[TontoKowalski]

Interesting analysis, not sure if I understand all of it, though. I need to study it more.

However, one thing is for sure. For buyers like me, who intend to own the same care for 20 years or so, it's a good deal.

I've got an 88 Volvo that just keeps on ticking. Body is getting a little beat up now, but I don't care. I intend to drive it till the wheels fall off.

When getting our mini-van in 98, I told the wife to be sure of what she wanted, because she'd be driving it for 20 years. We got the Toyota Sienna.

I hate a car-note worse than anyone else in the world.

[Damocles]

How do you like the Sienna? Is it worth the extra money upfront?

[TroutStalker]

I don't like car notes either, but decided to buy an '02 Explorer Eddie Bauer last month for my wife. It is a fully loaded demo with 10,000 miles and I saved thousands over the sticker, and with 0% financing, my payment is less than the '96 EB Explorer I have was.

I also skipped the trade-in game and negotiated stricly on the price. Sold my '94 Saturn SC2 with 85,000 miles on it for $4,000 cash, my asking price, which was almost 25% of it's original price.

[general_re]

I've got an 88 Volvo that just keeps on ticking. Body is getting a little beat up now, but I don't care. I intend to drive it till the wheels fall off.

The best advice I ever got about cars was when my father took me aside and said "Son, the only way to get your money's worth out of any car is to drive that b*st*rd into the ground" - and he was right ;)

[gridlock]

My new car is an '88 Volvo Wagon.

Better not spread that around too much here. People will figure we're liberal professorial types with leather patches on the elbows of our tweed jackets, and all that rot.

[Aquinasfan]

When getting our mini-van in 98, I told the wife to be sure of what she wanted, because she'd be driving it for 20 years. We got the Toyota Sienna.

LOL! You're just like me. My wife has a '99 Sienna, but my '89 pick-up is going to be driven into the ground.

[fogarty]

"I hate a car-note worse than anyone else in the world."

You are wise. Too many people I know continually by $25k brand new vehicles, and cannot imagine not having a car payment. Some live their lives with TWO car payments, in addition to mortgage! They consider car payments as a regular charge of life, lumping it in the same category as mortgage payments.

It is amazing to see how many people are on never-ending debt due to buying cars. Our next door neighbor just bought their 17-year old son a 2002 Jeep Liberty. They already have two car payments plus mortgage.

Like so many other rational people here on FR, I consider car payments an avoidable evil. I buy used, I pay in cash, and then I drive the car until it dies.

[John Robertson]

88 Volvo. Gl or Dl, wagon or sedan? I have an 88 240 GL sedan I bought new. My 17-year-old used to ride in the back in a car seat...now it's her main car. I also have a 91 240 DL wagon. former, 179K miles, latter, 194K miles. slight oil leaks, but nothing some cat litter won't sop up. yes, they do tend to run forever. though my family wishes they'd both die so we could buy something cooler and newer. at times, i find myself looking at the ads...then my bank account pulls me back. there's only one downside to driving a classic (the box-shape, I mean) Volvo: libs presume you're one of them. i guess you could say we're undercover.

[oust the louse]

Tonto,
Same here.We purchased a Toyota Highlander and will be driving it until the wheels come off.Very reliable product.A friend has driven his Toyota Avalon close to 200k in miles and has has nothing wrong with it.We shouldn't have a new car purchase for at least 10/12 years.

[X_CDN_EH]

I've got a 1986 Volvo 740T with 290,000 miles on it. Still humms.

[aberaussie]

For those of us who buy new and drive them forever, this
does not sound so bad.