Budget & Finance > Auto BuyingMarch 18, 2008

The Cost of Buying a New Car

"Take cars, as another example. Say you put $4,000 down to buy a new car worth $24,000. You finance $20.000. Say you are charged 10 percent interest for 48 months. Your monthly payments are $507.20. You have paid not $20,000, but over $24,000. Plus, you probably have zero in your bank account. So now you have a shiny new car with which to drive yourself to the job you'd like to leave but can't, because you have no money saved. Hmmmm. How about if you reversed this scenario and paid $4,000 for a good used car, then invested that same $500 a month for the same 48 months at the same 10 percent interest, compounding monthly? At the end of 48 months you would have a car plus $29,605.92 sitting in your bank account. Hello? Is anybody listening?" lol

Source: The Simple Living Guide, a book, by Janet Luhrs page 34.

By Carol from Wyoming, PA

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By Mary (Guest Post) 03/31/2008

10% interest, you have got to be kidding! Plus, many car offers are 0% now, we have NOT paid more than 5% in the last 15 years!

By Mary Jane (Guest Post) 03/22/2008

Great idea, but where do you find 10 percent interest compounded monthly these days?? LOL

By
03/19/2008

"A good used car" ---does this really exist?
The older they are, the more expensive the repairs.

By
03/19/2008

That's Exactly what my husband and I are doing!!

By
03/19/2008

I totally agree with you!! JoJo

By
03/18/2008

You have also forgotten to include depreciation once the car is driven of the lot.

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