VaBroker,

I haven't bought a "brand new" in years - 20 years. No one knows I haven't bought "new" cars. I like to let someone else pay for the immediate de-valuing when they drive off the lot.

Before you do anything, read The Millionnaire Next Door. Surely, your local library has it - no need to purchase it.

This is one of the best posts, people who have lots of money work friggen hard and don't spend a penny. It's going to be
intereting to see what people will be driving after the government planned AUSTERITY MEASURES.

Hunter - you pulled my comments from The Ultimate Realtor Car.

Depending on whether I get to keep my money or the government TAKES more of it - I'll still buy used and cheap.

Brother-in-law is into fixing cars (he runs a business). He picked a 2001 Saturn (that I drive now) and it only had 43,000 miles on it! Until he finds me something a little bigger (I'd like a Saturn Vue), I'll keep what I've got.

I just traded in my 2003 Pontiac Vibe with 280000 miles, for a 2011 Kia Forte, the first non-American car I have ever owned (yes, I know that the Vibe was a Toyota Matrix with Pontiac badging, but you know what I mean). We bought it brand new, with 16 miles on the odometer. If you can change oil, I recommend buying new. I've owned lots of cars, mostly used, some new. I take good care of all of them. The new cars have all, without exception, been far less trouble than any of the used cars I have owned. And yes, you can tell from my name, I love Corvettes and I DEARLY wish I could afford a new one, but that ain't in the cards. When you buy new, you know the maintenance history. When you buy used, who knows what the idiot before did to that car. Sometimes the things you find later, or the things that were undetectable at the time of purchase, are appalling. My wife and I both put a lot of miles on our vehicles, and it does make me sick to know how much value the car loses immediately. But in the end, if you keep the car for several years, it pays off. Not any desire of mine to tell you how to spend your money--but that's been my experience.

I agree that everyone is correct about the importantance of vehicle maintenance. Having bought used since 1985 (prior new car purchase which I still have: 300ZX 2+2) I traded in my 1999 Lexus for a 2011 Avalon in Dec last year. For me the choice was a good value for the money after looking at the alternative of spending up to another $8k for same creature comforts. As you might tell I keep my cars till they almost waer out. It was an ecomonic reality that it was cheaper for me to have a new one than to maintain the old one after 289k miles. They just wear out no matter how well you take care of them. I have full wrap of service and warranty to 125k miles so I feel comfortable knowing those expenses are known. Some of you are mechanically inclined or have someone close you know to fix cars, I don't.

Norm would not agree with you. My sister in law inherited
1 million dollars from her parent and went out and bought
a used SAAB for ten grand. (now that she has the 1 million
she is pursuing a divorce from my poor brother) Like you our whole family always drives a car into the ground, makes sense to me.

Maybe you can learn something from Norm.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/man-with-2-6-million-mile-volvo-p1800-aims-for-3-million/

I've always thought it should be required that every kid--boy and girl--who goes through driver's training should have to learn basic maintenance, like changing oil, checking belts and hoses, tire pressure, antifreeze. The BASICS. It's just not that hard. We didn't learn that stuff when I took driver's ed back in 1984 other than to have it mentioned in the book. Dad taught me the basics, so I was lucky there. I am not a gearhead by any standard. I just hate the idea of paying good money to do simple tasks. Even a brake job on most modern cars is pretty simple if they have disc brakes. I think it's more about people being intimidated by the machine than a real lack of mechanical skills. Sometimes things get frustrating, but it always feels good to know that you did it yourself, especially if you look at the price of the parts you got versus what you would have paid in labor as well.

Great post but common sense is not pervasive in this day and
age. Case in point many people cant even do a chin up let
alone rescue their princess from the monsters or change their
car oil.

The Cuban guys all drive around in 1950's American cars. Even though they dont have real jobs they still seem to be with
very pretty girls. These girls are so happy to be with a guy
who has no job they dance around shaking theirs back sides in
delight, wish it worked that way here.

I typed a post earlier but the website got hung-up and I made the grave error of hitting 'refresh' which wiped out all my typing - ugh!

I divorced a Corvette years ago. Years later, the son tells me it wasn't taken care of (incredible!) and years later the ol' man's getting divorced again! Final proof to the children that "I" wasn't the problem (yippee - but that's another thread)!

Bro-in-law is only a body man. A few of his guys work on engines, etc., but that is not their bread and butter, so, unless my hubby makes a repair (isn't that what men are supposed to do?), it goes to the shop. Not a "franchise" shop but a little, independent shop b/c I'm an independent so I like to spread what little cash I have to those who need it most.

I could never work on a car at my age - I can barely get Dr. Pepper or Michelob bottles opened - there'd be no way I could loosen a tight bolt/nut nor tighten one so that it stayed well-secured. Even the potato chip or Frito bags seem to be harder to open these days!

You need Mark Rippetoe, his gig will get you strong:

http://startingstrength.com/index.php

and soon you will as stong as this guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez3wWdh-IEo&feature=related

and you will be able to pick up your own car without breaking
a sweat. But it aint easy and it's a lot of friggen work but you will feel like a million bucks even when you don't sell
a home. Keep in mind the powers that be what to turn us all into peasants so getting strong wil be important to you and
your family..

I drive a 2003 Lexus LS430 with about 115K on it. It's super reliable and clients love it. You can pick them up pretty cheap.

I feel a Saab 9-5 is the perfect realtor car, spacious, cheap to maintain, ride great, awesome seats, quick and clients think you're driving a car like a BMW or Mercedes. Perfect. Buy the Aero for even more fun! When i become a realtor I'll buy one for sure!

Since they don't make the Jaguar I saw as a prize in that Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes many, many moons ago, I just saw a little car the other day I liked - and I don't care that clients can't fit into it. If they can't drive me around, then they can't afford a mortgage payment either. It's some type of BMW sportscar convertible - it really caught my eye. Have to start watching the used car lots. Imagine my long, blond ponytail flying in the breeze!

Oh Hunter - I break a sweat just lifting the cig to my lushous red lips!

I have a 2004 Hyundai Sonata that is still in excellent shape and clean. Runs great and is always surviced. Why have a car payment. My take on this is I don't think I have ever lost a clientbecause of my older car. people like me for what I can do for them. You know some agents that just come out of school run and get this beautiful car, so are they more qualified than me? Hmmmm I'd think twice if I were a buyer looking for an agent. Great car or great agent. Seems like a no brainer to me. If a client wants me because of my car......do I want them ;-)

Let's face it...the perfect agent's car is the potential buyer's car....

Some of my clients have drven Lexis and plenty of BMW's and my car never made a difference. Guess that might say a lot about me then ;-) I'l change it when I need to not because I feel someone else wants me to, because I might make more money. I do ok :-)