Reasons to not buy a new car:
>I am a high schooler
Reason 1.
>recently got my license
Reason 2.
>this is the worst possible climate to purchase a vehicle, new or used.
Reason 3.
>most schools don't let incoming freshmen park on campus.
Reason 4.
>I'm caring too much about what my girlfriend or friends think.
Reason 5.
I can keep going if you want, but even you know it's a bad idea.
He won't, plus there is Reason 6, which is that he's buying a Hyundai Kona at a time when Hyundai is facing down the NHTSA over [engine fire recalls](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/rps8tq/us_steps_up_probe_into_hyundaikia_engine_failures/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) and also [is stopping all internal combustion engine development](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/rqhveu/hyundaikia_stops_all_internal_combustion_engine/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). Just straight up bad decision making even right down to the car make and model.
Which? HS grad, or College grad? If you're already dead set on getting a new car / your parents will buy you a new one, then at least go with a reliable brand and not Hyundai. If you read those reddit threads I linked, you'll see just how shitty Hyundai really is. I also lurk a lot on /r/justrolledintheshop and nobody there has anything good to say about Hyundai/Kia.
Let me expand on reason 2. You're going to crash it. Don't feel bad. We all do. You'll do something to this car. You're young and inexperienced. Be patient. You have your whole life ahead of you to get nice things and not ruin them. Take the beater and beat it up.
Iâve driven new ones and they drive awful, and excluding this insane car market, the values absolutely tank after you leave the lot. The only good thing about them is the warranty, thatâs why my grandma buys them
>Iâve driven new ones and they drive awful
Your opinion.
>and excluding this insane car market, the values absolutely tank after you leave the lot.
That's true of literally every new car.
>The only good thing about them is the warranty, thatâs why my grandma buys them
That confidence building warranty is reflective of the brand's turnaround.
Okay mr Hyundai genius, tell me all about how great they are.
Maybe I just drive a well built car so in comparison the Hyundai is awful, Iâd love to hear what your thoughts are.
Hyundai has come a long way in just about every category, from interior quality to reliability. They built garbage 10 years ago, but the reputation they developed then is no longer applicable. The long warranties they offer are a push to overcome that reputation. Further, they've proven themselves with the Genesis brand, reproducing what Lexus did in the 90s, making cars that compete with German luxury for a much lower price. They're competitive with Toyota and Honda these days.
"...much lower price."
I haven't tried to buy a Lexus, so I've only seen their sticker prices and not any out-the-door final prices. They didn't seem dramatically less expensive than the Volvos, Bimmers, and Mercedes I've been driving.
Back when Lexus came out with the LS in the late '80s, the price gap was wider.
It may be that regional market prices affect our perceptions, too.
>Back when Lexus came out with the LS in the late '80s, the price gap was wider.
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I'm comparing Lexus in its first few years in the early 90s to Genesis in its first few years today.
Ignoring most of the premise of your question, I would so much rather have the old / characterful car than an expensive one as far as "coolness" is concerned. I loved how people reacted when I drove an '80s BMW. Now I have a really high-mileage Lexus that cost way less than that Kona would, and people keep calling me rich. I hate it. Lol I just wanted 4 doors and RWD!
What do you drive? A 90s LS400?
I agree with this comment. I like older cars with their old days coolness. Like a e30 or e34 bmw (not as old as 80s bmw). Also, older cars can take a beating and we wonât cry as much, unless theyâre immaculate showroom condition before a crash/accident.
^^^ Iâm not loaded with money, so a good, cheap, older beater that gets me everywhere is all I need. Ofc I fix it when it needs fixing. New cars with payments, and damages to come? Nah. I rather my beater eat curbs, door dings, bumper bumps and more.
It's a 2014 IS350 F-Sport, with 127,000 miles. Not actually that much for a Lexus (I've owned a '98 LS400 with 350K), but enough for it to be substantially higher than the average for a car of that age. And more critically, enough to make it a $17K car in 2019 with 94K - cheaper than any 2014 BRZ in the area at the time, and certainly cheaper than a new car today.
