Airport Car
 

How many guys here once starting their jobs switched from a newer car that may not be paid off yet, to a old airport car? I have a newer sedan that I have almost $5,000 (roughly 2 years left of payments) left to pay off but could sell it private party for $10,000 and can out right buy an airport car and have a few extra thousand to dump into student loans. I'm a new FO and I have been flying for nearly 4 months now and do primarily 4 day trips since I commute. My driving has been cut down to almost nothing. In the past 2 months I've filled up my tank maybe 2 times. I don't see the need for a new car anymore when I can sell it, buy a reliable airport car and have zero car payments and much lower insurance. Any other guys here go down this road?

Why not just take this to it's logical conclusion? I decided that since I'm never home much, I'll just live in a van. Also, regional first year pay was low enough to qualify for assistance...

Well, here I am, 35 years old, eating a steady supply of government cheese, thrice divorced, and living in a van down by the river!
La-dee-fricken-dah!

Do you mean just trading your newer car for something of lesser value? For most of us, "airport car" means a hunk of junk (mine is a 97 Saturn) you keep at your base to drive to and from the crash pad.

No, I mean selling my car to someone. Then buying a basic car off craigslist that I can use to drive from my apartment to the airport and then around town when I am home for a couple days. I don't have a crash pad.

Bought a brand new car. Drive it 4 times a month to and from work. Only drive 30 miles round trip.

Look at it this way - your new car has 5 grand left to pay off, but let's say you pick up an OK car on CL for about the same price after you've sold your new car for 10 grand. 5K in the pocket, right?

This might work if you research the heck out of the used car's condition and the mileage it's being sold at.

Timing belt change because it's approaching 60k miles? Depending on car type, easily a couple hundred bucks. Brake rotors worn to limits? Almost a grand to get fixed depending on the car. Assuming calipers are ok.
Hope the transmission is ok, that's a $900 or more for a redo.

I'm not saying this won't work, but if you're going to go this route you'll need to make up for potential maintenance issues in due diligence up front, make sure the car is mechanically solid before buying it.

If you don't, or that old car craps out because it's old you could be hit with unexpected expensive maintenance issues that could make your finances uncomfortably tight after that 5 grand is gone.

Me? I'd pay off the new car and keep it. You know where i's been, its not hiding anything, and it should give you many years yet of major issue free driving. If you can make the payments in your current financial status, keep paying that payment towards debt once the car is paid off.

Early '90s Toyota pickup. That is your answer.

Your "known" already owned new car is worth FAR more to you than an "unknown" used car. Keep your car. Pay it off. Realize it will last MUCH MUCH longer now since you don't drive it as much.

Also. Consider becoming an Uber driver on your days off if you really want to pay down your student loans.

Resist the temptation to sell it.


(And, as above, in the pilot world an "airport car" is an old junker you keep at your base to drive to the crash pad and to get food, liquor and women...in whatever order you like.)

I'm still driving the same car I drove as a CFI, regional co-pilot, captain, and now major FO (20+ years old). I flew with a CA who still drives his 1992 Ford Explorer and he's been at a legacy for over 30 years.

Buying new cars is the fastest way to the poor house especially as a low income individual.

That being said, keep your car. Treat it like it's your last. When the value hits $5k drop comp and collision on your insurance. Liability on mine comes to around $20/month. If you want a great financial tip, set your life up to live like a regional FO and save/invest the rest. Don't let the pay cut to a major deter you like most guys who go through life and buy their 'captain' toys (new car, boat, expensive house, etc.).

Do you guys buy store brand and eat microwave dinners too? Live a little