5 For Friday: What Car You Drivin’ Yo?

Let’s talk about cars today. What kinds you’re driving, what kinds of money you’re spending – all that good stuff. It’s been a while since I’ve shared the love for my Caddy (the last post wasn’t so hot) so this one’s for all you car lovers out there. Round 7 of Five For Friday starts now, bitch! ;)

  1. What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both.  If you have three, what do you do for a living??)
  2. How much did you pay for it?
  3. How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)
  4. How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
  5. Why did you choose that one in particular?
  6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;))

As always, your master of ceremonies will go first:

  1. My car:1993 Cadillac Deville.  Cherry red w/ fake-top convertible and tan leather interior. Big Ballin’ baby! (If I were ever to shop at Whole Foods, I’d be blaring rap like that video above too!  But sadly they’re too expensive for my blood, and my boat of a car would never fit in their parking spots).
  2. Price of my car: $3,100, bargained down from $3,400 – which was previously dropped down from $5,000 (It was pimped out w/ stereos, flat-screen navs, the works.)  We stripped it all except for the exhaust and remote-start engine, and then I slapped it on my credit card (I used one of those checks they send you).  USAA was having a special that month, and since my interest rate was so low anyways, it was MUCH cheaper for me to use my credit card than actually take out a loan! Haha… and of course I didn’t want to touch my cash reserves just yet ;)  So I paid it off within 6 months I believe, and paid a mere 3.4% the entire time.  Pretty crazy.
  3. Value now: $2,695.  Which includes swapping out a tape deck w/ a cd player ;) Haha…  Not too shabby after owning it for 3 years!
  4. Insurance: $42.00 :)  The perks of driving ghetto and having a clean record!!  That, and not being 21 anymore – haha… Oh, and my deductibles are $200 per event.
  5. Why I picked it: Cuz it’s dope!  And it’s old! So I don’t have to worry about scratches or dents or anything else that used to freak me out when I owned a newer car :)  And having no car payments is just heavenly.
  6. *Bonus*: Well first, that would be bananas cuz my car isn’t even worth a TENTH of that, haha… But I’d happily take it and go out and buy a barely used (we’re talking 6 months here) Mercedes C300 Sport.  Arctic White and heavy on the sex appeal ;) I’d then pay the rest I owe out of pocket and finally have my dream car.  Well, my “somewhat achievable dream car” I should say.  I’d take a Ferrari over that any day.

YOUR TURRRRRRRRRRRRRRN!  Whatcha riding, and whatcha paying for it?

————
(Shout out to Sarah for forwarding over that vid above – hilarious!)

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90 Comments

  1. Jenn June 17, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    What car are you sportin’?
    2001 Honda Civic EX
    How much did you pay for it?
    12,100, taxes included…
    How much is it worth NOW?
    KBB says between 5,400. Put it at Fair due to tires needing to be replaced and paint/body damage from hitting a pole (the day after I got it out of the body shop *sob*)
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    $356 every 6 months for full coverage
    Why did you choose that one in particular?
    Cause it was pretty. :P Ha. No, I was pretty set on a Honda Civic though, and happened to find one in excellent condition in the color I wanted, and they sold it to me for a couple thousand less than it was worth at the time.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    Hmm… I don’t know. I can’t say that I’ve researched any cars at all… busy driving this one into the ground lol I’d probably be looking into a hybrid though.

  2. Elle June 17, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    1. My car is a 2000 VW Jetta and my husband’s is a 1994 Toyota Celica.

    2. Way too much for it! I got a car loan with a ridiculous interest rate. The price at the dealership was about $10k, but if I stuck to the car payment schedule, I would pay a total of $15,962. I got my act together later and my husband and I paid it off earlier. He bought his cars with cash and this last one was about $3,500.

    3. My VW is worth $3,480 and the Toyota is $1,840 (I can’t include a new engine for the price estimates which stinks).

    4. For full coverage with those 2 cars it’s about $75/month.

    5. I had a Passat that was fantastic and when I was in an accident, it held up well.

    6. It’s a toss up between a 2011 Honda CRV (practical) and 2011 Chevrolet Camaro (fun).

  3. Diane June 17, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    What car are you sportin’? – 1997 Acura Integra. I plan to have it until at least 200K miles.
    How much did you pay for it? $21K cash out the door. I’ve never had a car loan ever.
    How much is it worth NOW? Probably $3K
    How much do you pay for insurance? $900/yr for comp and collision
    Why did you choose that one in particular? I need a small car – I live in a big city with bad parking. And I wanted a reliable car.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I would get another Acura – they don’t make the Integra any more, but I’d get whatever their bottom-of-the-line car is these days.

  4. Peliroo June 17, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Oh J$!
    1. Toyota Corolla S 2006 Black (His name is Rollie, or more formally, “Cali-Rollie”
    2. Paid in full 14,000 ish
    3. Worth $9,300 now
    4.Insurance is about $76
    5.I did a lot of research and I wanted a car that I didn’t have to think about. I needed reliability and good gas mileage since I live in SoCal, otherwise known as “Land of Long DIstance Commutes.” I also don’t drive anything but a stick, so with choices limited it was a toss between a Corolla and a Civic. Civics get stolen a lot out here, so Corolla it was! That being said I had a choice of Corollas and I did pick a sleek black baby with spoilers. ;)
    6. Oh my…. with 25K I would have to get either my dream car – Black Porsche Cayman S or a Subaru Outback. I love my Rollie, but I’d have to move on – He’d want that. :)

  5. Philip June 17, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    Sporting a 2009 F-150 Lariat! Yeah… I pay for all the gas it burns.
    I paid ~$30,000 brand new (still financed for some at a 2.49%)
    Just checked KBB private party good condition has it at $26,900 (better than I expected)
    Pay about 110/month for insurance.
    I chose a ford truck cause that is what we grew up in and still love driving and getting in, pretty much everything about it, will be tough to ever not have a truck.

    I would use it to go buy a new F-150… cause that is about the value they should give me if it is totaled…

  6. Andy June 17, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    1. 2005 Ford Focus ST

    2. A little less then $19000 in Nov. 2004.

    3. About $4500

    4. Around $750 a year

    5. I wanted something that had more power than my 88 Subaru station wagon. I test drove a PT Cruiser, Toyota Corolla, and a Scion XA and this car was the only one that could get out of its own way.

    BONUS: I had thought a hybrid but my girlfriend has one and when I drove it last week, I had to turn the A/C off to accelerate to highway speeds because it lacked power. I’ve also been leaning towards another Subaru for the all-wheel drive.

  7. Colleen June 17, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    1. Victory Red 2010 Pontiac G3 that just had it’s one year anniversary.
    2. $10000 brand new in May 2010
    3. According to your link around $11000!!
    4. Around $1000 a year
    5. They were selling off Pontiacs at a ridonkulous price because they were getting rid of pontiacs. My cavalier was definitely faded (at 11 years old it had some problems) and I knew I would never get a brand new car at a better price.

    Bonus: My goal is to rock this baby for 15 years! One down and 14 to go!

  8. Jackie June 17, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    1. I have a 2011 Toyota Camry. Just broke 15K miles on it.
    2. $19K brand new and paid for.
    3. $20,125
    4. I pay $108 a month. I totaled my last Camry (a 2009) in a single vehicle accident. The insurance wrote me a fat check … then dropped me.
    5. My mom has always driven a Camry. I learned how to drive in a Camry. My dad, two half-sisters and half-brother all drive Camrys. It’s in our blood I guess.
    Bonus: I’d probably either buy a Toyota Venza or a Nissan Murano. The Camry is a great family car, but with two dogs I’d really appreciate the extra cargo space.

  9. Karmella June 17, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??) busted ass 8 yr old Honda Civic EX (I’ve had it for 9 years, so 9 actual years. 8 model years)
    How much did you pay for it? oh man, I don’t even remember! I just did the math and my payments came tot a total of 15,600 – so I guess 17,600? gulp
    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) hey, still worth 5,150 for a trade in!! sweet!!!
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) 600/6 months
    Why did you choose that one in particular? reliable and it fit my budget – I wanted a new car with no worries and that’;s what I got (knock on wood)
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) wow, this has been on my mind a lot lately. my heart wants an suv – I need to research it out and find the honda civic of suv’s -:)

  10. retirebyforty June 17, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    1. 2010 Mazda 5
    2. $17,200 OTD
    3. KBB said $17,600 hahahaha
    4. $60/m
    5. We needed a bigger vehicle to carry baby and grandparents.
    6. Probably another Mazda 5. There is a new model year and I can get a loaded version for 25k. I’m pretty happy with it.

