decision final. MAYBE

Brett Helmkamp · Nov 7, 2012

The other night, I was on here crying about my wifes' car blowing the head gasket. After much consideration, I believe we are going to just replace the car.

Tonight while my wife is at work, I went to the dealership and drove home a Chevy Malibu with the 2.5L Ecotec engine in it. I can not afford a new car right now so this might have to do. My wife drives a lot to and from work and she has the kids a lot. I need something dependable and good on gas. She is off tomorrow so she can drive it around and check it before we pull the trigger.

I hate car shopping.

SweetFeet · Nov 7, 2012

Brett,

Are there any dealerships in your area that offer a 30 day return... with the price of the returned vehicle to be applied toward either a different used vehicle or a new one?

Just curious, as we had that option last year when we bought my husband"s used (but new to us) pickup. It made us feel a lot better about the purchase - just in case something went haywire right away. BTW: we still have the pickup - it is great. But it was nice to know we could somewhat ditch the sale if we wished to.

Brett Helmkamp · Nov 7, 2012

I am not sure about that. I never buy cars, drive them til they die and then replace so it's been a while. The car lot I am buying it from is not a buy here pay here kind of place. It is a GM dealership and the salesperson is my cousin and he is the service center manager. So I asked him his opinion on the car and he really liked these malibus. I trust him totally.

Royse · Nov 7, 2012

Brett, your finances are none of my business so I don't expect any reply to this, but if you
are in a situation to finance a used car it may be cheaper in the long run to finance a new car.
Yes, you lose a lot as soon as you drive it off the lot, but what you would pay in
additional interest at the higher rate on a used car loan may end up costing more.
Plus with a new car you have a new car warranty and peace of mind knowing
your wife and kids are in the best shape you can put them.
Not saying a new car never breaks down, but the odds are probably less.
Just something to think about and maybe check into.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!

wisbaker · Nov 7, 2012

I don't know what generation Malibu you're talking about If its the 2004-2008 expect a lot of brake problems and recurring problems with the u-joint in the steering shaft. I don't really like Chevys but thought this generation of Malibu was a better car for my needs than the Ford Taurus or the Fusion. Still ended up doing fleet deals on Fusions from 07 on (cost and resale issues), they (Fusions) had a better service history, I could usually push a Fusion to 75,000 miles on one set of tires and about 1/2 the time a set of brake pads, the Malibus would be the same on tires but usually needed brakes (pads, rotors and drums)and the steering u-joint and about 1/3 of the time some sway bar bushings.

Brett Helmkamp · Nov 7, 2012

Thanks for te input, I will keep it in mind. I do know one thing, if I ask 100 people their opinion, I will get 100 opinions. I can do my own brakes and most all repairs on cars. Me personally, I have never been a big fan of the Fords, even though most of my family is.

Thanks

Brett Helmkamp · Nov 7, 2012

I understand what you are saying and it makes sense. We were trying to nurse her car along another 2 yrs but didn't make it. I feel pretty safe with a car from a reputable car lot. Not a buy here pay here place. I am hoping then get this car and make it 3 or 4 yrs and replace with a new car at that point if needed. For now we really need to get her a car ASAP.

tbish · Nov 7, 2012

sometimes the payment may be as cheap on a new car id look into it

Heavyduty1 · Nov 7, 2012

I agree with the others on running the numbers on a new car. It might only be a little more $$$ for a new car.

Too bad my sister can't go with ya, she likes to bulldog them car guys, playing the car game. She like to go to all the local lots, tell the other dealers what she can get the car for. Fight tooth in nail for free oil changes, etc. :shock:

SweetFeet · Nov 7, 2012

Brett,
Nothing wrong with that. We drive them 'til they die. My little Geo is 19 years old. My husband's old pickup was 18 years old.

We buy them at as reasonable price as we can find and will only settle for one in really good shape. Took us 2 years to find his most recent pickup...a Toyota Crew Cab with a clean title. Paid 8K and stuck 1K into it... but it is at least a 10-11 K Kelly blue book value.

Brett Helmkamp · Nov 7, 2012

Haha. She sounds like fun.

oldtanker · Nov 7, 2012

Brett, the guys are right. Get you cousin to run the numbers on a new car. My niece got a used car from the Chevy dealer a few years ago. She just had to have it because it was the model she wanted and it was pink. She could have gotten the same model new for a smaller payment because of the interest rates on new vs used. She just couldn't get it in pink.

Rick

Flannelman · Nov 8, 2012

I don't know if you are tied to chevy but there are better choices than a malibu. The back seats aren't that roomy and basic maintenance can be a pain ie tearing the whole front of the car apart to change a headlight. I'd look at a camry, accord, altima, fusion, Mazda6 something that will hold up better in the long run. My family has had great luck with Toyota but to each there own.

Pitch · Nov 8, 2012

There may not be as big a spread in new vs. used interest. Monday I just bought used 2012 Ram. Car industry apparently considers a 12 to be new regardless of miles. Credit Union offered 2.99, dealer came in at 2.39. Used from the credit union was 3.49.
I have always had real good luck with off lease cars. Get them with 20 to 30 thou on them. Get balance of new warranty, and don"t take the major depreciation hit.
Traded in a 2010 Jeep liberty with 70,000, they gave me ten thousand and I financed 16,000 including tax and title. New the truck listed for 33,000. 9,000 in depreciation for a less than year old truck.
Can"t have an opinion as to a malibu. My daughter had a 2001 with the bad manifold gasket. Not a bad car other than that,but definetly nothing more than adequate transportation.

JRSutton · Nov 8, 2012

gotta agree - have had nothing but fantastic experiences with both Toyota and Nissan.

Turned in a very expensive SUV and bought a $9000 used camry about 10 years ago. First time I ever drove away from a dealer with more money in my pocket than I walked in with.

Have put VERY little into it. Still runs flawlessly, and it's generic enough looking that it's not really "out of style" if you care about such things. I used to, but not any more.

I have never had to worry about it being "dependable" - never had any reason to.

Just goes keeps going and going.

(on a side note - it really is amazing how much money you can save when you give up on trying to impress others! Glad I got over that insecurity)

mkirsch · Nov 8, 2012

Car shopping can't be all that bad if the dealer will let you take a car off their lot and drive it for days on end while you make your decision.

Around here even the country dealers won't let you off the lot without an armed escort, make you drive a prescribed route, and won't let you put more than 5 miles on the car.

wisbaker · Nov 8, 2012

$9,000 depreciation in a year? When I was buying new F-150s for the county our Fleet incentive was almost $9,000 dollars. Back when the car market was healthy I used to laugh at the prices of the program cars on the lots, they'd ask about what fleet price was for a new one. A couple of years I might of been able to sell our year old trucks for within $1,000 of what we paid for them new , but I didn't budget any funds for replacement so I didn't try.

Brett Helmkamp · Nov 8, 2012

They let me take it home and keep it for the night and the wife drove it all day today. We bought it this evening.

decision final. MAYBE

Brett Helmkamp

Member

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

Brett Helmkamp

Member

Royse

Well-known Member

wisbaker

Well-known Member

Brett Helmkamp

Member

Brett Helmkamp

Member

tbish

Member

Heavyduty1

Member

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

Brett Helmkamp

Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

Flannelman

Member

Pitch

Well-known Member

JRSutton

Well-known Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

wisbaker

Well-known Member

Brett Helmkamp

Member

Similar threads