Time to buy a car!

[Honeycombe8]

My car is 11 1/2 years old. Not ancient, but it's lookin' kinda rough. And I'm afraid that a big repair is gonna hit soon.

Soooooo, I've been thinkin' it's time to buy a car. But in this economy? My job is fairly secure, but who knows what could happen?

And with the possibility of electric cars and greener cars around the corner, I thought about holding off another couple of years.

But the stimulus bill, I've read, contains a tax deduction for the sales tax on the purchase of a new vehicle. Sales tax on a new car is no small change. Schwing! The bill may also contain a temporary deduction for the interest on a loan for a car. Schwing, again!

Couple that with the car dealers giving good sales prices to customers in order to move their inventory....and I'm thinkin', this year is a good year to buy a car.

Thanks, Obama! Thanks, Dems!

[taterguy]

1. The earth weeps

[Honeycombe8]

2. Why? nt

[11 Bravo]

18. Haven't you heard? Most DUers travel by walking, dugout canoe, or parasail.

Those that don't obviously hate the planet, and therefore "the Earth weeps".
(Sadly, I teach at a school located approximately 30 miles from my home, so until someone invents a vehicle powered by sanctimony ...)

[Honeycombe8]

20. LOL LOL! Your post actually made me laugh out loud, literally.

Thx. "powered by sanctimony" Priceless.

Irony is....the environment is my top issue. I'm aware of the damage gas powered vehicles do. So I'm TRYING to buy with great gas mileage in mind. And I do other things to cut down on gasoline use.

But our society is structured such that people must rely on the use of vehicles to live. To work, we need cars in our area (no vast public transportation, plus my hours are unpredictable). We must use cars to get to drs. and hospitals. The cheapie grocery stores are miles away.

That's why I think the answer is electric cars and/or higher mpg, and things like that. I wish it were different, but no one asked me when they designed the country the way they did. I'm not the one responsible for our supposed addiction to oil.

[taterguy]

41. You're responsible for your choices

There are plenty of places to live in this country where you can get by rarely or never using a car.

You chose to live in a place where you can't do that.

You probably had good reasons for doing that but you still made that choice.

And our addiction is real. If the car is using you instead of you using the car then you're an addict.

Not being judgmental, just stating a fact.

[likesmountains 52]

49. That's pretty rough. I have lived in the same home for 24 years...I used to

walk to work (1 mile) but a few years ago they built a new facility and moved my workplace 10 miles from my house. I work 12 hour shifts and it snows a lot where I live. There is a bus, but the last departure from my workplace is before the end of my shift....so you tell me how I can get to and from work without a car. It is not always as simple as a "choice".

[taterguy]

50. You're just trying to bait me into pointing out how easy it is to bike ten miles

But I'm really not in the mood because I realize that you'll come back with some tiresome complaint about unsafe roads.

[cliffordu]

24. ROFL....That's how I do the twenty a day I ride on my bicycle -

When I'm not smelling my own farts....

:rofl:

[Occam Bandage]

31. We cannot come close to harming the earth.

We can simply make it uninhabitable for humans.

[Uben]

3. I was at a Mitsubishi dealership yesterday

There wasn't a soul there looking. I was getting a key cut, took about 45 minutes, not one person came into the showroom. I saw at least 12-14 employees trying to look busy. I bet they are hoping this stimulates sales.

[aikoaiko]

4. Agreed it is a good time to buy a new car.

But I thought the sales tax was already tax deductible. I remember entering mine in turbotax about 5 years ago and it reducing my taxes. Maybe the tax benefit is increased with the Obama Stimulus.

[Honeycombe8]

9. There is a formula for ALL sales tax to be used as a deduction. But this bill...

specifically gives a special deduction for the sales tax on a new car (not used car).

But you're right. I had forgotten about the general sales tax deduction. It's a set formula assuming the avg. person paid X dollars in sales taxes. If you wanted to use an exact amount, or more than the formula, you had to save ALL your tax receipts for the year.

So I'm thinking this special deduction is better, and is over and above the regular sales tax deduction formula.

I need to check on that.

[Barack_America]

5. Your title is missing a word: "American". nt

[Honeycombe8]

10. You're right! IF they make what I'm looking for. 11 1/2 years ago, they didn't. Had to buyforeign

But I'm looking at the American cars.

I'm looking for mainly repair reliability, then good mpg, then convenient cargo area (doesn't have to be a wagon or SUV...could be a hatchback, even).

American cars don't have many that fit those criteria, unfortunately. But there are a few. Ford Escape Hybrid is one of them.

[Barack_America]

13. I'm in the same boat, so I don't fault you.

But ratings companies have hailed the quality of American cars this year and this bill was designed to benefit American workers.

So, given the combination of the two, I hope that most people use this money to buy American.