    I wrote about cars this whole week at my blog. hahaha. :D

  11. Edward Antrobus June 17, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    1: 1991 Toyota Camry
    2: Paid $2000 in 2003. Have put another $1500. Of the three cars I’ve owned, this was the most expensive (my 68 VW was $1800 and my 87 Corolla was just $500)
    3: KBB reports it being worth $750.
    4: $40/month. This is actually for my car and my wife’s 96 Cirrus, but with the minimum coverage and maximum deductibles.
    5: I test drove a Honda, but the engine tended to flood. I liked driving my Corolla before I totaled it, so another Toyota was a no brainier.
    6: I’m dedicated to seeing 300,000 miles on this car, so I doubt I would give it up for anything before that. So far, I’ve put 100,000 miles on it and it’s up to 236k. But my dream car is a fully restored late 60’s VW Beetle

  12. Erin June 17, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    1. 2007 Toyota Corolla – manual – 40 miles to the gallon baby!
    2. Gift from parents – as I continue to post in the comments, your readers are going to see more and more how spoiled by my parents I am. :-/ I really hope if I ever have a kid (probably not) that I am in the financial position to do as much for them as my parents have done for me).
    3. $9,650 Average Trade in value according to NADA – good deal because I’m thinking of getting a loan against it – reason and something for you to discuss if you haven’t already is how freaking STUPID it is to cosign a loan for someone else.
    4. $90/month maybe?
    5. It was a hand me down, not a choice, but I am NOT complaining. My 4th Rolla’, love em’ baby!
    6. My dream car which conveniently costs less than $25k: Toyota FJ Cruiser <3 <3 <3, but my gas expense would double and I have an 80 mile commute, so probably not economical. I would probably go with another Corolla! Tehehehe.

    Jackie, funny about all of you having Camry's! My mom, my brother and I all drive Corollas. My dad had to be different and get a Ford Focus. Note that my family all has the economy version of cars with JUST the basics. Cars depreciate. No reason to spend more than necessary on a car. It's not really an asset. When I buy my own car, I am thinking of getting a Ford because I now live in Michigan (from Maryland), so the domestic car thing is super big/important here. Also, I hope after watching Ford-owners for a few years that I can determine their cars are now as quality as Toyotas.

  13. Steph June 17, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    1) 2002 Chrysler Town & Country (sigh)
    2) $4980 off of $5300 plus they gave me 2 tickets to see Dave Ramsey live. They knew I was downgrading my car so that I could pay cash. I don’t think you could ask for a better deal than that.
    3) It is probably worth a little more than I paid for it still.
    4) About $45 a month
    5) I wanted what I felt was the best deal for the $$. It was much nicer and newer than anything else on the market for that price. All leather, power everything and premium sound.
    *BONUS* I would like a 1966 Chevy Impala. Bad A$$ without question.

  14. Tea June 17, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    I gave up my car when I moved to the city. So the cost of car, maintenance, fuel, and insurance is zero. Since i take a course at the local university, my student ID allows me to ride public transportation for free. Bonus: I get to read while someone else does the driving. Since giving up my car I have been able to put an additional $500 a month into my savings.

  15. The Financialite June 17, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? An 2007 Acura RDX
    2. How much did you pay for it? $18,500 (traded in my old car and got this one right off lease)
    3. How much is it worth NOW? KBB says about $20,000
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? (About $1,500/year – why is mine so much more expensive than everyone else? I live in the city, so I’m sure that affects it!
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? Honestly, I was trading in my older lexus that my parents had given me when I graduated college (it was my mother’s old car) for a Honda CRV and saw this one on the lot. It was beautiful, just off lease and had high miles. I don’t drive that much or that far, so it was a perfect fit! I’d highly recommend it!

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I’ve been in love with a Lexus IS300 since I got my license when I was 16 – it stopped being made in the early 2000s and I could probably buy two for $25,000! I’d go with white too – looking sharp!!

  16. Jonathan June 17, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    1) 2005 Scion XA
    2) Bought new for ~$15k
    3) $6500
    4) I pay something like $1,000/yr for insurance
    5) Fuel economy, reliability, price, and styling. It was the perfect car for me.

    Bonus – If i had $25k to drop on a new today I’d either buy a Toyota Prius or a Smart ForTwo. Although the Smart definitely wouldn’t use up all of that $

  17. Beckey & Jeff June 17, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    1) Beckey drives a 2005 Honda CR-V EX, Jeff drives a 2003 Jeep Liberty Sport
    2) How much did you pay for it? CR-V $22,800, Jeep not sure as it was his ex-wife’s that he took over due to cosigning issue.
    3) How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)CR-V $15,000ish Jeep $6,000ish
    4) How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) Both will be paid off this year so we are paying about $600/year per vehicle
    5) Why did you choose that one in particular? Honda because of resale and safety rating. Jeep, not a choice as ex-wife wasn’t making payments and he was a cosigner.

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) Buy a used Honda Accord/CR-V or Toyota Camry/RAV4 and put the rest on debt! lol

  18. m1n4 June 17, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? Renault Scala 2011
    2. How much did you pay for it? $15,750 USD, june last year
    3. How much is it worth NOW? not avail in the US so I don’t know for sure, the link doesn’t work for me :(
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? Mmm 600 USD a year
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? it was cheap and pretty :D & with low interest rate

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? a Renault Fluence :D

    yup I’m a Renault sucker…

  19. Brian June 17, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? 2006 Acura TSX (6-speed Manual w/Navigation, and body kit) and my wife was a 2004 Mini Cooper. I also have a 2006 Triumph Speed Four motorcycle.

    2. How much did you pay for it? 22K Out the door (the bargaining was easy since I went with my dad and he has purchased 5 Acuras, so they guy came up and said this is the lowest I can go. Not bad for a 30K car)

    3. How much is it worth NOW? According to KBB the private party value is still 17K, I’d be shocked if I could sell it for more than 13K.

    How much do you pay for insurance? Both cars cost us about $90 a month for full coverage (get a discount for bundling with homeowners insurance)

    4. Why did you choose that one in particular? I had just gotten my awesome 1998 (passed down from my dad) Nissan Maxima totaled when I was rear-end by an uninsured commercial truck. If you saw the pictures you would be amazed I walked away with only a minor concussion. I thought I wanted another Maxima, but didn’t like the styling and so my dad suggested an Acura. I thought there were more expensive, but it turned out to be relatively cheap (compared to a Lexus or BMW!)

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? To be honest? I’d probably replace it with another TSX. I’d have to negotiate the optional grill, since I can’t stand the new ones Acura is using. If I get a deal like last time I might still have some extra money for some fancy SPINNAZ!

  20. Emily June 17, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    1) Chrysler 2006 White PT Cruiser – got it used and it has a million miles on it, but it really works for me. I love it, and since I work with kids it’s handy to have a car that’s easy to spot
    2) $15,000 -ish.
    3) I looked it up and a little over $6,000. Sigh. Oh well.
    4) Thankfully I have an awesome family that knows I get paid hardly anything, so they help out with insurance. I pay them about $300 or so every year for insurance.
    5) It got it because it’s small (and I’m small), but not teeny tiny. It’s reliable. Also, a big thing was the trunk. Since I’m small I can’t really reach inside of a trunk and grab stuff, so the hatchback is perfect for me so I can reach everything. Also, my wheelchair fits in it pretty nicely.
    6) Hmmmm. What would I get? I honestly have no idea! I’ve thought about special features I would want a car to have, but not the actual car itself. lol

  21. kk June 17, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    What car are you sportin’?
    2004 Scion xA
    How much did you pay for it?
    13,200
    How much is it worth NOW?
    Around $5K but I’m not selling.
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    $60/month
    Why did you choose that one in particular?
    It was the first of a long line of Euro-style econoboxes. I LOVE it.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    Used Camry Hybrid.

  22. F June 17, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    1 2003 Outlander
    2 6K from the parents
    3 5K
    4 40$ a month for Liability
    5 I have two kids and my other car was totalled by a driver who went through the stop sign
    6 Prius

  23. Trinnie June 17, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    1) My car: 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser–Hubby’s car: 1998 GMC 1500 Pickup–the fun car: 1955 Oldsmobile Holiday 88

    2) Price of my car: The PT Cruiser was $9000 out the door. Had a car accident, so had a check from USAA for $3k. Rest of it, slapped on the Discover Card (to get cash back!) and paid it off in a month. The truck like 7 yrs ago was $5k I think. The Olds was $2500 (a total steal from a car club buddy)

    3) Value now: my car; $6500, which isn’t too too bad. The truck is about $3500 and the Olds, well, put it this way: we have it insured at a stated value of $12,000 *wink* (not a bad increase w/the Olds, especially since all we did was paint it and upholstery, which I did myself)

    4) Insurance:(The true test of how well I know my job, right?!?!) The PT Cruiser: $379/6 mo (w/a $0.00 comp deductible and a $250 coll deductible), the truck is $122/6 mo for liability only and the 1955 Olds (with classic car insurace) is about $200/yr.

