The seven year old car has more miles than the 11 year old one. PLUS Volvo dropped a new engine in the 2012 car when it had only 62,000 miles on it. The current engine has 61,000 miles or so on it. And it’s fully guaranteed as long as I own the car.
btw - check off lease EVs - the values are not holding. If someone is driving within a regular range, you might find a deal.
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This is what I’m afraid of!! Ugh this sucks. And trust me. No I don’t want or think a 20 year old soon to be college junior should get a brand new car but seeing the expense of older used car with so many miles and no warranty seems more risky to me.
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I have to agree. While our student is clamoring for a car, it’s not going to happen now. Some day, but not now. New or used!
However, if that day were to occur, I wouldn’t want her to be spending her time getting a car repaired. I have spent too many hours in service shops/dealers to wish that on any of our children, especially when they have more important things like education/school to deal with.
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My feeling about cars is that i need it to work reliably, cannot afford to deal with trouble. That is worth the price of new to me.
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And she will be driving to school which is 10 hours away. It definitely has to be safe
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And then the other issue i mentioned- yes in an ideal situation she would get my car and I’d get new but my car is a larger SUV with the bells and whistles I like (heated seats and remote start lol) and can fit 7 passengers or lots of cargo to move kids in and out of college.
So now we are back to thinking new and a really low priced new- no bells and whistles. Ugh again not ideal as I don’t think kids need a new car.
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One of my kids lives in Philly. I can see why a big SUV wouldn’t be ideal to drive there.
Will she have a dedicated parking lot to park her car? Or street parking?
My daughter did think that a new car with new bells and whistles as far as braking assist and the new safety features were important as far as driving in Philly. She upgraded her car a year ago after getting hit. Someone pulled out of a parking space as she was turning the corner. She bought a Hyundai Kona.
Imo it’s too bad there isn’t good public transportation in a major east coast city.
There are plenty of “used” cars on the road that run fine or better than a new car. There are no car driving/troubles guarantees!
And if you give them the responsibility of driving a car, car maintenance is part of that deal. I doubt their young lives will be altered by having to spend a few hours while their car is getting service. Most car repair places around here - especially dealerships will drive you home and pick you back up when your car is ready if it’s going to be a long service appt. Not a pleasant thing to wait in the car service lounge but you can bring your phone, your laptop, a book and entertain yourself per usual.
You mention buying her a low priced new car. Which could be totally fine! But as a new car I’m then assuming this might be a car she has for the next 7-10 years. Is that the car - low priced, no frills or whatever - she or you want her to have till she is 30?
A used car (possibly certified) with some warranty left on it is a middle of the road (pun!) solution.
THAT SAID, both my girls started out (and still have years later) Mitsubishi Outlander Sport models that were bought with like 20K miles and then they had the rest of the 10-year, 100K warranty. Both cars have had limited maintenance issues are small SUV and have 4wd.
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That’s what my D drives too. It had 18k miles and was just under two years old when we bought it. It’s been a good car for her and we like that it has the warranty.
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A certified used car would be fine… but it’s just not that easy and affordable as it used to be thus the issue we are having.
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And the car wouldn’t technically be “hers”. If we are buying it, she would pay the insurance and get to drive it. when she graduates college she will have the option to buy it from us or she can get whatever she wants (since she will be hopefully working). Should she not wish to go that option, we have another teen driver on the rise so that car will be driven by him.
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I was wondering about the parking issue as well - we live in the Philly suburbs and no one I know that works downtown drives - parking is just too expensive. And navigating the city streets in the morning is a nightmare - not just traffic, but bikers, delivery trucks, and lots of pedestrians. Not an ideal situation for a young driver, IMO. And if she is going into center city every day, then NO for the SUV option - way too hard to navigate the streets.
OP, is the train definitely not a possibility?
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We are looking into that part with the train. The location is in Spring Garden.
And yup… navigating a big car in Philly is also not ideal
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Thoughts on Caravana? Seeing some half way decent cars in the 10-13k range (used and lots of miles)
“ Thoughts on Caravan? Seeing some half way decent cars in the 10-13k range (used and lots of miles) “
Typo? Caravan is a minivan. Are you referring to that? If referring to Carvana, they have had huge problems with not releasing titles to the new owners. Wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot pole right now.
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yes typo… thanks!
I see your dilemma - Spring Garden is not ideal for public transportation, long walk from Suburban Station or 30th St. Parking not great either.
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