Thank you MMM for the car advice. I just sold my 2019 Ford Ranger 4x4 for $33,000. I'm no longer in debt and the credit card accounts are paid and closed. For the rest of the year I'll be doing Uber's from time to time until I decide which used car to buy with "cash." Good luck to anyone out there digging there self out of debt. If I can do it, you can too. I promise, just don't give up.
Well said! I had been debating between a Prius and a Honda Insight and a Honda Fit. The prius and insight do not have enough room to haul a chevy silverado transmission or engine. I want to be able to use my car as a pickup. I ended up buying a 2008 Honda Fit and I get 36.5 mpg. I have already hauled a 20 ton hydraulic shop press that was fully assembled in it. I love this car and I don't have to worry about a hybrid battery.
"dont think of your car as your identity unless you're thinking of showing people that you're smart" damn straight. You're the best, I truly appreciate all the wisdom you're sharing with us plebs. Hail MMM!
You, sir, are a friend of humanity. You encourage people to ride a bike, but you aren't too snooty to actually give some REALLY solid car advice for people who actually do need 4 wheels and a windshield.
This video really saved me when I found myself in a job with a minimum of an 1.5 hour 82 mile round trip commute. I was able to get the car of my dreams a year and a half ago based on your research presented here. My friends and family laugh at my swooning over a 2010 Prius but I honestly feel blessed! Thanks again!🙏🏻🙏🏻
Big help😀 .. What I have taken away from your channel: 1. Started Walking to do errands. My store , dry cleaners, bank, post office ect. 2. Stop eating out. Paid off car... And shop pantry first and just add what's need . Thanks for great tips...
Thanks for the video MMM, quick Craigslist tip to not have to x out all the duplicates is you can check the search option right below search title only to also "bundle duplicates" keep up the good work Little MM!
Hey MMM! Newer reader of your blog finally having caught up after the last two years. Something that saved me from a terrible car situation was having a shared approach. Before any frugal stubble of my own I made the mistake of buying new thinking the reliability would be better as a form of repair avoidance. Much more informed these days after helping a friend who is a hobby mechanic, and confident I’ll be able to keep this one running until it rusts to the ground. In the mean time, I did a major uproot and moved to a bike friendly city, have been cycle commuting for the last year and a half (going on two Canadian winters but still doable). As for my car, a family member and I came to the agreement that she could use it for getting to and from her offices as the buses are not an option, and as for the return I catch a ride back home for family visits and outings. After doing the math I still feel it’s a win-win even though best outcome would be complete car-free life for us both but finding that simply being car-less has opened so many opportunities for personal growth and more intentional use of our time. Thank you for your many wise words, I recommend your material to everyone wondering if this is a crazy outlier lifestyle. Cheers, and happy riding from Hamilton! (Or driving only when it absolutely makes sense)
Yay Hamilton! That's where I went to engineering school, so I spent the winters biking back and forth in the snow from downtown out to McMaster U. It was a fine city for biking even back then, but now when I visit I notice it has been transformed with GREAT protected bike lanes everywhere. So it's even better.
Paid $1000 for a 2006 Toyota Prius with a dead hybrid battery. Paid $600 for a refurbished hybrid battery and car is good to go. 50mpg and cheap insurance.
One THOUSAND dollars for a useful, efficient car? That is an amazing accomplishment. But yeah, the used car market gets really crazy at the fringes. So a little bit of knowledge goes a long way - and you can save $200,000 over 20 years making decisions like that versus getting even a slightly upscale care like a bottom-end BMW and then replacing it every few years "to avoid the expensive repair bills"
On the "people who write good ads tend to take care of their cars," I agree. As a court reporter of 20 years, I've noticed that a disproportionate amount of my murdered at home victims didn't make their beds (and often the rest of the house followed). Other reporters noted that a disproportionate amount of at home murder victims had dream catchers or crosses above their beds. Kind of thought that people who don't take care of the little things (like making a bed) don't take care of bigger things (like being discerning about their relationships or habits, etc.) I think the dream catcher/cross folks are just magical thinkers who don't make logical decisions about much of anything. It's certainly not cause and effect. But there is some type of correlation. Thanks for a great video.
My 2007 Mazda 3 sedan is still going strong after 12.5 years! I’m the first owner, and have been flippant at best about the maintenance. Rarely got it serviced at the Mazda dealership, just wherever was cheapest. Never had a major issue. Just now starting to replace a few things at $125k miles. Mazda forever!
Just purchased a 2015 Leaf S for 7500 with home charger and absolutely love it. I call it my poor mans Tesla. Paid cash and super cheap insurance. When I pass a gas station I chuckle!
Well said! I had been debating between a Prius and a Honda Insight and a Honda Fit. The prius and insight do not have enough room to haul a chevy silverado transmission or engine. I want to be able to use my car as a pickup. I ended up buying a 2008 Honda Fit and I get 36.5 mpg. I have already hauled a 20 ton hydraulic shop press that was fully assembled in it. I love this car and I don't have to worry about a hybrid battery.
1. Thank you for your blogs and summaries over the past few years. While I'm nowhere near Mustachian levels, your blog helped me choose a car (I had a ridiculous bus commute at the time) that is still going strong today and that I hope to drive into the ground (2008 yaris hatchback bought in 2013). It's been amazing on maintenance and gas :) Your posts have also helped me find what I value and be moderate about some of my spending. It's been a good change of perspective (though I still disagree about biking in Canadian winters!) 2. Aww the Yaris got dethroned :(
Only channel I've subscribed to before watching one of their videos... but to be fair, I'm about 400 articles into your blog, so I think my bar still remains high...
I've never lived more than 15 minutes from work. Can't stand traffic. I'm totally fine with an older car until I have enough wealth to splurge on a Tesla 😁
WOW!!!! I used to read the MMM site a few years back but lost it at some point. When this video popped up as a RUclips suggestion, I was like "OH YEAH!!!" Awesome you're on RUclips!!!! On topic, I was debt free for about 7 years. My last car was a 2007 Toyota Yaris which I paid off and drove for about 10 years (yep....) Finally, I had enough saved up after maxing out my 401k, Roth IRA, etc and about 2 years ago I bought a... Tesla!!! It was not for any financial reason but many, many non-financial reasons that I can't really list here. I bought it used of course. And it's almost paid off already. And I do have quite a nice nest egg in the bank. Anyway, I'm not posting here to invite criticism. Mostly to say follow MMM (and Dave Ramsey) because the advice WORKS. I put my time in for a hard decade of saving my ass off, and all I can say is now life is damn good! Keep up the good work MMM! Subscribed! P.S. G DAMN I love this car. Teslas are freaking amazeballs.
I can attest to what he said about how good snow tires are. I also have a 2005 mustang with snow tires and I have been on the steepest street in town (As steep as san francisco streets) up her in ND and I have come to a complete stop half way up the hill and lay on it and it claws its way to the top. It is like having 4x4. Growing up I thought snow tires were a joke, but now that I have owned them. They are amazing!
