# Optimum car buying strategy to minimize total ownership costs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570 "2012-06-18T21:20:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570/62 "2014-01-08T18:51:53Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > That’s often repeated, but it’s just not true. If it was, the whole new car business would tumble and prices would come down. The fact is that millions of consumers are willing to pay a premium for a new car for several reasons I can think of off the top of my head: You missed the number 1 reason: People buy new because it is a status symbol; in fact the car is second only to the house as the biggest status symbol most people own. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570/63 "2014-01-08T20:10:17Z")
Is my brand-new Honda Fit more of a status symbol than my neighbor’s new-to-him certified pre-owned Mercedes SL500? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570/64 "2014-01-08T20:49:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Right. Sure, there’s accelerated depreciation right after you drive it off the lost, but unless as you (as \*\*jtgain \*\*mentions) total the car (and have cheap insurance) that’s a paper loss. Once you drive a new car 3-5 years, it’s meaningless. > > This is a old canard, oft repeated and as often wrong. I suspect it started when the expected life, and quality, of cars was much worse than today. I just got a card looking to buy my 4 year old Prius for only $3,000 less than I paid for it. The used car market is a lot different that it used to be, since the price now reflects cost of ownership and quality. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570/65 "2014-01-08T23:04:13Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I suspect it started when the expected life, and quality, of cars was much worse than today. > I just got a card looking to buy my 4 year old Prius for only $3,000 less than I paid for it. The used car market is a lot different that it used to be, since the price now reflects cost of ownership and quality. Oh sure, that is likely. Cars lasted 3 years, 5 if lucky, and many people bought a new car every year or two. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570/66 "2014-01-09T21:11:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Oh sure, that is likely. Cars lasted 3 years, 5 if lucky, and many people bought a new car every year or two. I remember those cars. Back in the fifties and sixties odometers only went to 99,999.9 miles before rolling over to zero, and you were damn lucky to get there. These days 140,000 miles is probably the median. Mostly I credit corrosion protection, I had a 1968 Dodge Charger with a 318 engine that you couldn’t kill, but after only 8 years it had rusted so badly there were pieces falling off and the floorboards leaked so badly water would hit the roof liner when you drove through puddles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimum-car-buying-strategy-to-minimize-total-ownership-costs/625570.md?page=3)