    Why I picked my Cruiser: it’s small, gets a gizillion miles to the gallon (especially since I drive 25 mi each way to come to work) and kinda fits my style. The truck, my hubby’s train of thought was, “every man in CO needs a truck” (um, really?!?) and the Olds, well, it’s badass!! AND there’s a song written about our exact car!

    *Bonus*: hands down: GMC Acadia…a nice “family” car, but isn’t a mini-van. AND it’s not a Ford. (I promised my grandpa when I was 5 yrs old that I’d never own a Ford. My grandpa was a mechanic in the Navy during WWII and the 1950s, and swore Fords were the worst type of vehicle. No offense to you Ford owners out there!)

  24. Jaclyn June 17, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? 2006 Honda CRV and 2000 Volkswagon Cabrio
    2. How much did you pay for it? $10K for Cabrio and $19K for the CRV
    3. How much is it worth NOW? Cabrio is now worth $4700 (it’s in perfect condition, paid off, and only 65,000 miles) and the CRV $16,500
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? $200 a month
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? My husband had the Cabrio before we were married, but its the best car. The CRV because we are looking to start a family in a couple of years and cause of the snow in NYC.
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? Probably pay off debt. Maybe in a couple of years get another car.

  25. Alexis June 17, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    1. I rive a 2005 Honda Odyssey (kidmobile!), and my hubby has a 2001 Toyota Camry.

    2. I don’t remember exactly, since it’s been a while. I think mine was in the neighborhood of $32,000 (top of the line!) and my hubby’s was in the low 20s.

    3. Mine’s worth about $15,500, which is a big drop from the last time I looked it up two months ago. Hubby’s is worth $4700, also a drop.

    4. Apparently, we pay a lot. About $1900 a year for both cars.

    5. I LOVE my minivan, and I can’t imagine ever driving another type of car. It had been my dream since high school (loved the idea of toting all my friends around at once) but I had to wait until my 2nd child to really justify it.

    *BONUS* If it were my car, I’d go for another top-of-the-line minivan (although I’d have to throw in some bucks). For hubby, he’d get a Chevy Volt in a heartbeat!

  26. Stephanie June 17, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? 2003 Chevy Cavalier
    2. How much did you pay for it? Nothing! It was my grandfather’s and I inherited it when he passed away.
    3. How much is it worth NOW? About $4,000
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? About $700/year
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? Well, it was an inheritance, and how the heck do you pass up a free, almost new at the time, car when you’re a poor college student??

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? Hmm… Versa hatchback. My husband was eyeing those up for awhile and that’s what brought that car to my attention, and my friend’s fiance got one recently and LOVES it. :-)

  27. Jenny~Z June 17, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? 2001 Mazda Protege
    2. How much did you pay for it? $3500… price dropped from original $4000
    3. How much is it worth NOW? About $3700 (just bought it a month ago and its so old it doesn’t depreciate that quickly)
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? $100 a month (I’m only 23)
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? Cuz it has low low mileage (87k) and I could afford it in cash!!!
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? Same as you J$, this would be CRAZZZZZY cuz my car is worth a fraction of that buuuuuut I’d buy a newer Mazda, Honda or Hyundai. Preferably something hybrid or electric that would save gas money and be eco-friendly!!!

  28. The Tin Man June 17, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    1. 2008 Mazda 3 s sport sedan
    2. $17,500 after taxes and add-on fees, etc
    3. as of 6/1 $13,820 on KBB and $10,927 on Edmunds. As a reference the KBB value a year ago was $12,855 and the Edmunds $12,028.
    4. $150/month, curse city parking and not quite having license for 6 years!
    5. It fit my needs, and is a manual. In retrospect I wish I didn’t buy new and wish I got the hatchback, but that’s water under the bridge.

  29. Meg June 17, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    1. What’s it mean then if I have four….? ^_^;; My girls are: 1990 Nissan 240SX, 1997 Mazda Miata, 2001 Honda S2000 and a 2011 Subaru STi. (What it means for us is that you’re looking at my hobby. All my other hobbies really focus around this one. Cars are my LIFE.)

    2. Paid…. Let’s see: 240SX — $2k, with a lot of extra parts, bought as my project; Miata — She cost us $6k; S2000 — Believe she was $16k…; STi — Well, all said and done we “paid” $41k for her. Paid in past tense, because all but the STi are owned by us. (Car payment was a choice to get back into, believe it or not.)

    3. Now? Well, KBB is nice and all, but the first three it just depends. They’re modified, moderately in all but the 240SX’s case. (She’s extremely modified by any classification.) The STi is worth less than we owe because we had some negative equity on the trade in creep on there (it was about to die on us, get rid of it now kind of thing, normal car with no attachments) and we got stuck with more than sticker because only so many made it over here before that awful earthquake. :(

    4. Usual month comes just under $300, and we’ve always paid it monthly. That’s coverage on all four, only full coverage on the STi. The other three will be totaled if they get into an accident more than likely. (Makes me very careful driving them, I love them and don’t want to lose them.)

    5. Oh, fun question! :) 240SX — We chose her because we both always wanted one, she was a good price and she was already a manual. She eventually became my project and we’ve done an engine swap on her, replaced a bunch of things and I’m getting ready to do another big mod to her. She’s my fun fun fun project!

    Miata — She is my race car! Literally. She’s still 100% street legal, but these days I only really drive her to and from the track. :) She used to be my daily though, but I like that I don’t have to ask her to work so hard anymore. I’m considering how to slowly turn her into more of a race car.

    S2000 — She’s just FUN. This is the car my husband races and she’s one of our dream cars. Right now she’s my main driver, since she doesn’t like sitting. (The others don’t mind it as much, and with my hubby deployed I have to take care of all four myself.) She’s quite the practical sports car, honestly. For years all we had is her and the Miata. People often wondered how we did it, we got by perfectly well.

    STi — Her entire purpose in our life is so we can get by in winter. We had a Legacy that we bought last winter to get around, since the other three were pretty useless in the snow. (If only base knew how to plow…. *sigh*) Well, we hated the Legacy and wanted an STi. While we planned to pay off the Legacy and then get the STi, we did it sooner than expected when the Legacy showed signs of wanting to die (in a big way) and we found that finding the STi we wanted would be hard because of the low quantity. When one showed up close to us in the color we wanted, we pounced. I don’t regret it in the least, and we can afford her just fine. I am now looking forward to snow! (sort of.) And maybe rally school too. Maybe.

    *BONUS* $25k? Depends on who got totaled. I’d more than likely want to replace whoever it was… But that’s enough to buy myself a good starter 911 or add a little of my own to get my first Ferrari. :)

    And my last note — Yes, cars are my life, as I said before. Everything my husband and I do is to afford this hobby. This is our only real hobby, the others are supplements to this generally and don’t cost us much at all. So we are not normal people with cars by any means. That’s mostly why it looks so extravagant — It took years of hard work to get to this point, and the only related debt is the loan on the new car.

  30. WR June 17, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    My Cars: 2007 Toyota Tundra . Silver. 2009 Honda Pilot (Dark Grey). My favorite = 1995 Toyota T100 pickup (Black)

    Prices:
    07 Tundra – bought it at the dealer new during the Gas Crisis (remember $4.25 gas back in 2007?) sticker was $30k paid $22k cash.
    Pilot – same deal 30k sticker, 25k cash
    T100 – bought it used for 7k in 2003 (cash of course. ALWAYS pay cash for cars. Wealth rule #1)

    Value now:
    Tundra – about 18k although I am very hard on my vehicles.
    T100 – perhaps 2-3k never going to sell this one though. Amazing vehicle. 220,000 miles and very few problems.
    Pilot – hmmm. 24k?

    Insurance: $2000 year with $500 deductible. Mostly due to some *ahem* poor driving on my part.

    Why I picked them: Pilot = Safety, Tundra = business vehicle (over 6k GVW) , T100 = farm use – kind of (still road legal but it is my mulch, sand, lumber, junk , tow…everything else vehicle.

    I know I will probably catch some flak for having such inefficient, large vehicles and I agree somewhat. My reasoning is simple: The safety of my children is my #1 priority. Saving fuel and giving up advanced safety features is not an option. Regardless of safety rating, the size of the vehicle is the single most important factor here.

    2nd reason:
    Protip: Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment purchased or financed during the tax year.
    This means you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income.

    It’s an incentive created by the Federal Government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and invest in themselves.

    Not in business? You should be…

  31. Jenn June 17, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    1. What car are you sportin? 2002 Chevy Malibu
    2. How much did you pay for it? 4k when it was only a couple years old and had hardly any mileage. I got a really sweet deal.
    3. How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) $3,510
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) I pay it every 6 months and my renters ins. is included. I think it’s like $30 a month
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? See #2
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? Subaru Outback.

