I have no idea what the future holds for me, but if I intend to keep the same vehicle for 7+ years, I may need something a bit bigger. Not SUV, 10 seat big, but a 4dr for starters. I don't like big, long cars anyway. I always find myself giving people rides home after my PT job, or offering to friends, so a more accommodating vehicle would be realistic.
How did you determine what you needed out of your first car? How about your first home? I have convinced myself I want a 2br home for starters (I'm TIRED of being canned in a single room!), but eventually would like a 3br in case I have the opportunity to pursue adoption.
Those are great questions. For a long time I purchased things for the "life I wanted" not the "life I had". Things change, sometimes rapidly, sometimes so slowly you don't notice until one day you just kind of go "huh!".
ReplyDeleteWhile these are big purchases and you need to think somewhat long term, what you think your life will be will probably not be the case. Not that you won't get what you want, its just what you want changes over time. I purchased my current car based on my current life. I needed something I could afford that had seats I could leave down to haul three medium to large dogs. My previous car was a hindrance for this, but was totaled by a drunk driver so I was force to buy something else which worked out for me in the end. I will probably have the car long past the dogs (they are already senior) and will probably end up with two pugs after (who will not need this much space).
My home I bought with the intention of being on my own for ever (I was 31 and pretty much been on my own since 17). I didn't get married until I was 38 (honestly, never thought it would happen), now I have an extra home that I can't get rid of but it was my life at the time. Get what you can afford and need now and perhaps as you see your life in five years.
I tried to plan ahead. I never had a two door car always had at least a 4 door. A four door is easier to get a kid out of the backseat than two door. Also look at insurance sometimes four doors cars get a lower rate ( two doors used to be considered sport car so higher premium).
ReplyDeleteI had my TL, loved it but I needed something with better gas mileage so I traded down to the new Elantra, it is fully equipped and has 4 doors, not too big or too little, just right. Now if I could only get a 300 hp engine with it I'd be happy, oh wait need to save gas :)
ReplyDeleteHS
We always bought the smallest car we could get away with. Sometimes we would take two cars on vacation. Our relatives would show up in their huge suburbans and we would have 3 kids and ourselves in2 small cars. We still beat them economically.
ReplyDeleteI bought my honda accord coupe in 2006, as a college graduation present to myself. I thought that by the time I got married and had kids, we would just buy a new car. Now I REALLY regret not getting the four door. If I had purchased the four-door, we wouldn't have to worry about buying a new car. But neither of our cars will fit a baby seat. So when we decide to start a family, a new car will definitely be on the purchase list. Not exactly what you want to do when you're already going to be spending a ton of money on a new baby.
ReplyDeleteUp until recently, I've always been a 4-door car person. Part of it was having children, but also the convenience of loading my work bag easily in and out of the back seat. My most recent vehicle is a civic coupe, because it's just DH and I now and he prefers the 2-door (very tall, easier for him to get in and out of the smaller cars). But I have to say I do miss having a sedan.
ReplyDeleteI bought the Princess a four door car --- a used Honda Civic. We've been really happy with it. It is reliable and gets good gas mileage and it has suited her needs well. Also, it is a lot easier to get stuff (like backpacks crammed with textbooks) in and out of the back of it. When looking for her car, I decided on my budget, then researched reliability, safety and that sort of thing and decided on the car (based on what was available out there) taking all of those factors into consideration. We actually narrowed it down to two, and the four door was actually only about $300 more expensive and had more features. So, I think the budget is the best place to start in car research then find one that meets your must haves!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS buy for the future. It's going to come whether I plan for it or not. But I always stay within budget. I bought a large home just a little farther from work because I could get it within my budget with much lower property taxes and I won't have to move if my family situation changes (large yard, good school district, quiet neighborhood-I'm single and childless) and I shopped around for a low-cost car that fit all my criteria (large enough to haul furniture but still got great gas mileage). And five years later I would buy exactly the same car again. So I'd say I made the right choice. I should say that I have a good job that is in no danger of disappearing, so I don't have any insecurity.
ReplyDeleteBefore Cora the Cobalt I had a two-door sportier version and did not like it - the doors are so HEAVY and it's a pain in the A-- for anyone to get in and out of the back seat plus you end up putting everything you're carrying around in the trunk so you don't have to use the back seat area so i would advise a 4 door! Also the bigger the car the cheaper the insurance because you are considered to be less at risk in a larger car if you have an accident.
ReplyDeleteAs far as buying a home I had to go with what i could reasonably afford and it worked out ok. It was a 2 bedroom condo and the bedrooms were really big plus there was an additional finished room in the basement which Michael and I currently use as a bedroom. I guess a place that has flexibility in it is best so it can change as your needs change.
Good luck with your decisions!