I found this interesting.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/The-Worst-Cars-for-the-Money/

Obviously the Big 3 still have issues when it comes to the compact cars, but they're gaining ground elsewhere.

[stray cat]

14. Although Toyota plants in the US provide jobs to Americans

[Barack_America]

15. I understand that.

But right now, we need to keep the money here as much as possible.

[Honeycombe8]

16. Honda, too. But don't those plants make only certain models?

So that if you buy a Honda Pilot, that may be made only in Japan, while Civic sedans may be made here.

It's getting complicated.

I'm seriously considering Ford, though. Their reliability record has gotten way good the last decade.

[Barack_America]

22. And many of the foreign car companies only have "assembly" plants in the US.

When it's really the parts manufacturing that employs the bulk of people.

[CATagious]

33. most of the parts used by Toyota...

plants in the US are made by US companies. They keep their suppliers close as possible to their plants so they can run JIT.

[Radical Activist]

25. The auto-plant nearest to my town is Mitsubishi.

[OwnedByFerrets]

32. And send the profits to Japan.

[CATagious]

35. tell that to the 10s of thousands of US workers...

that work in a Toyota plant. They make close to $30 per hour... I worked at the plant in Georgetown, Ky for 11 years and was making $25 an hour when I left in 2001. Georgetown was a tiny town with a walmart and a fleamarket and not much else. But now, with toyota money, it has prospered... they have new schools.... restaurants.... golf courses... lots of new neighborhoods, etc. Toyota is the best employer in the state of Kentucky. Buying an American-made Toyato IS buying American.

[OwnedByFerrets]

43. There will always be those who buy Foreign cars.....

but when I send out buying advice, my conscious insist that I recommend American made cars. I would rather, given a choice, keep that money here as much as possible.

[CATagious]

44. then you should have no problem buying a Toyota Camry! nm

[PM7nj]

23. The Mazda 6 is built in a UAW factory in Flat Rock, MI.

I have one and I love it. It's not to big, but not too small. It is pretty fun to drive. Also, I think it is probably the best looking sedan in its price range. The only problem is that it isn't that great on gas. I only get about ~20mpg.

[RBInMaine]

6. Good time to buy many things if you have the money. We just got a nice deal on a new car.

[greguganus]

7. I'm driving a 15 year old car I bought new.

A Toyota. A "big repair bill" is still going to be cheaper than a new car. You lose $ thousands as soon as you drive it off the lot. Buying a used or demo car would be better on your wallet.

[Honeycombe8]

11. As I said, my car is looking bad. Hail damage, cracked windshield, etc.

It's getting embarrassing.

It'd actually be less costly to buy a new vehicle (no repairs for 5 years), and drive it for the next 12 years, then to spend several thousand dollars on this car and have to buy a new car a few years from now.

I've thought about buying used. I'm concerned about the car's history, though. You never really know if the car had been in an accident, if it was maintained, if it was flooded in a hurricane, if it turned out to be lemon, etc. But I'm going to check that out, too. No special deduction for used cars, though.

[Mist]

8. I've always bought last year's model--i.e., I bought a '99 Ford in Dec. of '99, which

means it had been around since autumn of '98. I figure a year is enough time to find out if there are any problems with the make and model. And from the point of view of how much use the car has had, it will be as new as more recent models. Also, better prices, as they're looking to move last year's models faster to make room for newer models.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Good tip. Thx. nt

[SoCalDem]

30. The way cars are selling, you might even find a 3 yr old new car:)

:)

[TriMetFan]

17. Looking for a good American made car.

Look no further then the Pontiac Vibe. Good gas mileage and it's made in Fremont Calf. Yes it's just a Toyota Matrix. But it's built here in America by Americans.

[Honeycombe8]

19. Wow! That is one great lookin' car! AND it's a Consumer Reports "Recommended" car!

I never even heard of it before.

I will put it on my list to consider and take a closer look at.

Thanks for this tip.

[tpi10d]

26. Our Pontiac Vibe has been very reliable.

Plus seats fold flat for nearly 8 ft. length. (passenger seat and rear seats)

Mid thirties fuel economy on highway cruise.

[TriMetFan]

36. Also there is plenty of room

in it. I have had 4 teenage boys as passengers in it and all of them were over 5 foot 10 inch's. The car is fun to drive and handles very good in snow and ice.:-)

[Honeycombe8]

39. Thx. I'll take a look at this car. Consumer Reports has rated the reliability as EXCELLENT

(I looked it up) That's awesome. I have a Subaru Forester now. Awesome car, esp. the engine. Best engine in any car I've ever owned. But it's pretty utilitarian in appearance, and it's somewhat cramped in the interior (I think the sides are thick for safety, so that takes up space). Gas mileage good, but not great. So I thought I'd look at other manufacturers for my next car. Subaru Forester is still on my list, though.

