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jetpack_monkeyI have never owned my own car. Living in a giant metropolitan area as I do, this is becoming more and more problematic. While my roommate has stated on several occasions that she's more than happy to cart my butt around should I need it, that limits my transportation to bus schedules and her availability. Plus, I feel like a huge mooch, even when I do chip in for gas.
I would like to purchase a car. There are a couple of problems with this:
1) My credit sucks, due to some credit card debt from years and years ago.
2) I don't know anything about cars.
3) I have a lot of expenses in the upcoming year.
4) Insurance in Arizona is insanely expensive.
Any thoughts, ideas? Any help at all would be much appreciated.
I would like to purchase a car. There are a couple of problems with this:
1) My credit sucks, due to some credit card debt from years and years ago.
2) I don't know anything about cars.
3) I have a lot of expenses in the upcoming year.
4) Insurance in Arizona is insanely expensive.
Any thoughts, ideas? Any help at all would be much appreciated.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:10 pm (UTC)I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:36 pm (UTC)Your best bet would be to buy a 3-7 year old car, which would land you with a monthly car payment because a decent 3-7 year old car would cost you $8000 - $14000. Insurance would likely be $1200 - $2000 a year in addition. (You're still barely under twenty-five, so that is going to put you on the high end of the scale.)
When you can comfortably commit $400 - $600 a month towards a car, go for it. But if you have upcoming expensens, then I'd hold off until those are taken care of.
I checked to see if there was a ZipCar near you, but the closest one is San Francisco.
(No, I haven't been thinking about a new car myself, why do you ask?) ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:52 pm (UTC)I'd say I just need to earn more money, but my expenses have a tendency to grow to meet my budget. *sigh*
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 07:48 pm (UTC)Oh, and you should also poke around something else before Grunberg gets taken out of your grubby mitts. *whistles innocently*
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 08:07 pm (UTC)And I really really wish I could do the Grunberg thing, but seriously, I don't even have time to watch Heroes. I haven't seen an ep since the fourth.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 08:39 pm (UTC)Are they not more lenient about credit with a lease plan, since they can always take the car back?
Also, I had TERRIBLE credit when I got my car and was only making $600 a month. They still approved me, though god knows why.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 03:38 pm (UTC)I lease my car. It's less expensive, but you only want to do it with a car that holds its value well over time. The better the car holds value, the better deal you'll get on the lease. Also, insurance is more expensive. Mine nearly doubled when I went from a paid-off car to my new lease, and the new car had better security, even.
Credit is your biggest problem, really. However, if you have no debt now and can pay off a car successfully, it's a good way to improve your credit.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 08:25 pm (UTC)I understand if its a no since it does require work, it's just since he's still running more or less fine I would like him to stay on the road.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-01 05:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-02 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-02 08:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 10:00 pm (UTC)