Once again, people who do the responsible thing and buy used cars for cash to avoid debt are screwed.
Once Again
Opinions, art, debate
Opinions, art, debate
Once again, people who do the responsible thing and buy used cars for cash to avoid debt are screwed.
Clarissa's Blog 
I do not agree with these ideas he keeps throwing out that would completely tilt the playing field. On both sides – student loan cancelation, down payments, no tax on tips, deducting interest.
I want a low flat tax and a bunch of unemployed accountants and IRS workers. Let us keep more of our money and take care of ourselves and each other as we see fit. Though I don’t mind a bit of a safety net I have seen firsthand over and over how it is abused and makes people more helpless.
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You haven’t seen the used car market recently, have you?
I get mail all the time from the dealership asking me if I want to trade in my car which is less than four years old. The interest rates alone right now would make me choke, so I don’t know who they’re fooling.
The price of an average new car is what you used to pay for a starter Lexus.https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2024/03/25/used-new-car-value-prices/73073720007/
How many people have ~32,000 they can liquidate to buy a used car?
The way I look at it, if I bought it in full, I don’t have to worry about the government yanking away the deduction or whatever the bank does or the change in interest rates. Of course it sucks for cash flow.
God help anyone that has to buy a car b/c their old one got destroyed because of the hurricane.
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We buy ours on Craigslist. I cannot begin to comprehend the logic of people who go to a dealership for a used car. It’s like they are living on a different planet.
Buy from a neighbor if Craigslist is scary. Somebody is always selling in the community.
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That’s always a solid choice, especially if you have a mechanic you trust to inspect the car beforehand. Of course, it’s advisable to make that purchase when it’s not urgent.
I bought a new car for the luxury of having side air bags. My older car, which I planned to drive into the ground, did not.
Your cars can’t be that old because you drive your kid around in it. The older models often lack great backseat crash protection.
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32k in what currency? Around here you can get a functional used car for 7-8k USD.
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Apparently it’s in US dollars.
I think this article exists to create anchors in people’s heads that these are normal prices instead of ripoff, non negotiated prices.
A big tell is this:
Nobody shops by MSRP; and an article that doesn’t mention Blue Book or Edmunds values is worthless.
And yes, you definitely can get a functional used car for that.
And by functional I mean “drives, doesn’t break down.”
I certainly didn’t pay 32 k for a brand new car that has the unnecessary smartphone shit. Weirdly people keep asking to borrow my car like it’s more reliable than their fancy rides.
The sticking point for me was the air bags, not the gear shaft cable snapping or the a/c malfunctioning twice. I kept the old car for 15 years and I’ll drive this one into the ground.
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