Help me win this arguement!

Originally Posted by Dixie_Darlin

I have dirt bikes! Does that count? I could just strap the kids on the handle bars

Yeah I know it's over KBB but I also know that the car lot is not going to sell it w/o them getting a commission.

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This value also takes into account the dealers' profit, costs for advertising, sales commissions and other costs of doing business.

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I'm not trying to rain on your parade- really, I'm not! I would just hate to see you pay more for something when you don't have to! Believe me, I know what it's like- I've done the car shopping for us for many years (and several used, older cars) with a very specific budget in mind- as in, "No, Mr. Salesman, this really is all we can spend on a car. Thank you for your time. 'Bye!" (As they chase us down in the parking lot- really happened once )
And on the other hand, the last vehicle we bought, we paid the individual's asking price- still below KBB retail, but above the average price for that vehicle, because the van was in great shape and had really low miles and a few other pluses that are hard to find.

Heck, unless there is some reason you have your heart just absolutely set on this one car, print this quote from KBB out, and take it to them, and see what happens- I'm thinking that the "bird in the hand" mentality just might win out with them- lol . And even if you ended up paying the top KBB price, it will still be one less $250 payment!

Again, Good luck!

Originally Posted by catsallover

Oh, and here's a good test (and to prove to your dh that you can afford a better car)- start saving for a car payment now, while your finances are the same. If you can do that (about $60 a week for 4 weeks) right now, without depending on the "possible future income", no matter how probable, then what can he say?

Good luck!

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That's exactly what I've done! I saved enough money to put a down payment and 2 months car payments! I could use it all for a down payment or all for a car for cash. BUT then I wouldn't have the payments for a financed car or would use the total amount on a junker and then be S.O.L if it broke down.

If you can afford the repayments, then go for it - sounds like you need a second car. If it's going to make money tight, in which case you can't afford to fix either car if they have problems, then maybe get something cheaper and keep on saving.

I say buy a junker. Our car that just died we had for 3 years. When we bought it hd just over 100,000 miles on but ran great. It was not untill the last month that things seemed to just fall apart. It happens its a car. We spent $800 for her, paid it all in cash up front so we had no payments. When we broke it down it came to something like 8 cents a day to own her. The insurance was less, so were any minor repairs. It was a VW and almost anyone who can read can do the repairs, we just bight a book about them and would od most of the work ourselves. The car paid for itself many times over. From here on out we plan on doing the same thing. Save up $1000 and buy a junker, that way we own it, we will drive it untill it dies and do it all over again. Not all cars that are in that price range are bad, some end up being the best things on the road. It comes down to blue book value. If you don't care how it looks than there should be no problem. If you are going to finance a car be carefull, I know a lot of people who did that and ended up with a lemon, or the warenty had so much fine print that most things that needed to be repaired were not covered. My neighbor just went through that. He bought a truck I don't know the year but its a Toyota, it ran great for the first month but then the transmision blew, the warrenty covered everything but that. He financed it for around $10,000 and now owes an additional $5000 just for the transmision and work that was done. He is stuck with it. It breaks down all the time. He told us that next time he will just buy something out right. It it dies oh well at least you are not stuck paying for something you cant even use.

Perhaps you could pay the down payment, put the $500 you have saved into an emergency fund for parts (adding to it when you can), and then pay the payments. When it comes to repairing a true clunker (and paying for both parts and labor), the payments might be best, since labor is the most expensive thing (BIL is a mechanic and runs a Firestone Car Care Center). Just make sure they aren't inflating the parts price. Oh, and do make sure it covers all the major parts-engine stuff and the transmission, what's it called? a drive train warranty?

The other thing to consider (and I know it's awful, but it is often true, even today) is, if you are the one who has been dealing with this salesperson, send your DH in saying- "I need to talk to you about this car. The highest price Kelly Blue Book has on this car is $2831 (or whatever it was ), and my wife wants it, but I'm not paying any more than this- can we do business?" and see what happens. It burns my b*tt , but if it saves me $, I just suck it up and drag my dh in if I have a salesman I think it will work on- being played works both ways . And then that would be another $250 for parts- lol .