  32. bleu June 17, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??) Honda Civic
    2. How much did you pay for it? 8,500 it was listed at 14,00 but I got a deal
    3. How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) I think about 10K
    4.How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) $1,000 per year
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? Great on gas 33 mpg, low maintenace cost
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) Mercedes… not sure specific

  33. Leslie June 17, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    1. What car are you sportin’? a) 2006 Honda CR-V b) 2000 Toyota Corolla VE (the Very Exquisite edition) :-)
    2. How much did you pay for it? a) Nothing! :-D It was a graduation gift from my parents. They got it new. I think it was about $26k for them. b) $8,000. We had an old red truck that was dying and we saved every extra cent in a car fund. When it finally died we bought this car and had $16 left in our bank account for a while, it was close but we did manage to pay cash.
    3. How much is it worth NOW? a) $14,950 according to KBB b) $4085. Down about half in 3 years.
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? $1100/year for both
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? a) I wanted an SUV and my parents were buying. b) Older car died and we wanted either a Toyota or Honda that was reliable, in good condition, and that we could pay cash for. It took a while to find one that met our criteria and was under $10,000 so we could afford it. Many dealers just laughed at us when we told them our budget. Finally we found this one. It was in fantastic condition and I really do think it was previously owned by a “little old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays”

    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? a) another SUV, probably a Honda Element. We need this one for our business. b) Another small car, probably another newer corolla or camry.

  34. crashdamage1957 June 17, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    this is a gr8 thread…
    What car are you sportin’?
    a 1998 Subaru Forrester and a 2008 Subaru Imprezza
    How much did you pay for it?
    2 $26000, new in 1998, and $20, 076, new in 2008 everything included…
    How much is it worth NOW?
    KBB says between$4885 good for the forester, $14600 for the Imprezza
    How much do you pay for insurance?
    $169/ $217 respectively, every 6 months for full coverage
    Why did you choose that one in particular?
    If you saw my driveway in winter, you ‘d know what we need AWD. The forester gets a decent 23 mpg local/28 hwy, the imprezza an even better 30 local/33 hwy, and good safety ratings, and reliable as heck.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    We are staying Subaru, so in this senario, ( god willing, never happens to any of us) replace the imprezza with a 2011 model and the forester with a 2011 model too. We buy new, maintain them well, and there fore get 10to 20 years from them. yeah, i know depreciation etc but the only used car i want to drive is one i bought new in the first place.

  35. Ashley @ Money Talks June 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    What car are you sportin’? I drive a 2007 Kia Sedona. Hubby drives a 2006 (i think) Chrysler 300. He also has a 2001 F-150.
    How much did you pay for it? The Kia = $24,000 including everything, tax, license, etc. The 300 = 17,000 including everything. The F150.. I don’t know cause he had it before we met.
    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)
    The Kia is worth about 12,000, The 300 is worth about 9,000 I don’t know about the truck.
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    $110 ish per month.
    Why did you choose that one in particular?
    We wanted a minivan and the Kia had the best value, safest and good price. The 300 was a great deal. I think it only had 25,000 miles on it.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    I really have no clue.

  36. Crystal June 17, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    What car are you sportin’? 2005 Chevy Aveo – manual with a/c – no cd player, no power anything other than steering…
    How much did you pay for it? $11,800 but $13,600 after 2 years of financing. It has been paid off since 2007.
    How much is it worth NOW? About $4500
    How much do you pay for insurance? $300 a year for basic coverage only
    Why did you choose that one in particular? I needed a car out of college to get to work and I wanted a cheap new one so I wouldn’t have to worry about big maintenance issues while we were just starting out.
    *BONUS* What would you get? I would probably get a newish or new Prius. I really love my husband’s Prius since it drives smooth and can pretty much carry anything we buy, and I would love only having to fill up once or twice a month at most! I despise errands…

  37. jami June 17, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    What car are you sportin’? 2009 Toyota Yaris sedan
    How much did you pay for it? ~12k (even trade for a 2008 Scion Xb that my wife couldn’t drive because it was stick.)
    How much is it worth NOW? $11,375
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    $600/year
    Why did you choose that one in particular?
    My wife couldn’t drive my Scion, we only need one car as we live in the city and use metro most of the time, and she used to have a toyata echo that she LOVED and this is the newer version of that car. I went in for an oil change on the Scion, found this one in the showroom, traded on the spot, brought her home the present :)
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    probably the same car or maybe a VW jetta

  38. Kathy June 17, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??) I own a 1997 Saturn SL1 4dr sedan with a license plate frame that reads: sshhhhhh…it’s thinks it’s a Porsche

    How much did you pay for it? I bought it as a birthday gift for myself on 6/18/1997 (two days after my bday) & it was the first BRAND NEW car I had/have ever purchased. I want to say that the sticker price was abt $15k.

    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) $935 according to KBB

    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) $53.15 monthly…no guesstimate here…I work for my Ins Co.

    Why did you choose that one in particular? my sister woned a Saturn & I really liked it so I bought one. Didn’t even test drive it when I went in…..just told them what I wanted & it was mine.

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) I have my eye on a Chrysler 300…sharp! Except, I wouldn’t buy it NEW, I’d buy a USED one …1-2 years old so I’m saving the extra money for the increase in gas I’ll have to buy.

  39. Bonnie June 17, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    1. 2007 Saturn VUE Hybrid
    2. about $24,000
    3. $11,750
    4. about $50/month
    5. This was our 4th Saturn. I’m not sure what we will buy now that Saturn is gone. But overall, it fits our family and I liked the hybrid aspect.
    *BONUS* This is a terrible question to ask me since I’m not really a car girl. I would find something that could fit our family of 5 with good gas mileage and low maintenance costs.

  40. Christine June 17, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    First of all, I can’t believe you posted that video! I’ve been laughing over it the last few days because that’s the Whole Foods I go to! It’s 10 minutes away and it has the worst parking lot ever! That stuff in the video happens! You’ve got people in Prius’ fighting over spots and those little carts are really all they have! And yet people still run into your ankles with those little things! Hmm and your Caddy would definitely not fit into those teeny spaces, you would end up being one of those who has to take up two spaces.

    1. What car are you sportin’? Toyota corolla 2006
    2. How much did you pay for it? New abouts 15,000
    3. How much is it worth NOW? about 9,000 ( low mileage)
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) abouts 500 every 6 months
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? didn’t, it was a gift from my parents:P I have great parents!
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? A Nissan Leaf or a honda civic hybrid! Cause I really want a hybrid or electric car!

  41. Melissa June 17, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    This is probably going to be the most boring answer, because I don’t really drive at all, but here goes!

    1. I have a 1997 Chevy Lumina. She’s just awesome. But the car, which is sort of mine and sort of also my parents’, currently lives with my parents in the suburbs, because living in the city, I don’t really have a need for it, plus I can’t afford the upkeep. Currently they’re footing the bills for insurance and repairs because they’re the ones using it 355 days out of the year. (It’s one of those situations where they bought the car so I’d have something to drive, with the intention of giving it to me when I finished university/needed a car of my own, and I’ve never taken them up on it.)
    2. I think it was something like $6,000 back in 2004. It was in excellent condition, though. It only had like, 12,000 km on it.
    3. Oh lordy, probably nothing. It’s an old girl. But worth a million in the sense that it’s reliable and get me and my parents from A to B.
    4. Right now nothing, because I’m just tacked on to my parents’ insurance, so I don’t think there’s any added cost to them. If I were to insure it in my own name, it’d be about $125/month for basic. My record is immaculate, but insurance is just really expensive here.
    5. My parents bought it. I don’t know why that one, but probably for the low mileage.
    BONUS: I have my eye on a new VW Rabbit. Oh man, I want one so badly! I know it’s impractical for me to have a car at all, but man, I’m so working on a way to figure out how to make it happen, if only so I can get out of this city (Toronto) once in a while!

  42. Kelsey June 17, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    1. What car are you sportin’? 2004 Dodge Stratus
    2. How much did you pay for it? $10,500
    3. How much is it worth NOW? $3250
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? $90/mo, includes rental coverage and $250 deductible
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? I liked the color and wanted a Sedan at the time. Just paid it off! I had gotten it in college.
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I would get a Dodge Challenger OR maybe a GMC Terrain.

  43. bethh June 17, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    1. 2004 Hyundai Accent
    2. $6,300 in 2005 – yay for a one-year-old car. Sadly I had to take out a loan but paid it off within 3 years.
    3. $3175
    4. Insurance is $56/month.
    5. Dream car? 4-door hatchback with good gas mileage. Maybe a Honda Fit or a Prius or a Scion xD.

  44. Meghan June 17, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Hey J.Money.

    My husband and I went car-free in January. It is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. We live in Los Angeles where supposedly being car-free is impossible. However, with a few shifts in priorities, we’ve been able to get along better without the car than with it.