@@Jordan-ym5gf My brother's 2013 Kia Sorento engine locked up for no reason at 80,000 miles, but thank God that he was under the 100,000 mile warranty.
I’m 50 and thinking about getting a car to travel to our beach house. This was hugely helpful! I’ve never purchased a car. Thank you! I’ve been reading your stuff for years btw
Me too! Mine is a 2008 Fit and I get 36.5 mpg. My biggest load so far is a 20 hydraulic fully assembled press in the back, but I plan to haul chevy silverado transmissions and engines in the back too!
I have two 2013 Nissan Leafs. Paid $8500 each. I have owned them for two years now. No maintenance issues yet. Very dependable and fun to drive. Best part, NO Gas required.
I frequently buy lumber and occasionally need to move appliances. A pickup is a must for me. I’m looking to replace my 1997 F-150 with a compact pickup. Hope you will cover pickups next
My 2006 Pontiac Vibe 5 door with a trailer hitch could do more than my Toyota Tundra ever could, except pull my heavy ass boat. Glad I got rid of both and bought the Vibe, hitch and trailer instead. Trailer is a Triton xt 4.5 aluminum trailer. Super light. 4.5 feet by 10 feet. Low to the ground and tilt bed. Built my own railing for it. For the rare event I need to haul something bigger, I just rent a truck for a day or by the hour (Home Depot).
I bought a 2008 Honda Fit. I get 36.5 and I use it as a pickup. I have hauled a fully assembled 20 ton hydraulic shop press in it. I can also fit a chevy silverado engine or transmission it it. This car is amazing! This is the reason I didn't buy my neighbors 2010 honda insight that gets 41 mpg, but has no more room than a prius.
Hey MMM. You did a book review on The Intelligent Asset Allocator and I read it because of you. It is a good book and I learned a lot but I was hoping you could do a video on asset allocation.
I am in the predicament of being a mustachian car enthusiast, in a non-bike oriented area. I like cars that are fun to drive and have some character, but also efficient. My solution for now is my ‘90 Honda CRX that averages 40+ mpg. I rarely have to carry people or large loads, so it works for me. I know, if I’m not carrying people or loads, I should be on a bicycle. I do ride my bicycle around my town, but it’s a small town with limited resources. School + work are outside of my town, so I drive. The single 50 mph highway that circles our island (kaua’i) has minimal bike lanes/paths, and the 3 ft wide shoulders are mostly overgrown with grass and trees. any thoughts? (Somewhat of a risk taker compared to the average person, but even I’m skeptical about riding a bike on the highway with unfocused drivers going 50-60 mph within a couple feet of me. Motorcycle? Scooter?)
Thanks for this video! I’ll share this with my son who will be driving in a few years. He thinks he should drive a Tesla...we are working on him and his expectations;) Nice plug for the bike at the end.
The matrix should not be considered for a new driver imo. It has terrible blind spots. I had one, bought it new and it ran perfectly but the blind spots were scary in crowded metro traffic. After 7 years I sold it because I didn't feel safe driving it.
This was a good episode. I'm glad to see the Leaf on this list. I drive a 2013 Nissan Leaf most of the time and a 2008 BMW coupe, which I really love, mostly on weekends. Both were purchased used and paid off. I'm not a mustacian yet but I think it's a good compromise.
MMM love the video, thank you! The better half will definitely not give up her car, however with 1 vehicle (and me on the bike) this has worked well as a method for our two different methodologies. Thoughts on this, or other ways to look at this? Some followup future vid ideas. Perhaps discuss how someone can get into integrating cycling into their life the best, how you utilize it each day, AND some more followups on that super sick leaf that you have. Once I have installed and posted about my Bafang E-bike motor/kit I will let you know!
Been driving a 2010 Prius since... Well, 2010. I haven't had one service light or issue in the entire time. Not one.... Love this car. I'm planning on driving this thing until the wheels fall off.
Bonez1999 yo this is a really late comment that you probably won’t see, but how has it been now? I’m about to turn 16, and we have around $5000 to spend. I’ve been looking at Civics, corollas, Mazda 3s, but I am wondering about the Prius. Namely have you had to replace the battery? How long do they last, and if you have how much does getting the replacement cost?
@@loganbittner6265 Battery still going strong. If you want a reliable car that's gonna run a long time with minimal maintenance, the Prius is it. Since I haven't had to replace the battery yet, I'm not really sure how much it is. I know prices have definitely gone down. A new battery I wanna say may be a couple grand or so, but I think you can also get after-market batteries that are cheaper... But probably not as good. I love this car.
I loved the comment about not impressing people / determining your self worth by buying expensive shit and driving it around and damaging your community 😂
So far, I’m doing fine with a 2001 Nissan Frontier (2wd extended cab). It isn’t the most fuel efficient thing, but it’s reliable and I spent $3k on it. Also, I’m a bachelor so family isn’t much of a consideration.
Honda Fit is still great! It just didn't quite make this very short list from Consumer Reports. But absolutely, keep that on your shopping list too - 2009+ models get the newer, roomier design.
I was wondering the same! I am still driving a 1991 CRX I bought used with 135K seven years ago, but after driving my girlfriends 2016 Fit (with the CVT transmission), the Fit is now on my 2023 wish list......
@@justinofboulder OOOO, that model of CRX was my Dad's car when I was in high school (he had a 1989 "Si" model in bright yellow), and I would occasionally get to borrow it, for example when trying to impress a girl. I have such great memories of the little machine.
I said the same thing! I'm like wears the fit! The snazzy Prius surprised me. "it's like a regular Prius, only more expensive" That seemed so unmustachian. But then I realized it wasn't MMM list. I like how you went through the how process of looking for a good used car. I always assumed everyone knew that. But I'm surprised how often people have no idea how to get a deal. They have been trained by dealerships that this is where you buy and sell cars.
I have a 2012 Nissan Leaf that was bought for $8200. Have free fast charging at work and my commute is 1.5 miles each way. In the warmer months I bike, take my moped, or my boys electric scooter to work. Plus, I get paid $20 a month for not driving a gas car to work and using “alternative transportation” to work.
Lots of great info, I especially agree about well written adds....I have scored a couple of great used cars from adds that were clearly written by owners who cared, and even sold them to me at a discount because I made it clear my intention (to keep them going and wasn't looking to "flip"). While I don't plan to buy another vehicle for a few years, I browse CL a few times a week (definitely an interesting social experiment reading some of the adds...). One observation, while we are starting to see less manual transmission vehicles produced, I am seeing more used manuals not moving very quickly and priced much lower (on the used market anyway)....
Yeah, when it comes to gas-powered cars I have always insisted on manual-only. More fun, lighter weight, more reliable and more efficient (especially in the olden days before CVT automatics). But now with the era of the gas car just about over, it seems to matter less. As people get their first taste of electric driving and realize how much better it is than gasoline in all ways, transmissions will become obsolete because all electric cars are One Speed. It's like having the power of first gear all the way from zero to 100 MPH, and yet with no shifting and beautifully dead silent.
