Would you buy a car to only keep for 6 months?

[ron10]

buy the one you want.

[Carzzy]

Originally Posted by GoBlue20

I had a car for only 6 months once, but my story is a little different. I was ready to mix things up a bit.

I traded in my 09 G8 GT for a 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe. I bought it off the lot... and after a while I felt like I settled just to make a change. Then I realized $40k didn't get me too much. I had NO bluetooth, NO heated seats, NO iPod or USB port... what I DID get was a neat looking Cadillac (IMO) that no one else had and BAD gas mileage for a V6 (80%ish highway driving and made 20mpg).

The Cadillac got OLD QUICK to me... I made better gas mileage with my G8 AND the G8 moved a whole lot faster. I kind of flirted with the idea of getting a SS. So I build one online, took the paper to the dealership, and in a month or so my SS was here, and it was 100% exactly how I wanted it. I went under on the trade in, but made up most of it on GMS Opt 1 pricing. So I'm alot happier with THIS car. I have all the options I want and still get better gas mileage than the Cadillac lol

Wow! Your story is a lot like mine! I sold a 2002 Vette Convertible to my best friend in NY. I traded my 2004 Grand Prix GTP on a new 2011 Cadillac CTS Performance Coupe. Getting down to one car was the purpose of all this! After only 2 months, I got very bored with the CTS Coupe and worked a good deal on my 2011 Camaro SS. The Caddy was a beautiful car, but not very much fun to drive! And yes, the gas mileage on the V6 Caddy was less than my SS LS3.

[GoBlue20]

Originally Posted by Carzzy

Wow! Your story is a lot like mine! I sold a 2002 Vette Convertible to my best friend in NY. I traded my 2004 Grand Prix GTP on a new 2011 Cadillac CTS Performance Coupe. Getting down to one car was the purpose of all this! After only 2 months, I got very bored with the CTS Coupe and worked a good deal on my 2011 Camaro SS. The Caddy was a beautiful car, but not very much fun to drive! And yes, the gas mileage on the V6 Caddy was less than my SS LS3.

Haha, nice. Ya I wasn't impressed. Maybe if it got 30mpg it may have been ok... because at least then I could justify in my mind having a V6. It says 27mpg highway on the window sticker... ya not even close. IF I'm gonna have a V6 its going to get good gas mileage... otherwise why not have a V8? Thats kinda crazy you traded a CTS coupe in for an 11 SS too... just goes to show you shouldn't jump the gun... get what you want!

[Bonanza7]

I've done it a couple of times. Stupid thing to do.

[~Stacy~]

I use to be the person that would trade my car in every 24 months. I did it to my last 3 new cars I purchased. I didn't even keep them up to the 36 month time frame for the bumper to bumper warranty. I could trade my 2010 camaro in this upcoming January since I owned it for 24 months but I have decided to keep it for another year and get every penny out my factory warranty. Why give your factory warranty up to a complete stranger?? After my heater core died last month and now I have another warranty part on order a relay switch for my brights I'm going to continue to milk my bumper to bumper warranty even though my suspension part has been voided since last November the majority of my car is still covered. She only has 15,000 miles on her, been accident free, and I already spent too much money customzing her to my unique needs. I think though I will buy her a sinister hood next year and maybe a set of rims. It's a lot cheaper than going in and getting another camaro again and starting the modding process ALL OVER AGAIN.

[armando416]

Originally Posted by Maker

Figure out the resale value, if you are getting a vert for 33k, I'm pretty sure you could sell it in 6 months and actually make a profit.

Thanks for all the good points from everyone; the one thing I don't think a lot of people are looking at is how good of a price it really is, though...everyone talking about the depreciation in the first year, etc...I don't know if its that much of an issue being a used car at this price. I bet if I turned around and sold it to Carmax a week after buying it I'd probably make a profit (figuring $35k as my approximate 'out the door' cost). I'm hoping to pretty much break even (or even small chance of a slim profit) if I go through with this. The car I'd be buying is a company car at the DC branch of my company; has about 6,000 miles on it. But, at the same time I guess there's no guarantees the used car market will still be as red-hot as it is now in 6 months. I just liked the idea of getting a 6 month 'test drive' of owning a convertible. It might be tough to get the full ownership experience in a dealership test drive or even renting it for a week (although I did really like that idea)

Decisions, decisions...it is such a nice looking car, though. Like someone posted, I 'got the bug'!

[2SSRSinBama]

I ended up buying used, but i'm glad I did...

I was going to "settle" with a '12 1SS... my price range was in the $32-34,000 range and I knew I couldn't get a 2SS with many options(if any for that)... my plan to pretty much get a stripper 1ss with the RS package, which was still going to be around $34,000 after it was all said and done... luckily, I ran across my car, which has every available option minus the GFX(which I'm not a fan of anyway) with only 5600 miles on it and I paid less than $34,000 for it(in fact only financed $32,800 and that is with GAP insurance thrown in)... even though I bought used, I was MUCH happier not settling than going out and buying something I was just going to settle with

[squat]

Originally Posted by armando416

Thanks for all the good points from everyone; the one thing I don't think a lot of people are looking at is how good of a price it really is, though...everyone talking about the depreciation in the first year, etc...I don't know if its that much of an issue being a used car at this price. I bet if I turned around and sold it to Carmax a week after buying it I'd probably make a profit (figuring $35k as my approximate 'out the door' cost). I'm hoping to pretty much break even (or even small chance of a slim profit) if I go through with this. The car I'd be buying is a company car at the DC branch of my company; has about 6,000 miles on it. But, at the same time I guess there's no guarantees the used car market will still be as red-hot as it is now in 6 months. I just liked the idea of getting a 6 month 'test drive' of owning a convertible. It might be tough to get the full ownership experience in a dealership test drive or even renting it for a week (although I did really like that idea)


Decisions, decisions...it is such a nice looking car, though. Like someone posted, I 'got the bug'!

Go for it. You make all very valid points.

[tramtwo]

33 k for a 2SS Vert is a steal... almost too good to be true! I traded a month old 2LT/RS Vert with 2400 miles and the dealer gave me 34,600.



I'd go over that car with a fine tooth comb. But if it checks out JUMP on it you can't loose... it will hold its value... not too many used verts around yet and there won't be in six months either.

[Wantconvertible]

I would wait

[LimaCharlie]

I can't imagine buying a car with the intention of only keeping it for 6 months. I get too attached to my vehicles. Regardless, I would wait until you get what you really want.!

[flem]

i would get it , have some fun today, who cares what tomarrow brings!!

[Carzzy]

Originally Posted by GoBlue20

Haha, nice. Ya I wasn't impressed. Maybe if it got 30mpg it may have been ok... because at least then I could justify in my mind having a V6. It says 27mpg highway on the window sticker... ya not even close. IF I'm gonna have a V6 its going to get good gas mileage... otherwise why not have a V8? Thats kinda crazy you traded a CTS coupe in for an 11 SS too... just goes to show you shouldn't jump the gun... get what you want!

Yeah, it was kinda crazy...buying on impulse does do that! The one good thing about it, the dealer really stretched on the Caddy for the Camaro. I was only $272 upside down to get out of the Caddy lease and bought the Camaro. I am happy I did!

[Scrappy Doo]

Buy it! And enjoy what's left of summer before the snow flies.