I’ve owned 6 cars in my life. I started driving my own car when I was 16 (I think), now I am in my late 20s. Let me explain in the life and death of my cars:
1986 Ford Taurus
- Crashed, scrapped.
1989 Chevy Cavalier
- Didn’t change oil, dropped a rod. Scrapped.
1994 Hyundai Elantra
- Clutch system broken, Brakes SHOT. Sold to friend.
1996 Mercury Cougar
- Oil burned up, Engine FAILED, near-imploded. Scrapped.
1991 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
- Fuel problems, but decent car actually, Traded in.
1998 Saturn SL2
- One fuel system problem after another… internal computer now DEAD.
And that is where I am now… asside from the “usual” for a used car (Brakes, tires, shocks, alignment), almost everything related to the fuel system has been slowly replaced. $1100 spent on THAT stuff alone… and now the COMPUTER failed! They need to find a used car computer and install it, and update it!
FUCK!!!
How much is that gonna cost me??? I don’t know yet!
My Wallpaper Donation drives on my PSI site are starting to look like a fundraiser for car repairs instead of going towards Anthrocon 
Well, the fans are still getting something, no matter what the money raised goes for…. I just hope my Tax Returns help too….
This is why I bought my last car new. I’d rather make payments than have to pay over and over again for internal failures.
I would never buy new. the depreciation isn’t worth it. Newest I would buy is 2-3 years old. I can’t afford even that anyway. Payments tend to be $200-$300 per month, PLUS all the extra interest, PLUS you need to have extra insurance. I try all I can to avoid making loans… but I may just have to next time.
Do what I did, and get an older model Toyota with not too many miles on it. I have an ’86 Camry, had only 60,000 miles on it when I got it, 99,000 now. Only cost a little over $2000. Go to a dealer, ’cause they’re all dying to get the older cars off the lot. Best damned car I ever had…I just wish the radio would work more than half the time!
Oh, and check the oil and water AT LEAST once a month, ya goof!
Once every week or two is even better.
Although, on that note, one of the great things about this car is that it uses less fluids than any other car I’ve ever had. Toyotas FTW, sir!
Good News! They found a used car computer and it installed with no problems! I just have to hope it holds out better…. but in any case, that costs were not as bad as I thought they would be! Horray!
Cool. Good luck, and I hope it won’t let you down. Particularly if you’re planning to drive to Anthrocon!