New car time!

[Tradd]

I was advised late last week at work that I'm receiving a $1K "appreciation bonus." I was stunned. This is on top of the $4K raise I received in April for becoming the supervising broker for my office.

My current car is a 2005 Focus I bought new in February 2005. It's got about 101K miles on it. I am very, very tired of it, plus it needs some work. It's also a 2 door hatchback and I want a 4 door. People simply aren't willing to ride with me at all since they'd have to crawl into the back seat.

I will get a new Focus sedan. I popped by a local dealership today after looking online. They have a 2014 bright blue Focus 4 door sedan. I've always bought blue cars. This car is my favorite blue. It even has heated side mirrors. I'd love that! I hate it when the side mirrors get all snow/ice crusted when you're driving and you have to deal with it, open window at a light to brush the driver's side one off, or stop somewhere. Heated seats, too. It's a bit fancier than I'd normally have chosen, but I've always driven the most basic cars, so this will be nice to have.

[Simpler at Fifty]

Sounds like a nice car. I always bought red or maroon cars but the last couple have been blue. Congrats on the promotion too Tradd.

[Spartana]

Whoo - Hoo! How fun to get a big raise and then a bonus and find a car you like (and one with heated seats and mirror - fancy!). I had a 2003 Focus sedan with a PZEV enhgine for awhile. Drove it to a bit over 150,000 miles and it ran fine the whole time. Definetly bigger than the 2 doors too so I think you'll like it a lot.

I'm looking for a new vehicle myself and need one asap as the 14 year old truck, while running fine, just isn't trustworthy on long trips anymore. I have no idea what I want but am (unfortunately) leaning towards a mid-size SUV or mini van as I want something I can haul my camping gear and bike and trailer in (and the dog too) and that I can sleep in if needed. Might get a Dodge Journey with a 4 cylinder engine ($16K new) as it's bigger than most small SUV's but gets better gas mileage (but still crappy). I rented on (with a V-6) for a month last fall and it worked really well for me. Or maybe a Dodge Caravan as it is much bigger but more expensive and even worse fuel mileage because it has a V-6.. But plan to do a lot of "touring" on my bicycle so will help with reducing fuel costs. Sigh.. really don't want to buy anything gas I had planned to do "car-free" travel when I though my sister could watch the dog long term. But that's isn't going to happen now and will be taking the dog with me so I really need a new/newer vehicle to right now.

[Tradd]

There are several incentives right now. I should qualify for the 0% financing, as I did when I got pre-approved with Ford Credit in the fall.

Even though this is what I consider a "fancy" car, it's still only about $23K. A few thousand more isn't going to break me. I'm just going to trade in my old Focus. It's kind of beat up, but I don't feel comfortable selling on Craigslist, for example. I know too many people who've had weird experiences. Safer to just trade it in. Anything I get for it will be good.

Another reason I wanted to get a new car now is that I'm going to take a few road trips later this year, including down to Louisiana later this year, and I want a car I can trust for the long trip.

I'd really have preferred to get an SUV, but the Focus is so much more fuel efficient, costs less, etc.

[rosarugosa]

Tradd: Congratulations on the promotion, raise, & bonus! Just as a point of comparison, we bought a 2014 Focus sedan in January. It is decidedly "non-fancy," in basic black but has everything we want or need. We ended up paying $15,496.20, which includes some dealer rebates, our 6.25% MA sales tax, all those goofy little fees they add in, and our trade in (which was only $200, but we were just glad we didn't have to pay someone to tow it away). There are a lot of numbers on our paperwork, but that is the bottom line of what we paid. The paperwork indicates that the sales price was $14,152 and it was an "internet special." We did not finance it (well we did technically finance, but only for a month to get a $500 rebate, and then we paid it off). They had a green Focus that I liked, but I figured I'll take the good deal on the car and I can always buy a sweater in that shade of green if I want to (and goodness knows I don't need another sweater!) The price you are quoting might include a lot of extras that we don't have. I'm just offering this as a point of comparison for a very basic Focus. One odd thing about our car is that it has power windows in front and crank windows in the back. We had never heard of such a thing. Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Spartana]

$23K does seem high to me compared to what you can get a new Focus sedan for out here. Probably around $16K or so for one with a/c, auto and power. But those extra bells and whistles Tradd is getting probably do add on quite a bit.

