... To Buy a New Car (Part II)

The quest for a new car is going rather slowly. I wish it wasn't going at all. I'd be happy to cruise around in the Space Turtle for a couple more years, but its increasing proclivity for causing problems means it's time to say goodbye before I've sunk a new car's worth of repairs into it.

Last weekend, I went to the local car dealer where I'm going to buy my new vehicle to see what he had for me. He was, of course, suggesting that a new vehicle is the way to go. (That's what car dealers do, isn't it?)

This has been one of my dilemmas—should I buy new or used (like the sweet '57 Chevrolet Station Wagon shown here—courtesy of Roadsidepictures)?

If I bought the new Dodge Caliber I test-drove at the car delearship (I won't—too noisy—but we'll pretend here), I'd get a brand-new vehicle (obviously) with zero percent APR for the first year, a full 20-year warranty (or something like that), and that distinctive new-car smell (which is actually pretty toxic, folks—learn why from Treehugger). I also, of course, get a much higher price tag.

With a used vehicle like the 2007 Toyota Camry I also test-drove, I may not get the new-car smell (fine by me) or the long warranty, but I'm likely going to pay less. And, at the moment, minimizing the damage this vehicle purchase does to my budget is vital.

Another dilemma that I'm facing is that I would really like to buy a hybrid vehicle. In my ideal world, I'd be driving a Prius or the hybrid version of a Honda Civic. But in reality, I probably won't. At least not with this vehicle. Hybrids are still exceptionally pricey—even used ones. Much too pricey for my minuscule budget.

Plus, now that I work remotely from home, I rarely drive except once a week to yoga and around town for errands every couple of days. So at this point, breaking my budget to buy a hybrid doesn't make a lot of sense. Next time I buy a car? It will most certainly be a hybrid. Or run on used french-fry oil (Maggie of Green Couple has a greasecar—why can't I?). Or be electric. We'll see.

I was reading this AllBusiness.com article, Should You Buy a New or Used Car?, and I was intrigued by the fact that one of the factors it listed for choosing between the two is whether you see a car as a status symbol. It says: "For some people a car is a sign of stature, while for others it is simply a means for getting around."

How true! For me, it's all about getting around. That's why I'm looking for a reliable, safe car that's not too expensive, gets good gas mileage, and has good resale value. I don't give a crap about what it looks like (remember, I drive a Space Turtle?). My honey, on the other hand, shoots down most of the cars I think I'd like to get because they're either ugly or too common. He, of course, falls in the stature category and wants to buy a Lexus as soon as he can afford one. I'd rather get a used Toyota Corolla for tooling around town when necessary, and ride my bike more than drive anyway.

Now I just have to convince the car dealer I don't need a brand-new Dodge Caliber—even though the cooled glove box compartment for chilling beverages and heated seats are pretty damn cool.

... To Buy a New Car (Part 1)

I want to begin by saying that I don't want to buy a new car. If I had my way, I'd drive my Space Turtle (aka my 2001 Pontiac Aztek) until it croaked. Yes, it looks an awful lot like an SUV. But it actually gets better mileage than many a friends' car, takes up less space than most SUVs, and does one heckuva job of hauling items when it's time to move.

But recently developments (where to begin? no air conditioning because the condenser needs replaced; $550 down the tubes for work on the brakes and computer system; a disastrous week that involved epic battles to remove the key, an eventual dead battery, an ignition replacement, and some wiring work) have led me to believe it's time to say goodbye to the Space Turtle. Now.

And so I embark on my first challenge: to figure out what car I'm going to buy to replace the precious Aztek. I didn't expect to have to part with him so soon, so now I'm at a loss. Do I buy a hybrid? I'd love to. But are they too expensive for my meager budget? Probably.

That's why it's time to do the math, research the options, and figure out what car I'm meant to buy.

Ready to come along on a test drive?