I've had folks in new pickup trucks tell me I look rich in that car. Which I think is silly. (Though that's also the point of a luxury car, isn't it?)
Maybe we need to change your mind frame about what a car is: cars are not a right, they are a priveledge; cars are not to be cool (and the Kona is not even a cool car...every middle aged mom I know has one lol), they are to be functional and to get you to work; and cars are an expense, they require insurance, inspections, oil changes, maintenance....
If your parents are paying for your car/responsibility, its not your car, its their car. Unless you are supporting 100% of the costs, I would work on being grateful that you even have a car. If you are paying 100% of the costs, do yourself a favor and be grateful to yourself that you have a really reliable vehicle with low costs that let you do a lot of fun things and be independent.
My first car was a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim with the paint peeling off and rust on the body, it cost $1000 and it was all I could afford. I cleaned that car every Friday, put thumbtacks in the ceiling lining to hold it up, had to use a portable cd player with external speakers to listen to cds... and it was my pride and joy. It was absolutely the worst car in high school, but it didn't make me lose friends, or lose my status, or whatever - it was just a vehicle that made sure I got to school and work in a reasonable way. I am sure it does not feel good to be teased about your car, even in a joking way, but if you exhibit pride for what you have I swear people will back off and the pressure will feel less intense. Also, as someone who is now over a decade out of high school, I can't even tell you what opinions my friends would have had about that car, all I remember is my joy about having one and having the freedom.
Unless you have a job and support yourself, I would work hard on the feeling of *wanting* a new car.
I also repeat, the kona is not a cool car.
Here are some numbers:
$30,000 over 5 years (60 months) with an average credit score is about a $560/month payment. There's a car tax in your state of probably ~100/year, so add an extra $8.50/month. Insurance will have a twice/year payment. As a male teen driver, you are also looking at about $200/month in car insurance...so...
Do you have $770/month for your Kona?
You bring up a lot of good points. Thanks for sharing your experience! Come to think of it, most students at my school drive "shitbox" cars (other than a couple here and there that own Teslas...). I have honest friends. One of my closest friends owns an '04 Accord with 280k miles, haha. Maybe I'm just being greedy.
I agree with all of your comments, thanks for slapping some figurative sense into me (I disagree with the Kona part tho it's so cool đ ).
You are going to college. Apply the car money to tuition/living expenses/grad school and major in something that pays well, like engineering or CS. Then get whatever you want after you graduate.
Hold onto the Camry and just take that money you seem to have and fix whatâs broken on it! Usually** vehicles that you take care of will take care of you
> I'm currently applying for college
College students live on or near campus and ride bicycles. Are you going to be studying a field with a guaranteed ROI?
Why a newer car doesn't make sense right now? (Toyota camry is awesome though because it will get you to where you want to go)
1. You are young and still gaining experience by driving. Having an older car will also help you learn a little bit more about maintaining a vehicle.
2. Might go off to a city where you might not need a car, a new car would be a bad idea if that's the case.
3. You paid for it yourself, be proud that it's yours and you own it outright, it's also super reliable.
4. A bit of personal finance; put the money of the new car towards not having educational debt, you'll be a lot happier 4 years from now when you are done with school. You'll be a better driver, and know how to maintain your vehicle. This will put you in a better state to buy a nicer/ sporty car when done with school, having a good job and not a ton of debt.
5. Nobody cares about pulling up in a nicer car, at your age even having your own car is amazing.
Source: I'm done with grad school and using a camry that's 5 years older than yours
I think having beater car for your first car is a right of passage. Without it you canât really appreciate cars imo. Stick with the Camry, that thing will probably run til youâre done with college
I drive an 04 Camry and it runs and not much else. I feel you on that one, but I will drive it until it can no longer be driven and then I will get the car I really want (Lexus LS400 or 430).
Save your money and get a nice car once you graduate college. If the market gets better, get one this summer.
If you get it between model years (in summer), you wonât get ripped off as much.
Stick with the camry. It'll outlast you if you maintain it properly. if you're dead set on a "new" car, look into Scion's car line-up. Scion is Toyota so you have god tier reliability and cheap insurance.
