Not tempted at all. If I had faith that my husband's job was gold-plated secure (we think we're okay right now, but who knows what's down the line?), I still would not be tempted. Any extra money (what a concept!) is going into savings because the retirement accounts are down 25% from what they were. I owe only a little more on my Honda van, and I'm planning on paying it off faster with larger payments. I got the Honda because I fully expect to drive it for 250,000 miles.

I can't imagine that anyone thinks that car payments are a good thing right now.

I'm not tempted to go into debt. I have a pretty good Dodge Dakota, which was a gift to me from a fellow rehabber, who got a million dollar plus settlement from the BP explosion in Texas City a few years ago. She bought her mother a new truck and gave me her mother's old one, which was only a few years old, well maintained and very low miles. If I didn't have that, I would be looking for one I could pay cash for.

The economy is pretty good here too, and my husband has a good job and is making more money than he ever has before, but we have no debts and will keep it that way. I've had many new vehicles...cars and trucks, but stopped buying them
in 1990...last new truck I had. It's nice to have a new vehicle...but when I get a "new" one...it is "new" to me, even if it was pre owned by someone else. Not having any debt gives me more security than anything. Had to learn that the hard way, but it is a lesson I will never forget.

I've always driven used cars, some more used than others, and have never made a car payment.

No, not tempted at all.

Nope, me either. My 2001 Civic is running good....

Nope. I love my little 1997 Suzuki Sidekick. It runs great, gets very good gas mileage and the body is in almost perfect shape.

No reason to buy another car...a new one would only mean higher insurance cost.
No savings there.

I'm tempted. But, like granlan, I've aways bought used vehicles and have never made a car payment.
My truck is a 1991 Dodge Dakota with 180,000 miles and she's starting to show her age. Yesterday morning at -24 it started right up. It would be nice to have something manufactured in this century. I may just look around a bit and see whats out there.

Ron

Hmmmm I would still love my hummer truck but as you said in OK. they aren't really doing that...the econmy is still booming from what i can see,...went to Tulsa monday and all the new construction is amazing.....Stacy

I guess I'm slightly tempted for a few reasons.

My truck is a 2004 that I bought used a couple of years ago. It is our only vehicle, which means that DH ranches out of it (pulls stock trailer, checks cattle daily, etc.) and we take it to church and on vacation and everywhere else.

I'm already making payments, so it wouldn't mean taking on additional monthly debt...just extending existing debt for a few years. Just can't decide whether I even want to bother looking!

No way. No car payments and want to keep it that way. We'll keep driving ours till they die then shop for used.

i am tempted because my current vehicle is nickel and dimeing us, and because we have a couple thousand on our GM card to use in addition to the reduced prices, but we won't because i am currently not working due to being on chemo. I think it is a crazy sign of the times though how one company is advertising if you buy their new vehicle and then lose your job, you can return the car no questions asked.

Yes I am. I want a 09' Toyota Highlander before I retire. And I plan on paying cash for it, or at least putting $20k down. I have a 2001 Camry that I can get top dollar for (well taken care of and very low miles). If I have to have a car payment, it will only be for a year.

I have done some research but so far haven't visited the car lot yet.

Susan

No, I've only had my used car a couple years. We are looking for a newer car for DD though.. but it'll be used and one we can pay cash for.

No we have two years left on Eric's car and three on mine. Both are working well (knock on wood) and go where we want. I would like heated seats in mine but that will have to wait a long time!

I'm not tempted yet. Our local economy is going stronger than many. Who knows what is going to shake out in this next year. We have to be prepared in the event of a decline in dh's field. I've had my current vehicle for almost eight years. The gas milege isn't very good with city driving and I've had to replace the radiator and oxygen sensor this last year. It's still cheaper than car payments. It does have heated seats and a visual compass unlike dh's new vehicle. I'm too attached to upgrade.

We bought a 2008 Chevy HHR last fall. By putting $5000 down, the payments are less than $300. It was supposed to replace hubby's ailing 1996 Accord but he decided he loved that Homda (sigh) so I had to get rid of my Explorer. The car gets much better gas milege and is kind of cute.

