more than you want to know about the car we don't have yet

[metasilk]

We drove 2 more Matrixes today: the one with the silly wheels (and ick, some door dents that must be fixed), and then a super-basic version. The super basic version was ruled out, partly on the toddler-plus-non-locking windows = bad news for things stayin in car, partly on the transmission feeling uneven

Comments

[bcy475]

As my brother asks me: How much is the replacement car going to cost me each year to pay off, compaired to repairing onces current car? For me I've spending $2000-$3000 a year So if $3000 then it's $250 a month. Still cheaper then a car payment depending apon what one gets...

So if I get something now.. NEW so only thing other then car payment is basic normal things. (oil, pads, tires, etc)

what about a PT Cruiser?

or

Honda Element

I could say one of the Honda Hybrids?

I just noticed they have posted 2007 Honda Civic GX NGV 5-Spd AT.

NGV = Natual Gas. Or couse the ONLY filling station I know of right now is at the City of Burlington Bus terminal/waterworks? and even thoug PAID for by federal tax dollars, they don't let people buy from it. Theres been debate as I read about the grant was for public usage I think.

My kuzen lives in Putney converts cars over elecric, bio or something...just sent a email.

American Science one of the Mags thats printed where I work just did a story on the Prios, how one collage add bigger battery bank and would plug the car in to bring all the batteries to full charge. Not sure what else they changed but was getting avg over 100mpg. Once the additional batteries are discharged it goes back to normal operations. So like 50-60mpg depending on the model converted I guess. I spoke with a dealer and asked if they knew about it, he said he remembered reading something about it and that Toyota was helping them a bit. But not know too what goal. Like offering a option for bigger battery bank/plug in.

[metasilk]

How much is the replacement car going to cost me each year to pay off, compaired to repairing onces current car?
Exactly. In our case, we are focusing one ones for which we will not have to get a loan. (We may wind up getting a loan after all, and actually putting that money toward a different loan with a high interest rate, but that's a financial management schtick, rather than a car-necessary thing). This is why I was comparing purchase cost + estimated running cost in my spreadsheet. This means used, yes, but we're also seeking "under 100,000 miles", which -- given what we're looking for -- should give us a year or 2 of "normal" things. Having less (probably) hassle is a big part of operational costs for me. Part of the reason I don't want to repair the Subie again is because it's just a royal pain to take it in to the shop every other month for whatever damn thing it needs now. Not a financial cost per se (except I usually have to do that on days when I would be working), but definitely a cost. Getting away from that for at least a year would be nice. True, a new car would (probably) give us a couple years of that, but in turn, that might not be worth the doubling of purchase price.

PT Cruiser? Probably won't last as long. MPG. Was not wowed when drove it at our wedding, though that was a while back.
Honda Element? See reply to turbocat, below: want to scale downsize and/or up mileage.
Honda Hybrid: Haven't found wagon version, and probably couldn't afford if we did. But oh! I wish there were one.
Toyota Prius: same not-a-wagon/cost as Honda Hybrid.

Youse guys give good suggestions!