Argument from Ignorance.

[Asterisked Accolade]

I've noticed with those i know who have little to no knowledge of cars, when faced with the decision to purchase a car, only consider something new. This has been something that perplexes me more often than not, and leaves me scratching my chin as i ponder it during showers at midnight.

For myself, when i consider getting another car, it's almost never something new. I consider cars at least four years old-- often from the 90's, actually. I've thought to myself, 'Maybe they want something new because it's under warrantee.' But those who cause me to have these questions never site warantees and cash incentives as their source of trepidation.

There was something that hit me about these people i know and the correlation between their need to have their cars be new. Every person who had said attitude knew barely anything about cars. That fact hadn't seemed prominent early-on in my query. But it quickly became the star of my confusion. These people were not after the greatest powertrain warantees-- they had this idea that cars were like ticking time-bombs just waiting to explode. They seemed to embrace this idea that a car was a bastion of perfection, and every day that went by was another hundredth of a percent of the chance the car would spontaneously break. Whenever i talk of a car that is six years old or so, they reply with retorts such as, "Sure, but it'll probably break soon."

Anyways, that was a long anecdote, but i guess that concoction boils down into the question: Do you think people who know little about cars, feel as though cars just break once they get a little aged? Possibly because they don't think much about preventative maintenance or how their components actually work? Or do you think most people just want something fresh, with the newest luxuries and that's been mostly untouched by past buyers?


For myself in this particular situation with the people i know, i think they just argue from ignorance about cars.

[jedibow]

I think it's novelty personally, however I'm more like you. I'm still looking for a z32...

[b_massey02]

Thats probably true. :-P People are scared of what they don't understand, and most folks seem to have too much going on to bother with understanding even the basics about their cars.

[Dave-ROR]

I'd say it's mixed. For sure some people are just afraid of cars breaking and having that expense (while putting no thought into how those monthly payments more than offset the cost of repairs on an older vehicle). Some do so for image, especially true in many professions that take clients out in their vehicles. I find that somewhat understandable, most people would naturally have a lower opinion of a real estate agent driving a 1994 Chevy Lumina for example than a 2012 Ford Fusion, etc. And sure, some people follow the "newer is better" mindset and always want the latest.

I just drive what I enjoy.

[Spd229]

Probably mixed. Choosing old vs new brings about many different points.

While new cars may have problems, to some people it seems like less of a gamble than buying a used car that may not have been properly taken care of or require less work bringing up to personal spec. Granted I don't think people weighing those types of things seriously really are part of your inquiry.

The type of person you're referencing (those who really have no argument for why they insist on having a new car over a used one) very well may simply be afraid of what they don't know. They worry that within X time they'll be faced with Y repairs costing Z dollars. Granted there's the same argument for buying 1st generation new cars, "there'll be recalls and all other sorts of problems, you'd be best getting something else."

For other people, they may just prefer to have something that is their own from the very beginning. Whether it's simply because they can afford it or it's something they've had their heart set on (which was definitely the case for my FR-S).

Yes, there are many people who really do view a car as a ticking time bomb. Which makes sense to a degree, it's a machine, it has parts, parts wear over time, parts eventually fail (even though as Dadhawk demonstrates, it may be long after a trip to the moon). They however take it to an extreme due to a possible lack of knowledge or maybe they really have just had that poor of luck with automobiles.

Finally, it really depends on how used we're talking. Unfortunately the used market isn't really all that friendly or even much of a bargain unless you're looking at higher mileage cars or older year model cars. And even then I've seen rather high prices on vehicles. When you're calling the difference between a used car you want or the same car but the current year model with a total price difference of maybe $2-5k I can understand simply choosing the newer car. I spent the last year looking at cars (until the twins were announced and found nothing that fit my budget that fit what I was looking for, perhaps I was just unrealistic. But generally I found people wanted 3-5k more than what the cars were actually worth when in decent shape)

Additionally, I'm a sucker for 90's cars. I was -this- close to picking up an RX-7 but couldn't justify it as I was shopping for a primary. I just hope I can find another one in a few years (maybe by then I'll have decided on an FC (88+) or FD xD)

[Asterisked Accolade]

Originally Posted by Spd229

Probably mixed. Choosing old vs new brings about many different points.

While new cars may have problems, to some people it seems like less of a gamble than buying a used car that may not have been properly taken care of or require less work bringing up to personal spec. Granted I don't think people weighing those types of things seriously really are part of your inquiry.

The type of person you're referencing (those who really have no argument for why they insist on having a new car over a used one) very well may simply be afraid of what they don't know. They worry that within X time they'll be faced with Y repairs costing Z dollars. Granted there's the same argument for buying 1st generation new cars, "there'll be recalls and all other sorts of problems, you'd be best getting something else."

For other people, they may just prefer to have something that is their own from the very beginning. Whether it's simply because they can afford it or it's something they've had their heart set on (which was definitely the case for my FR-S).

Yes, there are many people who really do view a car as a ticking time bomb. Which makes sense to a degree, it's a machine, it has parts, parts wear over time, parts eventually fail (even though as Dadhawk demonstrates, it may be long after a trip to the moon). They however take it to an extreme due to a possible lack of knowledge or maybe they really have just had that poor of luck with automobiles.

