Okay, I'm looking at purchasing a used car and I have the opportunity to get an SUV at a substantial discount. The tow package it comes with will be very helpful, and I'm very comfortable with SUV's in general (they're all I've ever owned or driven extensively). However, they suck when it comes to gas mileage. The particular SUV in question is in very good condition (high mileage but almost all highway miles, very very well maintained, from a reliable source) and is $3,000-4,000 (at least) less another private party would charge (no idea what dealer costs would be). It's a '01 so I figure it probably has a few good years left in it before it needs sold or traded in...given the steep discount, is it worth buying? I also have the option to pay this vehicle off over a long period of time, as opposed to having to lay out a lot more cash up-front for another car. It gets a cruddy 18 miles in-city, but if I don't use the car a lot, am I really going to spend an extra $4,000+ in gas?

Could be a very good buy if it suits you.
The sharp discount could make up for the extra costs for gas.

If you get such a good discount, and you want an SUV, it's worth it IMO. Think of it, so you'll pay more, then pay less for gas (and how much less?). What are you gaining?

Do the math, it's that simple.

There's a reason why people are selling their SUVs for so cheap...
If there's any possibility that you will end up driving more than you presently do, it could prove to be an extremely bad deal. Otherwise, if you really drive as little as you say you do and it's your kind of thing I'd say go for it.
That said, I personally hate SUVs and wouldn't accept one for free.

If I wanted to actually do any kind of real research or thinking, I would not have resorted to asking the question on an unrelated internet forum. Just think what would happen if EVERYONE did their own research instead of asking other people to be less lazy for them...the only posts left here would be crazy in-law hypotheticals, news threads and "do you think this makes me look fat" BYLR questions. Is that the kind of world you want to live in? Is it??


This one is a company car that's being "retired". This company buys caddies and SUVs for their employees to drive. Methinks they're not concerned with their budget or the environment.


Well, I don't drive at all now, but I don't imagine I'll be doing all that much driving when I am. No office to commute to. I may do a cross-country move, but being able to tow a trailer with my stuff will be cheaper than renting a U-haul, even with a gas-guzzler.



Why?

They are bad for the environment (use way too much gas)
They are hard to manuver
They are bulky and hard to park
They have blind spots and can cause accidents

but, mostly

They are socially identified with a specific political demographic that I happen to dislike.

At any rate I don't like cars in general, I've never bought one and probably never will. (FTR I inherited two cars when my dad passed away, and I sold them almost immediately)

But, like I said, if you like it and it's your kind of thing, if you're not going to use a lot of gas then go for it.

Aha! See for all your bluster you fall into the same trap set for you by Madison Ave. You see cars as more than just expensive machines that take you from point A to point B. That's all they are, really.

And are clothes merely things that keep your private things private (sometimes) and shield you from the elements? Do you therefore not care if you're wearing a sackcloth or designer jeans?

Well to some extent, sure. The name brand thing is idiotic. However purchasing well made, nice looking clothes is worthwhile. Similarly, purchasing a well made car that does the job you need it to do is worthwhile. However the idea that your car is part of your fundamental identity is entirely the result of marketing's influence on society.

Well, I don't believe it is part of one's fundamental identity (and I don't think that's what 'pretzel meant either) - saying that a certain demographic typically drives a certain car, holds a certain job, or dresses in a certain way doesn't mean that it is internalized as a part of them, only that there are noted trends in these areas. That said, I know people from all demographics who drive SUV's (or used to, until gas began to cost more than crack), so I can't imagine NOT driving one because I don't want to be identified with a certain demographic. Then again, I can't imagine not doing something I like to do, just because other people I don't like do it too...


ETA: Oh, and to get back on topic (since it is my thread, after all, and I should probably be more responsible with it), the car in question is a 2001 Chevy Trailblazer with 150k on it (mostly highway). It's been impeccably maintained and as far as I'm aware, it's been problem-free for them. Looking at paying between $1200-1800 - worth it?

Yes, it's worth it. People are going bazooka about gas prices, but they're already coming down. If we can get some drilling started, gas prices will plunge. However if Russia gets made and starts cutting off oil, we're royally screwed. But at the price you're looking at, it's not a huge gamble.

It sounds worth it - if you really plan to drive as little as you suggest. 60 miles a week (my estimate) at 18mpg = 3.3 gallons/week. Which is $13.33/week assuming $4/gallon gas prices. That's less than $700 a year. If you bought a new small car that got 36mpg, given the same conditions, you'd spend exactly half that. The actual amount you drive per year is a very big variable, though. The example I gave has you driving the car about 3100 miles per year. That's unfathomable to me (I put about 22000 miles on my car last year). Adjust the numbers to fit your situation and then decide if it's worth it.

If you spend, let's say, $500/year more in this car than in a car that costs $4000 more, you'd have to drive it 8 years before it becomes not worth it. If you're spending $1000/year more, it would take 4 years, and so on.

Hmm. This means that if I'm spending $1,000 per year more on gas, I'm driving approximately 9,000 miles a year. That's about 170 miles a week. Considering that I don't commute to work and wouldn't conceivably be using the car every day (maybe a few times a week), I don't see myself putting that much mileage on it right now. I guess it is indeed worth it to have the convenient payment option, the reliable history, tow package, and comfort of driving something I'm familiar with. Thanks, accolade.