    Think of it:
    No paying for parking
    No parking tickets
    No sitting in traffic
    No car payment
    No paying for gas.

    I changed jobs so I could work closer to where I live and our home is just a half hour walk or 5 minute bike ride from my husband’s work. My work and school are 20 min walks each.

    The change didn’t happen overnight. I used to commute 1 hr each way to a job until I decided that spending 10 hours per week in a car was not the life I wanted. Even after the shift to the new job I still kept the car unused in the garage for 6 months. It was like a security blanket. The problem was, I was still paying for it even though it was just sitting there. Plus, since it was just sitting, the battery kept dying on me!

    Now we are able to save tons of cash and our life is so much more chill.

  45. Cooper June 17, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    I still drive a 98 Dodge Dakota that my parents gave me when I was 18. What can I say I was spoiled. I also bought a used 2000 Toyota Avalon (on my own dime) in 2005 that my friends make fun of me for, saying it’s an “old fart” car but I love it. I paid 12,500 for it then and I think it’s worth about $3,000 today.
    I don’t have a car loan on either vehicle and my goal in life is to never have a car loan again.
    If I get rich someday I think I will buy a really nice Toyota Avalon….maybe even brand new.

  46. Yana June 17, 2011 at 3:29 PM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??) – 2008 Subaru Forester
    How much did you pay for it? – $21,700 Out the door
    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) – $18,415
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) – $800/year
    Why did you choose that one in particular? – Always liked SUVs, not too big, made in Japan. Liked the looks of them when they first came out
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) – I don’t think I’d get a new car, because I never want tire pressure sensor monitors that are required by law. I think I’d get a 2006 Forester, premium model or LL Bean edition in champagne color or whatever they called it.

  47. rainbowfish June 17, 2011 at 3:29 PM

    2008 Honda Accord LXP
    $23,000
    $15,300 – $16,800 (over twice what I still owe)
    Insurance for the Honda, a 1999 Chevy truck and a 15 year old learner is $300 a month, but the 15 year old doubled my rates. I have a $500 deductible.
    I was driving a Honda Pilot that was jinxed. Really, I backed into a mailbox, had a mouse get in the A/C blower and get chopped to bits, had a deer destroy the entire passenger side after it got thrown into our can; while driving on the interstate, final straw; the driver who took out the rear bumper and didn’t stop to claim responsibility. This was all in a three year period.
    Used BMW or Lexus

  48. Amy Lou June 17, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    What car are you sportin’? 8 year old Saturn Ion (sedan)

    How much did you pay for it? More than it’s worth – $12,700. Bad credit, little down, buy here pay here loan. The good news is that I’ve come a LONG way since I bought it.

    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) Last time I checked, it was around $8,000.

    How much do you pay for insurance? $122 per month. I used to be a naughty girl.

    Why did you choose that one in particular? Because it was the highest quality car on a low quality lot.

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I would research and be patient until I found the right deal on a used ¾ ton American made diesel truck.

  49. Jenn Lynn June 17, 2011 at 4:02 PM

    What car are you sportin’? 2006 silver Mazda3
    How much did you pay for it? $13,000 (and some change)
    How much is it worth NOW? $9,575…%^&*!
    How much do you pay for insurance? $65/mo
    Why did you choose that one in particular? Because I drive so far to work, I wanted a car that was kind of sporty and had good gas mileage. It’s a cute car, but I really miss my Wrangler :'(
    *BONUS* I would TOTALLY buy another Wrangler…a Rubicon in a rugged black ;)

  50. AprilFire June 17, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    1. I drive a silver 99 Volkswagon Beetle, with a manual transmission
    2. $8000 CAD. My high school friend was selling it for $9500, knocked it down to $8500 when I first contacted her about it and settled on $8000 when I went to pick it up.
    3. $3700 USD, even with a newer transmission :S
    4. $140 per month
    5. Loved the style of the car, was in need of a new(er) one and it was a major impulse buy.
    6. I’d be getting either a Honda CR-Z (new, hybrid) or a Dodge Challenger (“Green with Envy” color).

  51. Kari June 17, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    2001 Pontiac Vibe – front wheel drive
    Paid 12k-negotiated 2k down.
    Little over 12k – financed for 6 years paid off in 3 saving about 3k in interest.
    Last time I checked it’s still worth 8k.
    As a couple we pay about $850 year
    Was on the way to one dealer to check out a certain vibe but saw this one was only 3 years old with only 20k miles. Was on the way to see one with 60k miles.
    I’d buy a Jeep – TJ series, not JK series.

    Kari

  52. Debbie June 17, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??)

    1998 Mighty Expedition. 219,000 miles. Going for 350,000. $20K, back in the day AND a 1985 Jeep Scrambler that I can’t remember what I paid for it, but three years ago I did a frame up restoration to the tune of $15k

    How much did you pay for it?
    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) Mighty Expedition: $2K, Jeep $20K

    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) $1200 yearly for Expedition – $600 yearly Jeep

    Why did you choose that one in particular? Haggerty for Jeep they do old cars/restorations, etc. Southern Auto Owners for the Expedition as that was what my insurance lady said….

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) Just moved in with IronDude and 3 times a week I commute 120 miles round trip. Something with great gas mileage.

  53. Justin June 17, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    1.What car are you sportin’? 08 Boxster S 96 Miata 2003 Mustang V6
    2.How much did you pay for it? $50,000 $1400 $3500
    3.How much is it worth NOW? $48,000 $2500 $6500
    4.How much do you pay for insurance? 2800/year 1600 for porsche 400 for miata and 800 for mustang
    5.Why did you choose that one in particular? Track toy
    6.*BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I’ll need more then 25,000 and i would upgrade to a 2008 Porsche GT3 RS in orange/black

  54. Charles June 17, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    So my main mode of transportation is a motorcycle – a 2005 Buell Lightning XB9S with 14000 miles. We also have a minivan. A 2004 Toyota Sienna. AND we still have a 2003 Toyota Corolla with over 201,000 miles.

    Paid $2800 for the bike and $10,000 for the minivan both used. Both paid cash. My wife bought the Corolla before we were married.

    The bike is worth $3500 or so, the van should still be worth $10k, and the Corolla is worth about $3000 (believe it or not!)

    We probably pay less than $200 for all the vehicles.

    The bike is my hot rod. It’s so much fun. It’s the best, most fun vehicle for the money. We’ve got 4 kids, so we need the van. The Corolla is for when I just cant ride (like in the snow).

    I guess it depends on what got totaled. I’d be able to get 2 (maybe even 3) bikes for $25k! I’d buy a nicer Sienna if the van needed to be replaced, and a Mustang GT if the car was totaled.

  55. Ed June 17, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Boy, this is a fun one, since I DON’T OWN A CAR! (Like some others here, apparently.) But…

    1. Trek 950 Hybrid bicycle!
    2. $500 in the summer of 2000
    3. About $150-200
    4. Right now, no insurance. That’s probably a bad idea, even on a bike.
    5. A co-worker was selling it and I needed a bike. Great decision, this thing is indestructible!
    *BONUS* Well, if someone’s stupid enough to give me $25k for totalling my bike, I’m getting a Mazda RX-8! I love the WANKEL ROTARY ENGINE!

  56. Halothane June 17, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    1) 2010 BMW 650i
    2) $98,000
    3) KBB is $69,300
    4) About 3K a year
    5) Only thing I wanted. So I saved :)

  57. Sass June 17, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    1. Mine is a 2000 Toyota Rav4, My daughter’s is a 2003 Honday Civic
    2. Toyota — FREE (my Dad bought it for me…. long story). Honda – $6900 out the door, and wrote a check for the whole thing! (yea, me!)
    3. Toyota — $5750, Honda — $7100 (HOW did THAT happen? Worth more than I paid? KBB must be off a bit)
    4. $133/month for both (16 year old driver — OUCH)
    5, Toyota — because this soccer mom wasn’t ABOUT to be driving a mini-van! Honda– good, safe, reliable, non-flashy car for the teenage driver.
    6. Can I buy 2? :-)

  58. crashdamage1957 June 17, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    but one note.. I realize that the last question is a hypothetical one, ( and again, one I hope none of us actually experience ) but i think typically an insurance company will only award a claim amount that is commensurate with the current value of the vehicle that is totaled; ie if you total a clunker valued at $950, the insurance company will not award a windfall that is in excess of the amount of the loss. So Ed will hopefully be able to replace his trek 950 with another $ 500 bike, not a $25000 car.

  59. BoeshaneHR June 17, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??)
    99 Saturn SC2, 3 door with a sunroof

    How much did you pay for it?
    $9,999 + interest and warranty

    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)
    $1400

    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    Just changed companies for almost 50% what I was paying! $564/year

    Why did you choose that one in particular?
    My other car was dying and it was this or a granny car in crap shape. I bought it in 2003 with 38k miles and it sounded like an Xwing! Too bad that meant the transmission was dying. :P Good thing it died while under warranty. ;) $50 for a brand new transmission? Why yes, thank you!

