DD choice - Old high end car or new cheap car

This is not a which car to get, as I know there are plenty of choices. And we all have different needs, wants, and tastes.

This is more of your preference.

If you need a good car for DD, would you prefer a factory new car or a used luxury car. Let's just say both are equal in terms of quality or reliability.

If I had to pick examples to showcase the question, here goes.

Would you choose a brand new 2017 Nissan Sentra for $15K or a 2011 Infiniti G35 sedan with 80,000 miles. And you have to own it (maintenance) for 10 years.

If it helps you to use different cars as example, please reply also. Maybe you want to use Toyota vs Lexus or Honda vs Acura. I just want sort of "fair" comparison.

 

New *inexpensive* car, hands down. (Not cheap) That way maintenance is under your control. Plus, factory warranty is comforting. I would buy a yaris again in a heartbeat if the need arose.

 

If I were to buy a commuter car it would most likely be a Chevy Cruze Diesel.

 

Is the g awd?

 

Lol @ old 2011 with 80k.

If 2011 is vintage, get whatever you want.

 

You're defeating the purpose of getting a dd. Get a newer low mileage RELIABLE car

 

I'd rather buy used. You lose so much cash driving it off the lot.

 

Usually the newer the car the better the safety features. For a DD that is important.

 

High end and roll that Bitch like a G

 

I'd go with a used Corolla. Nissan is like the Japanese version of Dodge

 

G35 is stylish, rear wheel drive and has a engine with some exhaust tone. DD for me!

 

New with warranty for same price better gas mileage and 80k less miles? Ya new. I use my Camry as a DD, as @Itchyfeet said Nissan to me isn't the best, the old Nissan motors used to be really good but quality has gone down. Check out a new Corolla or look into a used one that's newer.

 

I traded a Dodge 2500 I had one time to a kid that's Mom handed down her 6 year old Jaguar X-Type S to him. He offered me cash and that car (which booked for more than the truck I was trading) so I took him up on it with the intentions of trading it in on a Wrangler. I ended up driving it for a couple months and I'm not gonna lie I didn't want to see that car go. You would be cruising down the interstate at 90 mph and it felt like you were going 60. Dad drove it for a week or so while I was borrowing his truck and I ended up selling it to him and his wife drove it for a while. I miss that car! Get the older nicer one!

 

I see the rationale for either side, but I still like to enjoy whatever daily (only car I have) so I opted for a used Acura rl instead of a new accord

 

I bet you roll that like the dirty bitch that it is Man, I gotta find something

 

In my case it would be like a Camry vs an older Lexus (don't know the models), and I would pick the Camry every time. I can't begin to tell you how many people out there are morons about maintenance of vehicles, and it seems to be worse among people who buy luxury cars. The last thing I want for a car that I am going to run 10 years is to get it second hand from someone who took terrible care of it. I would rather take a reliable platform from new, take care of it like I should from day one, and run it into the ground. The bells and whistles on luxury cars have never been a huge draw for me personally either. I'll take a boring reliable workhorse any day.

 

Haha, no i meant g35 would be my choice! I drive the taco erry day son!

 

This isn't going to be reality, but using this as a decision point, it's incredibly easy to pick. You go with the older luxury car.

Let's look at 2 car manufacturers: Honda and BMW

Honda will get you decent MPG, but a 2016 will run about $15,000.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/6169317376.html


2010 Fully loaded BMW-$16,000
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/6141844695.html


If they are equal in quality and reliability, i'm taking the car that cost $50,000 brand new, not $20,000 brand new.

fwiw, i drive a 2004 bmw 330ci as my dd/weekender.

 

I would go with a new Corolla or Civic. Most of the 'luxury' items from years ago are now standard features on the newer vehicles. Plus you don't have to worry about any existing wear and tear and soon to be near expensive maintenance.

If you want to keep it as a DD for 10 years. Lets assume you only put 15k miles/year on it. So that's 150K total miles on a new vehicle, compared to 230k miles on your now 16-20 year old vehicle. What will the maintenance costs, and resell value be?

But then again, I'm probably the worse person to answer these questions as I only put 4-5k miles/year on my DD (truck).

 

I have a slightly different view (but not much).

I prefer used, but maybe a 'newer' used than you suggest. Something under 30k miles. There are some pretty dressy Hyundai that have 100k warranties, so you're getting the balance of that (for example). If you want a few amenities.

Hondas are becoming a bit too much like Toyota, living off rep, but really nothing shaking value wise. So be careful with expectations when considering them in the mix. It's easy to overpay........

TCO is the driving force for me in this situation. Figure out that equation and you'll have at least a financial answer.