Should I get a new car?

[andx]

Hello AA,

I have finished paying off my 04 mustang GT and it feels great, however I'm just not feeling that loving feeling anymore. I want to get into an evo or something AWD with 4 doors that isn't a wrx. My only issue is i'm graduating college (BFA in Visual Effects from SCAD) in june and I'm not sure if I want to be making car payments while hunting for a job as a Visual Effects guy for some studio. I have some $$ saved up, and I have a job when i'm down at school. Thoughts?

Thanks
Andy

[Dianora]

Hello AA,

I have finished paying off my 04 mustang GT and it feels great, however I'm just not feeling that loving feeling anymore. I want to get into an evo or something AWD with 4 doors that isn't a wrx. My only issue is i'm graduating college (BFA in Visual Effects from SCAD) in june and I'm not sure if I want to be making car payments while hunting for a job as a Visual Effects guy for some studio. I have some $$ saved up, and I have a job when i'm down at school. Thoughts?

Thanks
Andy

Lets change the question about it. What do you use your car for? Do you hate the car? Does it run? If your answer is basic trsnaportation, no and yes, keep the car (and that's even with an unlimited budget).

If you treat your car like an accessory, by all means, go ahead and get a new car that you'll probably need to change out in 5 years.

[Lightbeard]

Ferrari or Bust. But in all seriousness if your car is in fine working condition and not too busted up I say keep it unless you really want to get rid of it.

[Pizbit]

Getting a non-essential loan out while your financial situation is uncertain is a little bit...Daft

Keep your current car for as long as it's worth keeping on the road.

[Dorvan]

Yep, keep your car. Save, then spend and you'll happier in the long run.

"Buy it now and hope the money to pay for it appears later" is a recipe for trouble.

[Grehn|Skipjack]

When you do buy a new car, get a Scion tC and then give it to me.

[knaughty]

Sell your 2004 Mustang and buy a classic that costs whatever you get for it.

[Fivelives]

Making any kind of large purchase that's going to put you into debt while your finances are uncertain is a Bad Idea™.

[Kelaan]

I have finished paying off my 04 mustang GT and it feels great, however I'm just not feeling that loving feeling anymore.

You're out of (car) debt. You want to go through that all over again, just because you're bored of your current car? That seems to be a very financially foolish position. If you can buy a car with cash, and not feel the hurt, then go for it ... but saddling yourself with additional debt doesn't seem very wise.

For what it's worth, I finished off my car's loan about a year ago. A year of not having to pay $300/mo feels very nice. (In reality, I'm not really "saving" the money, in that it's just going to have to be spent later when I have to replace this car ... but it's ten years old and still running fine, and meets my transportation needs, so why would I do that?)

[Dorvan]

In reality, I'm not really "saving" the money, in that it's just going to have to be spent later when I have to replace this car

Actually, you are realistically saving money. Sure, your *current* car is going to have to be replaced eventually regardless, but the total number of cars you buy over your lifetime has a lot to do with how long you keep each car (obviously).

[Kelaan]

In reality, I'm not really "saving" the money, in that it's just going to have to be spent later when I have to replace this car

Actually, you are realistically saving money.

Well, true. I meant it simply that I prefer to see the money as "not yet spent", rather than "free to be spent on Whatever". In reality, I have the money for emergency purchases (fridge, dishwasher, and so forth), but have been still quietly transferring it from account A to account B. The only difference is that account B no longer sends the money to someone else to pay for a car.

[aranil]

Should so buy one of these


Yes, that is a hot wheel

[andx]

Well my whole car obsession will have to be put on hold. Got offered a job in NY for when i graduate. WIN.

[Rachmaninoff]

Well my whole car obsession will have to be put on hold. Got offered a job in NY for when i graduate. WIN.

a job offer? before your out of college? in the economy? congrats

[hoho]

a job offer? before your out of college? in the economy? congrats

Grats indeed.
It's not really that special I would dare to say, companies are always on the lookout for good people, the last two jobs were offered to me after someone showed them stuff I've done in some forums