New Or Used: Aus Freude Am Sparen

Will writes:

I currently own two vehicles and am thinking of returning to just one, or maybe not. I own a 2005 BMW 330i sedan with 98k miles and a pristine 1986 Chevrolet Silverado 2WD short bed with 65k miles. I use the truck to work on the house I am renovating and keep the car…well, because I like it and it is more comfortable to commute to and from work.

I am making payments on both vehicles and while I could conceivably pay both off right now with little trouble, I wonder would it be a) cheaper to keep both with their associated maintenance costs, insurance, etc. or b) sell both vehicles and buy a late model car/truck/suv that is comfortable, relatively fuel efficient, generally reliable, has ABS and an airbag(s). I do a fair amount of highway driving but I need something that can haul some tools, old house paraphernalia, a dog, and a mountain bike. Also, I prefer to drive a manual, but it’s hard to find something useful with a manual.

Thoughts?

Sajeev Answers:

The urge to sell both and buy an SVT Lightning or a Silverado SS is a lot to overcome. Ditto the knife-twisting need to tell the world how a late model minivan (not the overpriced Honda and Toyota variants) is perfect for your needs. And of course, late model Panther Love with a Class III hitch. But let’s be serious.

You want a cargo carrier with a BMW-worthy interior for long trips. Said hauler must be affordable and not a nightmare when servicing. The Dodge Magnum sports an interior too awful for public exposure, Subarus are more quirky than luxurious, so the Volvo V70 (2007-present?) fits the bill nicely. The turbo motor may drink premium too quickly for your tastes, so the I-6 is a competent alternative. Finding one with maintenance records is almost as important as knowing a good Volvo mechanic in your neck of the woods, lest the repair bills make you pine for your old Chevy.

So sell your cars, because trade-in will be murder. Start with the BMW and use the proceeds for the Volvo’s down payment. The Chevy is fully depreciated, fairly desirable and will have no problem fetching top dollar if it’s as clean as you state. So use that as your Volvo-hunter, provided a test drive validates my point. Best of luck.

Steve Answers:

Your question confuses the H-E- double hockey sticks out of me.

First you are making payments on two vehicles. One of which is apparently old enough to be eligible for the Hertz Presidential Club. I hope you meant 1996 for that pickup because otherwise I would strongly suggest a paddleboat as your next ride.

Now you tell us it would be easy for you to sell these two vehicles and buy something new. Do you only have a few payments left and want to just keep Jonesing that debtload of yours? Your ideas on this read like Nirvana lyrics. Random thoughts and fatalistic spending ideas just don’t work if your needs are simple. To put it in automotive terms, you’re trying to buy an I-drive of headaches when a few simple buttons would do.

Your real answer is… a trailer. In fact I just saw one in front of a nearby pawn shop that is only $300. Install a tow hitch from JC Whitney. Take a gander through Craigslist for a well-kept trailer. Then refer to the European guides for towing. Why? Because in Germany in particular, a BMW 3-Series sedan is often a family car. Trailers and caravans are quite common there since full-sized pickups in a land laden with small roads and $6 gas is what my German father would call ‘verschwenderisch’.

As for the dog, go get a thick blanket and tuck this covering in the back seats of the six year old Bimmer. Either that or secure a dog crate on the trailer. For a fraction of your current costs, you may now have an opportunity to enjoy the finer things of German culture. Great engineering. Fiscal pragmatism… and beer money.

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.