Trading in our old car tonight . . .

[HelpinUtah]

and will most likely get two used cars with a lot less miles.  We need two cars now. I have court all over Utah right now and my hubby's office moved much farther from my office and car pooling is becoming very difficult.  I'm nervous about it - but we're going to the reputable dealer who financed our car before.  We only have 3 payments left on it and we're sure they will help us out.  In fact, they've been calling us to do something like this.  We're looking at a 2007 Chrysler Sebring and a 2007 Dodge Stratus with less than 50,000 miles on them.  Our old Chevy Cavalier has 173,000 miles on it and so we feel it's time to bite the bullet and get two cars!   They are telling us they can get us into both cars for the same monthly payment over a 5 year period.  This car was a 3 year loan and so that's why the payments will be close to the same, especially with how inexpensive cars are to buy right now.  

Does anyone have these types of vehicles and if so, what the average gas mileage is.  I know what they say online, but our Cavalier (even with all those miles) gives us 29 to 30 highway.  Most of our driving is highway.  

So wish me luck tonight!  :)

Hugs,
Janet

[allaboutmary]

Hey congrat's on the new cars.  I checked out your pics and I like the color of yours better than hubbys. lol  
40 dollars a month for both cars sounds like a good deal (for the warranty). Is that for the length of the loan, 5 yrs, 6 yrs ?  I would probably go for it, but with my luck nothing would go wrong until the warranty expired. lol
Enjoy your new cars !  Hugs,  Mary

[HelpinUtah]

OMG!!!! You make me laugh so hard at work that people think I'm crazy!  (No comments!)  LOL!!!!!

[NautyOne]

I dunno about the warranty thing.....40 buck a month for ?.......I don't know the mileage you have on the cars now, but I think you have a better than 50-50 chance of nothing serious happening in 35,000......It will happen at 36,000.  I  think Vic has bad luck......lol.  There are people who just do or are severely anal (nothing wrong with that) or insecure, and afraid......I had a boyfriend like that, and we still joke about he was.....he would buy an extended warranty on every electronic device he could buy one for car, anything!!  Now if he had banked that money and even ivestested it, he would probably have brand new care paid for!!  I think you should get the warranty if you feel comfortable doing so......esp. with the cost of car repairs now-a-days......you just never know......

Dodge Dart.......Ohmy.......does that bring memories or what?.....I had a friend who had a white one, and I loved that box on wheels.  The simplicity of that car was great, till my friends girlfriend fell out of the passenger door while rounding a corner....Oiy!!  I never laughed so hard in my life....sounds terrible, but she was ok.....ummm lets just say she had lots of padding when she hit the ground ....lots of padding.....probably why the door latch broke.....Omg!!........sounds awful, and I feel awful for laughing about that but she was fine........I am lmao right now .......poor Terry....hehe

nauty.........

[HelpinUtah]

I'm a Chrysler/Dodge person and so is my husband.  That's what we've usually had and loved them! My very first car was an old Dodge Dart and it went on forever!  LOL!!!  

We are considering the extended warranty - it's a great plan - it covers everything but normal wear and tear.  The financial director will be calling us later today to see if we want to add it.  He was able to get us a good deal with several bank options.  He thinks he can get us a better insurance rate than what was stated last night and so if that happens we'll definitely go with the warranty.  I just don't want to go over what we budgeted monthly for the cars.  

We ran CarFax reports and both vehicles have no accidents or anything.  It's all good!  There were 2 owners, one was a rental company and the other was the dealer we bought the cars from who bought them at an auction.  

We both drove today so we could show off our new toys!  LOL!!!

Nauty:
I knew you wouldn't kick me in the crotch!  LMAO!!!  I appreciate your honesty though.  I honestly do!  Thanks!  

Have a great day and I'll post pictures shortly!