I drive a manual 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage, it's ridiculously fancy and nice, and the three cylinder engine gets around 50-60mpg when hypermiling. (My record is 90 miles per gallon on a mostly downhill, calm road trip) I bought it a month after the 2016 came out, so the dealer was very desperate to get rid of it; brand new, all sorts of extra features, 100k warranty, paid $10k. Since I'm driving it for at least a decade, maybe two, I'm happy with this choice. By then I'm sure self driving electric cars will be the standard and I'll be thrilled to make the switch!
This is definitely going to be my go to video to show friends when they're in the market for a new vehicle. I hate to see good friends go in deep debt for an unnecessary vehicle.
Just wanted to say that with sites that detect adblock I pair adblock with remove overlay. Easy right click and remove overlay to keep that browsing simple!
I had the 2009 matrix. It was quick, reliable and fun and nice looking BUT ....it has the most horrible blind spots of any vehicle I have ever driven and I have driven dozens of different make and model small cars and trucks. ( I had to travel and rent cars for work).. I felt the blind spots were so unsafe that I sold it and didn't pass it on to a family member who wanted it even though it was pristine with low mileage.
When doing screen-capture, consider doing holding down CTRL and hitting the '+' button to zoom. Zooming in will help make it easier to read what's on the screen in the video, especially for those folks with lower bandwidth watching in 360p.
MMM or fellow viewers, want your input. I'm leaving the Virgin Islands for Tampa where an $80K per year job awaits. Bought a wee travel trailer that holds its value (I've lived on boats; it's not a big deal -- I don't have much!) Nearest RV park is 15 miles from where I'll work. Rent: $350 per month -- far below the median $1200+ for even a studio on the area. Car dilemma: Am selling my VI car for $7K and can buy a Lexus SUV to tow it for $9K. I plan to use it for travel/camping once or twice a month for a day or two. I think I can also score a Toyota Echo for around $1K to $2K that -- because of age -- might need more maintenance but will have insanely better gas mileage. Can pay cash for everything. The Lexus (insurance and gas) would make my expenses -- and I mean EVERYTHING -- about $850 per month. Should I get the less reliable but better gas car? Or get the reliable Lexus and worry less and just rent a U-Haul pickup with a hitch for when I go camping? Your thoughts are important to me. Thanks!
Hi MMM: I have a question for you. Like you, I care about not destroying the Earth. My spouse and I make modest incomes doing environmental work, and thanks to you, we live an efficient and fairly sustainable lifestyle that should enable us to retire earlier than most. Because we value our habitat, and we know that our individual lifestyle changes alone in a fossil-fuel based economy won't stop climate change, we also donate to environmental causes (and people-centered ones, too) addressing this most pressing of issues at the policy level. More donations = later retirement, but fewer donations feels like not giving our all to mitigate an epoch-defining crisis. How do you, as an environmentalist and financial badass, recommend we reconcile our sense of urgency around the climate with our sense of urgency to get out of the rat race? (Environmental work is Sisyphean and draining).
And I don't mean just monetary donations... canvassing during elections, volunteering in our community, etc. are also gifts of our time to the cause - time that most FI-ers recommend one spend chasing FI.
Just got my wife a leaf because she drives such short trips, the combustion engine couldn’t heat up. As a result would have issues after a few months, need new spark plugs and such. A used leaf with 68k for 8k was perfect. Then with solar we charge when its sunny, dirt cheap per mile driving
The first gen. Pontiac Vibe is a gift from god to mustachians needing a car. They are re-badged Toyota Matrix so needless to say they are pretty much bulletproof. They're also cheap on gas, cheap on insurances, cheap on maintenance, pretty versatile, easy to work on and mostly cheaper to buy than Matrix's.
Yup, I have a 2004, It was given to me with a blown engine and I sourced a used one out of a junkyard and installed it myself. Fantastic car and even with over a quarter million miles gets 30+ MPG
Definitely agree. Had one with AWD for a long time with zero issues. Would still have it today if we weren't rear ended by an F-350. We were stopped at a red light and he was texting and slammed into us going 30+ mph. Everyone (including my toddler and dog in the car) walked away a little sore, but without a scratch.
Got my 2006 Pontiac Vibe Base Model with manual transmission in 2010 with 67k miles for $7000. I'm currently at 240k miles with only regular maintenance. Same exhaust! I love this thing. Hope to get 100k more miles. Tows my utility trailer great (no need for a pickup).
What I worry about in today’s market, since I’m not car savvy, is ending up with a used car that has been in one of the many recent floods around this country. 😬
Ahaha, aren't automatic ads silly sometimes? Still, thanks for watching and clicking on any such videos, so that Ford's Pickup Truck division can fund little MM's college tuition! :-)
Yeah. My neighbor just offered me his 2010 Honda Insight for $4900 with 132,000 miles that get 41 mpg, but I turned it down, because it has no more cargo capacity than the prius. I bought a Honda Fit instead and get 36.5 mpg, but I can haul chevy silverado engines and transmissions in it. It's my little pickup! ;)
Right before I started reading MMM I bought myself a 2017 VW Polo, 3 cylinder 60hp, manual transmission, from the dealership for 10k euros. You be the judge if that’s a good deal. I am very torn about my decision, as I love the car when I drive it, but I drive so rarely that I only have to fill it up every 2-3 months. And the tank is only 40 liters (10 gallons)
Kelly Blue book is owned by a major corporation dealing with used cars, prices have been inflated in service of their interests, check out what Scotty Kilmer has to say about them and JD Powers.
My plan is to just get a job close to home, commute via bike, and keep a cheap EV/PHEV around and rent it on Turo when I'm not using it. If share fleets were more ubiquitous it would be much easier for people to go car free.
One thing you forgot to mention about Craigslist: 95% of the listings are flippers and dealers. In looking at the listings and corresponding with the owners, try to filter these out and stick with real sellers for best results.
Cars are not a waste of money, not in the USA or anywhere, really. I drive my VW T6 Bulli all over Switzerland and neighboring countries like Italy, Austria, France, and Germany. It's reliable, good-looking and great for going up and down mountains, through snow and carrying lots of people and baggage/equipment. It makes road trips sooooo fun.
Just for the fun of it, I looked up the cheapest prius I could find here in Denmark. 20.000$ for a 2012 with 72.000 miles on it. But I did find a 7.000$ mazda 3. So some of the choices in this vid is probably possible here too.
Being both a car guy and financially responsible is so difficult. I have a paid off car I enjoy but it's getting expensive to maintain and I need a new vehicle that I've been procrastinating forever
True. But in my case, someone who's family likes to camp, go off-road, to the beach and generally haul stuff, a jeep GC has fit the bill. I have looked at rav4, CrV, Grand Vitara, Kluger, but storage, the ability to camp in the vehicle, the GC won out. Plus they are not very dear if you go 06 to 10. So everyone's case is different. I myself drive many vehicles and most small cars on this list are just too small for me. Tall with long legs. Plus, if you have a dog, even a small hatch back is too small for our dog to be comfortable.
