Do I get a new car or keep what I have?

Question

Ok, I am going through a divorce and have the choice to keep the car I have (of course pay for it as well) or I can let him have it and I can go purchase something else. Here is the deal, it is an '03' Camry and I love it but a month ago the battery went out and I had some friends try to jump me off and melted some wiring cause they hooked the positive to negative and visa versa so all that had to be repaired. A few days ago my check engine light came on so I thought it may be the gas cap based on what a mechanic told me so I checked that and it still didn't go off. I owe about $11,500 and payment is $380 for about 2 more years. It has 91K miles on it. I was looking at a new Toyota Corolla '07' for $14,873 excluding taxes, tags, etc. Payments would be about 290 for 5 years. I am really torn about what to do. What do you think?

Answer 1

I checked kellybluebook.com and it shows an '03 Camry LE in Fair Condition (due to high mileage and Service light burning) for my zipcode would only be worth about $5,700 wholesale (trade-in value) so if you owe about $11,500 I would suggest you let your ex have the Camry and get something else if that will get you off the Camry's note. The situation you are in is called "being upside down" in the car where you owe more than it's worth on the market. Due to the computerized nature of late model cars and all the electronics, hooking the battery up backwards as you said they did, could cause all sorts of problems down the way. The problem with financing cars for the long periods of time they do today to get the notes low is that the car depreciates faster than you are paying it off. Even though you will have to come up with some sort of downpayment to buy another car, you can escape all the sins of the Camry loan where more is owed than it is worth. If you can afford the notes, try not to finance the new replacement car for more than about 3 years. That way the value will stay more in line with what you owe should you need to sell it quick.

Answer 2

If you weren't going through the divorce, I'd suggest paying off the car, then continuing to save about $400 a month for about 4 or five years and then pay cash for a brand new or gently used car. In Your case I'd say dump the car off on your ex. You might consider getting into a used car that you'd pay no more than 200 bucks for 4 or 5 years, while saving at least $200 a month till the car is paid off then $400 per month for a couple of years after that

Answer 3

The '03 Camry is substantially superior to the '07 Corolla, and you love it. Why get rid of it? It will last a long time yet if you treat it right. Get it fixed and keep it. As a bonus, that is also the most economical way to proceed.

Answer 4

FIND OUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THE VEHICALE OFF FOR YOU AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO TAKE OFF THE NEW VEHICALE AS FAR AS PRICE DONT LET THEM FOOL YOU OK HAGGLE WITH THEM AND THEY WILL WORK YOU A GOOD DEAL TOO IF IT WAS ME I WOULD TRADE THE CAR IN FOR A NEW ONE CAUSE THE PAYMENTS IS LOWER AND THE VEHICALE IS NEWER AND BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE AND IF YOU HAVE TO TRY THE WALK AWAY DEAL IT WORKS IF THEY WONT LOWER THE PRICE THEN SAY OK THANKS YOU AND KINDLY WALK AWAY AND COME BACK ANOTHER DAY AND KINDLY SAY ARE YOU READY TO MAKE ME A FAIR DEAL NOW THIS WALK AWAY DEAL DOES WORK IVE TRYED IT 3 TIMES AND GOTE A GREAT DEAL ON 3 DIFFRENT VEHICALES SO HOPE THIS HELPS........

Answer 5

Let him keep it. If your friends reversed polarity while jumping it, more problems can develop. Go out and buy yourself something nice. Get a matching dress and shoes too!

Answer 6

because of that reverse polarity thing i would dump the car as well , sorry to hear about both

Answer 7

Keep it, it will be cheaper in the long run.

Answer 8

get a new one!!!