A satellite falls out of the sky directly onto your parked vehicle, disintegrating most of it and flattening the rest. You’ve had it a while but it still had legs, and you were not prepared or expecting to have to replace it anytime soon.
You’re given a nice settlement, more than enough to buy an exact replacement or an upgrade if you choose.
Do you buy the exact same vehicle?
An newer, better version of the same model?
Or something completely different?
I don’t drive any longer, but I was in that situation about ten years ago. Had a car for about 2 weeks and it was totalled in a crash, bought the exact same one except decided to go for the sunroof on the new one.
Buy exact same make and model and year. But then I just bought it 5 months ago 
I would get one additional option that I didn’t realize was an option. It’s a 4Runner, I figured that since it did not have the optional 3rd row seat, they would put storage where the third seat would fold down into.
That’s an option :smack:
I might buy something else totally different. Love my current 2009 SmartCar, but it is a maintenance and repair headache and it would be time for something else.
I’ve been driving Jeep Wranglers for a while now. I buy one, put around 150,000 miles on it, then trade for a new one. If my current Wrangler disappeared, I’d buy another Wrangler.
I would do what I always do, decide on my priorities and research which currently available cars meet my criteria, and then sit in/drive as many as I can get access to, usually at the annual auto show in Portland. Then buy.
BTW, I usually keep a vehicle for 10 to 15 years, or until the doors fall off.
When my old Miata got totaled, I used the proceeds to buy something new and much safer. The then-future Mrs. Charming and Rested really hated the Miata. It was loud, rough-riding and too dangerous. She deserves better. I don’t; I want another one.
I start the car search from scratch. Read reviews, take test drives, consider the prices decide about new or used etc… I’m happy with the choice I made when I first bought the now crushed car, so I may end up in it again, but the market may have changed since then suggesting a different one might be more suited to my needs.
I’ve currently got a Kia Soul, and it’s the easiest thing to get in and out of that I’ve ever had, or ridden in, or seen. My next car will not be harder to get in and out of, so it too will be a Soul. The only question is whether it will be electric or self-driving or whatever they have available at the time I replace it; I’m certainly not averse to upgrading to the newest model that suits my needs.
I buy something else (although not because I think the universe expects it of me).
I know what I want in terms of qualities and features, the trouble is finding it. I want a smaller car but I need legroom for me, the driver. I do volunteer work that requires a lot of space in the back. I want good (i.e. hybrid-level) mileage. I have a pretty good compromise now except the mileage sucks. I’d like a chance to find something closer to my perfect car/SUV/crossover/van.
You forgot “I’m perfectly happy with my old car, but I’d shop around before buying an exact replacement.”
I’d upgrade from my 2000 Subaru Outback to a new Forester. With 180k miles on my Outback, I’ll need this kind of deal to get anything for it now…
I get something different.
Part of that is just that I like changing things up. I suspect some of the poll results will just reflect people’s genetics. How open or closed we are to new experience is one of those personality traits with a significant influence from how we are at birth. The Army certainly had a strong nurture component by throwing me into lots of different situations.
Part of it is I only buy used. I then drive them till a good chunk of their useful life is gone. Five to six years of ownership is common and I’m typically buying 2-3 model years off the latest. That restricts car purchases to what’s available in the time frame when I decide to make a switch. Even if I was buying new, the exact same mix of features might no longer be available for sale. I’m likely not getting the exact same car because it’s not for sale. There may well be options that better fit my evaluation criteria than the actually available cars of the same make and model name.
Even when I’m happy with my current car, I find myself looking at other cars in parking lots to see if they might be something I’d like to own next time. So in that respect, I’m always on the lookout for the next one.
The current car (for almost nine years) is a Honda Fit, and while I’m happy with it, I might go for a small SUV (Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4) next time. But even the newer Honda Fit has some features (backup camera, better smartphone integration, etc) that weren’t available when I bought mine. So anything new would be an improvement.
I had to vote “something completely else”.
I buy something secondhand that’s good value – I don’t specifically look for something new, nor do I specifically look for the same/similar model.
Well, since my current Daily Driver is a one of a kind built by my uncle 25 years ago, getting one just like it now would be very difficult.
I would just take the money & use it to build me something else. Perhaps a Subaru powered trike, or maybe I would convert one of my Chevy LUV pickups to electric.
Heck, I just might buy a Stinson 108-03. I know where one is that has been sitting for decades. It needs rebuilt &/or modified.
Now you have gotten me to thinking about things that maybe I should not. My wife would not be happy with me if I started another project. She thinks I have enough already. I am down to two.
When I was changing cars every 2-3 years, I always tried something new. But I think if my present car - a Mazda CX-5 - was totaled, I’d get another one. I like this car a lot.
So, my CX 5 gets smooshed? Oh well. My question: does “a nice settlement, more than enough to buy an exact replacement or an upgrade”. cover an upgrade to a new small RV? If so, that’s my choice.
Sure!
Most of my shit would be pretty hard to replace. I’ll get a 2002 Subaru WRX with less than 150k and the head gaskets already done. Not a freakin’ white one!