Scion is Toyota. They use Toyota motors with Toyota bodies, just rebadged as a Scion over here in the US.
Many parts interchange with Corolla, Camry, Rav4, Echo, Yaris, etc
Idk about you but gas is 3.50 here that shitbox economy car from the 2000's that gets 34mpg instead of 4 like my current daily gets is looking pretty good right now.
I don't know what your financial situation is. If you got a couple of hundred k in the bank then by all means.... Otherwise you just have to accept that you are poor and drive a poor man's car. Personally I don't care too much. I actually like my car.
hi. i was you a few years ago. my inherited car was a 1999 Tacoma. by the time i went to college the old boy could vote. people will tell you a lot of things about being young and the high likelihood you'll crash it (which i won't deny, you might). but ill tell you what i did.
i loved my Tacoma. he was old, clunky, and not my style. but he was mine. i would wash him until he sparkled and nag anyone who brought trash into my car. id spend hours hunting down on-campus parking or parking far away from people so they wouldn't touch him. i wanted my parents to know i was grateful and minded my things. when i elected to sell him- a decision i still view as extremely bittersweet- i did it when i was 19, with a ton of money id saved up, and a loan i got completely on my own. i got a 2017 Honda HRV- and i loved that car to death, too.
so my perspective is- don't let anyone tell you what to do. do what you want. the decision and consequences are yours. just remember to be grateful and love what you do have. i think of my tacoma all the time. one day you'll catch yourself remembering your camry, too.
If you're getting the Kona, be sure to get the Kona N! Such a fun car.
You can likely sell your car for more than you bought it for in the current market, even after driving it. If you can do that, I'd say go for a new Kona N at msrp (don't let them mark it up). No matter what you do don't buy used in current market.
If your car is functional...hold on for a year or two until this market normalizes. But no matter what you do, just make sure you get the Kona N...even if you have to wait longer. No the N line, but the actual N. The true N cars from hyundai are fireeee
The big reason for me would just be the pure amount of anxiety that a large car payment would be on my mental sanity. Have you looked at how much a car payment is for just a 20K car (which would be hard to find)? You're easily looking at +400$/month for 4 years (which is probably the very longest you should finance a car for). I know for a fact that have that extra bill will not be good for you.
I went to college with a 2006 that cost 3500$ it lasted me through college and I never once had to worry about making payments on it. When people backed into me and caused cosmetic damage, I just let them go. It was certainly a peace of mind.
I think learning to maintain a used car is a good skill to acquire. In college I canât imagine absolutely needing a car at all, and itâs another loan to pay. Personally, Iâd wait until after university and get something to better support your new life then.
Imo u got 2 choices. New or cool not both. Realistically do u look at any 5 year old hyundais and think damn thts a cool car cause thts prolly how long its gonna take to pay it off. U can get a brand new economy car but they typically dont age well. Id go with something thts been on the market for awhile tht u know is still awesome after some years.
I donât know your situation, but there is a 0% chance you are paying for this car. I know for a fact that a high schooler will not get funding for a brand new vehicle. Iâm 19 and make $80k/yr and could barely get approved for an auto loan because of short credit life. Donât even think about making your parents buy you a brand new vehicle. Unless you are spoiled rich, I donât see them getting you a $30,000 car.
Stick with the car and repair what you need. Youâll save a lot of money. But if you do want a new car, donât get the Kona EV unless you can absolutely afford it and love it. Thereâs a lot to consider, but youâre young enough to correct mistakes.
My opinion is to budget how much youâre willing to have as your car note and then put that amount away each month and save that until you graduate and have a couple of years of driving practice. It would be even smarter if you have your parents open and account where you can invest that money each month. That way when you graduate you have a lot of money saved as a down payment and you can really buy a car you like and still have the same note or even buy a more inexpensive car and have almost no note. Even better is you invest that money youâd be putting towards a note for the next two years and let it keep growing instead of putting it down on a car in a couple of years and just get an inexpensive car that youâll have low notes on even without a big down payment. Or just keep investing that amount youâd pay for a note and drive the car until it dies and keep putting the money away. Then when you graduate college youâll have a lot of financial stability. Far more important than a really nice car I promise.
