Victory Coffee
Everyone, prepare to call me a bourgeois fuck as you change the channel.
I'm in the market for cars, and by the grace of insert deity here, I have enough buying power to discriminate. This is something I haven't had to do before for multiple reasons. Traditionally, what I've driven has depended on what POS car my family had to spare. (This was only an adequate situation because my dad worked on cars, and he's not really around to do that anymore.) Now, somehow, all of our situations have marginally improved, and my family can afford decent automobiles.
Now it's my turn, having changed scene to a place where it's affordable to drive and park while maintaining my own numbers. From the outset I decided that a new car would probably be a bad idea, and that the superb durability and mileage of Hondas I've previously encountered makes them very attractive, but I'd settle for a Toyota as a second choice. I've based most of this on hearsay and the fact that both companies have visible and well-established certified used programs.
The prices for the certified used vehicles in the area, though, are on the verge of not being enough better of a deal that I shouldn't just buy new, and that's both disappointing and frustrating. A 2005 Civic Sedan LX for $13,500 at 33,500 miles is about $4,300 less than the 2008. I'd be paying $4,300 for 33,500 miles fewer on the odometer, but similar warranty coverage. That's $0.1283 per mile. At the rated 36 mpg highway, it works out to $4.62 extra for each gallon of gas until the odometer hits 33,500. But, on the other hand, is $4,300 enough less than the new model that it could be considered a deal?
To make matters worse, this particular vehicle sits on the Victory Honda lot, of which my brother and his wife disapprove due to the pushy sales attitude. And, personally, I liked my first option, a cheaper 2005 Accord with similar mileage, much better-I even got a loan for it-but it was sold before I even got the chance to test drive.
The selection is a little paltry under $15,000. The only nice such used Toyota within 50 miles is in fact 46 miles away.
So, tough decision. Do I allow other automakers into my life? Do I give up on used? Or do I just hold out?
I'm in the market for cars, and by the grace of insert deity here, I have enough buying power to discriminate. This is something I haven't had to do before for multiple reasons. Traditionally, what I've driven has depended on what POS car my family had to spare. (This was only an adequate situation because my dad worked on cars, and he's not really around to do that anymore.) Now, somehow, all of our situations have marginally improved, and my family can afford decent automobiles.
Now it's my turn, having changed scene to a place where it's affordable to drive and park while maintaining my own numbers. From the outset I decided that a new car would probably be a bad idea, and that the superb durability and mileage of Hondas I've previously encountered makes them very attractive, but I'd settle for a Toyota as a second choice. I've based most of this on hearsay and the fact that both companies have visible and well-established certified used programs.
The prices for the certified used vehicles in the area, though, are on the verge of not being enough better of a deal that I shouldn't just buy new, and that's both disappointing and frustrating. A 2005 Civic Sedan LX for $13,500 at 33,500 miles is about $4,300 less than the 2008. I'd be paying $4,300 for 33,500 miles fewer on the odometer, but similar warranty coverage. That's $0.1283 per mile. At the rated 36 mpg highway, it works out to $4.62 extra for each gallon of gas until the odometer hits 33,500. But, on the other hand, is $4,300 enough less than the new model that it could be considered a deal?
To make matters worse, this particular vehicle sits on the Victory Honda lot, of which my brother and his wife disapprove due to the pushy sales attitude. And, personally, I liked my first option, a cheaper 2005 Accord with similar mileage, much better-I even got a loan for it-but it was sold before I even got the chance to test drive.
The selection is a little paltry under $15,000. The only nice such used Toyota within 50 miles is in fact 46 miles away.
So, tough decision. Do I allow other automakers into my life? Do I give up on used? Or do I just hold out?