Used Car Prices

[Rolando]

Been helping my daughter shop for a car, and she is seeing 10 year old cars (compacts and small SUVs) for about $10,000. Fords and Kias are cheaper, Toyotas and Hondas slightly more.

So here's my question. How much was your first car that you bought yourself, how old was it when you got it.

My first car as a 1980 Totota Celica for $2000. It was eight years old.

[Speedy]

Mine was a ‘56 Olds 98, fully loaded, and I mean every option. It was 12 years old and I paid $150 for it. My dad made me sell it when I went off to college, telling me I could drive his ‘65 Buick Electra which was enough incentive to let the Olds go for $75. I wish I still had that rust bucket…

[Todd's keyboard]

1965 VW bus purchased in 1971. I think I paid $800. This was back in the day when I could (with the help of my older brother, recently returned from Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic) take out the engine and have it rebuilt. Probably my next six cars were all VWs.

Todd's John-Muir-was-the-key board

[Acer]

A new 1990 Corolla. 12K, I think. Last big individual purchase before marriage. In retrospect, going new was a little cheeky financially for me, but it was solid, practical car. We drove it for ten years until the third kid was due.

[mattkime]

Didn't buy my first car well into adulthood. Just let go of it. VW Alltrack for about $23k in 2017.

[Rick-o]

1973 Buick Regal. I bought it used in 1978 at the local dealership for just over $2,000.

The most money I'd ever spent for a single item at that point in my young life. One of the best vehicles I ever owned, but I may be biased.

[wurm]

First car I bought was a dark blue '65 Mustang hardtop with the 289 V8 and automatic trans. I bought it when I was 18. They were asking $695, but I talked him down to $650.

[ztirffritz]

1988 Mazda 323 Hatchback with a rebuilt title. I think I paid $2500. The rear axles were not aligned so it ate wheel bearings every 5000-7000 miles. I got to the point where I could change the oil and rear wheel bearings in about 45min. The bearings were probably a $300-$400 job in a shop back then. The bearings and grease seal cost about $40 total.

[archipirata]

My first was a 1968 Chevy Nova for $600. It was 14 years old.

Best deal I ever got was a 10 year old 1977 Gremlin that I got for $175 and drove every day for 2 years (23 cents a day).

[graylocks]

not counting the pinto hatchback I bought from my Mom for $600 (don't remember its year) my first dealer purchase was a 1976 pinto station wagon for $4000 financed.