Originally Posted by
DeltaboundRedux
Uh, yes. Yes you can. (Current car is 25 years old. Looks like $hit. Runs like a top. BECAUSE I MAINTAIN IT. Religiously. Gas mileage sucks though. LOL. Current "value" estimated $335-$3600 bucks.)
Cars (if you don't live in a metropolitan area with good public transport) are a wholly predictable expense. Like a new roof, HVAC, water heater, washer/dryer, refrigerator, etc. If you're surprised when they fail, I can't help you. Because THEY'RE ENGINEERED TO FAIL.
Amazed that people don't monthly budget for the next car. "AHHHHH! My car broke!!! I need to beg a car salesman to lend me money on any terms for a new car!!! I thought it would last forever!!!"
(FWIW, I've found government auto auctions to be a decent place for "good enough" cars that have been on federally funded maintenance schedules.)
I do that with my airport car, which I actually got when my old man kicked the bucket and it was just sitting in my moms driveway collecting mold. However, I really love cars. I’ve read every issue of car and driver since about 1998. So I have a 700+ horsepower shiny noisemaker too. Gotta have a hobby. When the beater my wife was driving left her and the kids stranded on the freeway while I was recovering from a redeye in the Westin DTW I decided to get her a new car too. Mostly because I think the safety improvements are important and let’s be honest, we can totally afford a decent kid hauler off the dealer lot. Don’t get me wrong, I still played the game: waited till the end of the month, shopped around, pitted 3 dealers against each other and nailed down a less than 1% interest rate. Dave Ramsay would be shaking his head, but who Fin cares.