Which was the better deal?

[Caver Girl]

Before you decide, the 2010 didn't come with a radio or power windows. I forgot to look for floor mats and that trunk cover. The 2007 has all that and only 24,000 miles. It's too late for me to change my mind, but I still wanted some opinions. I don't think I got screwed or anything, but the idea of a brand new car is always appealing. Also, I had a trade-in that I'm not sure the dealer would've matched. The car I bought I bought from Carmax.

[iluvmyVersa08]

If the 2010 came w/ the power options I would have voted for that. I love the fact of being the first and only (hopefully) owner of my Versa.

But I choose the 2007, I'd rather have all the goodies than nothing.

[biggie]

New cars are overrated. If you can find a slightly used car I'd always choose that. The depreciation on a new car is just too high.

[Caver Girl]

This new car appeared to have a decent price, except it was lacking in "amenities". And yes, I could've just gone out and bought a radio ... but we don't really have the extra cash for that right now. And I could've alleviated the difference in cost by not getting an extended warranty, but I'd have that cost ahead of me anyway in a few years. I could've also gotten a better interest rate through my credit union, which I couldn't do because I needed 60 mos financing and on a 2007, the credit union would only do 48 mos. I think I could still refi somewhere else for a better rate though.

I had actually stopped by the dealer on my husband's whim (he wasn't with me, he just suggested it) about 45 min before my appt at Carmax and when the dealership salesman asked me what would make the deal, I said to bring it down to $10K like the other car. He said, "We can make this work for you" and I said, "Really? You're going to drop $2K on this car for me?". When he couldn't be definitive with me, I fled. After having bad past experiences at dealerships, I suppose in retrospect I left too soon, but I had had my mind set on the 2007 car I'd been eyeing for 6 weeks on carmax.com. Normally cars don't last that long! I wondered, what's wrong with it that no one's bought it? But it's apparently because no one wants manuals these days!

There's so much back and forth - could've, should've, would've. I need to let it go, ha ha.

Edit: Maybe these feelings will settle once I get my car back! It's been at Carmax since Monday evening because it needed the door ajar alarm replaced, the emergency brake replaced because the plastic at the base of it was warped, and the clutch master cylinder replaced because it was making noises. <<sigh>>
Modified by Caver Girl at 1:20 PM 3/12/2010

[Caver Girl]

Brain conflict resolution?

I figured out if I refi for 48 mos with my credit union at 4.99% then my payments are roughly the same as my current 60 mos loan at 7.49%! Why? Because through my CU the payments are bi-weekly. I'll save myself $1100 in interest this way. And this makes the 2007 truly cheaper over the long haul as well.

This is of course assuming I couldn't have gotten the dealer to lower the price of the car. It was already at a low price for being brand new. $11998 is cheaper than what most new Versas appear to be. This is probably because of the lack of radio and power controls, LoL!

[iluvmyVersa08]

Brain conflict resolution?

I figured out if I refi for 48 mos with my credit union at 4.99% then my payments are roughly the same as my current 60 mos loan at 7.49%! Why? Because through my CU the payments are bi-weekly. I'll save myself $1100 in interest this way. And this makes the 2007 truly cheaper over the long haul as well.

This is of course assuming I couldn't have gotten the dealer to lower the price of the car. It was already at a low price for being brand new. $11998 is cheaper than what most new Versas appear to be. This is probably because of the lack of radio and power controls, LoL!

Your interest rates make me cringe ... yikes!!!!! I don't think I've every had any interest rates that high in my life on anything.

I got 0.9% and was happy with it, but would have been happier with 0% financing. A couple months after I financed my Versa through Nissan at 0.9% financing, they offered 0% financing to customers ... ugh. Of course that's my luck. My brother was able to get 0% in Sept on his SE-R.

[Caver Girl]

Here in IL you can only get 0% financing if you finance over 36 mos. Great deal if you can afford it!

[superskunk]

i dont think i could be happy with out power windows and keyless entry... my Versa is the first car i have ever owned that had both...

[Promise Land]

The best deal is the one that gives you the most car for what you can afford. If the '07 was the best you could afford, it's the best deal.

[aidan80]

If I where you I'd go for the 2007 thats if that the out the door price! That's what I was hoping to find when looking for a new car but in my case at least.. I ended up with a new 09 as the price difference between used with anything from 25k 40k on the clock with options was only in many cases $1,500.

I finally decided that I'd just pay the wee bit extra, lose the options and have a new car with no real miles on it and a full warranty. Part of the appeal was the deal I got the other part of the deal was I've never owned a brand new car before lol

I went for 36 months financing at 7.9% from my credit union. Why such a high interest rate.. easy am a first time car buyer (doubt my ex wife would want to cosign lol) with a limited credit history in the US. Anyway the credit union did a great deal (because everyone else rejected me! lol) and with paying extra each month the car is fully "mine" in about 2 years instead of 3!

good luck am sure you'll enjoy which ever Versa you get!

[graymalkin2]

In my opinion, you are always better off buying a slightly used car rather than a new model due to the depreciation hit.

I fully intended to get the 1.6 sedan and just install my own radio and be happy. The more time I though about living without power windows and locks, full armrests, radio, bigger engine, extra gear, better seats and such the more I began to understand that the ~$3000 difference was totally worth it.

There is no doubt in my mind if I had gotten the 1.6 I would have traded it in within a week for something else.

Also, are you sure the 2010 you were looking at was a 1.8 S model? The only models without a radio from the factory are the 1.6 and 1.6 BASE models.

[Caver Girl]

You know, I'm not sure that it was an S. Without power and a radio, I imagine it must've been a base model.