I have no regrets with my vehicle. While I did ZERO research before getting it, I feel like it was one of those spontaneous decisions that paid off in a big way.
My first car (a 2007 Caliber) was a lemon. It was great for the first few years. But the last two years that I owned it, I was constantly paying to fix it, update things etc. I was annoyed because it was a new(er) vehicle that wasn't reliable in the slightest and I was almost paying more to fix it than the car was worth. I finally decided enough was enough when I spent the winter driving to work on Saturday morning at 6 AM with no heat in January. I had it.
My parents went in to buy a Toyota Rav 4 one Saturday and I came along for the ride, just to check out other vehicles and see what I could potentially see myself in. The sales guy that was helping my parents had asked what I was looking for in a vehicle, what my price range was and what my time frame for getting into a vehicle was. Essentially, I knew I needed a car and I needed it now. I really didn't have many things I was looking for but I had a monthly payment I needed to stay around or below. He pulled up a 2015 Toyota Corolla and we went for a drive. Within minutes, I fell in love. I knew I would see myself in the car and when we got back we got to work on the logistics.
Three years later, I have no regrets with my car purchase. I have a very reliable vehicle (that has heat), I haven't had to pay for any repairs or maintenance until this year and it still runs great.
So you must ask, if I have a brand new vehicle, exactly how am I saving money on my car?
1) I haven't had to pay for any repairs until this year. The first time I've had to pay out of pocket for any maintenance or repairs was back in February. So I had owned the car for three years less a month at that point. Everything has been covered under warranty including my oil changes.
2) I clean my car myself. This past weekend, I was getting really into spring cleaning. So much that I decided to give my car a good clean inside and out. I normally go to a coin-op car wash so that I can wash my car on my own time and it usually runs me about $7-$9 depending how much time I spend in there. To save myself some money, I will bring my car to my parents to vacuum it out so it takes less time for me to clean it. I am currently building my car sinking funds and planning on getting my car detailed this summer because there's a local company that charges under $200 for a full inside/out detail and I feel like if I'm only doing that once every three years, then I'm doing alright.
3) I order parts from my work instead of from my dealership. This is a lucky thing for me, because I work in a car dealership. So instead of paying for MY vehicle's dealership cost, I get the guys at work to order the parts I need (when needed) and they install them for free when they have a chance. Things I've recently saved money on in the last month:
New Wiper Blades
Quoted $55 PAID $18
Air Filter
Quoted $25.95 PAID $10.44
Cabin Filter
Quoted $54.95 PAID $17.75
(later this month) Winter Tire Change to Regular
Quoted $60 Will Pay (brother's friend) $40
Now in those few items there, I saved $127.71. Now that's not a lot, but that's a pretty significant amount just for shopping around! Again, working in a dealership helps because I do have a lot of connections. But if you need parts like filters or oil that can be changed simply by a friend or family member, I highly recommend going that route!
My best advice for vehicle savings? Do your research before buying a car. Shop around and get what's best for YOU and your financial situation. If you are quoted something for repairs or maintenance at the dealership, shop around again to see if you can get a cheaper price or see if you know anyone who could help you out. Also remember, cheap isn't always better so just ensure your cheaper option is also a reputable option!
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