349: When to Buy New vs. Used and is That Car Repair Worth the Cash?
BiggerPockets Money Podcast
BiggerPockets
4.6 • 2.9K Ratings
🗓️ 31 October 2022
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The new vs. used car debate has been going on for as long as automobiles have existed. For almost the entirety of time when cars were being bought and sold, it seemed like a responsible, frugal decision to buy used, save up some money, and take the repairs with the deal. But inflation has changed this debate in 2022 (and beyond). Used car prices are high—sometimes even higher than new cars—prompting shoppers to reconsider what makes the most financial sense.
In the first half of this show, we talk to Liz Frugalwoods, financial blogger and borderline professional at buying and selling cars. She recently made the bold decision to buy new—a shock to many of her readers. How could Liz, a financial independence expert, do something as careless as buying a brand-new car? Had she given up on the path to frugality? Not exactly. Liz shares some good reasons why buying new instead of used makes more sense, especially today.
To close out the episode, we bring on local mechanic Jesse Johnson, who gives a brief masterclass on buying, selling, and maintaining cars. As a mechanic with decades of experience, he knows exactly what car owners do to slowly destroy their daily drivers. He also knows how to get the most bang for your buck and when it’s the right time to sell that clunker sitting in your driveway.
In This Episode We Cover
The reasoning (and math) behind buying a new car vs. buying a used car
Taxes, registration, fees, and other trade-offs when buying new vs. used
The most important questions to ask yourself when shopping for a vehicle
Tips when selling a used car and the #1 thing to NEVER do
What parts of a car are worth repairing and which can wait
How to find a great mechanic in your area and get a free car wash
Trade-in tips and what to know to get the most out of a dealer
And So Much More!
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Frugalwoods - Financial Independence and Simple Living
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Bigger Pockets Money Podcast where we interview Liz Frugelwoods with special guest, |
| 0:06.4 | my friend Jesse Johnson, and debate buying a new car versus fixing up your old one. |
| 0:12.4 | Alright, so we had this 2010 Toyota Prius. We bought it in 2016 for $8,995. |
| 0:20.3 | We sold it in August 2022 for $8,200. |
| 0:25.7 | Which, what is that? That's a 16% depreciation or that's absurd. |
| 0:31.4 | You know, but that's what the market will bear. And I'm in rural Vermont, like this is not |
| 0:35.1 | exactly a big market. You know, so like if you have an extra car that you don't need, |
| 0:39.9 | this is a great time to sell it. Hello, hello, hello, my name is Mindy Johnson, |
| 0:43.8 | and with me as always is my non-mechanically inclined co-host Scott Tredge, |
| 0:49.2 | but a little bit later, Carl Hobson to talk shop with Jesse. |
| 0:53.3 | Scott and I are here to make financial independence less scary, less just for somebody else, |
| 0:58.1 | to introduce you to every money story because we truly believe financial freedom is attainable for |
| 1:02.9 | everyone, no matter when or where you're starting or even if you're buying a brand new car. |
| 1:08.4 | That's right, whether you want to retire early and travel the world, going to make big-time |
| 1:11.4 | investments in assets like real estate or start your own business will help you reach your |
| 1:15.1 | financial goals and get money out of the way so you can launch yourself towards those dreams. |
| 1:18.8 | Scott, I am excited to talk today to Liz and to Jesse about new cars. We have had so many people |
| 1:27.1 | on the show whose biggest money mistake was buying a brand new car, but Liz Fugelwoods is here |
| 1:33.5 | to talk about doing just that. Consciously, making a decision based on a lot of research and |
| 1:40.6 | like a real need, not just a want or an I deserve it, but she is here to defend her choice. |
| 1:48.4 | Yeah, I think it's a great discussion. There's a lot. Buying cars is challenging. It's not buying |
| 1:52.8 | a house, but it's probably the second thing to a second hardest of these life financial decisions |
... |
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