Some info on your craigslist post is incorrect. Often purchasing vehicles from older people can be a really good deal, I flip cars quite a bit and always search for vehicles on Craigslist without pictures because it often means it’s an older person who doesn’t know how to post them AND a lot of people gloss over listings with no picture.
I think you should also factor in maintenance, and what kind of driving and lifestyle they have. None of those cars would work for me. A used car is the smartest choice, but a small hatch or SUV is not always the smartest choice. I fit into a new I30, but anything smaller and my legs are part of the dash. ometimes a pickup may be the best choice if they use it for work.
Do you have any resources to help avoid lemon years? I know some popular models of cars have a strong negative for certain years which should be avoided.
great video. however LOL I did do a lot of this and when I went to the dealership of used cars with a certified check just $1,000 lower than what they were asking they didn't want to talk to me any further. I was forced to bring the check back to my bank :-(
I think I see where you went wrong - the word "dealership" should never enter your vocabulary when buying or selling a used car. They're just a fatty layer in the middle between smart buyers and sellers*. Ideally there would be no NEW car dealers either - we would just order cars online, Tesla-style, and they would be delivered or picked up from the factory when ready. (*okay, I'm being a bit extreme here - if there is a dealer selling a car at a price that is competitive with private sellers, that can be a fine choice. But they are weird, sleazy environments in general, trying to sell you financing and extended warranties and other crap.)
Thank you MMM for doing this, you channel is great, and getting better with every episode. I wonder if you would share you advice with me. I live in central Europe, in Slovakia, and would really like to retire early, preferably by the time I'm 40 (I'm 26 now}. I'm currently making an above average salary, don't own a car (I was inspired by you and moved closer to my work so I can walk there), I have no mortgage, (we are renting on a very favorable terms, around 20% below average rent in our city, and everything is included in it) and splitting living expenses with my girlfriend. We don't go out much (like, once or twice a month), we cook every evening at home and virtually have no frivolous expenses, and I'm able to comfortably save 40% of my income every month. I feel that we (with my gf) could achieve FI a lot faster together but I'm not able to convince her to get onboard. She is just too afraid to invest her money, so she just have obscene amounts of it sitting, earning no interest. How do I convince her that this is a good idea?
Inflation looks to be low in Slovakia in recent years, but any positive value erodes the buying power of the money she has. If it's sitting in an account earning 1% annual interest but inflation is 2% that year, it's worth less (in terms of what it can purchase) at the end of the year, so in that scenario, she's actually making herself poorer. Can you show her a model of what her money would have earned if it had been invested (or if you've invested, show her what yours has actually earned) over the past few years? And you can project into the future making some reasonable assumptions as well, where compounding effects of investments will quickly become apparent (e.g, a 30-year investment increases in total value 7.6x at 7% annual interest vs only 1.3x at 1% annual interest). MMM has a number of blog posts on investing, also.
What do you do if you have 3 kids in car seats and part of your life enjoyment is outdoor hobbies(i.e. Backcountry fishing and hunting, dispersed camping, etc.) where you need a vehicle with superior off-road capability. Is the crew cab 4x4 truck then rationalized? I'm thinking 2015-2019 crew cab f150 with small non-turbo v6, 3.5l or 3.3l depending on year. More fuel efficient than new Toyota Sienna. I don't think a RAV4 will handle what I'm talking about. I'd go older but they are far less fuel efficient
I do have a question about whether choosing to buy a pickup truck is a sound financial decision under some circumstances such as buying a fixer upper/building a house/woodworking/getting stuck in snow in Canada/going off-road for camping trips/possibly other reasons.
Yep. I bought 4 new cars and 4 new motorcycles in my life. We did what the idiots on the TV told us to do. Hopefully the Internet will change this permanently
does this get updated every year? is there a list more current? I drive a clown car I got for 430$ I have other fires in my life to put out before I get around to tackling this problem. But I would like to know what I should keep an eye out for.
I very much hope this video helps me convince my spouse to sell the truck nice we are done the rest of Reno’s. Honestly we could have a great car plus $5-$10 grand in the bank
I crave a truck.........but honestly, for the amount I would actually "need/use" it, might be once a year...lol And I could rent a uhaul for 30 bucks ;)
Thank you MMM for the car advice. I just sold my 2019 Ford Ranger 4x4 for $33,000. I'm no longer in debt and the credit card accounts are paid and closed. For the rest of the year I'll be doing Uber's from time to time until I decide which used car to buy with "cash." Good luck to anyone out there digging there self out of debt. If I can do it, you can too. I promise, just don't give up.
Well said! I had been debating between a Prius and a Honda Insight and a Honda Fit. The prius and insight do not have enough room to haul a chevy silverado transmission or engine. I want to be able to use my car as a pickup. I ended up buying a 2008 Honda Fit and I get 36.5 mpg. I have already hauled a 20 ton hydraulic shop press that was fully assembled in it. I love this car and I don't have to worry about a hybrid battery.
"dont think of your car as your identity unless you're thinking of showing people that you're smart" damn straight. You're the best, I truly appreciate all the wisdom you're sharing with us plebs. Hail MMM!
You, sir, are a friend of humanity. You encourage people to ride a bike, but you aren't too snooty to actually give some REALLY solid car advice for people who actually do need 4 wheels and a windshield.
This video really saved me when I found myself in a job with a minimum of an 1.5 hour 82 mile round trip commute. I was able to get the car of my dreams a year and a half ago based on your research presented here. My friends and family laugh at my swooning over a 2010 Prius but I honestly feel blessed! Thanks again!🙏🏻🙏🏻
Big help😀 .. What I have taken away from your channel:
1. Started Walking to do errands. My store , dry cleaners, bank, post office ect. 2. Stop eating out. Paid off car... And shop pantry first and just add what's need . Thanks for great tips...
Thanks for the video MMM, quick Craigslist tip to not have to x out all the duplicates is you can check the search option right below search title only to also "bundle duplicates" keep up the good work Little MM!
Hey MMM! Newer reader of your blog finally having caught up after the last two years. Something that saved me from a terrible car situation was having a shared approach. Before any frugal stubble of my own I made the mistake of buying new thinking the reliability would be better as a form of repair avoidance. Much more informed these days after helping a friend who is a hobby mechanic, and confident I’ll be able to keep this one running until it rusts to the ground. In the mean time, I did a major uproot and moved to a bike friendly city, have been cycle commuting for the last year and a half (going on two Canadian winters but still doable). As for my car, a family member and I came to the agreement that she could use it for getting to and from her offices as the buses are not an option, and as for the return I catch a ride back home for family visits and outings. After doing the math I still feel it’s a win-win even though best outcome would be complete car-free life for us both but finding that simply being car-less has opened so many opportunities for personal growth and more intentional use of our time. Thank you for your many wise words, I recommend your material to everyone wondering if this is a crazy outlier lifestyle. Cheers, and happy riding from Hamilton! (Or driving only when it absolutely makes sense)
Yay Hamilton! That's where I went to engineering school, so I spent the winters biking back and forth in the snow from downtown out to McMaster U. It was a fine city for biking even back then, but now when I visit I notice it has been transformed with GREAT protected bike lanes everywhere. So it's even better.
