THE TWINS
old car new car
Well, this weekend we went out and bought a new car. What’s so funny is that it’s the same EXACT car we have now. It’s a 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon. Same year, same color, same everything but the fabric inside is tan instead of gray. It’s strange too because you don’t see many red station wagons around.
We took the old car in to the mechanic and spent $400 on brakes and a a new sensor. While we were there, we saw the new car all torn apart. We asked if they were scrapping it because we needed a new piece on the trunk door.
The mechanic said, No, we’re fixing it up to re-sell." I told him we were looking for a minivan but to let us know because we might be interested in it.
When Mike went to pick up the "old" car, the mechanic said they were going to sell it for $4,000 and it has 41,000 miles! We couldn’t believe it and told him we would take it! About a week later, they were done and we now have a new car.
We were just in the "starting to look" mode, so we weren’t seriously considering buying anything yet but this was just too great of a deal to pass up. We had the cash and our old car has 150,000 miles on it. I think we can get around $2,000-$2,500 when we sell it.
We hope this car will be as good as the last one was. I did try to get them to come down on the price but they wouldn’t (and it was priced right). Still, I said "I know you can’t come down on the price but would you swap the tires from the old car to the new one for me?" He said, "Sure!" We had just gotten new tires on the old car not that long ago so I wanted to keep them.
Now we have a new car to get us around again. We did want a minivan but they are just way out of our price range right now. The station wagon will be great to drive all 4 kids around without the expense of a minivan. The station wagon has a rear seat so we always joke about one of the kids’ teachers calling SRS because the kids say that they are "riding in the trunk". LOL
Tawra
So funny that you should post this that’s the exact car we are looking for a Taurus or Sable with the third seat in the trunk, it’s one of the few things that isn’t a minivan or SUV that can also fit 4 car seats/boosters.
What a great deal! My mom called last night because she knows my husband is looking for a truck. She knows a family whose brother died and they have his 2007 truck for sale for $20,000.00. I promptly said no! We are looking for something in the $4,000.00 price range. No payments for us! Glad you got such a good deal!
What! you didn’t even change the colour?
nice looking vehicles though.
We think we should start looking at vehicles as our 97 safari van is not made anymore and as a beater it takes a beating. It is such a comfortable vehicle and so practical I wish they were still made but GMC decided they were too long lasting so stopped them.
Have tried out many different types and none of them let me ride for more than an hour without pain.
So we are treating the van to many small fix its so it will last as long as possible.
Tawra,
Congrats to you and the family! God must surely be smiling about this-do you see His hand in this “mini miracle”??
HEY, I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU ALL.
I wish you better luck than we had when we bought a car in that price range for my son to use. We bought from an established dealer, checked out the car and against my normal pattern bought a extened warranty because there was none included. We ended up having to replace the motor, which was partialy covered by the warranty. But then the warranty company went bankrupt without paying us. It is still in the courts but I doubt we will see any money. Friends of ours recently decided to buy and econimy car brand new because in our area used cars have gotten very expensive. They decided since they keep thier cars a long time it will be cheaper in the end. I am begining to look into it.
Tawna just a heads up.You can get a lemon whether it is new or used. My folks bought a van with warranty and all and still to pay a few thousand to get it fixed. My son’s in laws are of the mind new is best and so the first couple of cars they bought they had things go wrong and most weren’t things covered by the warranty and their second new one they ended up paying on the car for a couple of years after it died and didn’t run any more. Compared to mine which until my last car (which cost $2000) I only paid 500 for them. Each one I had 5 years or more ( the one I have now I’ve had almost 8). I have only had to pay a couple of hundred dollars for normal wear and tear a year, unlike my son’s one new car which needed a whole new engine a couple of years after they bought it.
Bottom line is if you seriously do the numbers you will find that in most cases by the time you pay more in insurance, tags and payments and repairs not covered under warranty even if you need to put in a whole new engine it still is cheaper then a new one. As far as have the security of a car which will always work, well for 4 years I used up all of my AAA services not on my used car but on my kids newer one. Things happen old or new.
Congratulations on your blessing from God. He is good.