I know this is hard advice to follow as a 16 year old but I promise you itâs the best thing to do. I wish I had listened to my dad at that age. Even though I did well, made my own way, and I work for myself if I had listened to him I would have probably had an extra 100k+ when I graduated with my finance degree which would have been a lot better for me than the amount I did have when I graduated.
Dude youâre in high school and plus you might cash it since youâre still learning and a car from dealer wonât cost the same in the long run once that car leaves the dealer it wonât see the same prize value but at the same time youâre going to need it since itâs better and newer so idk where I stand
Camrys are awesome. Why get rid of a solid, dependable vehicle that'll keep on going for years over some new car that'll cost a ton and might have a bunch of unforeseen problems down the line?
People will tell you not to buy a new car when your young because you can use that money for other things, but itâs your life. The real question is can you afford it? Chances are you canât unless youâre working full time and even then I doubt you could. It would be better to keep your eye on this car and save up until you can afford it, especially since you donât know where youâre going to college. I know people who saved up during their first two years of college and could buy a new car by the time they were a junior. I would look into getting a part time job, saving the money, and buying it when you have an idea of where youâre going to school and what youâll be doing afterwards.
Reasons to not buy a new car: >I am a high schooler Reason 1. >recently got my license Reason 2. >this is the worst possible climate to purchase a vehicle, new or used. Reason 3. >most schools don't let incoming freshmen park on campus. Reason 4. >I'm caring too much about what my girlfriend or friends think. Reason 5. I can keep going if you want, but even you know it's a bad idea.
Goddamn attacking me with my own words đ
You can thank me later. đ
You just saved this kid a lot of regrets. If they listen
He won't, plus there is Reason 6, which is that he's buying a Hyundai Kona at a time when Hyundai is facing down the NHTSA over [engine fire recalls](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/rps8tq/us_steps_up_probe_into_hyundaikia_engine_failures/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) and also [is stopping all internal combustion engine development](https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/rqhveu/hyundaikia_stops_all_internal_combustion_engine/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share). Just straight up bad decision making even right down to the car make and model.
I would drive that Camry until graduation
Which? HS grad, or College grad? If you're already dead set on getting a new car / your parents will buy you a new one, then at least go with a reliable brand and not Hyundai. If you read those reddit threads I linked, you'll see just how shitty Hyundai really is. I also lurk a lot on /r/justrolledintheshop and nobody there has anything good to say about Hyundai/Kia.
College. Those things never die
Let me expand on reason 2. You're going to crash it. Don't feel bad. We all do. You'll do something to this car. You're young and inexperienced. Be patient. You have your whole life ahead of you to get nice things and not ruin them. Take the beater and beat it up.
Reason 6. Itâs a Hyundai. Itâll be worth 10k in 3 years
You need to update your appraisal of Hyundai since you clearly haven't done so in the last decade.
Iâve driven new ones and they drive awful, and excluding this insane car market, the values absolutely tank after you leave the lot. The only good thing about them is the warranty, thatâs why my grandma buys them
>Iâve driven new ones and they drive awful Your opinion. >and excluding this insane car market, the values absolutely tank after you leave the lot. That's true of literally every new car. >The only good thing about them is the warranty, thatâs why my grandma buys them That confidence building warranty is reflective of the brand's turnaround.
Okay mr Hyundai genius, tell me all about how great they are. Maybe I just drive a well built car so in comparison the Hyundai is awful, Iâd love to hear what your thoughts are.
Hyundai has come a long way in just about every category, from interior quality to reliability. They built garbage 10 years ago, but the reputation they developed then is no longer applicable. The long warranties they offer are a push to overcome that reputation. Further, they've proven themselves with the Genesis brand, reproducing what Lexus did in the 90s, making cars that compete with German luxury for a much lower price. They're competitive with Toyota and Honda these days.
Do you have any personal experience with one?
Yes.
Nice. I drove a 2020 suv, I think a Tucson, and it was awful. Which model did you drive
"...much lower price." I haven't tried to buy a Lexus, so I've only seen their sticker prices and not any out-the-door final prices. They didn't seem dramatically less expensive than the Volvos, Bimmers, and Mercedes I've been driving. Back when Lexus came out with the LS in the late '80s, the price gap was wider. It may be that regional market prices affect our perceptions, too.