Paid $1000 for a 2006 Toyota Prius with a dead hybrid battery. Paid $600 for a refurbished hybrid battery and car is good to go. 50mpg and cheap insurance.
I bow to you! Awesome job. :-)
One THOUSAND dollars for a useful, efficient car? That is an amazing accomplishment. But yeah, the used car market gets really crazy at the fringes. So a little bit of knowledge goes a long way - and you can save $200,000 over 20 years making decisions like that versus getting even a slightly upscale care like a bottom-end BMW and then replacing it every few years "to avoid the expensive repair bills"
Proud owner of a 2008 Prius with 250 thousand miles.
Drives fine.
@@WooHooLaLa sad to report my prius was rear-ended and totalled. Then the loser left the scene of the accident. :'(
Love that I drive a 2011 Prius and it was the example. So awesome.
On the "people who write good ads tend to take care of their cars," I agree. As a court reporter of 20 years, I've noticed that a disproportionate amount of my murdered at home victims didn't make their beds (and often the rest of the house followed). Other reporters noted that a disproportionate amount of at home murder victims had dream catchers or crosses above their beds. Kind of thought that people who don't take care of the little things (like making a bed) don't take care of bigger things (like being discerning about their relationships or habits, etc.) I think the dream catcher/cross folks are just magical thinkers who don't make logical decisions about much of anything.
It's certainly not cause and effect. But there is some type of correlation.
Thanks for a great video.
My 2007 Mazda 3 sedan is still going strong after 12.5 years! I’m the first owner, and have been flippant at best about the maintenance. Rarely got it serviced at the Mazda dealership, just wherever was cheapest. Never had a major issue. Just now starting to replace a few things at $125k miles. Mazda forever!
my co-worker has a 2104 mazda 3 and gets40 mpg, but he drives under thespeed limit and pisses everybody off.
Been reading the blog for many years! Had no idea Pete was on RUclips and never heard his voice. Happy to find this channel
I found when I dropped the ego I saved alot more money in gas etc
Just purchased a 2015 Leaf S for 7500 with home charger and absolutely love it. I call it my poor mans Tesla. Paid cash and super cheap insurance. When I pass a gas station I chuckle!
Well said! I had been debating between a Prius and a Honda Insight and a Honda Fit. The prius and insight do not have enough room to haul a chevy silverado transmission or engine. I want to be able to use my car as a pickup. I ended up buying a 2008 Honda Fit and I get 36.5 mpg. I have already hauled a 20 ton hydraulic shop press that was fully assembled in it. I love this car and I don't have to worry about a hybrid battery.
1. Thank you for your blogs and summaries over the past few years. While I'm nowhere near Mustachian levels, your blog helped me choose a car (I had a ridiculous bus commute at the time) that is still going strong today and that I hope to drive into the ground (2008 yaris hatchback bought in 2013). It's been amazing on maintenance and gas :) Your posts have also helped me find what I value and be moderate about some of my spending. It's been a good change of perspective (though I still disagree about biking in Canadian winters!)
2. Aww the Yaris got dethroned :(
Only channel I've subscribed to before watching one of their videos... but to be fair, I'm about 400 articles into your blog, so I think my bar still remains high...
I've never lived more than 15 minutes from work. Can't stand traffic. I'm totally fine with an older car until I have enough wealth to splurge on a Tesla 😁
When electrics prove they can be reliable used car purchases then I'll be in
dave houston they are
WOW!!!! I used to read the MMM site a few years back but lost it at some point. When this video popped up as a RUclips suggestion, I was like "OH YEAH!!!" Awesome you're on RUclips!!!! On topic, I was debt free for about 7 years. My last car was a 2007 Toyota Yaris which I paid off and drove for about 10 years (yep....)
Finally, I had enough saved up after maxing out my 401k, Roth IRA, etc and about 2 years ago I bought a... Tesla!!! It was not for any financial reason but many, many non-financial reasons that I can't really list here. I bought it used of course. And it's almost paid off already. And I do have quite a nice nest egg in the bank.
Anyway, I'm not posting here to invite criticism. Mostly to say follow MMM (and Dave Ramsey) because the advice WORKS. I put my time in for a hard decade of saving my ass off, and all I can say is now life is damn good! Keep up the good work MMM! Subscribed!
P.S. G DAMN I love this car. Teslas are freaking amazeballs.
I can attest to what he said about how good snow tires are. I also have a 2005 mustang with snow tires and I have been on the steepest street in town (As steep as san francisco streets) up her in ND and I have come to a complete stop half way up the hill and lay on it and it claws its way to the top. It is like having 4x4. Growing up I thought snow tires were a joke, but now that I have owned them. They are amazing!
Love your comments about not buying a car to impress
As the owner of a 2011 Kia Soul, I approve of this video.
Is it easy to repair yourself?
@@Filte cars are all the same
Change your oil every 3k!
2011 soul motors like to grenade.
@@Jordan-ym5gf My brother's 2013 Kia Sorento engine locked up for no reason at 80,000 miles, but thank God that he was under the 100,000 mile warranty.
Please make this video every year start a series where you update the 6 car list!!!!!!!
I’m 50 and thinking about getting a car to travel to our beach house. This was hugely helpful! I’ve never purchased a car. Thank you! I’ve been reading your stuff for years btw
Great video! I have a honda fit which is think is similar to these cars, great gas, low maintenance, low price, decent room
Me too! Mine is a 2008 Fit and I get 36.5 mpg. My biggest load so far is a 20 hydraulic fully assembled press in the back, but I plan to haul chevy silverado transmissions and engines in the back too!
Toyota, Mazda, Honda, all high quality reliable cars!
I have two 2013 Nissan Leafs. Paid $8500 each. I have owned them for two years now. No maintenance issues yet. Very dependable and fun to drive. Best part, NO Gas required.
Love it. Thanks for the straight forward information.
I'm trying really hard to become a single car family now
Yea I need to do that
I frequently buy lumber and occasionally need to move appliances. A pickup is a must for me. I’m looking to replace my 1997 F-150 with a compact pickup. Hope you will cover pickups next
My 2006 Pontiac Vibe 5 door with a trailer hitch could do more than my Toyota Tundra ever could, except pull my heavy ass boat. Glad I got rid of both and bought the Vibe, hitch and trailer instead. Trailer is a Triton xt 4.5 aluminum trailer. Super light. 4.5 feet by 10 feet. Low to the ground and tilt bed. Built my own railing for it. For the rare event I need to haul something bigger, I just rent a truck for a day or by the hour (Home Depot).
