Comments on: Should I Buy a Car Even Though I Don’t Need It Yet?

By: 3 Things About Money

3 Things About Money — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:37:00 +0000

I’m with DM — it sounds like a great deal. Go for it.

By: DM

DM — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 15:44:00 +0000

At that price, I wouldn’t pass up the Camry. Assuming that it’s in good shape (and it sounds like it is), it’s a great deal. If you can inexpensively get the senser fixed and get rid of the check engine light as a result…. I’d sell it on Craigslist to get rid of the insurance cost and to put a few dollars in your pocket. I sold a really crappy 1995 minivan for $800 last fall. I would have been happy to take $300 for it. Inexpensive transportation is hard to come by, so anything that runs has some value.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 15:14:00 +0000

Good point DM, I should’ve included that info in my post. I would pay $6300 for the car. That’s the current Kelley Blue Book value for a ’99 Toyota Camry CE with 50,000 miles on it. I took a peek at Carmax and found the same make and model with 14,000 more miles for $11,097! Similarly, cars on craigslist.org with 20 – 30,000 more miles were around the $7500 mark. I don’t think I could find a Toyota elsewhere with such low mileage for such a low price, which is why I’m considering purchasing it, even though we don’t really need it just yet.

By: DM

DM — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:36:00 +0000

Before answering your question, I'd need to know how much you'll have to pay for the Toyota.

If you're getting some sort of "family discount" for the car, I'd encourage you to buy it. A Camry is a great car that should last 200,000 miles if well cared for. Despite its smaller size, you'll appreciate the mileage savings.