We made a frugal car buying decision

**Heluvsme** · 03-05-2008, 09:16 AM

For over a year now we have known that we would need to replace my dh's car soon. He has 2 very (VERY!) old cars.....a Geo with 252,000 miles on it and a BMW with 277,000 miles on it (Yep, over half a million miles between the two). We keep cars forever....as you can tell. He drives nearly 100 miles a day, round trip, to his office. We live about 46 miles away from his office...they moved the office after we bought this house, and the taxes in Ohio are much higher than they are here, across the river, in Kentucky.

Anyways, sorry for the sidetrack there, LOL!!

We researched cars for a year.....we knew we wanted economical, reliable, good on insurance and gas, etc. We looked at Kia's, Chevy's, Toyotas, etc. We finally decided on a Ford Focus.....the price was excellent, the gas mileage good, insurance great, reliability (from Edmunds and Consumer Reports) was great.....and I feel like we made such a responsible decision.

We bought it on Monday, traded in the old cars, added some from our EF for a down payment, and we have excellent monthly payments. Our credit score was 760! WAHHH HOOO!!!

Living frugally is so satisfying. We know we didn't strap ourselves, we know we won't be hurting when and if gas hits $4 a gallon this summer (although it won't be fun, but it won't kill us). We know we got a good deal. Researching and being patient really does pay off!!!

**Samigirl** · 03-05-2008, 10:02 AM

Good job! We keep our cars forever too. My husband's car has 260,000 miles on it. He drives around 5000 miles a month. I am hoping to get my vehicle paid off before we have to buy another car for him. We'll be looking to buy a small car too, because we pay around $500 a month in gas as it is.

**della92** · 03-05-2008, 01:23 PM

Wow!

Amazing that the cars made it that long! Did you have to have many repairs or were you just systematic with the maintenance?

I have a VW Jetta, with 95K miles on, and I am hoping to keep it for a least 2-3 more years (approx 20,000 miles per year) so that I can hopefully buy the next car with cash. If it is still dependable, I will keep it longer.

It is very encouraging to hear your success story.

Della

**Heluvsme** · 03-05-2008, 01:45 PM

We just did the regular maintenance for the most part.....a few major repairs but nothing that warranted getting rid of them or anything.

I drive a 2003 VW Passat and it has 70,000 on it right now....but we keep up with all the routine care and hopefully I'll keep it for another 70,000 at least! I love my Volkswagen!!

Thanks for the kind words!!

**Darlene** · 03-05-2008, 01:48 PM

I think you really are going to love it, I know we do ours.

Congratulations.
Now for the details... what color? What's her name?

**Heluvsme** · 03-05-2008, 04:44 PM

LOL!!!

Let's see, color is I think Vapor Gray, maybe Vapor Silver? Something like that.

The name.....I don't know yet, since it's DH's, I'll ask him when he gets home tonight, see if he's referred to her as anything yet.

He was fretting yesterday...it was raining so hard here, and there was still residual salt left on the road from the last snow storm we had, he was all upset about the under-carriage! LOL!!

**powerfm1** · 03-06-2008, 06:57 AM

When I was looking for a new, used car last year, I had a Focus in mind. Got good reports from my smart consumer friends and all the research said they got great gas mileage and they could last for many high miles.

Couldn't find one anywhere. Seems people who are like us and keep cars until they get too expensive to fix, haven't seen the need to sell them.

It's okay, I got a great deal on a high mileage Jeep Cherokee (red). I don't drive very far, just within a 10 mile radius so the high miles wasn't a factor and the gas mileage isn't a major money eater for me. I only fill my tank every month and a half (thank heavens).

**jamie79** · 03-06-2008, 08:05 AM

I had one for a day as a rental when my car was in the shop. It was fun to drive

**Darlene** · 03-06-2008, 02:15 PM

Lol about your hubby worrying about the weather Heluvsme. Our focus is pretty much hubbys and we bought the blue one and he looks cute in it with his gray hair & blue eyes,lol. He doesn't care what color it is but I did, lol. I've only driven it once & still need to sit in there with the manual to figure out what all the buttons do. You get the SYNC? We passed on it.
It's the first new car we've ever bought and I keep looking at the low miles & smiling, lol. Enjoy!

**Heluvsme** · 03-06-2008, 04:12 PM

We passed on the Sync, it was just extra $$, and really, for us, not necessary. Plus, we had read on one of the reviews we looked at that many consumers were having trouble with some part of it, I can't remember if it was in the operating of it, or if it was post-factory technical problems.

He's funny, we have a vet appointment for our Chocolate Lab this Saturday, he asked me if I would mind taking his new Focus to work so he could use my Passat to take the dog to the vet. LOL!! He said he promised to vacuum out my car, but he didn't want to take any chances with his new upholstery.

I swear, you'd think he bought a Bentley!!

**cissylu** · 03-06-2008, 05:03 PM

I have a ford focu 4 door,and I just love it. congrat`s and enjoy.

**Michelle68** · 03-06-2008, 07:59 PM

Congrats on the new car! Focuses are cute cars and very economical.

--Michelle

**Bethany** · 03-06-2008, 11:12 PM

Congrats. I think that smaller, more economical cars are the wave of the future. Glad you bought American, but it's hard to stay away from Hyundai's and Kia's since they're so cheap and they have such good warranties. I drive a Ford Taurus Wagon and I love it. I've cut down my driving my atleast half (probably actually way more than that) but the Focus would be even way better on gas.