I bought a 2008 Honda Fit. I get 36.5 and I use it as a pickup. I have hauled a fully assembled 20 ton hydraulic shop press in it. I can also fit a chevy silverado engine or transmission it it. This car is amazing! This is the reason I didn't buy my neighbors 2010 honda insight that gets 41 mpg, but has no more room than a prius.
The outro music in your vids is sick. Your son is killin it 🤙
Hey MMM. You did a book review on The Intelligent Asset Allocator and I read it because of you. It is a good book and I learned a lot but I was hoping you could do a video on asset allocation.
I am in the predicament of being a mustachian car enthusiast, in a non-bike oriented area. I like cars that are fun to drive and have some character, but also efficient. My solution for now is my ‘90 Honda CRX that averages 40+ mpg. I rarely have to carry people or large loads, so it works for me.
I know, if I’m not carrying people or loads, I should be on a bicycle. I do ride my bicycle around my town, but it’s a small town with limited resources. School + work are outside of my town, so I drive. The single 50 mph highway that circles our island (kaua’i) has minimal bike lanes/paths, and the 3 ft wide shoulders are mostly overgrown with grass and trees. any thoughts? (Somewhat of a risk taker compared to the average person, but even I’m skeptical about riding a bike on the highway with unfocused drivers going 50-60 mph within a couple feet of me. Motorcycle? Scooter?)
Thanks for this video! I’ll share this with my son who will be driving in a few years. He thinks he should drive a Tesla...we are working on him and his expectations;) Nice plug for the bike at the end.
The matrix should not be considered for a new driver imo. It has terrible blind spots. I had one, bought it new and it ran perfectly but the blind spots were scary in crowded metro traffic. After 7 years I sold it because I didn't feel safe driving it.
This was a good episode. I'm glad to see the Leaf on this list. I drive a 2013 Nissan Leaf most of the time and a 2008 BMW coupe, which I really love, mostly on weekends. Both were purchased used and paid off. I'm not a mustacian yet but I think it's a good compromise.
Sell one
MMM love the video, thank you!
The better half will definitely not give up her car, however with 1 vehicle (and me on the bike) this has worked well as a method for our two different methodologies. Thoughts on this, or other ways to look at this?
Some followup future vid ideas. Perhaps discuss how someone can get into integrating cycling into their life the best, how you utilize it each day, AND some more followups on that super sick leaf that you have.
Once I have installed and posted about my Bafang E-bike motor/kit I will let you know!
Love my Mazda 3 hatchback! Right on!
I love mine!
My co-worker gets 40 mpg with his 2014 mazda 3 going 70 mph.
Been driving a 2010 Prius since... Well, 2010. I haven't had one service light or issue in the entire time. Not one.... Love this car. I'm planning on driving this thing until the wheels fall off.
Bonez1999 yo this is a really late comment that you probably won’t see, but how has it been now? I’m about to turn 16, and we have around $5000 to spend. I’ve been looking at Civics, corollas, Mazda 3s, but I am wondering about the Prius. Namely have you had to replace the battery? How long do they last, and if you have how much does getting the replacement cost?
@@loganbittner6265 Battery still going strong. If you want a reliable car that's gonna run a long time with minimal maintenance, the Prius is it. Since I haven't had to replace the battery yet, I'm not really sure how much it is. I know prices have definitely gone down. A new battery I wanna say may be a couple grand or so, but I think you can also get after-market batteries that are cheaper... But probably not as good. I love this car.
I loved the comment about not impressing people / determining your self worth by buying expensive shit and driving it around and damaging your community 😂
These are the realest craigslist buying tips I’ve ever heard!🤣😂🤣
You left one of the best in class. Honda fit. Reliable ,cheap, fun and nimble, also the interior is in par with some suvs.
Got a 2012 versa manual transmission avg 34mpg runs like a Swiss watch. Basic car easy diy maintenance.
So far, I’m doing fine with a 2001 Nissan Frontier (2wd extended cab). It isn’t the most fuel efficient thing, but it’s reliable and I spent $3k on it. Also, I’m a bachelor so family isn’t much of a consideration.
I was very surprised that you did not mention the Honda Fit! why not?
Honda Fit is still great! It just didn't quite make this very short list from Consumer Reports. But absolutely, keep that on your shopping list too - 2009+ models get the newer, roomier design.
I was wondering the same! I am still driving a 1991 CRX I bought used with 135K seven years ago, but after driving my girlfriends 2016 Fit (with the CVT transmission), the Fit is now on my 2023 wish list......
@@justinofboulder OOOO, that model of CRX was my Dad's car when I was in high school (he had a 1989 "Si" model in bright yellow), and I would occasionally get to borrow it, for example when trying to impress a girl. I have such great memories of the little machine.
@@MrMoneyMustacheChannel Mine is an SI model as well....it is a fun little car!
I said the same thing! I'm like wears the fit! The snazzy Prius surprised me. "it's like a regular Prius, only more expensive" That seemed so unmustachian. But then I realized it wasn't MMM list. I like how you went through the how process of looking for a good used car. I always assumed everyone knew that. But I'm surprised how often people have no idea how to get a deal. They have been trained by dealerships that this is where you buy and sell cars.
I have a 2012 Nissan Leaf that was bought for $8200. Have free fast charging at work and my commute is 1.5 miles each way. In the warmer months I bike, take my moped, or my boys electric scooter to work. Plus, I get paid $20 a month for not driving a gas car to work and using “alternative transportation” to work.
Lots of great info, I especially agree about well written adds....I have scored a couple of great used cars from adds that were clearly written by owners who cared, and even sold them to me at a discount because I made it clear my intention (to keep them going and wasn't looking to "flip"). While I don't plan to buy another vehicle for a few years, I browse CL a few times a week (definitely an interesting social experiment reading some of the adds...). One observation, while we are starting to see less manual transmission vehicles produced, I am seeing more used manuals not moving very quickly and priced much lower (on the used market anyway)....
Yeah, when it comes to gas-powered cars I have always insisted on manual-only. More fun, lighter weight, more reliable and more efficient (especially in the olden days before CVT automatics).
But now with the era of the gas car just about over, it seems to matter less. As people get their first taste of electric driving and realize how much better it is than gasoline in all ways, transmissions will become obsolete because all electric cars are One Speed. It's like having the power of first gear all the way from zero to 100 MPH, and yet with no shifting and beautifully dead silent.
@@MrMoneyMustacheChannel but can you tow efficiently with electric?
I drive a manual 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage, it's ridiculously fancy and nice, and the three cylinder engine gets around 50-60mpg when hypermiling. (My record is 90 miles per gallon on a mostly downhill, calm road trip) I bought it a month after the 2016 came out, so the dealer was very desperate to get rid of it; brand new, all sorts of extra features, 100k warranty, paid $10k. Since I'm driving it for at least a decade, maybe two, I'm happy with this choice. By then I'm sure self driving electric cars will be the standard and I'll be thrilled to make the switch!
