Buying a car in this market

So glad I bought early last year. Somehow had a 2017 Civic with fewer than 7,000 (!) miles fall in my lap for $15k. Carfax turned up clean, but at this point maybe they’ve found ways to work around that.

 

I bought a 2018 Chevy Colorado 4x4 with the diesel in November 2020. I closed on my house in September 2020. If Kelley Blue Book and Zillow are to be believed, the truck has appreciated by a higher percentage than the house.

 

I've known three people that had good experiences with Carvana in the last year.

 

We caught a break not long before Christmas and got a great deal* on exactly what we wanted. Late model low-mileage used Subaru Forester. Base trim. Lease return.

But we had literally been shopping for years - not only for the car but for the dealer. I was ready to buy online as well, and had been looking with a purpose across every possible platform for three or four months.

So, obvious piece of advice #1, don't give up.

Advicebit #2: in the current market, depending where you are and what you want, it might make more sense to buy new.











*in the current circumstance and based on a series of irreproducible foulups

 

Recreational vehicles are the same, if not worse. Not only have prices gone through the roof but the workmanship has slipped significantly as the manufacturers are slapping them together as quickly as possible.

Ours is a 2013 model, so it's coming up on 10 years old, and I'd like to trade it for a Class A. But even though I can probably get more for mine in a trade, it's a wash because the dealer doesn't have to negotiate one bit. He's got 10 potential buyers for every vehicle on his lot -- and in most cases, a waiting list for RVs that haven't even been built yet.

I'm really wary of any 2021 or 2022 models, because all I'm hearing is how shoddily they were made. (Like RVs aren't shoddy to begin with.) But I can't find a 2019 or 2020 in the layout Gwen and I want for the price I'm willing to pay.

For example, a 2019 Georgetown Series 5 31L5 new was as low as $94,000 in January of 2020 -- and I didn't pull the trigger on a deal. Now, the 2022s are $192,000 and if you can find a 2019 on RVTrader.com, they want $130,000-150,000.

Supply/demand. I thought by now, some of the people who rushed to buy RVs would have reverted back. But what we're finding is many folks are full-timing because it's cheaper than paying rent on an apartment or condo. Maybe 20 percent of the people in our park in Palmetto are Millennials, willing to co-exist with us dreaded Boomers because they can't afford to live elsewhere.

 

Try these guys. Best RV ever made.

www.lazydaze.com

Sometimes customers order, but can't take delivery. Worth a call, even though it's a Class-C.

Or find one used.

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2005-Lazy-Daze-26.5-RK-5019199485

 

I just bought my 2018 German sedan with low miles in Dec. Yes market is very high, new cars were even $5k over sticker. But I was patient, had to wait a while but found a certified used at a dealer a buddy knew my salesman for twenty years. Got a decent deal with peace of mind.

then had to buy a decent used car for my son in college. Found a slightly used Corolla hatchback. Yes it’s more than if no chip shortage supply issue but I just said do best in this market.

 

Give it another year ... not to sound like the "[economic] sky is falling" types, but that which can't go on forever won't. A lot of those folks who either bought or held on to RVs will be unloading them in the coming months. That $X hundred a month payment I was making to "have something to do" is going to look a lot less tolerable when there are lot more "somethings to do" on offer.

 

Wait until things start to break on them or the roofs leak because no one told these people the roofs need inspected or sealed frequently.

 

Want a 1994 Vogue Prima Vista diesel?

 

Exactly. We can afford to be patient because the backup plan is to hold onto this one. And not everybody who opted for early retirement is going to be able to afford to stay retired.