Hugs,
Janet

[scaredmom330]

I had a dodge intrepid and loved it....hubby always buys the extended warranty and we have used it...so i say spend the extra money and get it, and enjoy your new cars..I hope you enjoy them as much as I did my dodge...now I have a GMC Jimmy I like it but it is nothing compared to my Dodge Intrepid, would buy another in an instant if I could afford it....

[NautyOne]

I'm sorry sweetie, but i know you gotta know me by now.......lol.  Me and my mouth, distrust and paranoia truly make me soo gifted with words.......:-))

Now, I dont' want to see you going 60mph around those corners.  You behave with that touring edition......No wreckless driving!!!, and make sure they put some brakes on those cars before the deal is truly sealed.......hehehee.......

Your crotch is safe with me..........lmao!!......

luvya,
Nauty............

[HelpinUtah]

Thanks!  We're happy with what we chose.  We stuck to our guns about what we could afford too and made them work around that.  It's funny to watch these salesmen work - they make me laugh!  But, in the end, we did get what we wanted.  My hubby is very convincing and very good.  I was impressed!  

The warranty they sell covers everything from the engine, transmission, all the way to the suspension, air conditioning, etc.  Of course, normal wear and tear items are not included.  We still haven't decided on that yet.  So, we'll just stick with the one month, 3,000 miles for now.  

I appreciate you letting me enjoy this and not kicking me in the crotch!  LOL!!!!

Love ya,
Janet

[NautyOne]

Congrats on your two new babies......lol.  I wont comment on the things you said about the dealership and the other cars cause it would be like saying congrats and kicking you in the crotch......so we will smile, and I hope you both enjoy your new cars !!!

The touring edition.....whooo they do drive nice......great suspension........Enjoy!!!

Again, congrats!

luv,
Nauty..........

[HelpinUtah]

Well, we were going to wait until Saturday to actually buy our cars, but NO!!!  We bought two cars tonight!  We just got home.  I have a 2006 Chrysler Sebring and Tom has a 2006 Dodge Stratus.  My car is the touring edition.  I LOVE IT!  We live about 35 miles from the dealership and so we drove home via highway and both cars drove smoothly and wonderfully!  They gave us a great deal!  WOOHOO!!!  

I know, I know, I was going to wait until Saturday, but the deal was way too good and the cars are immaculate and in great condition.  The dealer gives a 30 day, 3,000 mile warranty.  If we decide we want it they can add an additional warranty for an extra $40 a month for both vehicles and we might do it.  We have until Saturday to let them know.  The warranty would be $35,000 miles or 3 years whichever comes first.  

So, that's the deal!

Hugs,
Janet

[HelpinUtah]

The dealer we go to is reputable and very honest.  A friend of mine knows the owners personally.  They used to sell Chrysler and Toyota cars, but they sold the Dodge dealership a year ago.  If I get a warranty it will be through them.  When we purchased this car we have now it was used and within the first month the brakes went, the front windshield went (from a crack in it) and there was something else - oh, the calipers.  We took it back to them and they repaired it for free for us without a warranty.  So, I know they are good to work with.  Otherwise, I'm not so sure I'd get the warranty.  I just worry - I just want to make sure we don't have to pay a car payment and pay out extra money on major repairs right away.  

We'll be very careful!!!  

Thanks for the advice from both of us!  

Love yas,
Janet

[VicUser]

I will only buy them for the dealer and if they are through the car company such as Ford, GMC or Chrysler. Never a third party one for sure. I am not a gambler and have broke even over the years, so it is a personal chioce and for me a peace of mind thing.

[NautyOne]

DON'T BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY..........!!!    I TOTALLY DISAGREE, BUT THAT IS A PERSONAL DECISION......I'VE SEEN IT PAY OFF AND I'VE SEEN THEM UP TO 2000.00......CRAZY......I GUESS I AM MORE OF A GAMBLER.......AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD GOOD LUCK WITH USED CARS.....ALSO, YOU BETTER REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT "EXTENDED WARRANTY" IS BEFORE YOU PURCHASE IT....UGH.....I FEEL FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.  

WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE.....IS THE BEST YOU CAN DO.

I WISH YOU LUCK !!

LUV,
NAUTY............

[HelpinUtah]

VicUser:
Thanks for the advice on the warranty.  I was thinking we should buy the extended warranty with the cars.  Our car loan is up in 3 months and they are saying they will write off the difference if we do this.  I know they are hard up to sell cars right now.  So, it's a buyers market.  I'm nervous about giving up our car - it's been good to us.  But, the engine is starting to sound like a valve is going.  I think this is the good time to do this.  As for a new car - we just can't afford to do that.  We need two cars and there is no way we could afford the payment on two new ones - but that's what my wish would be - but I'm trying to be realistic.  Although, the Hyundai dealer here is talking about buying one car and getting the second one for half off - but I'm not sure we could still do it.  

Nauty:
You just never know with cars.  We've been very lucky with the cars we've had over the years.  We've always found great cars with wonderful deals.  If we get these two cars - it will be the best deal ever!  I wanted to get a van for my mother since she has an electric chair and it's easier when I take her places, but a van will cost too much in gas and then we would have to keep this car, which I'm sure we will be putting a lot of money into it soon.  I prefer to buy American, but Toyota, Hyundai and Honda are wonderful vehicles and last a lot longer.  I've always had luck with Chrysler though.  I agree it's a **** shoot though!

If we get both cars tonight - it will be just like Christmas!  LOL!!!  It's scary, but it's necessary.  I honestly would rather just keep our car and not have a payment after the next 3 payments.  That would be ideal - but not really realistic right now.  I drive from Ogden, to Layton, to Salt Lake, to Provo for court.  My court dates are getting heavier and heavier and with one car it's not working anymore.  UGH!!!!

I'm scared to death - but know we have to do it!  

Thanks!!!!

Hugs,
Janet

[NautyOne]

I have a Saturn and am irritated that I have practically run the thing out of oil many times, needless to say what that had done to the engine.  I was told by Saturn and multiple mechanics's that they are "oil burners" ...I thought ok?.....so I should have to add a quart of oil every time I drove a few hundred miles????......not quite, but you really have to watch it.  I have never had to watch oil in a car EVER sept for this stupid Saturn..........I hate to say this, but I have owned American & Foreign cars and as sadly report that the foreign cars lasted longer, were built to last longer.....the little things like knobs, latches, switches, etc. They do cost a little more to repair, but they were worth every extra penny I paid for them.  I am leary of American cars as much as I want to own them, if someone else is paying .......I will take the American car........The only reason I have the Saturn is someone gave it too me before they fled the country.....lol.  I still have it, but need to get rid of it before one day its just me in a seat while the body falls off around me.  Every time I touch that car something falls off or breaks........little things, but frustrating..........

I don't know much about the vehicles you described, but any car or truck can have a great rating.  To me its all a craap shoot.  It all depends I think buying a car or truck is the ......luck of the draw !!!  Had a three friends...three identical trucks two were fine one was a complete lemon from the day it drove off the lot.......You just never know with anything Man Made........

Good luck.......two cars!!  today's gonna feel like Christmas !!  whoo hoo !!

Nauty........

[VicUser]

I have bought used cars before from "that brands" dealer. I have found that it is worth getting the extended warrenty even if it seems a bit expensive. I also purchased a used Saturn from a friend and transfered his extended warrenty to my name for $25. That was a good move, at 72,000 miles it started to use oil and at 75,000 mile, when the warrenty was up, Saturn rebuilt the engine for the $50 deductable. My son now has the car with 160,000 miles on it, and knock on wood, it is still going strong.

Good luck, it is always hard to go from what you know you have and take a chance. How much more would a new one cost for the same months of payments? I just read that the gov't may be offering a tax break if you purchase a new car. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/us/politics/06stimulus.html?hp