Used PHEV's can be found with good prices, and are a decent choice for those whom the EV ranges are not far enough.
I’ve never been so proud of my old Pontiac vibe! It’s the smartest car for people because it’s ACTUALLY a Toyota but it says Pontiac so it’s cheaper!
This is definitely going to be my go to video to show friends when they're in the market for a new vehicle. I hate to see good friends go in deep debt for an unnecessary vehicle.
Gotta 2011 Mazda 3
My co-workeres 2014 Mazda 3 gets 40 mpg at 70 mph.
Just wanted to say that with sites that detect adblock I pair adblock with remove overlay. Easy right click and remove overlay to keep that browsing simple!
Ford C Max is pretty good too. Also the Pontiac Vibe (Toyota).
I had the 2009 matrix. It was quick, reliable and fun and nice looking BUT ....it has the most horrible blind spots of any vehicle I have ever driven and I have driven dozens of different make and model small cars and trucks. ( I had to travel and rent cars for work).. I felt the blind spots were so unsafe that I sold it and didn't pass it on to a family member who wanted it even though it was pristine with low mileage.
When doing screen-capture, consider doing holding down CTRL and hitting the '+' button to zoom. Zooming in will help make it easier to read what's on the screen in the video, especially for those folks with lower bandwidth watching in 360p.
MMM or fellow viewers, want your input.
I'm leaving the Virgin Islands for Tampa where an $80K per year job awaits. Bought a wee travel trailer that holds its value (I've lived on boats; it's not a big deal -- I don't have much!) Nearest RV park is 15 miles from where I'll work. Rent: $350 per month -- far below the median $1200+ for even a studio on the area.
Car dilemma: Am selling my VI car for $7K and can buy a Lexus SUV to tow it for $9K. I plan to use it for travel/camping once or twice a month for a day or two. I think I can also score a Toyota Echo for around $1K to $2K that -- because of age -- might need more maintenance but will have insanely better gas mileage. Can pay cash for everything. The Lexus (insurance and gas) would make my expenses -- and I mean EVERYTHING -- about $850 per month.
Should I get the less reliable but better gas car? Or get the reliable Lexus and worry less and just rent a U-Haul pickup with a hitch for when I go camping?
Your thoughts are important to me. Thanks!
I really apreciate this
Hi MMM: I have a question for you. Like you, I care about not destroying the Earth. My spouse and I make modest incomes doing environmental work, and thanks to you, we live an efficient and fairly sustainable lifestyle that should enable us to retire earlier than most. Because we value our habitat, and we know that our individual lifestyle changes alone in a fossil-fuel based economy won't stop climate change, we also donate to environmental causes (and people-centered ones, too) addressing this most pressing of issues at the policy level. More donations = later retirement, but fewer donations feels like not giving our all to mitigate an epoch-defining crisis. How do you, as an environmentalist and financial badass, recommend we reconcile our sense of urgency around the climate with our sense of urgency to get out of the rat race? (Environmental work is Sisyphean and draining).
And I don't mean just monetary donations... canvassing during elections, volunteering in our community, etc. are also gifts of our time to the cause - time that most FI-ers recommend one spend chasing FI.
This was so useful! Thank you to the both of you :)
Love the music! Great job, gentlemen
Just got my wife a leaf because she drives such short trips, the combustion engine couldn’t heat up. As a result would have issues after a few months, need new spark plugs and such. A used leaf with 68k for 8k was perfect. Then with solar we charge when its sunny, dirt cheap per mile driving
5000$ cash for 2007 Corolla with a 5 speed and 59k miles! Big flex!
mine 2008 Scion XD manual ( 34 mpg in town)wife 2008 Camry 4 cyl auto.Both run and drive like new, no regrets.
2010 Automatic XD here--similarly reliable and am happy with it.
2008 Honda Fit here. 36.5 mpg and good power for being a small engine.
The first gen. Pontiac Vibe is a gift from god to mustachians needing a car. They are re-badged Toyota Matrix so needless to say they are pretty much bulletproof. They're also cheap on gas, cheap on insurances, cheap on maintenance, pretty versatile, easy to work on and mostly cheaper to buy than Matrix's.
Yup, I have a 2004, It was given to me with a blown engine and I sourced a used one out of a junkyard and installed it myself. Fantastic car and even with over a quarter million miles gets 30+ MPG
@@ratfink9205 I guess I should be good for little while then with my 75K miles :)
Definitely agree. Had one with AWD for a long time with zero issues. Would still have it today if we weren't rear ended by an F-350. We were stopped at a red light and he was texting and slammed into us going 30+ mph. Everyone (including my toddler and dog in the car) walked away a little sore, but without a scratch.
@@kings5223 I'm glad you weren't injured!
Got my 2006 Pontiac Vibe Base Model with manual transmission in 2010 with 67k miles for $7000. I'm currently at 240k miles with only regular maintenance. Same exhaust! I love this thing. Hope to get 100k more miles. Tows my utility trailer great (no need for a pickup).
What I worry about in today’s market, since I’m not car savvy, is ending up with a used car that has been in one of the many recent floods around this country. 😬
This is a informative video. Thought at a high level.
I love how the advertisement for this video is for a Ford Raptor LOL
Ahaha, aren't automatic ads silly sometimes? Still, thanks for watching and clicking on any such videos, so that Ford's Pickup Truck division can fund little MM's college tuition! :-)
I was surprised not to see the Honda Insight alongside of the Prius. Any reason why it got cut from the lot?
Yeah. My neighbor just offered me his 2010 Honda Insight for $4900 with 132,000 miles that get 41 mpg, but I turned it down, because it has no more cargo capacity than the prius. I bought a Honda Fit instead and get 36.5 mpg, but I can haul chevy silverado engines and transmissions in it. It's my little pickup! ;)
Love my Prius. Bought one before watching this.
Great craiglist tips, so true.
Right before I started reading MMM I bought myself a 2017 VW Polo, 3 cylinder 60hp, manual transmission, from the dealership for 10k euros. You be the judge if that’s a good deal. I am very torn about my decision, as I love the car when I drive it, but I drive so rarely that I only have to fill it up every 2-3 months. And the tank is only 40 liters (10 gallons)
Awesome vehicle, you did not overspend and it will last you a very long time if you don't drive it much.
Thank you!!
Scotty kilmer will approve that Toyota Matrix/corolla hatch😆
I just found Scotty
Kelly Blue book is owned by a major corporation dealing with used cars, prices have been inflated in service of their interests, check out what Scotty Kilmer has to say about them and JD Powers.
AWD is a niche marketing scheme…now that’s just kooky
Thanks for the video. Can you recommend a Canadian website for searching car values?
My plan is to just get a job close to home, commute via bike, and keep a cheap EV/PHEV around and rent it on Turo when I'm not using it. If share fleets were more ubiquitous it would be much easier for people to go car free.