And I also understand about finding a car and wanting (and needing it- I spent 6 months in the boonies without a car at one time, and dh working 45 mins away) it really, really badly! I looked for a Honda Accord Wagon or a Camry Wagon in my price range for a long time, and almost every Honda salesman I talked to said that they wished they had several of them, that they were hard to find, and they could sell them all day. *sigh*

But I found one on an Oldsmobile used car lot, that had been there for a year! with low miles and in one of my favorite colors- metalic red . That was the car we said "Sorry, we can't afford that" and left. And they chased us down, gave us a better trade in for our old car (like, the actual trade in value ) and we got the car. The thing was, as bad as I was crying inside at the thought of not getting it, there was no way we were paying above KBB for it (because we couldn't afford it! I was at my limit at the KBB), and they finally figured out that we weren't kidding.

I also pray a lot when I go car shopping!

Let us know what you decide! Getting a new car is exciting!

(and Sorry! I've talked your ear off about this! I get cranked up talking about used car shopping- lol)

Originally Posted by catsallover

(and Sorry! I've talked your ear off about this!

I get cranked up talking about used car shopping- lol)

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It's ok. I do too. I've bought many used cars myself and helped friends buy them also.
DH is going with me again tomorrow. He's not much of a haggler though I'm the mouth in the family. I'm definatly going to try to barter with him. A friend works at the lot also so I'm sure something can be worked out

Oh good! Let us know what happens!

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

You seem to have had money troubles, so unless you are in a better situation now maybe save a little more and try and get something semi decent that will run without too much work being put into it.

Parts are a huge part of the 'fixing' cost so it won't be saving you that much, but obviously a warranty and newer car will usually be better

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Yeah that.

It seems the work is seasonal and winter is pretty tough for you money-wise. I'd wait until after Christmas and see how finances are then before jumping into anything.

Most cities have a public transportation system and that's a whole lot cheaper than buying a car, paying for insurance, paying for gas and repairs and parking etc.

I think you would be prudent to wait, or you might find yourself in the same situation as you were in last year around Christmas time. Money in the bank for a rainy day is a good thing

gosh, this is a hard one. and coming from just skimming all the posts this is my two cents worth:

don't waste money on a 'junker' they'll end up costing a lot of money in the long run and you'll just have to shell out more money later when it dies.

i would take a look at how many miles you drive and try to either lease a conservative car or find a newer used car that you'll have to make some payments on, it will be covered on warranty and you will have it for a while. most places will let you buy a car WITHOUT money down if you finance. it opens up a new can of worms about what you can finance but i think it's better than dropping 3 g's all at once and then having something go wrong....

I think you should get the $3000 car. Those cheap $400-$700 cars are for people that fix up cars and sell them for more. Not for people that actually need a dependable car. And a dependable car is exzactly what you need. Owning two businesses, and only having one car has to be near impossible.

Not that this matters much, but I THINK it would look much better if you pulled into a customers driveway with a "decent" looking car, just the looks alone could possibly make or break a deal with them. Whereas, if you were to pull into a customers driveway with a rusty, falling apart car, I think they may trust you less right from the beginning, and that's not very professional.

Chances are you'd be spending just about the price of that $3000 car at the mechanics anyway, and not being able to drive it for days due to all the problems it has, and all the problems it probably has that you don't know about.

Not to mention THE KIDS! GAWD! That alone should be enough reason to get a decent car. Especially down here...People drive like crazies in Florida, and the chances of accidents are much higher if you have a car that's about to fall apart. We don't want your kids getting hurt now do we?

Leah's vote=
Splurge on the $3000. It'll be better in the end.

Hey! Whats wrong with cheapo cars?

My cars are always cheapos

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Hey! Whats wrong with cheapo cars?

