What Is Parked In Your Driveway?

Good call - Lexus is top of the reliability rankings (https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds) by a wide margin.

And if you plan on keeping it for 10 years obviously you want something with low miles. I would go for new too. Also once you get into finance if they don't sell the car with extended warranty see if you can haggle them down - I haggled down the 100k full coverage warranty from $2800 to $1k when I bought my Civic new in 2018.
Can't argue Toyota or Honda . Kid had a Honda Accord she drove to CA in spent 7 years there and drove it back. Only thing done was tires ,brakes, Battery and wipers oil changes. The Mrs and I have had 4 Toyotas over the years , 2 Corolla and 2 Camry's. Switched to Hyundai when she wanted something higher and more storage. Again the Warranty sold it for me over the Highlander. Had our 2013 Santa Fe Sport AWD for 11 years and 163,000, Hers in a 2021 Santa Fe Turbo .

Anyone got advice for buying a new car? For the last 20+ years I just bought directly from my brother who sold Fords, so now I'm on my own. Been reading up on how to approach a dealership, things like getting pre-approved before going in, focus on the "out the door" number vs monthly payment, don't talk trade-in until the end, etc. Anything else I should have in mind?

always go with the out the door price and already have your financing lined up. Use the high interest rates as leverage to explain why you need at this price now…

also if you are gonna trade, please know what price they can sell your car for now. Get comparables just like buying a house ala “ I know you guys can get 25k right now for my car”

Matty my best advice, the best you are going to do is haggle them a hundred here or there maybe a grand; don't settle for something because its a good deal

Between the passing of your brother and your delayed 50th birthday gift get the car you LOVE and when you pull out of that dealership with the new car smell in your nose and the memories of your brother and celebrating you made it 50 plus years in this rat race, just simply enjoy that moment and that moment alone will be an amazing deal.

We work to hard, go get what you want.

I was looking at a new truck about a year ago, but I’m waiting…interest rates don’t look too good compared to a paid off truck with zero problems ever sitting in the driveway

We work to hard, go get what you want.

I was looking at a new truck about a year ago, but I’m waiting…interest rates don’t look too good compared to a paid off truck with zero problems ever sitting in the driveway

everyone does there finances as though they will live forever

i am not saying run yourself into to major debit or be completely finical irresponsible

BUT there are folk in my office with good money squirrelled away and have made great investments but they are so damn cheap they can't enjoy the money

Single lady in her 60s in my office no kids no mortgage no nothing, six figure salary, she has plenty of coin

she moves her bed in the summer down to the basement where it is cooler so she doesn't have to run the AC, just one example of her cheap ways

i mean come the fuck on live a fucking little

FOLKS YOU CAN"T TAKE IT WITH YOU SO ENJOY LIFE

this guy is the go to guy for Toyota/ lexus

https://www.youtube.com/@TheCarCareNut

I watched several of his videos when researching Lexus, he really helped sell me on getting one

Matty my best advice, the best you are going to do is haggle them a hundred here or there maybe a grand; don't settle for something because its a good deal

Between the passing of your brother and your delayed 50th birthday gift get the car you LOVE and when you pull out of that dealership with the new car smell in your nose and the memories of your brother and celebrating you made it 50 plus years in this rat race, just simply enjoy that moment and that moment alone will be an amazing deal.

Thanks man, I pulled the trigger today, picking it up on Monday. I’ll post some pics then.

Thanks man, I pulled the trigger today, picking it up on Monday. I’ll post some pics then.

SWEET!!! Enjoy, well deserved

Thanks man, I pulled the trigger today, picking it up on Monday. I’ll post some pics then.

Congratulations, enjoy it!

a dead battery and multiple torn cv boots is not bad for 140k

my first runner the rear differential went out at 50K ; when they went to fix it they said it had half the required gear oil and that shit was built in japan

shit happens even to the best of the best

All those issues were within the first 60k miles though - the axles were replaced under warranty around 40k, then again at 80k, and they're making noise again as of 130k (I haven't gotten them fixed though since I'm out of warranty now).

The battery thing - if you buy a new battery (let's say from Interstate) it comes with a 5 year prorated warranty. That means if it goes bad before 5 years/60k miles they partially cover the cost of the replacement. Honda only covers a battery in a brand new car to 3 years/36k. That means they're putting cheap Chinese junk batteries in their brand new models.

I've also had issues with the a/c compressor and it currently has a fuel pump recall on it (parts aren't available yet).

Overall I've had more issues in 5 years of owning the Civic then I had in 10 years with the Corolla. Of course YMMV. I just think Toyota is a better company.