Quote:
Originally Posted by Tervuren
You're making an argument for the safety conscious to choose a new car.
The passive safety of the design of a modern car when you hit something is greatly improved.
I lean on the older car side of things myself; but that may be because I started by saving/buying a 944.
No car guy, no passion, but needs to get around, a new car is a good choice.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by speeder
I see your point but a new Jetta is a replaceable, fixable, safe car to put a kid in. At the price mentioned in the OP, depreciation and cost of ownership would be minimal. I get asked for car purchase advice a lot because I’m the “car guy” in my crowd, I always tell people that leasing a new Jetta or Carolla is a great choice for people who just need reliable transportation and don’t care about *cool factor* and the other stuff we car geeks care about.  |
I didn't say an old clunker. Cars coming off lease can be a real bargain especially if you can find one ready to turn in and offer a little more than the residual. Once the dealer gets his mitts on it, it will be on the used car lot marked up with a handsome profit. So that will put a new driver in a 2-3 YO car, not some danger wagon.
Denis, I wonder about the leasing advice. "Renting" a car does make a lot of sense dollar wise, but the
restrictions and the fact that the car must come back in pristine condition can make for a difficult period for the person whose name is on the registration. You bring car back with a couple door dings and you will get dinged for sure. People I know have their lease return professionally detailed before returning. That might be unnecessary but they have had that fear instilled in them that they will pay hundreds for minor defects.
The dealer has his own built in insurance policy that the car will hit the lot with a minimum of needed work.