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11/08/2008 11:28 am

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Anyone want to buy a 2002 Ford Ranger with 89,000 miles on it? It's getting a new battery, oil change, and some exhaust pipe as we speak! (and by we I mean I and by speak I mean type, yay for coffee!) And if not, then my problem becomes what should I trade it in for and when? Can I get another winter out of it (parked outside)? Should I trade it in for a sports car (probably 2005-2007 Mustang, unless Ford is giving away new ones since they're out of cash) or a smallish SUV/crossover (better for hauling golf clubs, fishing gear, a boat if I ever get around to actually buying one)? Or should I drive the Ranger into the ground, which means new tires, more exhaust work before too long, etc.?

	Carlos44ec - A Vote for me is a Vote against Terrorism! ...or atleast just wasted. 11/08/2008 @ 02:16:14 PM
I bought a Nissan last March, traded in the Jeepster for it. Never been happier. Gas mileage is 33 on the highway (no BS) and 26 in the street.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Bret (Guest) 11/08/2008 @ 11:13:08 PM
I'm partial to my 08 torrent. Finally got rid of my old 96 ford contour. I miss the sports car feel, but I really didn't realize what I was missing out on.... I can actually buy things that fit easily into my vehicle now. And with gas dropping, turned out to be a good choice. (for now...)		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - "Always remember that you are unique. Just like everybody else." 11/09/2008 @ 10:28:08 AM
I dig the lower gas prices too, but keep remembering how much 15 miles per gallon felt- both in money and carbon footprint. I had room to spare in the Jeep, but that's wasted, since I don't use it. I think you would do well with a mid-full size car or small SUV Alex, you seem to be goin places often, and those smaller SUVs are getting great mileage these days, as you say.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Who controls the past now controls the future 11/09/2008 @ 01:25:07 PM
I think that's clearly the more logical choice, it would just be more fun to skrrrrt around in a Mustang. Maybe I'll just have to save that for my mid-life crisis.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - I believe virtually everything I read. 11/10/2008 @ 10:50:08 AM
Eh, I feel like the mini SUV's, loaded with do-dads, are the new "cool" thing anyway for the 25-30 year old group. I think we're approaching a window where it's more important to look more mature that it is to look "cool."		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Alex - I don't need to get steady I know just how I feel 01/02/2009 @ 07:47:36 PM
So some of you are smart money people right? Let's say I have X amount of money saved up in my rainy day/some day I should buy a house fund. And the likelihood of the buying a house part is continuing to rise. But I'm also considering buying a new vehicle. Should I: A) Get a vehicle loan, make payments, and attempt to roll that loan into a mortgage someday. B) Write out the largest check in my life and pay for the vehicle straight up, which should save me financing charges if not interest (I'm assuming with my credit I should be able to get a pretty good loan), but will take a sizable hunk out of my down payment fund. C) Just buy new tires and exhaust for my truck and drive it for a couple years yet, or at least until I buy a house at which point I can combine a house + vehicle purchase into one debt At this point, I'm thinking something like a used '07 Explorer would be a good buy, unless I can find a dealer desperate to unload an '08.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Super Chocolate Bear 01/03/2009 @ 12:47:31 AM
Mortgage rates are pretty low, so if you're looking to buy a house, now is a good time. I don't think I'd worry about "rolling" the two loans together either way. I don't like option b much at all. Whether or not you buy a new car you saved that money for something, and as long as you can get a car loan for under 5%, you can make more/break even on just keeping it. You don't need 16-20K up front for a car, you do for a house. Either way you can use that to build some more credit as well. Edit: Also, one of the first things they asked me when I traded my old car was "how new are the tires" so those won't be a total "loss" either way. There's a small window when you can get ok value for a used car, past that you may as well drive it into the ground. How much is the exhaust system?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this at 01/03/2009 1:21:51 am

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/03/2009 @ 02:29:11 PM
Speaking of which, I just bought a 2006 Mazda 6 hatchback, manual transmission. I traded in a 97 Mazda 626 that just had the AC go out. The first question they asked me when assessing the car was "does the AC still work?" (I had another dealer ask me the same initial question about my car a week earlier) Literally, the AC had gone out on my car about 3 weeks earlier. Apparently 12 year old Mazda's will all lose their AC at the begining of the 12th year. Probably the 4th question was "how old are those tires?" Regardless, I got a really crappy trade-in value for my car, but an amazing deal on the new car overall.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 3375 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 10:13:57 PM
Scott Wrote - 01/03/2009 @ 02:29:11 PM Speaking of which, I just bought a 2006 Mazda 6 hatchback, manual transmission. I traded in a 97 Mazda 626 that just had the AC go out. The first question they asked me when assessing the car was "does the AC still work?" (I had another dealer ask me the same initial question about my car a week earlier) Literally, the AC had gone out on my car about 3 weeks earlier. Apparently 12 year old Mazda's will all lose their AC at the begining of the 12th year. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the AC question wouldn't be the first question they'd ask in WI. I think geography probably dictates they ask that question on most cars around your area.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jon edited this at 01/05/2009 10:14:27 pm

	Jeremy - 9475 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 10:29:39 PM
Indeed, also, along those lines, not-bald tires are more important here than they are there.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/06/2009 @ 10:35:58 AM
You guys are very wise in the ways of science.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	PackOne - That hypocrite smokes two packs a day. 01/06/2009 @ 10:54:38 AM
Actually, replacing the AC mechanically is expensive and has to be done by a special certified technician not just a certified mechanic. Although geography probably holds merit somewhere, the bottom line is the price to re-sale.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Who controls the past now controls the future 01/21/2009 @ 12:56:01 PM
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/844/6-cars-on-death-row/		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 01/21/2009 @ 01:15:49 PM
I don't think any of those cars really did it for me. meh.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Who controls the past now controls the future 02/03/2009 @ 05:54:16 PM
Should I wait until this passes and then buy a new vehicle? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - Tag This 02/04/2009 @ 09:49:56 AM
what happens if the car suddenly dies on you? Can you get by without it or afford to pay to replace major parts? If not, then I'd say go for it. At least a reliable used one that would see you through a year or two.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 02/04/2009 @ 01:45:23 PM
Normally I would consider purchasing a brand new vehicle a waste of money, so I'm wondering if these government incentives would make the cost/benefit ratio of a new vehicle level out with say a 1-2 year old vehicle. The waiting part isn't really the issue. I haven't even gone test driving yet because it's been either 0 degrees out or snowing for the last 2 months.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.