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    A 2011 in August to get a new car but good deal. Probably the new Ford Fusion hybrid.

  60. Chet June 17, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    1. What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??)
    2002 Toyota Tundra
    2. How much did you pay for it?
    $2500
    3. How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)
    Per kbb $9405
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    $65/month
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular?
    Tremendous deal
    6. *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;))
    Jetta TDI, no question.

  61. janet June 17, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    #1. Chevy Colorado
    #2. paid about $16 cash out the door
    #3. Who cares. it’s not an investment.
    #4. Around $450
    #5. Economial because of 4 cyl & I do lots of road trips.
    #6. Probably same- My dream car no longer seems important in this economy.

  62. Mary M June 18, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    04 beetle gls turbo convertible
    10G this year
    I shopped forever bc I wanted an orange convertible w a back seat. Love it. The turbo was a bonus and I can’t imagine not having one in the future. PUNCH IT!
    About $575/yr
    Dream car ~ this week would be a Infiniti G37 sport, but that changes everyweek bc I sell cars and I’m fickle.

  63. Mary M June 18, 2011 at 2:11 AM

    Oh yeah I also want an el camino.

  64. WinrWinrChknDinr June 18, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    1.) 2003 Dodge Durango SXT 4×4
    2.) ~$13,400 in Dec. 2006. Paid off on our 2nd anniversary in Oct 2008. The real story here is when we were buying the car, we forgot the checkbook! After the price was set, we talked about the down payment. They said they could put $1000 on a credit card. I said, “I was hoping to put down a little more than that.” They said, “We can put $2000 down, $1000 on two different credit cards.” I said “I was hoping to put down a little more than that.” They let us take the car home that night with dealer plates on it, but after stopping at the bank to withdraw $4k+ for the down payment (we only borrowed $9000 even), we went back and made the payment. The worst part? Having to stand and watch as my $4k+ was counted twice in front of me (once at the bank, once at the dealership).
    3.) ~$7500
    4.) ~$55/mo
    5.) We only own(ed) one car, and the 1999 Chevy Cavalier wasn’t getting the job done anymore. We wanted something with more storage. We have used it to pull out landscaping though, so that was fun. Besides, with the winters we have in WI, 4×4 is nice for the wife and rear-wheel is fun for the husband.
    6.) We would get a new 2011 Dodge Durango. Actually, that is what we are saving for right now. We hope to keep what we have for 3-4 more years, and then we will get a 2011 or 2012 Durango. Next time we’ll pay cash.

  65. wldflr June 18, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    1. What car are you sportin’? A 2001 Ford Escape. 134,000+ miles and still going strong.

    2. How much did you pay for it? $19,900…and get this, I joined a small plane/aviation club for $40 (online the night before the purchase) and it automatically got me the Ford “X-Plan” rate which at that time which meant a savings of $700+. And I don’t even fly a plane! Hubby was impressed to say the least.

    3.How much is it worth NOW? $2,500

    4. How much do you pay for insurance? $300/year so that’s $25/month

    5. Why did you choose that one in particular? Own 2 very large dogs and do a lot of haulin’ of stuff. Getting a V6 was awesome after years of driving a V4 Ford Escort!

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I’m sure I’d pick out another mid-size SUV…something really sweet with a few bells and whistles…and oh, yeah…heated seats!

  66. Mer June 18, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??) – 2008 Audi A4
    How much did you pay for it? – $34K OTD
    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) – $20,975
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) – $650/year
    Why did you choose that one in particular? – Summer of ’08 when gas was heading to $5/gal, I was driving a Land Rover. Easy decision.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) – Volvo X60. NEED a bigger car.

  67. Carol June 18, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    1. What car are you sportin’?
    * Still with my 1999 Toyota Camry CE, with ~111,000 miles. Replaced the original battery last summer (11 years old! – shop guys were surprised, as this is Minnesota, and that’s not usual)

    2. How much did you pay for it?
    * About $17,500 (cash)
    * Had been ordered by another dealer with most of the upgrades for an LE, save the sunroof. I wanted a stick, so my dealer found this one, and they shipped it up

    3. How much is it worth NOW?
    * $4375 (from KBB)

    4. How much do you pay for insurance?
    * $55/month – with USAA, and don’t need AAA, as USAA offers the same service/coverage for much less

    5. Why did you choose that one in particular?
    * Want/need a 4-door sedan, protection for driving in city with so many SUVs
    * Wanted a stick, which I always get, but are becoming harder to find

    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get?
    It might be my last car, so I’d get another Camry, or a Honda Accord sedan, but with a V6, and a sunroof and heated seats, and do it up right. I live in Mpls, but have bought all my cars back in my hometown in Iowa, routinely saving $1500-2000 each time. Well worth the drive.

    My lottery car would be a Porsche 911.

  68. Erica June 19, 2011 at 10:22 PM

    1. I drive a pontiac wave
    2. $10,000
    3. I have no idea what it is worth now, I could not find it on the site.
    4. I pay every 6 months and it’s about $1,100
    5. I like small cars
    *BONUS* I have no idea what I would get. probably the same thing or something similar to the pontiact wave.

  69. Denis June 19, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    1. What car are you sportin’?
    2007 Mustang Coupe on 20 inch black rims ;-)
    How much did you pay for it?
    $14,750 with interest (paid off in 2 years)
    2. How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)
    $13,600
    3. How much do you pay for insurance?
    $160 a month full coverage w progressive…cheapest.
    *BONUS* I’d get a used 2008/09 Lexus IS 350.

  70. J. Money June 20, 2011 at 1:18 AM

    Holy crap that’s a lot of comments! Time to start responding ;) This is gonna be a long one.. (that’s what she said):

    @Jenn – Honda civics were my first favorite cars once I turned old enough to drive :) I never ended up buying one after all these years, but now whenever I see one (which, is like every 5 mins – haha…) I think back to 10th grade :)
    @Elle – Nice! Buying cars w/ cash is hot if you can pull it off… I never like plonking down big chunks like that, but I know it’s crazy smart financially. Hope you get that Camaro one day! (I secretly want an ’88 Iroc Z! haha..)
    @Diane – Yeah! Love Integras! Can’t believe you put down $21k w/out a loan! Wow… you are good :)
    @Peliroo – Haha… I never got a chance to meet Rollie last month, did I? Maybe next time you can introduce us :)
    @Philip – Oooooh nice. I’ve never once owned a truck (I had a Highlander once but wussy compared to an F-150), but for whatever reason the last few years I’ve REALLY been thinking about owning one. Maybe not as big of one as that guy is, but def. a truck-truck. There’s something rugged and just cowboy’ish about ’em. Maybe now that I have boots I can rock one out a lot sooner! :)
    @Andy – Yeah, Hybrids get cunky w/ AC cranked – at least the ones I’ve driven too. Def. cool cars though, but I personally don’t think their worth the extra premium given to them. At least it’s better for environment :)
    @Colleen – Haha, woo!! Love the paint name too – “Victory Red” – that’s hot.
    @Jackie – I’ve always liked the way Muranos look… never test drove, but seem pretty cool!
    @Karmella – I loved my SUV :) Maybe the Toyota Highlander is what you’d like? More expensive than the othres, but it rides reaaaaaal well! And pretty stylish if you get the “limted” version :)
    @retirebyforty – Haha, we’re cool like that!
    @Edward Antrobus – Oooooh that would be nice! I used to love old beetles… don’t know jack about them, but if you could promise me they wouldn’t break down I’d be up for getting one too :)
    @Erin – I’d be interested in hearing more about that too! My parents are HUGE on Hondas/Toyotas over American cars so I’ve grown up thinking the same (I’m not one to research a lot). It would probably be hard to convince me otherwise, but if you find out any secrets over there do let us know :) Though I still buy whichever I’m in the mood for anyways, so it wouldn’t change my patterns, haha… but you’ve got me curious!
    @Steph – HAH! Are you serious? They really gave you Dave Ramsey tickets? That is too funny… and hell yeah Impalas are bad a$$!