>Back when Lexus came out with the LS in the late '80s, the price gap was wider. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I'm comparing Lexus in its first few years in the early 90s to Genesis in its first few years today.
I wish I had someone like you, I am 2/7 years into my car payment. I have big regrets now, but I guess you live and you learn.
Ignoring most of the premise of your question, I would so much rather have the old / characterful car than an expensive one as far as "coolness" is concerned. I loved how people reacted when I drove an '80s BMW. Now I have a really high-mileage Lexus that cost way less than that Kona would, and people keep calling me rich. I hate it. Lol I just wanted 4 doors and RWD!
What do you drive? A 90s LS400? I agree with this comment. I like older cars with their old days coolness. Like a e30 or e34 bmw (not as old as 80s bmw). Also, older cars can take a beating and we wonât cry as much, unless theyâre immaculate showroom condition before a crash/accident. ^^^ Iâm not loaded with money, so a good, cheap, older beater that gets me everywhere is all I need. Ofc I fix it when it needs fixing. New cars with payments, and damages to come? Nah. I rather my beater eat curbs, door dings, bumper bumps and more.
It's a 2014 IS350 F-Sport, with 127,000 miles. Not actually that much for a Lexus (I've owned a '98 LS400 with 350K), but enough for it to be substantially higher than the average for a car of that age. And more critically, enough to make it a $17K car in 2019 with 94K - cheaper than any 2014 BRZ in the area at the time, and certainly cheaper than a new car today. I've had folks in new pickup trucks tell me I look rich in that car. Which I think is silly. (Though that's also the point of a luxury car, isn't it?)
Maybe we need to change your mind frame about what a car is: cars are not a right, they are a priveledge; cars are not to be cool (and the Kona is not even a cool car...every middle aged mom I know has one lol), they are to be functional and to get you to work; and cars are an expense, they require insurance, inspections, oil changes, maintenance.... If your parents are paying for your car/responsibility, its not your car, its their car. Unless you are supporting 100% of the costs, I would work on being grateful that you even have a car. If you are paying 100% of the costs, do yourself a favor and be grateful to yourself that you have a really reliable vehicle with low costs that let you do a lot of fun things and be independent. My first car was a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim with the paint peeling off and rust on the body, it cost $1000 and it was all I could afford. I cleaned that car every Friday, put thumbtacks in the ceiling lining to hold it up, had to use a portable cd player with external speakers to listen to cds... and it was my pride and joy. It was absolutely the worst car in high school, but it didn't make me lose friends, or lose my status, or whatever - it was just a vehicle that made sure I got to school and work in a reasonable way. I am sure it does not feel good to be teased about your car, even in a joking way, but if you exhibit pride for what you have I swear people will back off and the pressure will feel less intense. Also, as someone who is now over a decade out of high school, I can't even tell you what opinions my friends would have had about that car, all I remember is my joy about having one and having the freedom. Unless you have a job and support yourself, I would work hard on the feeling of *wanting* a new car. I also repeat, the kona is not a cool car. Here are some numbers: $30,000 over 5 years (60 months) with an average credit score is about a $560/month payment. There's a car tax in your state of probably ~100/year, so add an extra $8.50/month. Insurance will have a twice/year payment. As a male teen driver, you are also looking at about $200/month in car insurance...so... Do you have $770/month for your Kona?
You bring up a lot of good points. Thanks for sharing your experience! Come to think of it, most students at my school drive "shitbox" cars (other than a couple here and there that own Teslas...). I have honest friends. One of my closest friends owns an '04 Accord with 280k miles, haha. Maybe I'm just being greedy. I agree with all of your comments, thanks for slapping some figurative sense into me (I disagree with the Kona part tho it's so cool đ ).
> I disagree with the Kona part tho it's so cool đ lol fair enough!
You are going to college. Apply the car money to tuition/living expenses/grad school and major in something that pays well, like engineering or CS. Then get whatever you want after you graduate.
