Zen, and the art of inconspicuous consumption

Personally I dont understand the ultra-cheap new car mentality.

If you are poor and can only afford a sub-$10k USD car, then buy a used vehicle with actual features.

If you are not poor, then there is no way in hell you would ever consider the base model anyways.

 

I'd rather buy a couple of really nice bicycles!

 

2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Base - Feature - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver listed how stripped down the car was last year.

Hmmm, in much of Cali, one needs AC. My dad's POS 1980 Chevette didn't have it and it sucked during summer. In this day and age, one should at least have a radio w/an audio input jack, even if they ditched the CD player.

No power locks? Bad idea on a 4 door. We had a bunch of cars w/o them and found that w/a 4 door, it was too easy to leave 1+ door unlocked.

 

Well, there is something to be said for the new car smell, having the full balance of the warranty, peace of mind the previous owners didn't abuse it and it didn't have a washed/cleaned salvage title.

Having helped people go used car shopping 2x, it can be tricky to find a used car. You have more variables to worry about vs. a new car and if you buy from a dealer, you don't really know how much they paid for it.

Also, for new cars, there are all sorts of incentives (rebates, low interest financing, etc.) That doesn't seem to occur on used cars. You end up having to get a higher interest loan from your bank or credit union. I believe interest rates for loans (from financial institutions) on used cars are also higher than for new ones.

Agreed on the very last point except maybe it's what a parent might get their child who they predict might wreck the car anyway. I've heard this argument before from some people wanting to buy a cheap car for their child or thier siblings.

At least w/no radio, it leaves room for someone to put in an aftermarket one they want anyway....

 

Wait a couple of years. Then buy this car used. It will be even cheaper, and still low mileage. I've seen conversations here on PC from people who buy a Prius for a three-mile commute. You don't need "features" with a three-mile commute. As for A/C, I remember when cars didn't have A/C. We survived. My Xebra has no "features." Yes, I remember to lock all four doors. I open a window and wear shorts when it's hot. I do have an aftermarket stereo, but you can live without that also. Cranking the windows manually is not all that hard.

I think it's fine that Nissan decided to offer a cheap car. As people here often say when discussing Toyota and the Prius: It's all about offering customers the choice.

Would I buy this car? No way. I can afford better. But plenty of people need transportation and cannot afford all the gadgets.

 

True that you dont need the features, but if you could have a 2008 Yaris for $9500 that had all the comfort features, more safety features, better ride but was used vs. a brand new nissan stripped to the bones, I do not see the argument for the new car.

Frankly any new car is a waste of money. My family never buys new, usually a year or two old. We can afford new, but it is a waste of hard earned money. I bought my first car for either $700 or $900 (I cant remember lol) and it had power windows, power locks, and airbags. It had a cassette player but I changed that out quickly. And if you buy a reliable car then the warranty is a waste of money anyways.

 

I like the idea of a well built but economical and affordable new car option for people. I think there is a lot of truth in the idea that we have been spoiled by options we have been programmed to think we need, that we really seldom use.

Sure people on a budget or constrained by economic realities can look at used cars. But it is nice to have purchaseable new car option that is decent.

When I was young, I went through a short series of used cars (admittedly...really cheap used cars) after the inevitable trouble involved with maintenance and break down that would follow I very quickly on a limited income saved up and bought my first "new" vehicle. You use to be able to buy a stripped down, small-pickup for less than $7000. Although almost model-T like utilitarian...it was really nice to have a vehicle with a new engine, reliable and a warranty and maintenance history that I controlled from the begining.

Even though at this age, I don't think I'd like to bounce around in a small-pick up, as my only vehicle...as originally purchased it had no airbags, no stereo/radio, crank windows....and probably most harshly...no airconditioning...BUT it was reliable as the rising sun, and great for camping and hauling.

I kind of wish they still sold them. Even though I wouldn't want it as my primary or only vehicle they would still make a great second vehicle.

Maybe it's genetic. I had a grandfather that would reportedly always buy stripped down new cars. His proclamation against any "extra's" was that "It was just something to break". The whole family was shocked when the last car he bought before he became ill, was a brand new 1967 Ford Mustang...and he allowed it to be equipped with an (gasp) AM-Radio.

I think I inherited a degree of his affliction. When I read about Smart Keys, Lane Keep Assist, and cars that can parallel park themselves I hear the ghost of my Grandfather saying.."Just something to break".

In anycase, I do think a decent, well built utilitarian new car option for people is great for people on a budget or even people just wanting a second vehicle.

 

I can still be heard to whine about the power this/that/and_other crap I don't want but have to pay for and watch break. I may sound like a grandfather, but I'm not

OTOH, dispensing with safety features is a no-go for me, and Versa has poor reliability. This car, like the Daewoo that GM sells, are examples of bad_cheap. I want good_cheap. I think Yaris and Fit come closest today; my Honda Civic '94 was an excellent example from its decade.

 

Not so much a "waste" of money as a purchasing choice. I agree 100% that a new car is never the most economical transportation. If you are on a limited budget, buy used.

But every car starts out new, and this car will be available used in a couple of years, and then will be ideal for people on a budget.

If nobody ever bought a new car, there would be no used cars... but then, that would probably be a good thing.

 

I'm a little surprised at the amount of cheap-car animosity here. Actually - I'm laughing at you: "It's not reliable! " "Used is cheaper!" blah-blah-blah. You'd think having more choices at the spartan end of things was a tragedy.

 

will those missing things be available by option? i don't think they'll sell many striped down, depending on how low they can go. the homeless won't eat muffin stumps.

 

I don't fully buy the "used car" is the best way to go. If you get a car to use till "the wheels fall off", then the new car may easily be the best choice since you can take care of it from day one to last 10 years or more. Good way to save money to buy that Prius as the next car.

 

It's hard to argue that a new car is ever a good financial investment, if only because the second you sign the contract and the moment the wheels exit the dealership you lose so much in depreaciation.

But I agree that if you buy a new car you can afford, and that you like, and you maintain and keep it for a long, long time then that is the greatest advantage of starting with a new car.

It's really nice in 5 years, having a 5 year old vehicle that I know everything about. That I controlled the maintenance and know it's driving history.

Where people lose a lot of money, is when they never pay off a new car and/or are in a constant cycle of buying a new car less than every 2 years.

 

Unless you buy an EV eight years ago. Cost me $33,000 and the next year it was worth $50,000. Two years after that it was worth $60,000 until they peaked at about $65,000 when four years old. Now, Eight years later, the car is worth about what I paid for it.