If I can find a car that fits my needs that is built in America, that'd be great. And if it looks great and is comfortable, all the better!

[TriMetFan]

46. The other thing I like is...

it has a regular ac plug. When we have taken trips like to Canada my spouse has been able to just plug in her Mac Pro. I just can't say enough good things about the car.

[bklyncowgirl]

42. I have the Matrix and it's a great car

Good gas mileage--close to 40 highway.

Over 100,000 miles--so far just basic maintenance on stuff you knew would go.

Only thing I don't like about it is that my model has all this plastic doodahs like pointy things on the bumper that fall off if you go through snow or drive on dirt roads. I don't think the Vibe has the doodahs so it may be better.

My dream car's a Prius but until things turn around my Vibe will do.

[Gold Metal Flake]

21. Huh. This sounds intersting.

Maybe I could manage to make us a two Focus family. A nice hatchback with a five speed for my commute, and Ms. Metal Flake could have the '07 wagon to replace the 1990 Colony Park wagon. I would have to sell the '68 Cougar for the down payment, though (it's grape metal flake :-)".

This requires a plan. Are there details posted anywhere on the In-ter-nets?

[Radical Activist]

27. I've been waiting to buy a new one

until an American company comes out with a good hybrid. I was excited about Saturn hybrids but they turned out to be disappointing. I have hopes for the Volt but it may be delayed and out of my price range. I'll keep driving my old car and hope it doesn't totally crap out before an American company produces something I want to buy.

[Honeycombe8]

37. Yes, I heard the Volt is gonna be pricey. And buying the 1st model of anything...

is kinda iffy. At least that's what I found w/my Subaru Forester. I bought the first model, and then in subsequent models, based on consumer requests, they added some good stuff and got more attractive upholstery, all for the same price.

About the Saturn, I read that the Saturn subsidiary (owned by GMC, maybe?) may be done away with.

Hybrids - a mechanic told an acquaintance of mine that the problem with hybrids is that the battery that runs the car on the hybrid side would need to be replaced. When is unknown. The cost of that battery is over $1,000, maybe over $2,000. There's a better battery being modified for use in cars, I read.

I don't think I can wait for all that.

[Politicalboi]

28. I would give it a year

And see how far alternative fuel goes. And the closer they get to that, the cars that they have now they really need to sell. I don't think the prices are going to go up much if any in a year.

[AyanRand Is Dead]

29. Hyundai Sonata

It's built in Mobile (sp?) Alabama and Hyundai is offer that no penalty return policy in case you lose your job within the 1st year of your purchase.

I own one and I think that it's a fine car.

[AZBlue]

34. I have a Santa Fe - it's a wonderful manufacturer and that return policy is a good deal!

[Honeycombe8]

38. Thx on the Hundai suggestion. I still think of that mfr as a small, inexpensive,

mfr that builds not very reliable cars. I remember when they started being sold in this country. So I hadn't given it much thought. But really, Consumer Reports actually rates Hundai pretty well, and has given a couple of its models the "recommended" status.

I should take a look at this mfr. Esp if they're built in the country.

[AZBlue]

45. They give you a 100,000 mile warranty, so they must have cleaned up their act.

Or they wouldn't be able to afford such a warranty!

[DFW]

40. We need a new car, too, and no sales tax (19%) rebate here

We live in Germany, and the Germans won't give up their cherished 19% sales tax for anything.
It's like heroin. The economy is addicted to it, and they always need more. It was already
high at 17%, although some neighboring countries are already over 20%.

A truck driver got careless last October and demolished my wife's car (with her in it, but
due to the low speed, she got out of the wreck alive). We've been looking for a new car
ever since, but because we both work insane (and irregular) hours, we haven't had time
to decide on a model. There are virtually no hybrids here to speak of yet, and we calculated
out my wife's driving habits, and a diesel would not make sense for her. As we have a LOT of
dangerous trucks from both Germany and Eastern Europe, I will not let her get a car that
is lightweight. She is only alive now because her last car was sturdily built. It's not
easy to find a good compromise in a car that is fuel-efficient and strongly-enough built
to withstand a collision. We tried out the local Toyotas and Audis, but they were very
disappointing as to how they handled. The way people drive in Germany, we want something
that affords a decent chance of survival if there is an accident, because there so often IS
an accident. We are back again looking at a BMW station wagon, although the €6000 sales tax
bill is a bitter pill to swallow.

[BlooInBloo]

47. If I had good credit, believe me I would. Definitely a buyers market.

[Ilsa]

48. I believe the interest deduction was eliminated. My brother lost out on a

"loyalty" credit of $2,000 because the truck he was dumping became 11 years old on January 1. The old vehicle had to have been ten years old or less. But he needed a new vehicle badly, since his old was needing repairs every two weeks. He'll be happy to get that sales tax credit.