I plan to get something white - although I like dark red as my Focus was - but white seems to be the most visual. My truck (Ford Ranger extra cab) is such a dark blue you can't even find it when parked. Jokingly call it the "stealth" truck because it seems to almost disappear when on asphalt or in shade. The Journeys I've been looking at for $16K have pretty much everything you could ask for (power, a/c. auto. cruise control. remote keyless entry and start, etc...) and are discounted by the dealer from their MSRP of about $23K to $16K. The ones with V-6 and things like tinted windows and roof racks are about $20 - $25K. I've also been looking at the Mazda 5's - a sort of mini-mini van - but it's a bit small for my needs. Also, for a 4 cylinder, it get crappy gas mileage. Also looked at Jeep Patriots with 4 cylinders. Bigger than the Mazda 5, bit smaller than the Journey but better gas mileage then both. You can get them basic for $13K for a new 2014 but higher priced with auto, power and a/c. I still look at the Hertz used car website a lot and they have pretty goo deals for low mileage used cars. Here's some of the Journeys I've been looking at. They also have Patriots and Caravans too. The Patriots that are for sale thru Hertz (used) are all 4 cylinder 4 x 4 if you need that (I don't in Calif) but might be something you'd be interested in snowy Il. Tradd.

http://www.hbchryslerdodgejeepram.com/new-inventory/index.htm?make=Dodge&model=Journey&sortBy=internetPrice asc&

[Tradd]

Tradd: Congratulations on the promotion, raise, & bonus! Just as a point of comparison, we bought a 2014 Focus sedan in January. It is decidedly "non-fancy," in basic black but has everything we want or need. We ended up paying $15,496.20, which includes some dealer rebates, our 6.25% MA sales tax, all those goofy little fees they add in, and our trade in (which was only $200, but we were just glad we didn't have to pay someone to tow it away). There are a lot of numbers on our paperwork, but that is the bottom line of what we paid. The paperwork indicates that the sales price was $14,152 and it was an "internet special." We did not finance it (well we did technically finance, but only for a month to get a $500 rebate, and then we paid it off). They had a green Focus that I liked, but I figured I'll take the good deal on the car and I can always buy a sweater in that shade of green if I want to (and goodness knows I don't need another sweater!) The price you are quoting might include a lot of extras that we don't have. I'm just offering this as a point of comparison for a very basic Focus. One odd thing about our car is that it has power windows in front and crank windows in the back. We had never heard of such a thing. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Rosa, this does have a lot of extras - like an automatic transmission. I'd never heard of the heated mirrors, but after this winter and spending a lot of time driving in snow, that would be very nice to have.

There are a couple of other ones I'm looking at. I'm not stuck on the blue, but it would be nice. There's a dark gray one with the winter package that's a bit over $20K.

[Spartana]

Tradd - You might want to check out Hertz used cars. I just looked at 2013 Focuses and one's that had around 20,000 miles on the (and all the bells and whistles) go for around $14K and are still under factory warranty as well as Hertz's one year warranty. They even had blue ones! Just google Hertz car sales for you area

Here's some of the ones available in my area - tons of them! Not blue but red, white and gray - and many more too: https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14254676 https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14295848 https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14266582

[Tradd]

Spartana, I don't buy used cars. Period.

I am selling off the .380 pistol I don't shoot anymore (since I got my 9mm), as well as 1200 rounds of .380 ammo, on a local firearms forum. Ammo is mostly taken, already. More down payment $$.

[rosarugosa]

Our car has auto trans, A/C, CD player, MP-3 port and rear defogger. I guess most of these are standard now (except the auto trans) but they feel like extras to us.

[Tradd]

Oh, don't remind me about the taxes! :( 6.25% here in IL, plus an additional 2.5% since I live in Cook County - so 8.75% tax total.

ETA: with the incentives, I might end up with $3K cash back (which I'd put back on the car).

[Tradd]

I've decided on the gray one that's about $3K cheaper than the blue one. And as a friend pointed out, gray will show dirt less than the blue. ;)

[rosarugosa]

Tradd: We have a 6.25% tax rate too, but the extra 2.5% - ouch! Since you are much more disciplined about clothing purchases than I am, you could definitely justify a new blue sweater if you save $3000 by going with the gray model. :)

[Float On]

Good choice on the gray. Our silver truck always looked great and didn't show dust much. We now have red and black and they l could use a daily washing. The only problem I've had with silver or gray was feeling invisible...like I blended in too much with the highway and others couldn't see me.