    @Tea – Nice!!! The reading part is the best – I miss having time to read when I was on trains every day (though I don’t miss the commute ;))
    @The Financialite – Haha, one of my boys has that IS300 and it DOES look sharp :) RDXs do too!
    @Jonathan – I still want to hop into a Smart car. If they’re anything like the mini, they’re much bigger on the inside that they look.
    @Beckey & Jeff – I used to want a Liberty sooooo bad! Then I test drove it and I just did *not* fit in it okay…. I think I’m too tall for it or something cuz I was all kinds of uncomfortable. Hopefully yours is okay :)
    @m1n4 – Hey that looks pretty good from my google searching! :) Can’t say I’ve ever been in one yet.
    @Brian – Haha, that would be awesome. TSXs are pretty hot for sure – even without spinnaz ;)
    @Emily – My mom loves those Cruisers! I remember when they first came out and everyone was so excited for them :) Only been in one once, but they seem like they do the trick.
    @kk – Did you by it when they first came out? I remember those being all the rave too!
    @F – Ouch. Glad you came out of that crash okay! (at least it seems like you’re okay?)
    @Trinnie – I WANT TO RIDE IN THAT OLDS WHEN I SEE YOU!! Okay? Promise me??? That was my favorite type of car growing up! Used to love ’em :)

    @Jaclyn – Cheater! You can’t use that money for debt ;)
    @Alexis – Haha, you may be one of the first people I have ever met that dreamed of having a minivan :) Whatever works!
    @Stephanie – Oh yeah, I’d take ANY free car in college! Or hell, even now! :)
    @Jenny~Z – Mazda RX8s are pretty cool :) Probably the only Mazda I’d think of buying if I was going to.
    @The Tin Man – That’s so weird about KBB? I wonder if they’re not reliable like they used to be? Everyone seems to be switching to Edmunds.
    @Meg – Yes! And I love that you OWN it and you work hard and prioritize your money like that :) Whether it’s cars, boats, homes, whatever – as long as you make the choice to rock it and you don’t go crazy in all other departments (and I know you guys don’t) that is wonderful. Can’t wait to see that ferrari when you get it one day! Love it that you call them all your “girls” too, haha… wonder if you’ll ever pick up a boy? :)
    @WR – OOoooooh I like that tax incentive BIG time! Can’t say I’d be able to pull it off myself being a self-employed blogger, haha, but glad you guys can :)
    @Jenn – People seem to be hardcore about subarus, I still have yet to fully understand it… probably best to take one for a spin and see one of these days…. when I’m not tempted to buy! :)
    @bleu – yeah girl! we’re in the same boat in that bonus question.
    @Leslie – haha, my first cadillac came from an older lady who rarely drove it too :) those are the best!!

    @WR – YES!!!! OMG that’s hot. The same one as in Entourage, yes? I want suicide doors so bad.
    @crashdamage1957 – Man, ANOTHER Subaru lover – those things must have gold in them, everyone likes em!! :)
    @Ashley @ Money Talks – Haha, well you better think about it in case a magical genie comes up and gives you a $25k car credit! :)
    @Crystal – No CD player?? How do you survive!!! haha…
    @jami – That’s great that you all already have your perfect car :) I usually can never have the same car twice – unless it’s upgraded and/or a totally different color. I’ve had 2 exact caddy’s before but the rest all different.
    @Kathy – haha… love the license plate frame. you should get “shhhhhh” on the actual plates too! :)
    @Bonnie – Woah, Saturns are gone??? How the heck did I miss that? I mean, I guess I haven’t heard much about them recently, but jeez… people love them almost as much as Subarus! Haha…
    @Christine – WHAT? REALLY?? hahahhahahaah… that is so damn funny. I would love it even more if it was my own store too :) (though I never shop at Whole Foods, but maybe they’ll come out with one for Safeway!)
    @Melissa – Haha, that wasn’t a boring answer! You gave it some pizzaz ;)
    @Kelsey – Congrats on paying it off! That’s great!!

    @bethh – That’s not too bad! I’m all for loans that can be paid off in a reasonable time, good job :)
    @Meghan – Love it!!! That is so relieving I’m sure! Don’t you ever miss driving though? Just picking up and going somewhere for like a road trip? Or do you just rent or find Zipcars or something? I went without for a cple years when living in NYC, but I def. missed it.
    @Cooper – Haha… isn’t that funny? that we’d only buy brand new if we were rich? I know people have their reasons for buying brand new right off the lot, but man I just couldn’t do it when I know I could save thousands getting one even just 6 months old!
    @Yana – I like LL Bean editions of cars :) Didn’t they have one for the Ford Explorer? Or “Exploder” as my friend used to call them? :)
    @rainbowfish – WHAT? Freaky!!! So glad you got rid of that thing – jeesh!
    @Amy Lou – Haha…. I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not, but either way I like it ;)
    @Jenn Lynn – Wranglers are hot, esp when chicks drive them ;) Mazda 3s are pretty cool too though, so you’re good either way ;)
    @AprilFire – Hah! Is that really the color? I like it :)
    @Kari – My mom just went out and bought a jeep – kinda on a whim actually. Not too familiar with the differences between most of them, but I’ve always liked the Grand Cherokees – so luxurious inside them!
    @Debbie – Wow yeah, DEF a good car on mileage! Man that’s a long trip every week.
    @Justin – Yeah Porsches! Hopefully one day I’ll join you in the club!
    @Charles – A bike and a minivan! haha… sounds like a name of a blog or a novel ;)
    @Ed – Haha.. nice… a hybrid bicycle ;)
    @Halothane – A person with good taste! :) Well done my friend, that’s quite a savings goal.
    @Sass – I swear I’m not getting a minivan either, but every just keeps saying “wait until you have kids” so I’ll have to wait and THEN say it again ;) haha…
    @crashdamage1957 – Yup, for sure – no way they’d pay more than the car was actually worth (or the amount it would cost to fix it). I just made something up so it was related to cars so I can ask the question I was more curious about anyways – what people would buy if they had a nice stack of cash laying around ;)
    @BoeshaneHR – Fusions seem pretty decent. I like the stereo tricks they play on the commercials at least ;)
    @Chet – yeah, Trundras are pimp! All blacked out and high up would be sexy as hell… I really need to get myself a pickup truck one day just to experience it. One of the only types of cars I really haven’t explored yet.
    @janet – I care about #3 because it matters when you go to sell it. Even if you “run it into the ground” I find it’s always helpful to know what it would be worth in whole so when I list it on Ebay/Cragslist I can value it better.
    @Mary M – Hahaha… PUNCH IT!! and YES!!! Caminos are the $hit!! I search every few months for them just for fun, hoping to catch a bargain one of these days so I can go and grab it ;) The wife can’t STAND them though so I’d have to come up with a way to let it come home and live with us somehow ;)
    @WinrWinrChknDinr – I love Durangos! They guzzle gas like crazy, but man are they powerful!
    @wldflr – HAH! plane club??? You are too funny! what a great story :)
    @Mer – Mmmmmmmm… A4s….
    @Carol – I think we’d both be very very happy with a Porche 911 :) Perhaps not so much in the wintertime, but we’d be living it up elsewise!
    @Erica – Huh. Hadn’t heard of the Wave before….. just googled and found out :)
    @Denis – Really???? 20s? I love you. Haha… I can never muster up the courage and wallet to get some! And do you know how hot they would look on an old school caddy?? Shhhhhooooot. One of these days I’ll have to own up :)

  71. Maggie June 20, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??) – My household has 3, a 02 Ford Escape, 06 Chrysler Town and Country and a 10 Prius. (16 YO drives the Escape – we live in car-dependant SW Ohio and the school system eliminated busing for HS students in budget cuts and public trans stinks!)
    How much did you pay for it? – Ok, We buy new and keep for 10 years since neither of us know anything abotu cars. The Excape had 2.9% interest, the T&C had 0% and the Prius $26,000 @ 0.9%,. I am ok with that. Oh and I work as a manaer in IT and hubby is a Mechanical engineer. I had paid off all evil debt and then Hubby went back to school, so we are paying that off rapidly.
    How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know) – Escape $5900, T&C $13000, Prius – $27800 – Gosh, more than I paid??? Used car prices are wild right now.
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) My semin annual car ins bill was $1659 – (remmeber the 16YO?)
    Why did you choose that one in particular? – Escape – I wanted an Explorer but could nto justify it. Hubby replaced his 96 Caravan with the T&C, he likes a big car. The Prius I got because I drive 40 mile round trip to work. I was going to keep the Escape but looking for used cars for the 16 Yo, I was in the range of 8-10 YO cars with over 100K miles ont hem and decided I already had one the I knew the history of.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;)) – Would replace my Prius, Hubby might get something like a Huyndai Sonota or Elantra if either the Escape of the T&C ended up totaled. If it was the Escape, the 16Yo would then get to drive the Mini van much to his chagrin.

    So I am not yet in the pay cash camp. My husband likes to use his credit card a little too much although I am getting him covnerted after almost 20 years of beng together. He jsut does not want to be bothered with budgets, check-book ba;ancing and the like. It’s a constant struggle.

  72. Amy Lou June 20, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    @ J.Money – I’m totally serious, but I don’t know which part you’re talking about. By American made 3/4 ton diesel truck, I mean an Ford F250, Dodge Ram 2500, or Chevy Silverado 2500. I’ll be pullin’ a horse trailer, and diesel engines are more economical in the long run than gas engines. They cost more up front, but the maintenance is cheaper. No oil changes!