Well I thought I would go look at the Hummer truck I want thought hey if the prices have gone down why not check it out....ummmm not happening still as high as they were 2009 Hummer truck list was 61 and some change....will keep my Tahoe.....Stacy

I need a vehicle. Mine was in an accident the beginning of December and the idiot who hit us claims he thought the police contacted the insurance. Moron! I've been taking the bus for 6 weeks now! This morning we faxed over the tow bills (over $500 worth!) to his insurance so we can get that back. I doubt my car will be fixed, I see it as being written off. Hopefully we'll get enough to put down on something decent. Not sure if I want to buy brand new. Cars depreciate in value the second you sign the dotted line, but I would like a "newer" car. A cup holder would be nice! LOL

Not too tempted though if the car of my dreams were half the price, I'd probably go for it. I have a short commute to work and really don't do much driving. My 11 year old BMW's odometer just broke the 64,000 mile mark.

Jodi-

My car is still fairly new and my husband's is a 2003 so they both should last for a long time yet. But my son traded in his 2000 Tahoe that had 150,000 miles, got 8 miles per gallon and had electrical problems for a 2 year old Infiniti FX. He got a great deal and they offered a 7 year extended year warranty for $500.00. He's thrilled and his mileage is much better.

I'm definitely not tempted to go into more debt. I would like a smaller car & might be tempted if we had some other things paid off, but definitely not right now. We never buy brand new anyway.

We have 2 more payments on our Prius - we bought it new 2 years ago. We could have paid cash, but they offered us 0% financing, so I was happy to keep my money earning while we paid off the 24 month loan.

The van we traded in was an extended length Ford Aerostar. It was 11 years old, 175,000 miles, and I had needed it for my upholstery business. It was also handy when our son was young - I was the Mom with the vehicle to carry all the kids to the where-ever, LOL. I only gave up the paid-up van when the repairs were going to cost more than the book value.

It worked out perfectly for us - kid off to college and out of the house, trade in a gas-guzzler with 16 mpg for a 50 mpg new car, right before the gas prices went sky-high!

But if I still had the huge van, I'd certainly be looking for a good deal right now.

Not at all. We still have 2 years left on my truck and Jim's Jeep has been paid off for 2 years. We paid off a big chunk of the truck just before Jim got laid off last year, thank heavens, so our payments are doable.

Trish

No, will never buy another new car again, unless I can pay cash for it. (Which I never see happening) I have to catch up on my retirement savings since I started so late in life. I am hoping to buy a used car (Toyota Camry) with cash in a year or so. I'm giving Alex my old car, which is only a 2002...unless he keeps getting bigger. His knees are hitting the steering wheel right now so I may have to sell the Mitsubishi and find him something that fits him better.

mcmann your sons tahoe had to have been a lemon this is my second one I Have owned my first a \ 1995/96 maybe model and my currant one is a 2004 I think...first was brand new...(never again 50 is way to much for a car) and this one was used........I get 15 and I don't dnrive. well at all...stop fast and think I am the starting line when I take off.....when dh drives it he gets 18 to 19 and it is 4 wd also so I think his is/was not a great one

Yes, I am tempted. I will probably hold off for now though. I do like a new car, and although there is the issue of depreciation, whenever I have bought used cars, I always ended up with lemons that needed a lot of expensive work. I just don't seem to have the knowledge/experience to buy a decent used vehicle. It just works out much better when I buy a new one. But I have to admit, I take some joy in having a new vehicle.

We bought my Rendezvous new in 2004, we did not finance it. I weigh the pros and cons of financing, and keeping my investments in place or buying one out right and not dealing with a monthly payment. I'm a pretty conservative spender in most ways, and feel if I want a new vehicle and can swing it, that I should just do it. But I haven't made a final decision yet.

Strangely, this economy gives me some job security. I am a social assistance administrator. Unfortunately, we are preparing for our caseloads to quadruple. In one year it is expected that our area will be in deep economic trouble. It's very sad.

Not a bit. We paid off the minivan last year, and will drive it till the proverbial wheels fall off. We are still too relieved to have no car payment to even think about a new car.

Nope, not tempted at all. Our cars are paid off. We've decided that we will only pay cash in the future.

Sheryl

Thankfully my parents were tempted by the low prices and bought a new Suburban. They traded us our 2000 pickup for their 2003 suburban straight across. We realized over Christmas that there was no way that we 6 could fit in the van with all our "stuff".

(I am sure the suburban is worth more, we are so thankful that our parents help us out anyway that they can.

Stacie

No ours are paid off and don't want the payments. It's not only the payments but the taxes on new car and insurances are going up.