Nice car We own a ford since 1999 It great with mileage
and been running very well When we first purchase the car
It required new brakes and suppension work done Which was costly.
But since then it been a cheap car to own and very happy.
Hoping to find another ford in feburary has 177,000.
Wow, what a deal!! Congrats. Now… when you go to sell the old car… just make sure you don’t actually give away the wrong one!! :)
Jill, you are so right – last time we bought a brand NEW car off the lot, we had a ton of problems with it, and actually went in two weeks later and traded it back for a different one. Luckily we had that option… it was a hassle anyway. You can get a bad apple no matter what you do.
We are still paying for this one unfortunately, and probably won’t go new for a while… lose too much depreciation that first year alone. If you want something new, try looking at lease or fleet returns that are a year or two old… thousands less!!
Wow, we got a Grand Caravan 1998, over a year ago for $1650 and it is still running strong. I always buy used. Never pay over $2000 for anything. I believe I have a pic of it on my blog. http://christinas-created-creations.blogspot.com/2009/07/since-i-havent-posted-this-yet-here-it.html
We looked through www.craigslist.org and found this. Our cars general last about 5-8yrs. Then we sell and look for another. Although we do have a 91 Chevy s-10 that is getting pretty rusty but we plan to keep that til it falls apart. Motor is still to good in it to get rid of and we haven’t had to do anything but the normal tune ups and “new tires” once in the 6yrs we’ve had it so far. Believe me I am VERY frugal with our money. My husband says that the one talent God gave me was how to make money s-t-r-e-t-c-h, cause we don’t have enough to go around but God makes it work.
Christina
Good for you guys. A year ago we were able to by a 2006 Cruiser for 6500. I know, I know they have discontinued that model, but we had been interested in one for a long, long time and had to wait until our finances were right for the purchase. We love out little Cruiser and a happy we waited.
I have a 13-year-old Camry with 225,000 miles on it! I debate constantly whether to get a newer car or not. I always buy used. I am so nervous to give up “Lucy” because she’s been so good to me!
If it makes you feel better usually we drive them until they stop, literally!
sounds like our family tawra.. we drive our cars until they literally stop.. :D ..
i would love to get a smaller car (i like small cars).. but hubby is happy with the elantra we have ..
personally i prefer ford’s but this is paid off and well i baby it and it (knocking on wood) runs fine for the time being ..
i told hubby as soon as we move and can clearly afford it i want to sell this one and get another car (smaller) ..
my son said he would buy our car bc of the way we take care of things .. we will probably sell it to him (for the price of a new/used tranny bc eventually that will go) .. his cousin is a mechanic and everytime i see him he test drives my car and says he can do the tranny and would give me a decent price ..
the car you have is pretty .. and i think its awesome u have 2 of the same ..
we did that once .. it was quite confusing but after awhile you could definitely tell a difference which one was mine (i had a few of those pink ribbons on my car, my sister was battling breast cancer at the time) and my daughter had these air freshners or beads (cant remember now) hanging from her mirror) ..
:D
i also have a taurus wagon with 170xxx. car runs like a dream you got that new one for a steal. i paid 2100 for my 01 ses with 154xxx when i bought it
I just read your comment that your “new” car died, and you are considering getting a van. Beware on vans – it seems like many people who have vans also have problems with transmissions.
Do some research on-line, and good luck!
Are you sure the “new” car can’t be fixed at a lower price than buying a different vehicle?
Yes Tawra would do any thing to fix the car first if she could even put in a new engine but the amount she would have to pay to fix is way out of the ball park of what the car is worth and so in the long run they are better off to start with something else.
yep i agree jill .. sometimes the cost of repairing a vehicle is better to just trade it in and get another one .. i wish i was handy with car mechanical issues .. i would save myself so much money on repairs ..
we had a van too .. too many issues with it .. i was finally glad to be rid of it .. we sold it to my daughter and son in law and they too put alot of money into it ..
my next car i am hoping will be an older ford escort .. i really like them and the station wagons too ..
Congratulations!!!!!! Both cars look new!!!!! I hope we can find a deal when the time comes!