My cars are always cheapos

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Yeah, but not like $300 cars, that are about to fall apart. Your cars are decent.
Plus Nat, You're not putting little kids in them either.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Yeah that.

It seems the work is seasonal and winter is pretty tough for you money-wise. I'd wait until after Christmas and see how finances are then before jumping into anything.

Most cities have a public transportation system and that's a whole lot cheaper than buying a car, paying for insurance, paying for gas and repairs and parking etc.

I think you would be prudent to wait, or you might find yourself in the same situation as you were in last year around Christmas time. Money in the bank for a rainy day is a good thing

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YOU try taking public transportation to jobsites to do qoutes and taking buses to drop kids off at school, go to the bank several times a day.

Originally Posted by lilleah

I think you should get the $3000 car. Those cheap $400-$700 cars are for people that fix up cars and sell them for more. Not for people that actually need a dependable car. And a dependable car is exzactly what you need. Owning two businesses, and only having one car has to be near impossible.

Not that this matters much, but I THINK it would look much better if you pulled into a customers driveway with a "decent" looking car, just the looks alone could possibly make or break a deal with them. Whereas, if you were to pull into a customers driveway with a rusty, falling apart car, I think they may trust you less right from the beginning, and that's not very professional.

Chances are you'd be spending just about the price of that $3000 car at the mechanics anyway, and not being able to drive it for days due to all the problems it has, and all the problems it probably has that you don't know about.

Not to mention THE KIDS! GAWD! That alone should be enough reason to get a decent car. Especially down here...People drive like crazies in Florida, and the chances of accidents are much higher if you have a car that's about to fall apart. We don't want your kids getting hurt now do we?

Leah's vote=
Splurge on the $3000. It'll be better in the end.

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Thank you Leah. If anyone knows the traffic here like I do, it's Leah

Originally Posted by Dixie_Darlin

YOU try taking public transportation to jobsites to do qoutes and taking buses to drop kids off at school, go to the bank several times a day.


Thank you Leah.

If anyone knows the traffic here like I do, it's Leah

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Imagine getting off of a bus in front of a potential customers house, with bug spray and a clipboard.
Oh even I would have to laugh at you.
At least you could kill all the bugs at the bus stop?
Others would be thankful.

Originally Posted by lilleah

Yeah, but not like $300 cars, that are about to fall apart. Your cars are decent.
Plus Nat, You're not putting little kids in them either.

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Ooooooh, a $300 car?!! Yeah, thats not going to be good..I must have not read that part

To me a junker is like $2000-$5000 I guess

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Ooooooh, a $300 car?!! Yeah, thats not going to be good..I must have not read that part

To me a junker is like $2000-$5000 I guess

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No, the probe was a $700 car and falling to pieces.. There's a difference, Cheap is $2-$5k which is what I want. Junk is anything under like $800

Originally Posted by lilleah

Imagine getting off of a bus in front of a potential customers house, with bug spray and a clipboard.

Oh even I would have to laugh at you.
At least you could kill all the bugs at the bus stop?
Others would be thankful.

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"Hey, I'm here for your pest control... Hold on, I have to put my bus pass away"

If you can get the financing and are comfortable with it, get the more expensive car for peace of mind.

I would not buy the junker cars or trucks.
Have you looked at buying a vehicle in the business name so you can use it as a tax deduction?? I think you need another truck or a van for the business.
Good luck with your decision.

You know, it's been my experience that anyone who asks for advice isn't really seeking it because they already have their minds made up and are just looking for approval.

Reading everything you post countering what everyone is saying, it seems to me you have already made your mind up about buying a car regardless of how it may make your situation a few months down the road when the roofing contracts come to an end for the winter.

So which ever car you do decide to buy I wish you the best of luck with it. I also hope that you won't be going through the same financial hardship you did last winter and having car payments and upkeep on top of it all to deal with while worrying where your next meal is going to come from and how you are going to manage Christmas for your kids.