First World Problems & Non-Issues

[Sparklyturtle]

My dad had a rule that he refused to spend more on a car than he did for his house. At the time he said this, Cadillac had just come out with a 25K car, and my parents had paid 22.5K for their house (this was 1975). That was also my rule, and at the time I bought my Geo in 1997 I was living in a mobile home for which I'd paid 12.6K. My payments were $139/month US. That was my baseline. I got my Geo, that had 24K miles on it and was 2 years old, for $150/month. I must have inherited part of my mother's ability to barter. (Mom could practically talk people out of their shoes at yard sales.)

[Aria]

My dad had a rule that he refused to spend more on a car than he did for his house. At the time he said this, Cadillac had just come out with a 25K car, and my parents had paid 22.5K for their house (this was 1975). That was also my rule, and at the time I bought my Geo in 1997 I was living in a mobile home for which I'd paid 12.6K. My payments were $139/month US. That was my baseline. I got my Geo, that had 24K miles on it and was 2 years old, for $150/month. I must have inherited part of my mother's ability to barter. (Mom could practically talk people out of their shoes at yard sales.)

For me, that sets the upper limit way too high. I could get a ferrari! ...My actual car cost about 8k.

My condo? That cost too much.

[Nunavut Pants]

I know of areas of the country where that rule would prevent you from buying any new car. At all.

Where I live now, that rule would allow the "average homeowner" to buy any Ferrari they like.

[CyberLurch]

In Detroit, you can buy a house for less than I paid for a 2002 Chevy S10 pickup just a year ago. Of course, I'd rather live in the truck than in the house in question....

[Ironclad Alibi]

My dad had a rule that he refused to spend more on a car than he did for his house.

I like that rule. My house cost $112,000 many years ago. I've never paid anywhere near that for a new car. But just think what I could buy with that price limit. (Dreams and drools.)

[Slave to the Phone]

The last car we bought was the easiest, most painless experience ever. We knew what we wanted, we knew what we wanted to spend and we had our own financing. We checked online and knew that the dealership had what we wanted, so we showed up armed with the VIN and our paperwork. In and out in less than half an hour. The sales guy didn't try to upsell us, he didn't try to sell us a bunch of expensive add-ons we didn't need and he thanked us when we left.

I'm guessing that he was getting paid per car like the OP, because he sure seemed happy with the transaction.

[Ahbugger]

Yup, sounds good to me. Got any friends in the UK you want to send my way?

[ladyjaneinmd]

The last car we bought was the easiest, most painless experience ever. We knew what we wanted, we knew what we wanted to spend and we had our own financing. We checked online and knew that the dealership had what we wanted, so we showed up armed with the VIN and our paperwork. In and out in less than half an hour. The sales guy didn't try to upsell us, he didn't try to sell us a bunch of expensive add-ons we didn't need and he thanked us when we left.

I'm guessing that he was getting paid per car like the OP, because he sure seemed happy with the transaction.

My current car was found online, and I dealt with the sales person through email, and never saw the actual physical car until the day they delivered it. It was exactly what I wanted, at a decent price, and I have never regretted buying it.
I have simple tastes and am very easy to please.
(Note: my boss had a car the same size, so I took his for a test drive to see how I'd like a car that size. I liked it just fine.)

[Crai]

Yesterday on the way home some guy was blocking two lanes of traffic in his hybrid as he had run out of gas. Seems he tried to get to the side of the road and faild. Well I drive a jeep and have a tow cable. (Most of us Jeep drivers do) So I offered to pull him off to a side street so he was out of the way. He was cool with that and I gave him an end of the tow rope and said hook it up to his car (First Mistake) he then asked what he should do (Sec Mistake) I tell him put it in neutral and to just steer after me. So I start to pull him and make the right hand turn but he keeps going straight. My Jeep drags his front end around and then he hits a curb. the Tow cable some how gets sheered (never seen that before) and he is coasting off on his own. Well i get pulled over and look at the tow cable then go check on him. He has somehow looped it around the axle but through the brake system. the reason he had gone straight... he had not turned the key to unlock the steering column. Guess I was suppose to explain that to. The kicker he tells me he is an Uber Driver. Glad i don't use them.

[Seshat]

I have one of the cheapest houses in my city.

For the same price ... hm.

Quick check of one of the car sales websites. Let's just say in a new car search, I get names like Maserati, Audi, Ferarri, Mercedes Benz, Porsche ....


... and Nissan?

[wolfie]

Not surprised that an outlier like Nissan would show up. Some years back, when the W-12 Phaeton was introduced, one automotive columnist commented that you could get 3 Cadillacs for the price of one Volkswagen. True, it was the absolute base stripped-down Caddy and the loaded top-of-the-line VeeDub, but it inverted what had been a meme in the automotive industry for years.

[Argabarga]

I know people are trying to be informed, but, they need to stop coming to me and asking me what a good car model to buy is because "Well, what gets towed most?"

People, I only see the result of neglect, when you never change the oil or brake pads (he he, that came out "brake bads" at first) or timing belt, ANYTHING be it Yugo or Mercedes, WILL break the F down.....

[Ironclad Alibi]

People, I only see the result of neglect, when you never change the oil or brake pads (he he, that came out "brake bads" at first) or timing belt, ANYTHING be it Yugo or Mercedes, WILL break the F down.....

My experience over the years is that any model of car can be a lemon, and any model can be a cream puff. Often it is merely the attitude of the owner.

[Chromatix]

And consider a late-1970s Renault. Rock-solid engines and mechanicals that would almost certainly outlast the rest of the car. Bodywork that would rust if you looked at it funny. My dad kept one running for something like 15 years, until the electrics gave out - there was a *lot* of Polyfilla involved.

[Seshat]

I've needed to be towed twice.

Once when a brand new radiator hose split. (As in, it was less than a week old)
Once when it turned out that an engine repair had been done badly. Grumblefutz.


But again, that sort of thing happens whether you have the cheapest possible Kia or the fanciest custom made Rolls Royce.