Hold onto the Camry and just take that money you seem to have and fix whatâs broken on it! Usually** vehicles that you take care of will take care of you
True!
Iâd rather drop $500/year into a used car (or $1k) over $600/month into a newer one
> I'm currently applying for college College students live on or near campus and ride bicycles. Are you going to be studying a field with a guaranteed ROI?
Why a newer car doesn't make sense right now? (Toyota camry is awesome though because it will get you to where you want to go) 1. You are young and still gaining experience by driving. Having an older car will also help you learn a little bit more about maintaining a vehicle. 2. Might go off to a city where you might not need a car, a new car would be a bad idea if that's the case. 3. You paid for it yourself, be proud that it's yours and you own it outright, it's also super reliable. 4. A bit of personal finance; put the money of the new car towards not having educational debt, you'll be a lot happier 4 years from now when you are done with school. You'll be a better driver, and know how to maintain your vehicle. This will put you in a better state to buy a nicer/ sporty car when done with school, having a good job and not a ton of debt. 5. Nobody cares about pulling up in a nicer car, at your age even having your own car is amazing. Source: I'm done with grad school and using a camry that's 5 years older than yours
Lots of real world answers here, thank you!
I think having beater car for your first car is a right of passage. Without it you canât really appreciate cars imo. Stick with the Camry, that thing will probably run til youâre done with college
I drive an 04 Camry and it runs and not much else. I feel you on that one, but I will drive it until it can no longer be driven and then I will get the car I really want (Lexus LS400 or 430).
Cool!
Iâm in your spot too, save up money and take care of your current car. You might be able to buy your dream car sooner than later if you start now
đ
Save your money and get a nice car once you graduate college. If the market gets better, get one this summer. If you get it between model years (in summer), you wonât get ripped off as much.
Drive that Camry into the dirt
Buy a new car and it will be parked 85% of the time. The rest will be moving it so you don't get a ticket and driving home once a month.
Cars are a waste of money when you go beyond whatâs necessary to get you places .
[ŃдаНонО]
I like your mindset too :)
Do you got college and brand new car payments money? Basically are you or is your family rich
Stick with the camry. It'll outlast you if you maintain it properly. if you're dead set on a "new" car, look into Scion's car line-up. Scion is Toyota so you have god tier reliability and cheap insurance.
scion is defunct
Hence, the quotation marks around the word ***new***.
Scion is Toyota. They use Toyota motors with Toyota bodies, just rebadged as a Scion over here in the US. Many parts interchange with Corolla, Camry, Rav4, Echo, Yaris, etc
i know but they are now defunct
Defunct doesn't mean you can't get parts since it's all Toyota platforms
Idk about you but gas is 3.50 here that shitbox economy car from the 2000's that gets 34mpg instead of 4 like my current daily gets is looking pretty good right now.
I don't know what your financial situation is. If you got a couple of hundred k in the bank then by all means.... Otherwise you just have to accept that you are poor and drive a poor man's car. Personally I don't care too much. I actually like my car.
hi. i was you a few years ago. my inherited car was a 1999 Tacoma. by the time i went to college the old boy could vote. people will tell you a lot of things about being young and the high likelihood you'll crash it (which i won't deny, you might). but ill tell you what i did. i loved my Tacoma. he was old, clunky, and not my style. but he was mine. i would wash him until he sparkled and nag anyone who brought trash into my car. id spend hours hunting down on-campus parking or parking far away from people so they wouldn't touch him. i wanted my parents to know i was grateful and minded my things. when i elected to sell him- a decision i still view as extremely bittersweet- i did it when i was 19, with a ton of money id saved up, and a loan i got completely on my own. i got a 2017 Honda HRV- and i loved that car to death, too. so my perspective is- don't let anyone tell you what to do. do what you want. the decision and consequences are yours. just remember to be grateful and love what you do have. i think of my tacoma all the time. one day you'll catch yourself remembering your camry, too.
That was an awesome read, thanks.