One thing you forgot to mention about Craigslist: 95% of the listings are flippers and dealers. In looking at the listings and corresponding with the owners, try to filter these out and stick with real sellers for best results.
When you call them from Craiglist start with "I'm calling about the car for sale". If he asks "which one?" he's likely a dealer or car flipper
Cars are not a waste of money, not in the USA or anywhere, really. I drive my VW T6 Bulli all over Switzerland and neighboring countries like Italy, Austria, France, and Germany. It's reliable, good-looking and great for going up and down mountains, through snow and carrying lots of people and baggage/equipment. It makes road trips sooooo fun.
Just for the fun of it, I looked up the cheapest prius I could find here in Denmark. 20.000$ for a 2012 with 72.000 miles on it. But I did find a 7.000$ mazda 3. So some of the choices in this vid is probably possible here too.
Give the Brave Browser a try to bypass all those annoying ads and trackers.
Being both a car guy and financially responsible is so difficult. I have a paid off car I enjoy but it's getting expensive to maintain and I need a new vehicle that I've been procrastinating forever
If your thinking about a 2009 Matrix, look at the 2009 Vibe. It's basically the same car.
Shhhh... Don't let the secret get out.
@@swwordman I picked one up in 2016, only had 29,500 miles on it. It has the zippier 2.4L engine in it.
Also the Scion IM.
This man may in fact need no car. I lived downtown, had no car and rented out the space that came with the apartment. Thousands saved.
At last, somebody sensible talking about cars. SUV's are pointless except in rare cases--words I live by.
True. But in my case, someone who's family likes to camp, go off-road, to the beach and generally haul stuff, a jeep GC has fit the bill. I have looked at rav4, CrV, Grand Vitara, Kluger, but storage, the ability to camp in the vehicle, the GC won out. Plus they are not very dear if you go 06 to 10. So everyone's case is different. I myself drive many vehicles and most small cars on this list are just too small for me. Tall with long legs. Plus, if you have a dog, even a small hatch back is too small for our dog to be comfortable.
Some info on your craigslist post is incorrect. Often purchasing vehicles from older people can be a really good deal, I flip cars quite a bit and always search for vehicles on Craigslist without pictures because it often means it’s an older person who doesn’t know how to post them AND a lot of people gloss over listings with no picture.
Could you add a summary of recommendations in the description?
I think you should also factor in maintenance, and what kind of driving and lifestyle they have. None of those cars would work for me. A used car is the smartest choice, but a small hatch or SUV is not always the smartest choice. I fit into a new I30, but anything smaller and my legs are part of the dash. ometimes a pickup may be the best choice if they use it for work.
Pretty useful tips! I thought at one point you were high on the Honda Fit, but it wasn't in this list?
Where is the love for the mighty Toyota ECHO
I just saw one of those over the 4th of July.
Do you have any resources to help avoid lemon years? I know some popular models of cars have a strong negative for certain years which should be avoided.
great video. however LOL I did do a lot of this and when I went to the dealership of used cars with a certified check just $1,000 lower than what they were asking they didn't want to talk to me any further. I was forced to bring the check back to my bank :-(
I think I see where you went wrong - the word "dealership" should never enter your vocabulary when buying or selling a used car. They're just a fatty layer in the middle between smart buyers and sellers*.
Ideally there would be no NEW car dealers either - we would just order cars online, Tesla-style, and they would be delivered or picked up from the factory when ready.
(*okay, I'm being a bit extreme here - if there is a dealer selling a car at a price that is competitive with private sellers, that can be a fine choice. But they are weird, sleazy environments in general, trying to sell you financing and extended warranties and other crap.)
@@MrMoneyMustacheChannel Also the doc fees, and other bs...
@@2awesome292 I hate the $200 dealer fee! Whenever they do that I offer them $200 less than KBB value.
Great video!
He's right about AWD. Total bullshit marketing tool. Also higher maintenance costs
Thank you MMM for doing this, you channel is great, and getting better with every episode. I wonder if you would share you advice with me. I live in central Europe, in Slovakia, and would really like to retire early, preferably by the time I'm 40 (I'm 26 now}. I'm currently making an above average salary, don't own a car (I was inspired by you and moved closer to my work so I can walk there), I have no mortgage, (we are renting on a very favorable terms, around 20% below average rent in our city, and everything is included in it) and splitting living expenses with my girlfriend. We don't go out much (like, once or twice a month), we cook every evening at home and virtually have no frivolous expenses, and I'm able to comfortably save 40% of my income every month. I feel that we (with my gf) could achieve FI a lot faster together but I'm not able to convince her to get onboard. She is just too afraid to invest her money, so she just have obscene amounts of it sitting, earning no interest. How do I convince her that this is a good idea?
Inflation looks to be low in Slovakia in recent years, but any positive value erodes the buying power of the money she has. If it's sitting in an account earning 1% annual interest but inflation is 2% that year, it's worth less (in terms of what it can purchase) at the end of the year, so in that scenario, she's actually making herself poorer. Can you show her a model of what her money would have earned if it had been invested (or if you've invested, show her what yours has actually earned) over the past few years? And you can project into the future making some reasonable assumptions as well, where compounding effects of investments will quickly become apparent (e.g, a 30-year investment increases in total value 7.6x at 7% annual interest vs only 1.3x at 1% annual interest). MMM has a number of blog posts on investing, also.
What do you do if you have 3 kids in car seats and part of your life enjoyment is outdoor hobbies(i.e. Backcountry fishing and hunting, dispersed camping, etc.) where you need a vehicle with superior off-road capability. Is the crew cab 4x4 truck then rationalized? I'm thinking 2015-2019 crew cab f150 with small non-turbo v6, 3.5l or 3.3l depending on year. More fuel efficient than new Toyota Sienna. I don't think a RAV4 will handle what I'm talking about. I'd go older but they are far less fuel efficient
Love the videos there guys!
I do have a question about whether choosing to buy a pickup truck is a sound financial decision under some circumstances such as buying a fixer upper/building a house/woodworking/getting stuck in snow in Canada/going off-road for camping trips/possibly other reasons.
Yep. I bought 4 new cars and 4 new motorcycles in my life. We did what the idiots on the TV told us to do. Hopefully the Internet will change this permanently
sassed1 2many what?
does this get updated every year? is there a list more current? I drive a clown car I got for 430$ I have other fires in my life to put out before I get around to tackling this problem. But I would like to know what I should keep an eye out for.
Little MM: move that fish 2 inches to the left to block glare on the light switch.
Also get MMM a side table with a few objects (mug, cactus, book, etc)
I very much hope this video helps me convince my spouse to sell the truck nice we are done the rest of Reno’s. Honestly we could have a great car plus $5-$10 grand in the bank
I crave a truck.........but honestly, for the amount I would actually "need/use" it, might be once a year...lol And I could rent a uhaul for 30 bucks ;)