  73. suzanne June 20, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Loving this thread! Geat idea J$! Been thinking about a new car…

    1. Family has 1993 Subaru Impreza (love it but getting really tired looking and acting like a clunker) and 1999 Accord.
    2. Subaru=$3k in 2000. Accord=$6k in 2006.
    3. Subaru=maybe $800, with a full tank. Accord= $3500.
    4. Maybe $80/month. No collision on Subaru.
    5. PRICE and RELIABILITY. We have no $ and needed our purchase to LAST.

    *BONUS* Subaru Outback! My sis had one and I loved it. Comfy short-girl seats, great handling, plenty of space for gear and dogs and kids. Hope to buy another Subaru when this one dies (can it make it to 20 years? Car is old enough to vote as it is! Nothing handles as fun as a Subaru!)

  74. Mercedes June 20, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    1. 2006 Chevy Cobalt
    2. I think after taxes, tags & title it was around $18,000, with my down payment money I had a loan for $14,700
    3. It’s worth about $5,000 now. Probably less than that because it’s a little dirty inside. (That’s what happens when you work in the dirt!)
    4. $800 per year. I’ve got a few little blemishes on my driving record. Nothing too serious, but enough that I don’t have the cheapest insurance!
    5. It was the least expensive of the cars I was looking at and I needed a car ASAP. I don’t think it was a bad choice, though I had some buyers remorse afterward. I wish I had bought the two door instead of the 4 door…
    6. A mini! can I get mini for that much?My next car is going to be a little gas sipper for sure. Maybe I’d use the $25,000 towards a Prius and contribute my own money to make up the difference?

  75. Homefree June 20, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    1. 1996 Ford Ranger Pickup, 1958 Chevy Bel Air
    2. Pick-up free. Chevy $700.
    3. Pick-up $2,900, Chevy ?
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)
    $250 every 6 months pickup only
    5. Why did you choose that one in particular?
    Pick-up Free, Chevy Sentimental
    Bonus. Electric car (volt, prius, etc) because it is the future.

  76. Max June 21, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    1. 2008 Honda Civic Si
    2. I paid just over $20,000
    3. It’s worth about $17,000 in good condition, but I’m sure I wouldn’t get that because I put a turbo charger in it, as well as other modifications.
    4. $400 per year, but they don’t know about the modifications!
    5. I wanted it because it was a car I could afford to by and mod out! I’m runnin 450 HP to the wheels… ohh yeah!!!
    6. $25,000…. I guess I could use that towards my Nissan GTR, but I still have $75,000 to go…

  77. Cassie June 21, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    1) 2008 Smart Car – Passion model. 1987 Chevy Silverado (parked, rusting out at my parent’s house)

    2) Smart Car – $20,500. Silverado – nada

    3) Smart Car ~ $10,000. Silverado ~ $3000 (for the propane system)

    4) Smart Car – $110/month. Silverado – nada

    5) Smart Car – Ease of parking and fuel efficiency. Silverado – 16th birthday present, so I wasn’t learning on my parent’s vehicles, lol.

    Bonus) A different pickup, 3-5 years old. I’ll be doing some more renovations around the house, and you can’t carry 2X4s in a Smart Car ;)

  78. J. Money June 22, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    @Maggie – Haha, us guys learn at some point ;) Those interest rates are at least pretty damn low you’ve got – that’s great! I have no problem taking on loans when you barely pay anything for them – I like having bigger cash stacks in my bank than the opposite ;)
    @Amy Lou – Haha, I can’t remember it’s been too long! Probably about your deisel ton truck – that’s not one I hear all too often ;) But now it makes sense!
    @suzanne – Hahhaha…. “old enough to vote” – that is hilarious! Glad you like the thread here too, interesting to see how different we all are :)
    @Mercedes – Minis are pretty cool :) I think he sportier ones are better though, at least compared to the normal ones I’ve driven. They didn’t have the pickup I had thought they would, but on the other hand I also FIT in them which I didn’t think was possible! haha…
    @Homefree – Ooooh that Bel Air is tight! You should hook up with Trinnie up there – she’s got a 1955 Oldsmobile Holiday 88 ;) Your cars can be friends!

    @Max – Hahaha, yeah good thing those mods are hidden away or I’m sure the people in uniforms would be glad to give you a nice little present while you’re driving along ;)
    @Cassie – Haha…. what CAN you carry in a Smart Car? :)

  79. Tim June 22, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??)
    1. 2000 Dodge Durnago 4×4
    2. I paid nothing, it was a hand me down in college from my parents
    3. KBB says its work 4500
    4. Probably close to 100 a month
    5. It was given to me and better than the previous car I had
    *BONUS* I would probably buy a 4 door toyota tacoma. Better gas milage than what I have now and it still rides high for times when it floods.

  80. J. Money June 22, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    I bet! I have yet to own a truck but it’s been on my radar for the last cple of years lately… something so rugged about them!!

  81. Kelsey Horner June 22, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    1. What car are you sportin’? 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SEL
    2. How much did you pay for it? $17,000
    3. How much is it worth NOW? $18,375
    4. How much do you pay for insurance? Why did you choose that one in particular? $165.88/month. I switched to Geico– they gave me the same coverage for almost $80 less per month!
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? The same car! I absolutely love my car and wouldn’t trade it for anything else.. as of yet.

  82. J. Money June 22, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Haha… so I guess those Geico commercials are true! :) Glad you found your perfect car, my friend – enjoy it!

  83. Kelsey Horner June 22, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    Yes! It started at $280 or so with Travelers, then dropped to I think $208 with Geico. Since then I’ve raised my deductible and which lowered the amount to $165, and set up a savings account for the difference between the old and the new specifically for any insurance deductibles or car repairs I might need to pay for!

  84. J. Money June 22, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Wowww you are GOOD! That takes some superb restraint – well done :)

  85. KSUE June 27, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    What car are you sportin’? 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe, and a 1995 Nissan Maxima
    How much did you pay for it? Both were bought used: $9000 for the Santa Fe, and $4500 for the Maxima
    How much is it worth NOW? KBB says $7390 for the Santa Fe, $3145 for the Maxima
    How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate) Too much! Around $200/month (I have 2 teenagers – one recently was in an accident)
    Why did you choose that one in particular? Both the cars I own were “Car of the Year” for their year, and I read a lot of good reviews on both.
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? I’d love a Nissan SUV.

  86. J. Money June 27, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    Oh wow, yeah you def. do your research! I merely go by what “feels good” at the time, haha… well, that and price ;)

  87. Paul June 28, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    1: What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??)

    09 Jeep Patriot & 98 Chevy 2500 pickup beater

    2: How much did you pay for it?

    $12500(after rebates) I got it the day cash for clunkers started, my Grand Cherokee (that i got at the auction 3 years earlier for $1300) rear strut separated from the frame and was unrepairable and i made the scariest ride of my life to the dealer ship to trade it in for $4500

    $1000 i needed a beater pickup truck when construction of my house began and didnt want to punish my jeep anymore then i do now.

    3: How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)

    kbb says 13,325 for trade in on the jeep
    and $1025 for trade in on the pickup

    4: How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)

    about 1200 a year for both

    5: Why did you choose that one in particular?

    low amounts of trinkets or thinks that could break, lifetime power train warrenty (i do lots of driving), 4×4 with auto in that price range(incentives), and its eligibility for cash for clunkers
    *BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;))

    A new jeep 4 door wrangler lifted.

  88. TCY July 1, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    1.What car are you sportin’? (If you have two, tell us about both. If you have three, what do you do for a living??)

    >> 2008 Kia Sportage EX

    2.How much did you pay for it?

    >> $25,000 cash

    3.How much is it worth NOW? (Hit up KBB if you don’ t know)

    >> around $15,000

    4.How much do you pay for insurance? (you can guestimate)

    >> $1600 / year. Such is life in the big city.

    5.Why did you choose that one in particular?

    >> Cheap, long warranty, enough room to haul my stuff but not too big to parallel park comfortably.

    6.*BONUS* Your car gets totaled, and insurance gives you $25,000 for a new car. What would you get? (You have to spend the money on a car, you can’t spend it on debt or savings or anything – nice try ;))

    >> Honda making a hybrid Odyssey? Because if they do, I’ll figure out a way to parallel park that baby.

  89. J. Money July 4, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    @Paul – Oh man, that would be hot. I’d LOVE a lifted up jeep/truck of some sort myself. I’ve gone the lowrider way before, but I’m all totally over that and ready to go the opposite ;)
    @TCY – Haha, a bit bigger than the Sportage ;) Awesome you paid all cash though for it – I’ve never done that before.