If you're perfectly happy buying a USED vehicle, then there is no reason to change that attitude now just because of the federal gimmick currently in effect. As O.J. ( Joyful, NOT the other OJ...) would probably tell you, the "bang for your buck" is still in letting someone ELSE take the depreciation hit.

Yeah, I agree with Dave. I can't help but think dealers aren't motivated to sell at the best price now because the Federal program is doing most of the work, although the dealers are saying that they are matching the $$, like most everything else, this may just mean they're marking up the original price so it may look like you're getting a "double bang", so to speak. LOL Car dealers know the art of win-win can be summed up in one sentence: "Ask for 'way more than you'd ever expect to get, and then let yourself be negotiated down." The dealer gets the price he actually expected in the first place, and the consumer walks away happy, thinking he was a master of negotiation.

Considering that the new car depreciates greatly the minute you drive it out of the lot, if you normally buy used and you normally wouldn't be ready to buy another vehicle for three more years, I can't see that this program would be the best for you. There are hidden costs associated with a new car: higher insurance, higher tags and taxes, for two. You didn't mention how many MPG you get in your current car. That could make a difference and you probably need to do some figuring to see if it does. If your MPG's are low on your current car and you do a lot of driving now, then that alone might be a consideration. I don't think we've seen the end of astronomically high gas prices. I don't have a clunker to trade in, but if I did, I think I'd be thinking about what's possible to happen down the road. I normally buy my vehicle new or nearly new (usually I get a "program car") and keep it at least ten years. We turned over our sassy little red 94 chevy pick-up to our grandson and it's still dependable and seems to be quite a "chick-magnet" with DGS behind the wheel.

What I'm thinking, down the road, is that the automakers are going to discover (if they haven't already) that there is a market for a vehicle that gets extremely high MPG. Once all the vehicles that they made under the "old" assumptions of what consumers want are sold in this program, creation of innovative vehicles will once again create a booming market. Think ahead to future months: If dealers sell most of the cars they had on their lots under the CARS program, what are they going to do, stock up with more of the same cars they couldn't sell before the program? Without the CARS program, and with everyone who might want to upgrade having already done so, where's their market?

If I were you, I'd wait and watch. Lots can happen in three years. You might be really happy with your new vehicle that uses alternative fuels more efficiently than we have ever seen, in three years.

You want to refer to the model year of your car. Cars have traditionally been manufactured late in the previous year and then given the next years model designation.

If you have done the preventative maintenance, then your Olds will likely go 200K miles or more. We took an '88 Olds Delta 88 past 200K miles (15 or so years). Parts like the alternator, water pump, or A/C may fail, but all can be replaced much cheaper than what it costs to buy a new car.

Most important, this car is comfortable to you and that is actually not easy to find, especially in smaller cars that get higher gas mileage.

My experience is that the lowest cost per mile traveled with a "decent" car will come from buying a lightly used, late model American nameplate (high depreciation) and then taking care of it and keeping it until the "wheels fall off."

If slightly higher reliability is desired, then buying a new Japanese brand car and keeping it forever is also not a bad option.

Third would be buying a used car under $1k that is a hidden gem and repair only what is necessary for safety. Drive it until the engine or tranny go out. Some people get 100K miles with this strategy and at a very low cost per mile.

Unfortunately, your 02 Bravada or our 01 Silhouette are not likely to be sought after by collectors.

Search: Cashforclunkers.com

Good only on purchase or lease of NEW vechicles.
Clunker has to be less than 25 years old.
You may get the info you need by checking different sites.
Clunkers wiil have the engine made unusable. No future use.

John

Check out buying a good used rental car. The rental agents sell off their cars when they have 25-30 thousand miles. The cars are well maintained. We bought an almost new Impala with less then 35 thousand miles for a really good price. It is comfortable, fuel efficient and is in perfect condition. We love it.

Used rental cars don't qualify... good or otherwise.