Finally, it really depends on how used we're talking. Unfortunately the used market isn't really all that friendly or even much of a bargain unless you're looking at higher mileage cars or older year model cars. And even then I've seen rather high prices on vehicles. When you're calling the difference between a used car you want or the same car but the current year model with a total price difference of maybe $2-5k I can understand simply choosing the newer car. I spent the last year looking at cars (until the twins were announced and found nothing that fit my budget that fit what I was looking for, perhaps I was just unrealistic. But generally I found people wanted 3-5k more than what the cars were actually worth when in decent shape)

Additionally, I'm a sucker for 90's cars. I was -this- close to picking up an RX-7 but couldn't justify it as I was shopping for a primary. I just hope I can find another one in a few years (maybe by then I'll have decided on an FC (88+) or FD xD)

I really think that statement there is the root of many of the people i'm talking about-- they just don't know and when you don't know, you worry.

I agree with all your points and i thank you for taking the time to post such a consise and accurate response.

[Mr. Mcoupe]

I would not expect everyone to be fully informed about cars and therefore operate with varying degrees of ignorance, so to answer your questions, Yes, Yes, Yes.

I think about Kate Upton during showers at midnight

[shadoquad]

I prefer new cars.

I don't like buying other people's problems. If a car has 10k mi on it, was it driven back and forth by putt-putter granny to get her groceries, or did Billy the video store clerk treat it as his personal track toy and wear out half the components? There is a higher degree of uncertainty where repairs are concerned, yes, and if I buy new, there is certainly a warranty to fall back on.

Also, I prefer new because I prefer newest tech. When I bought my 2010 Z, I could have bought an '05 Vette or a '00 911. Half of the 911's I looked at still had cassette players, the Vette was ok, but the Z had keyless start. Little amenities, but fun for me.

Cars are only new once. I like to own them right off the truck.

If that makes me ignorant and unknowledgeable, then fine, guilty as charged, sorry that offends you so.

[Ben_G]

Although I know that most cars can take more abuse that is actually dished out by owners, just seeing how some people treat their cars makes me wonder how else the are destroying their ride.....it's because of what I DON'T see that I buy new....

Some examples of things I see everyday:
1) Park by the curb method (drive until the curb straightens them out)
2) Startndrive (Starting a car while simultaneously putting it into drive and pressing the gas all the same time, just so that they can leave the commuter parking lot first)
3) Two footers (Driving with your other foot on the brakes)

[Zgrinch]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

I prefer new cars.

I don't like buying other people's problems. If a car has 10k mi on it, was it driven back and forth by putt-putter granny to get her groceries, or did Billy the video store clerk treat it as his personal track toy and wear out half the components? There is a higher degree of uncertainty where repairs are concerned, yes, and if I buy new, there is certainly a warranty to fall back on.

Also, I prefer new because I prefer newest tech. When I bought my 2010 Z, I could have bought an '05 Vette or a '00 911. Half of the 911's I looked at still had cassette players, the Vette was ok, but the Z had keyless start. Little amenities, but fun for me.

Cars are only new once. I like to own them right off the truck.

If that makes me ignorant and unknowledgeable, then fine, guilty as charged, sorry that offends you so.

+1 I'm with you on this.

I'm of the opinion that very few will take care of the car like I would, so I buy new. Especially a sports car.

[Asterisked Accolade]

Originally Posted by shadoquad

I prefer new cars.

I don't like buying other people's problems. If a car has 10k mi on it, was it driven back and forth by putt-putter granny to get her groceries, or did Billy the video store clerk treat it as his personal track toy and wear out half the components? There is a higher degree of uncertainty where repairs are concerned, yes, and if I buy new, there is certainly a warranty to fall back on.

Also, I prefer new because I prefer newest tech. When I bought my 2010 Z, I could have bought an '05 Vette or a '00 911. Half of the 911's I looked at still had cassette players, the Vette was ok, but the Z had keyless start. Little amenities, but fun for me.

Cars are only new once. I like to own them right off the truck.

If that makes me ignorant and unknowledgeable, then fine, guilty as charged, sorry that offends you so.

I tried to make it clear enough that i don't view all who buy new as ignorant or uneducated.

However, i do find it very sad that you don't give older cars a chance. Think of all the wonderful cars from the past people like that will never experience or enjoy. I'm a fairly pessimistic and cynical person, but i still can't view buying used as buying someone's problems. I really like the guys at GrassrootsMotorsports.com because they specialize in older cars and restorations and/or classic sports cars. They understand that buying older can lead to just as much if not more satisfaction and gratification.

I don't really agree that a car is only new once. Every part is as new as whenever it was replaced. Replace something with a new one-- and it's new again. If you mean, it only once-- as a whole-- rolls out of a factory once, then i guess i concede that point. But, I've grown up in a house of building hot rods and resto-modding 60s and 70s muscle, and i have a sentimental attachment with older cars. I could never give those wonderful memories up because they weren't new.

But If you want to buy new, that's your choice-- and you have reasons which are justified to you. I'm not going to light a cross on fire in your front lawn or tie a brick to your ankle atop a bridge.