So... we're looking at buying a car. I've never done that, not even close. My sister's information is years out of date, like 10 or so. Things are different today
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Buy a used car, about 4 years old, so by then people should know what defects have cropped up and what to expect.
Get a Ford or something really fuel efficient. Test drive it at night to get an idea as to visibility. Get a hatchback.
Pay with money you have now, not on credit. A car is not an investment, it's going to cost you thousands every year, buy something you can afford now. A used car will cost you less in insurance because it will cost less to replace if you wreck it.
If you want to put the environment into the equation, you must think of the cost of the mining, transportation, plastics, transformation (and the batteries!) that went into making this luxury tool. It's those really expensive and hard to recycle batteries that really annoy me about electric (hybrid) vehicles. Also, I think they still won't get you to Montreal and back. Hybrid means electric, I don't know of any cars that run on hydrogen fuel, or even of a place to refuel hydrogen tanks.
People are switching to utility wagons, that should mean good deals on used fuel efficient cars.
Neither of us have much in savings, so paying with money now is not that much of an option - but a loan of the third of the price will be much easier to repay.
You're welcome! You probably have a high enough credit rating to get a car loan at a used car lot (or a bank), but I think you can use your existing credit card as leverage to acquire a card with an even higher credit limit and thereby increase your credit rating. Lending institutions are nuts.
I keep having to refuse a credit limit increase on my cards... but with a car, I definitely will have to need a higher at-a-time ceiling. Repairs don't come cheap or in installments.
Buy a used car, about 4 years old, so by then people should know what defects have cropped up and what to expect.
Get a Ford or something really fuel efficient. Test drive it at night to get an idea as to visibility. Get a hatchback.
Pay with money you have now, not on credit. A car is not an investment, it's going to cost you thousands every year, buy something you can afford now. A used car will cost you less in insurance because it will cost less to replace if you wreck it.
If you want to put the environment into the equation, you must think of the cost of the mining, transportation, plastics, transformation (and the batteries!) that went into making this luxury tool. It's those really expensive and hard to recycle batteries that really annoy me about electric (hybrid) vehicles. Also, I think they still won't get you to Montreal and back. Hybrid means electric, I don't know of any cars that run on hydrogen fuel, or even of a place to refuel hydrogen tanks.
People are switching to utility wagons, that should mean good deals on used fuel efficient cars.
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Many more good advice, thanks!
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