice looking, but haven't been in any Genesis other than the Hyundai Genesis/G80. Not a bad ride in Ultimate trim.

quote:

Originally posted by scratchy:

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
That said, what are the real reasons a 5 year old turbo Forester that's only barely been broken in is being put on the chopping block? What are you hoping to achieve/optimize?

Mostly new and different. But the Forester is a great car. Plenty of creature comforts too. If Subaru still made the Forester XT, I'd probably just get a new one.

Smart money says keep this one.

I completely understand.

My wife's 2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring was running great, with 50k miles on it, when she started looking at the new 2022 CX-5. She found a deal on one and pulled the plug. The 2016 has now gone to my daughter who is away at college in SoCal

I have to admit that the 2022 CX-5 AWD Touring is a lot better equipped than the 2016 was...might be because Mazda just introduced the CX-50

Keep it, drive it, you won't be able to replace it for reasonable price.

Wouldn't buy a car in this market unless I was replacing a totaled vehicle, dealers nationwide are marking them up $5K to $10K, it's absurd. Leasing companies are watching carefully and the residuals are not going to take into account the increased market prices.

Average new car payment is $1000 a month, absurdly high, average new EV car is $48K, even if you could find a dealer selling at MSRP which is better, it's still a sellers market.

Used car values are up, but you're trading funny money value for massive bump sticker prices.

Looks like the slow down in car sales in the UK has started, as people weight gas, food, housing against the price of a new vehicle.

If we see wall street pushing GM, Ford etc to start moving more metal out of the factories and the parts keep up so they can, those high markup vehicles are going to be seriously depreciated and you'll have massive negative equity.

When the chickens come home to roost the Car dealers are going to have big issues flipping buyers into new sales.


https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-...-living-crisis-bites

I misread the original post. If the Subaru really only has 23K miles on it, no way would I ditch it given the current market conditions in terms of purchasing a new car or truck.

In addition to our turbo CX-5 Mazda, we also have a fully paid for 2017 Subaru Forester (non-turbo) with about 30K on the odometer. Sure, we could get top dollar if we sold/traded it, but we'd get bent over trying to buy something comparable new to replace it.

I know that Volvo has been purchased by a Chinese company but my S60 was excellent in inclement weather and had a turbo motor to better compensate for altitude. Also the seats were the best I ever sat in.
Overall though, I suggest you keep what you have if it is working for you.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Life is too short for boring vehicles.

I’ve heard this cliche repeated so many times I cannot count. Thousands.

It depends on what kind of driving you are doing with it and where. Myself, commuting to work, driving to the grocery store, gym, a doctor’s office, or some other errand, it doesn’t matter. A Ferrari Enzo is not going to turn those boring mundane drives into anything remotely exciting due to traffic, lights, and congestion. Suburban or urban driving is very boring in anything. So I have a designated daily driver that is super efficient, inexpensive, reliable. It’s still fun to drive, quick, and handles but I wouldn’t choose it for different driving than above.

So to me it’s about picking the best tool for the job you are going to do with it. Just like buying tools. You don’t buy a socket wrench as a do it all tool for everything. Not gonna work. I ride/drive twisties out in rural land and go to the track (circuits). The vehicle I have for that is not going to make a good daily driver so I don’t waste the miles on it for that kind of driving.

OP, you’ve got options for a like replacement if that is your want, listed previously. Have you ever thought, since it sounds like you are retiring or already retired, about getting a 2nd vehicle? Something fun? If so the new BRZ at your same dealership would be a lot of fun in 6MT. You’d have the FXT for ground clearance, snow, cargo, passengers, etc, and a nice coupe to drive that is the best bang for the back sports car on the market. It actually drives quite well in the snow as well with winter wheels and tires provided that it’s used on roads that are cleared and not the tall stuff where you need ground clearance.

Cliffs: IMO, you just can’t get everything out of one vehicle. You end up getting a jack of all trades at best, but master of nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by bettysnephew:
I know that Volvo has been purchased by a Chinese company but my S60 was excellent in inclement weather and had a turbo motor to better compensate for altitude. Also the seats were the best I ever sat in.
Overall though, I suggest you keep what you have if it is working for you.

I’ve owned three Volvos. Just my opinion, very safe, very nice rode, most of the bells and whistles that most premium and limited have. The down side is after 7-8 years, 120,000- 150,000 miles, they seem to become money pits!

One more thing, test drive a Highlander! Yota all the way!

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

Average new car payment is $1000 a month,

Whoa! GTFOH.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

Average new car payment is $1000 a month,

Whoa! GTFOH.

You're right, Balzé Halzé

https://www.creditkarma.com/au...%20for%20used%20cars.

In a Nutshell

The average car payment for Americans is $644 a month for new cars and nearly $488 for used cars.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

Average new car payment is $1000 a month,

Whoa! GTFOH.

I'll keep flogging my 10 year old Malibu before I take on a note like that.

I imagine stacking negative equity plays into that high of a payment number.

quote:

I'll keep flogging my 10 year old Malibu before I take on a note like that.

Same with me and my 13-year-old Toyota Corolla. A base model (crank windows, even), it is about as bland and boring a car as you can find, but in 183,000 miles it has never left me walking. No rattles, squeaks, cracked dashboard or rust, either, despite never seeing a day under a roof.

Only 83k on mine, so it's got a long time to run, still
Interested in a few new cars, but happy having no note.

At the very least, I'm going to have fun test driving several of these options. With the funny money you get for a nice used car, we can swing a new one without financing.

I'll probably end up being sensible and keeping the FXT. It's the touring model, plenty of comforts, and the wife drives a WRX, so I can get some fun there too.