3 ms·

From what I've seen, used cars haven't been as close to a good value in the US over the last 2 years. It takes a lot of years of depreciation to get a price sig

From what I've seen, used cars haven't been as close to a good value in the US over the last 2 years. It takes a lot of years of depreciation to get a price significantly better than a new car, and if you drop $10k on a ten year old Honda Civic you'll miss out on a decade of fuel efficiency improvements, safety features, etc.

pengaru 5y ago
> you'll miss out on a decade of fuel efficiency improvements, safety features, etc. So... those who can't afford the ideal miss out on things? [obvious]
- Rebelgecko 5y ago
  I think it's another instance of the Sam Vimes Theory of Economic Injustice. Someone who can't afford a new car saves 30% by buying a decade old one. Except that old car is less efficient so they're buying 5-10% more for gas than if they had a new car. If you need a loan, interest rates are higher for used cars. The tires are crappy so they're spending $500 to replace them. The car has 100,000 miles on it so parts are worn down. Maybe you get really unlucky, and get in an accident that would've been prevented by a blind spot monitor or a backup camera. Maybe you get in an accident that would've happened regardless, but the older car doesn't prevent injuries that a newer model would've protected you from.
  - pengaru 5y ago
    Pretty much all cars have been relatively safe since the mid-late 90s. We're deep in diminishing returns land with today's vehicles that have just kept piling on increasingly pointless crap making them heavier and more costly for little if any tangible benefit. And you've ignored the substantial cost of comprehensive insurance, required by the lien holder when you buy a car you can't afford using rented money.
rdtwo 5y ago
I agree for a lot of the better vehicles new is a better deal. The market insane right now so buying a car at msrp is actually a deal. Used cars have gone insane in pricing so your end up with similar annual costs for used as new.

pengaru 5y ago

> you'll miss out on a decade of fuel efficiency improvements, safety features, etc. So... those who can't afford the ideal miss out on things? [obvious]

Rebelgecko 5y ago
I think it's another instance of the Sam Vimes Theory of Economic Injustice. Someone who can't afford a new car saves 30% by buying a decade old one. Except that old car is less efficient so they're buying 5-10% more for gas than if they had a new car. If you need a loan, interest rates are higher for used cars. The tires are crappy so they're spending $500 to replace them. The car has 100,000 miles on it so parts are worn down. Maybe you get really unlucky, and get in an accident that would've been prevented by a blind spot monitor or a backup camera. Maybe you get in an accident that would've happened regardless, but the older car doesn't prevent injuries that a newer model would've protected you from.
- pengaru 5y ago
  Pretty much all cars have been relatively safe since the mid-late 90s. We're deep in diminishing returns land with today's vehicles that have just kept piling on increasingly pointless crap making them heavier and more costly for little if any tangible benefit. And you've ignored the substantial cost of comprehensive insurance, required by the lien holder when you buy a car you can't afford using rented money.

rdtwo 5y ago

I agree for a lot of the better vehicles new is a better deal. The market insane right now so buying a car at msrp is actually a deal. Used cars have gone insane in pricing so your end up with similar annual costs for used as new.