We buy new and keep a long time. For the kids we bought used but definitely not “beaters”. Lac k of Safety features on some older cars are not acceptable to me. Especially lack of back up camera.
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We never had much success searching for low-milage used cars. Last time we hunted (pre-Covid), the certified used cars were only about 10-15% less than new car pricing – but min. 2-3 years older. They usually came with nice extended warranties, and 10% can make a budget difference, but the car would always be an older model, and presumably worth 10% less in the future also. Plus, they often didn’t have the same safety features, or the higher gas efficiencies of the more recent models.
What we prefer about older cars: Visibility is often better. The newer cars, presumably for safety crash ratings, have more metal and less window – often much less. We prefer more window. That first scratch is not nearly as painful. Older cars are simpler. Newer cars have so many bells, whistles, electronics, that to repair anything often takes major time taking it all apart first, to get to the item needing repair. When something goes wrong, it is now much more expensive to fix. We’ve been debating leasing cars going forward, so that we’re always under warranty for the major repairs.
If you’re willing to buy direct from a buyer, the cost savings may be much more – but we are not car-savvy enough to do that.
It’s super easy to install after market back up cameras. We have done that with both our kids’ cars. It’s like a 20 minute DIY job. You can order them off Amazon for like $50.
That said I do think it is really really important for kids to know how to back up a car w/o a back up camera and how to change lanes w/o a blind spot alert.
You don’t have to be. You just have to have a relationship with a good independent mechanic (not the dealership) who you trust. Then you take the car to them to get checked out before you buy.
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Agreed on older cars and visibility. I am a far more anxious driver in my RAV 4 than in the Honda Fit due to lack of visibility. I love the Honda Fit, now no longer made and Subaru Foresters for the large windows.
You cannot safely back up in many cars with back up cameras without using the camera and just looking through the mirror and window. The rear windows are not designed for adequate field of vision that way. My mother got a new car and the tester at the DMV gave her a break but told her he’d just failed a teen whose parents had tried to teach her to back up without a camera in a car that had one. And there is no way to truly safely back up without a camera in any car. The tragedies that resulted from those back ups is chilling (I happen to know someone who experienced this).
We’ve done the same. Also, the owner at our mechanic shop will look for used cars for his customers. My current car is a 2009 with 176K. I’m ready for a “new” used car and the last time I took my car in for an oil change, I asked the owner of the shop to keep an eye out because I was ready for a “new” car.
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They do make cars with much worse sight lines now, but kids absolutely have to know how to back up a car w/o a backup camera. That may include getting out of the car and seeing what is behind you, or having a friend outside the car spot you as you back up — certainly at a minimum turning around and looking out the back window and using your side mirrors as well as your rearview mirror. There may be situations in the future when your kids need to drive a vehicle without a backup camera.
The tragedies happen when people don’t know how to back up properly — not because they have or don’t have a back up camera.
At any rate super easy to install an aftermarket backup camera. Whether a car has one or doesn’t have one shouldn’t knock it out of consideration. Installing a backup camera can be as easy or easier than putting seat covers in a car. Depends on the car and the camera, but we have installed 4 now ourselves and it’s really not complicated.
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No. The tragedy happened even after correctly looking through windows and seeing what was behind the car before entering when a small child wandered away from their large family who had exited a car several aisles away and moved behind the car. They cannot be seen except with a back up camera because of their size. The only way to avoid it on the part of the driver would have been to enlist some stranger in the parking lot to keep watch. A back up camera is vital in these circumstances.
We as a family do not ever drive a car without a back up camera.
I think that one person’s “beater” is another person’s used car. 
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That’s what I said. Have a friend watch for you as you back up.
I’m really sorry about the tragedy. Those seem to usually happen with big vehicles with poor sight lines. I had someone in a pick up truck back into my car when I was dropping off a carpool kid. Luckily the kid was getting out on the other side of the car, but could have been much worse. The pick up truck driver (work truck) just didn’t look. It was a newish pick up and I’m not sure if it had a back up camera or not, but they said something that made me think it had happened before. I’m not a fan of big vehicles and the poor sight lines are one of the reasons.
And AGAIN my point is it’s super easy to install a back up camera and that should not preclude you from considering a used vehicle that does not have one. Get one if it makes you feel better. That’s what we did. But my kids know how to back up a car without one in an emergency, too.
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H’s 2021 Subaru is our first car with a camera. I’m still not used to it and can’t backup without turning my head.
But I know full well how to make sure people are in the parking lot looking out. At one of our soccer leagues, there were tons of families that let groups of 3-5 years old randomly wander throughout the parking lot. You always had to have someone standing behind you as you backed out. A camera would have helped, but it was still good to have a person for crowd control.
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Regarding rear blind zones:
- They differ for various model vehicles.
- Newer vehicles have been trending worse due to smaller rear windows.
- They are generally worse for shorter drivers.
- Aftermarket backup cameras are available.
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Subarus have excellent visibility.
Mazda has terrible visibility.
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H and I always buy used. We have more time than money. H’s philosophy is that you can buy whatever car you want as long as you have the cash. We have had great luck with a Toyota Camry, a Dodge Caravan, and a Honda Accord. We’ve had decent luck with a GMC Jimmy, a VW Passat, and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. We drive them until they have to be towed away. We are currently driving a 2017 Audi Q5 (LOVE!!) with 50,000 miles and a 2012 Volvo X60 with about 100,000 miles. I almost forgot that we did buy one new car, an Oldsmobile station wagon (around 1991) when we had two young children. We loved that car, too.
D and SIL always buy new. They have more money than time and always need two dependable cars. Their commute times can be anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes. Lives depend on them showing up.
S drives our leftovers… and never complains.
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Do you mean Volvo xc 60? Or Volvo V60? Or what?
Oops, it’s an XC60. H is the main driver.
Thanks…I was just wondering about that model…
Boston Globe had an article today on how new cars are out of reach for most. Used cars are pricey too! My used Toyota Yaris (bought a 2015 model in 2017 with 19k miles for $11k, would be $15 k+ now) is still going strong at 138k miles. I had to do brake work once, that’s it.
It is out of reach… Some of these cars are close to a mortgage payment.
I’d say look for a decent used car. Maybe a used Honda Civic or Accord? Or how about you buy yourself a new car and give your kid one of your old cars?
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