OT: new car advice

[Darrin Chandler]

Siri Amrit Kaur wrote:

>Coming into this discussion late, with a few thoughts not directly 
>related to your car list.
>
>A financial advisor once told me that making new-car payments for 
>years was the single worst thing someone could do if they wanted to 
>build their family's financial prosperity. He recommended getting a 
>good-quality used car, paying cash for it and never make monthly 
>payments. 
>
>Of course, a good, reliable used car might not come cheap and you 
>might not have that kind of cash on hand, but it's something to 
>consider.
>
>You can often find great deals on older, big luxury cars with a single 
>owner. They've usually been well-cared for.  Nobody wants to buy them 
>because they're looking for more fuel-efficient little cars so you 
>can get them for a steal. I prefer big old cars because they're much 
>safer if I get into an accident. I drive an '86 Crown Victoria with 
>almost 200,000 miles on it, get 20 mpg and have been in 2 accidents 
>that would have totalled a little car, but barely made a dent in 
>mine. Aside from an oil drip and needing cosmetic work, it's a great 
>car! The bluebook value is about $300.
>
>When it comes time to buy another car I'm going to get a diesel. The 
>engines are simpler to work on, have fewer parts to break and best of 
>all, they can run on vegetable oil AKA biodiesel fuel. Think about 
>it: the next time there's either a real or fabricated energy 
>shortage, you can fill your tank with vegetable oil and not be 
>dependent on foreign oil. 
>
>Biodiesel fuel emits no carcinogens or pollutants whatsoever. If  you 
>really want to drive cheaply, you can get barrels of used frying oil 
>from restaurants and filter it yourself. Otherwise, bulk cooking oil 
>from Sam's or Costco is very inexpensive.
>
>Go ahead and laugh at me now.
>
>Siri Amrit
>  
>
At age 40 I've bought one new car. I may never buy another. In the last 
six months I've bought three cars (wife, daughter, me) and they're all 
used. Much more cost effective.

-- 
Darrin Chandler
dwchandler at stilyagin.com
http://www.stilyagin.com/