WWMD(yes...another car question)

[rightcoast]

Ok, Im really torn right now. i am currently driving a '97 Suby outback with 110K miles, andi just made my last payment on it.
I love the car, it is fun to drive, great in snow, and carries all of my gear (ski and surf) with no problems.
I just dont know whether to sell it now, while i can still get a good resale price for it, or just keep it and drive it into the ground, and save $$ by having no car payment.
I have also been loking at new outbacks, which i really dont like too much, or a new extended cab tacoma, with a topper.
Any opinions?

[CS]

Go here

[rightcoast]

ok, i gues my real ? is to keep it, or sell it and buy something new

[Snow Dog]

It's paid for so drive it into the ground. If it's reliable and does what you want then why go into debt again? Debt bad. Take the payment money and stuff it into a 401K or whatever they're called down there. Or buy more gear.

[INDY GS]

if the suby runs good and has no problems, I would keep driving it for a while. Save up some cash. I was planning on doing that uuntill my Jeep crapped out on me, and found out it would cost me almost as much or more to fix it than to buy a newer car.

[rightcoast]

it has been really dependable so far, i replaced the alternator @ 90k, and did the timing belt when i bought it @ 67k
My gut instinct is to keep it, but shiny new trucks are so much fun....

[CS]

I know. Just messing.

No car payments kick ass. I'd drive it for a while and save up some $.

[grrrr]

Keep it. I kept my last subie 'til 179,000, then sold it for $600. The guy is still driving it at 225,000.

[rightcoast]

I had a '90 legacy 4wd wagon i drove until 179k also.
i really should have kept it, the $900 i got for it was not worth it. seriously, chances are it would still be getting me around in the winter to this day.
Also, the old 4wd system was so much more rugged than the new AWD system. My 90 would climb and ford things i would never try in my outback.

[Rippinsick]

I would drive it into the ground! It's PAID for! Drive it for at least antother year or so, put the money you would be spending for a car payment toward something else (savings/investment/down payment for a new car/ dream ski vacation). I am kind of in the same boat. Everytime I see a truck I like I want to sell mine and get a new one(four door Toyota Tundra ) But once my car payment is gone I can put that money towards other more important things.

[Superstar Punani]

No car payments rule.

I say drive it to the ground.....well, at least until it starts breaking down so much that repair cost + hassle factor > new car payments.

[road trip]

Allow me to sum up everybody's responses:

DO NOT GET A NEW VEHICLE. DRIVE YOUR CURRENT OUTBACK UNTIL IT CAN'T DRIVE NO MORE.

I got 240,000 out of a Jeep Cherokee... wish I was smart enough to had been saving up my "I'm not paying a car payment" money.

So, yeah, drive it to the ground and do something productive with the money that you would have been paying in car payments (like put it away so that the next time you have to buy a car you can do it with ca$h - kaching!)

[irul&ublo]

No car payments=Savings acct. for heli trip

[Kellie]

or admit that your issue is that you're just dying to be like me! (just kidding - that was so vain!)

[rightcoast]

mmmm....heli trip...iggies....
Ok, so ill just take care of it, and treat her to some new tires

and kellie, yeah, you got me. wicked bad.

[Haus]

...but having a pile of debt is the American way!

I have 130,000 on my '98 and still runs like new. I've just replaced the clutch at 128,000, timing belt at 75,000 and that's it. It's not paid off until March '05 but as long as it's reliable I'm keeping it.

[xboat]

1- put in a new CD/MP3 player, 4 speakers and maybe a sub and amp too.

2- turn up really loud

3- you'll think you're in a new fuckin car.

[G]

Keep it.

BTW,
Since we're talking cars;
I need some wheels. If any NorCal folk know of a cheapo 4wd for sale drop me a PM.

Thanks.

[rightcoast]

Originally posted by xboat
1- put in a new CD/MP3 player, 4 speakers and maybe a sub and amp too.

2- turn up really loud

3- you'll think you're in a new fuckin car.

done, i have a really nice CD in it now, maybe some new door speakers are in order this spring.
new tires, and a good interior unholstery cleaning, and shes good to go.

[Kellie]

that's okay - you can find other ways to emulate me - like MOVE TO THE WEST COAST!

[Tippster]

Car payment: $200-$300/month - $2400-$3000 per year

R/T plane ticket from NY to Geneva in March: $392.00

No Brainer.

[rightcoast]

Originally posted by Kellie
that's okay - you can find other ways to emulate me - like MOVE TO THE WEST COAST!

heh, working on it.

[road trip]

Originally posted by rightcoast
done, i have a really nice CD in it now, maybe some new door speakers are in order this spring.
new tires, and a good interior unholstery cleaning, and shes good to go.

I sense that rightcoast is going to have an intimate moment with his car when he gets in it on his way home from work

[DaveTV]

run it into the ground, mon

[rightcoast]

ok, yeah, its pretty much decided.
ill just keep it until the repair bills/hassles are too much. even a couple of years without a payment will be very nice!
and now ill have more money to sink into my jeep