Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We are now thinking of maybe buying a newer used car (2-3 years old). Neither DH or I have much savvy when it comes to cars, so we don’t know how to get the best deal. Our newer car is a 2014 Nissan Altima that we bought in 2017. We spent the day at the dealer haggling, and we don’t want to do that again. We are thinking maybe a Honda Pilot, Kia Sorrento - we just need something reliable that drives well and has a third row. Our budget is no more than a $350/mo payment. Any and all advice on what car and how to get the best deal welcome.

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think if you're OK with putting money into something you don't own, leasing is a good option. I don't mean that in a snarky way. I haven't leased only because I would never be able to stay within the mileage minimums.
Putting about $2500 down, paying a lower payment, and then handing over the keys 3-4 years later for a brand-new car always sounded pretty nice to me. But the Dave Ramsey DCUMers are really against it.
Leasing is marketed as a limited-income solution to car ownership, because the monthly costs are lower, but it's people with money to spare who should be using it -- what do they care if they don't own a depreciating asset that is 4 years old?
If you have “money to spare” and want new cars, it’s cheaper to buy new and swap out every three years or so than lease. We bought a $34k minivan, drove it for 42 months (3.5 years) and traded it in for 26k and got a new $34k minivan. $8k/42 = $190/month. You could not lease nor purchase for that cost.
This self-congratulatory, "one size fits all" post fails to mention that not everyone wants to drive a Japanese minivan and getting 26k for a 4yo 34k MSRP car means you got taken advantage of elsewhere in the deal.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think if you're OK with putting money into something you don't own, leasing is a good option. I don't mean that in a snarky way. I haven't leased only because I would never be able to stay within the mileage minimums.
Putting about $2500 down, paying a lower payment, and then handing over the keys 3-4 years later for a brand-new car always sounded pretty nice to me. But the Dave Ramsey DCUMers are really against it.
Leasing is marketed as a limited-income solution to car ownership, because the monthly costs are lower, but it's people with money to spare who should be using it -- what do they care if they don't own a depreciating asset that is 4 years old?
If you have “money to spare” and want new cars, it’s cheaper to buy new and swap out every three years or so than lease. We bought a $34k minivan, drove it for 42 months (3.5 years) and traded it in for 26k and got a new $34k minivan. $8k/42 = $190/month. You could not lease nor purchase for that cost.
This self-congratulatory, "one size fits all" post fails to mention that not everyone wants to drive a Japanese minivan and getting 26k for a 4yo 34k MSRP car means you got taken advantage of elsewhere in the deal.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think if you're OK with putting money into something you don't own, leasing is a good option. I don't mean that in a snarky way. I haven't leased only because I would never be able to stay within the mileage minimums.
Putting about $2500 down, paying a lower payment, and then handing over the keys 3-4 years later for a brand-new car always sounded pretty nice to me. But the Dave Ramsey DCUMers are really against it.
Leasing is marketed as a limited-income solution to car ownership, because the monthly costs are lower, but it's people with money to spare who should be using it -- what do they care if they don't own a depreciating asset that is 4 years old?
If you have “money to spare” and want new cars, it’s cheaper to buy new and swap out every three years or so than lease. We bought a $34k minivan, drove it for 42 months (3.5 years) and traded it in for 26k and got a new $34k minivan. $8k/42 = $190/month. You could not lease nor purchase for that cost.
Anonymous wrote:I think if you're OK with putting money into something you don't own, leasing is a good option. I don't mean that in a snarky way. I haven't leased only because I would never be able to stay within the mileage minimums.
Putting about $2500 down, paying a lower payment, and then handing over the keys 3-4 years later for a brand-new car always sounded pretty nice to me. But the Dave Ramsey DCUMers are really against it.
Leasing is marketed as a limited-income solution to car ownership, because the monthly costs are lower, but it's people with money to spare who should be using it -- what do they care if they don't own a depreciating asset that is 4 years old?