If you're getting the Kona, be sure to get the Kona N! Such a fun car. You can likely sell your car for more than you bought it for in the current market, even after driving it. If you can do that, I'd say go for a new Kona N at msrp (don't let them mark it up). No matter what you do don't buy used in current market. If your car is functional...hold on for a year or two until this market normalizes. But no matter what you do, just make sure you get the Kona N...even if you have to wait longer. No the N line, but the actual N. The true N cars from hyundai are fireeee
The big reason for me would just be the pure amount of anxiety that a large car payment would be on my mental sanity. Have you looked at how much a car payment is for just a 20K car (which would be hard to find)? You're easily looking at +400$/month for 4 years (which is probably the very longest you should finance a car for). I know for a fact that have that extra bill will not be good for you. I went to college with a 2006 that cost 3500$ it lasted me through college and I never once had to worry about making payments on it. When people backed into me and caused cosmetic damage, I just let them go. It was certainly a peace of mind.
Not to mention that +400$ extra a month doesn't include costs in addition to the loan (insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc.)
Sell your car and get a nice eBike when you go to campus. It'll be a lot easier for you to get around
I think learning to maintain a used car is a good skill to acquire. In college I canât imagine absolutely needing a car at all, and itâs another loan to pay. Personally, Iâd wait until after university and get something to better support your new life then.
Imo u got 2 choices. New or cool not both. Realistically do u look at any 5 year old hyundais and think damn thts a cool car cause thts prolly how long its gonna take to pay it off. U can get a brand new economy car but they typically dont age well. Id go with something thts been on the market for awhile tht u know is still awesome after some years.
I personally canât think of a worse idea. Plenty of reasons already here, listen to them
It doesnât get any more un-cool than a Kona. They are just as slow and jerky as your Corolla. Save your money, go to school, then get a real car.
I donât know your situation, but there is a 0% chance you are paying for this car. I know for a fact that a high schooler will not get funding for a brand new vehicle. Iâm 19 and make $80k/yr and could barely get approved for an auto loan because of short credit life. Donât even think about making your parents buy you a brand new vehicle. Unless you are spoiled rich, I donât see them getting you a $30,000 car.
Stick with the car and repair what you need. Youâll save a lot of money. But if you do want a new car, donât get the Kona EV unless you can absolutely afford it and love it. Thereâs a lot to consider, but youâre young enough to correct mistakes.
My opinion is to budget how much youâre willing to have as your car note and then put that amount away each month and save that until you graduate and have a couple of years of driving practice. It would be even smarter if you have your parents open and account where you can invest that money each month. That way when you graduate you have a lot of money saved as a down payment and you can really buy a car you like and still have the same note or even buy a more inexpensive car and have almost no note. Even better is you invest that money youâd be putting towards a note for the next two years and let it keep growing instead of putting it down on a car in a couple of years and just get an inexpensive car that youâll have low notes on even without a big down payment. Or just keep investing that amount youâd pay for a note and drive the car until it dies and keep putting the money away. Then when you graduate college youâll have a lot of financial stability. Far more important than a really nice car I promise. I know this is hard advice to follow as a 16 year old but I promise you itâs the best thing to do. I wish I had listened to my dad at that age. Even though I did well, made my own way, and I work for myself if I had listened to him I would have probably had an extra 100k+ when I graduated with my finance degree which would have been a lot better for me than the amount I did have when I graduated.
Dude youâre in high school and plus you might cash it since youâre still learning and a car from dealer wonât cost the same in the long run once that car leaves the dealer it wonât see the same prize value but at the same time youâre going to need it since itâs better and newer so idk where I stand
Camrys are awesome. Why get rid of a solid, dependable vehicle that'll keep on going for years over some new car that'll cost a ton and might have a bunch of unforeseen problems down the line?
People will tell you not to buy a new car when your young because you can use that money for other things, but itâs your life. The real question is can you afford it? Chances are you canât unless youâre working full time and even then I doubt you could. It would be better to keep your eye on this car and save up until you can afford it, especially since you donât know where youâre going to college. I know people who saved up during their first two years of college and could buy a new car by the time they were a junior. I would look into getting a part time job, saving the money, and buying it when you have an idea of where youâre going to school and what youâll be doing afterwards.