[Spartana]

Taxes - UGH I forgot about them too. Here ours are around 8%. Then you have all those dealer add-ons, license and registration, etc... that tack on a couple of hundred more. And probably increased insurance too. Hmmm.... maybe my 14 year old truck can last awhile longer! Just rent when travelling and need something trustworthy.

I also think gray is a good color choice Tradd and selling a firearm and ammo to buy the car is a nice "simple living" trade-off (something new in, something old out). But like Float on said, gray is very invisible when driving though.

[Tradd]

My insurance will go up $18 a.month (I pay monthly) which isn't too bad.

People treat my current.car.as.invisible, so that's something I'm used to.

I've also sold $315 worth of ammo last night, which is about all of it. Meeting the two buyers at lunch today. Helps this ammo.is difficult.to.find now, so it went very quickly.

[ToomuchStuff]

Congratulations, I think (not sure about changing cars due to being taxi service).

[iris lilies]

Red cars are faster than blue cars. Just sayin'

;)

[Tussiemussies]

Congratulations on outbound, you must be great at what you do. Good luck and enjoy your new car!

[Tradd]

Congratulations on outbound, you must be great at what you do. Good luck and enjoy your new car!

I now make $14K more than I did this time last year (I received my brokers license in late May last year).

I got the gray car. $3K cash incentives, plus $1500 in on my trade in which really surprised me. My payment is right around $300, which is excellent for a car payment these days. Loan is 60 months at 3-something %. I'll have it paid off sooner.

The blue tooth connectivity is amazing, talking on my phone through the stereo. Trunk is HUGE.

[rosarugosa]

!pow!
Congratulations, Tradd!

[Spartana]

Congrats Tradd! I like gray a lot and now you'll too be in "stealth mode" - except when it snows, as it always does there :-)!

[Tradd]

Lol, Spartana.

BTW, your doggie's picture makes me crack up.

[rodeosweetheart]

Congratulations, Tradd! When winter comes, make sure to buy that baby snow tires!

[Tradd]

Rodeo, snow tires aren't really needed here. Plus, I have no place to store them.

Here's my new gal:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hG0_FGT7DMo/U3v_6Ud61OI/AAAAAAAAHOI/B8wmnYIwTOE/s640/car.jpg

[iris lilies]

An excellent choice. Ford Motor Co was not bailed out by the gbmnt, yAY FOR THEM!

[Tradd]

An excellent choice. Ford Motor Co was not bailed out by the gbmnt, yAY FOR THEM!

Exactly!

[rodeosweetheart]

It's gorgeous!

[rosarugosa]

Lovely - may you have many good years together! :)

[Packy]

An excellent choice. Ford Motor Co was not bailed out by the gbmnt, yAY FOR THEM!

Oh, but FoMoCo HAS been in trouble, deep trouble. In the 40's, after WWII ended, there was some serious discussion about whether WashingtonDC should step in, and assume control of the company, to keep it from collapsing. The owner & founder, HF I, who suffered from dementia, finally died, and his grandson HFII, aged 27, was released from military service & assumed control in 1947. Many changes had to be implemented in the management of the company, to turn it around. Then, 12 years later, there was the Edsel debacle, which was very costly. During the great recession of 2008-2009, the Federal Reserve bought "paper" IOU's in excess of $45 Billion from the Big 3 domestic automakers. This was not factored into the "bailout". Of those, Ford Motors indebtedness was nearly $16 Billion, which far exceeds their market share. The UAW also made concessions, to help Ford Motors' own crisis during this time. Of course, Ford Fanatics obviously want us to forget all about this; after all, it was ol' Henry himself who wrote that "History Is Bunk".

[profnot]

I've used a broker/buyer for every car I have purchased.

This is someone who calls all the dealerships and gets a price quote for the car I want. The dealers all know her and know she does not negotiate - she simply goes with the lowest price. So they give her the lowest they can stand.

Mine charges a flat fee up front. The amount relates to the cost of the car. So $300 or so for a Honda Civic, and more for fancier cars.

She saved me several hundred dollars over what I would have paid every time. Plus I hate haggling.

She also referred me to a used car buyer who gives fair deals.

OP - you may wish to look for a broker/buyer in your area.

[profnot]

An article about using car brokers to buy
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/using-a-car-broker-to-buy-your-next-vehicle.html