Why do people buy new cars?
Discussion
AdamTheTrader said:
I too struggle to see why a lot of people buy new when they can save 50% and get one 2 years old. After buying my current car new I doubt I'll be doing it again, regardless of whether I can afford to do so
Because sometimes it's nice to have something *exactly* as you want it, and/or unsullied by others 
Do you buy clothes from a charity shop? Your TVs from eBay/cash converters? Your food as "reduced to clear"?
Jimbo. said:
AdamTheTrader said:
I too struggle to see why a lot of people buy new when they can save 50% and get one 2 years old. After buying my current car new I doubt I'll be doing it again, regardless of whether I can afford to do so
Because sometimes it's nice to have something *exactly* as you want it, and/or unsullied by others 
Do you buy clothes from a charity shop? Your TVs from eBay/cash converters? Your food as "reduced to clear"?
Yes, yes, and yes...
Well a large portion of "new cars" on the road will be company cars I suspect, so why wouldn't you go new in such cases?
And as a previous poster says, sometimes it's just "nice" to treat yourself to a new car which hasn't been farted in 2.2 million times by it's previous owner.
Just be grateful that people do ultimately buy new cars so that those who are so adamant that used cars represent better value get the opportunity to pick up their bargains! Say "thanks" you ungrateful sods!

A few possible reasons: Attractive finance package, they get a trade in on their current car and the to change price is decent enough plus they avoid the hassle of selling their car, it's a new model so not available second hand, they are worried about reliability of older cars, they use it for work and they have to buy something less than 3 years old, they do a big mileage annually so the warranty makes it worthwhile.
This again? Seriously, just search for numerous 20 page threads on this same topic, which end in all the new car people telling everyone they are super rich because they have a new car and 'can afford it' and all the old car people saying they've got better things to invest the money in to leverage synergies for capital gain at 50% return or whatever it is this week.
Jimbo. said:
Because sometimes it's nice to have something *exactly* as you want it, and/or unsullied by others 
Do you buy clothes from a charity shop? Your TVs from eBay/cash converters? Your food as "reduced to clear"?
Somehow managed to make my original post disappear 
Do you buy clothes from a charity shop? Your TVs from eBay/cash converters? Your food as "reduced to clear"?

Maybe it's just the profession that I'm in that makes it more unforgivable to myself to buy into such a heavily depreciating asset
It's all relative isn't it- someone earning 50k/year buying a 50k car and ultimately losing 15k of that in one year = 30% of their annual income
Someone earning 50k a year spending 3k on clothes and subsequently throwing them in the bin after one year = 5x less than ^
mike9009 said:
To the OP?
Why do you buy new clothes? Numerous charity shops can provide cheaper perfectly useable clothing.
Now ask the question again...... Some people earn more than others!
Mike
Bad example...Why do you buy new clothes? Numerous charity shops can provide cheaper perfectly useable clothing.
Now ask the question again...... Some people earn more than others!
Mike
CBR JGWRR said:
Jimbo. said:
AdamTheTrader said:
I too struggle to see why a lot of people buy new when they can save 50% and get one 2 years old. After buying my current car new I doubt I'll be doing it again, regardless of whether I can afford to do so
Because sometimes it's nice to have something *exactly* as you want it, and/or unsullied by others 
Do you buy clothes from a charity shop? Your TVs from eBay/cash converters? Your food as "reduced to clear"?
Yes, yes, and yes...
NathanJohnx said:
A good example, a brand new corsa 1.2, or a mk5 golf GTI?
Think I know where my money would go!
Why do people ask these stupid questions repeatedly?Think I know where my money would go!
Lots of people like the smell of a new car, the knowledge no-one's abused it, ya-da-ya-da-ya.
Just be happy people DO buy new cars or you'd be buying a used Corsa for the price of a new Golf!

M.
mike9009 said:
To the OP?
Why do you buy new clothes? Numerous charity shops can provide cheaper perfectly useable clothing.
Now ask the question again...... Some people earn more than others!
Mike
Let's not make this into a 'you're poor and can't afford new' please.Why do you buy new clothes? Numerous charity shops can provide cheaper perfectly useable clothing.
Now ask the question again...... Some people earn more than others!
Mike
I bought a Porsche 993 Turbo for almost 50K and yet I still wouldn't buy any of the cars you've listed new or otherwise

OP: They'll slag off anything old to justify their choice:
Picture this: Imagine shelling out 25K plus on a brand new Ford Focus Diesel. You've proven to society that you're an unimaginative conformist, you're totally focusing on the great claimed mpg figures of the car and the fact it has iPOD connectivity and onboard GPS and not focusing on the savage depreciation that puts ALL other costs into insignificance. You're also citing examples of how unreliable old cars become and wittering on about cars upkeep with age even though you know full well that a car a few years old- even a 2003 these days (even something french) is pretty robust, solid and reliable and totally dependable. The small incurred upkeep costs pail into insignificance compared to new car depreciation. Then along comes someone like you or me who bought an older car for next to nothing. This is the sort of denial you use to justify it.
Yes, new cars are better than old but the incremental improvements aren't so great over a few years and can you honest say you use the slight improvements in grip, safety and exhaust emissions (fuel economy improvements are usually offset by the savage weight gain of new cars with some exceptions such as the Jaguar X308 vs X350) to justify that level of depreciation?
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