Current Events > Is making car payments so bad?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Right now I have exactly zero debt aside from some hospital bills I need to pay off (just one-time things).

Is it worth it to wreck that status quo by buying a new car or should I avoid adding that to maintain my debt-free life? I'm leaning towards the latter but I can't shake the feeling that thinking that way is foolish and not the best route to take.
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It's not about being debt-free. It's not carrying a debt/income ratio that isn't reasonable to your means.

If you're living at home working part-time and spend 70% of your paycheck to pay for an upgraded Mustang lease that's probably a frivolous purchase.

If you're looking for a reliable new vehicle that is within your means, no it's not bad. But do you need a new car? Or is it just a luxury?
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Don't lease
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Soviet_Poland posted...

But do you need a new car? Or is it just a luxury?

Little of both. I inherited my mother's car, which I've been driving for years anyway, and I never really liked it all that much but it's had no issues and runs just fine.

I want to get another car and give this one to my dad, who has been driving a piece of crap for as long as I can remember. He deserves to have at least one nice car.

But I'm perfectly fine with buying a used-but-newer car (this is a 2005 so something between 2007 and 2009 is just dandy as long as it's as relatively problem-free as my current car) if I can pay it all off in one swoop and not have to carry around any kind of monthly payment. I have the savings to put up to $6000 into another vehicle (though spending less is more ideal).
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Never buy new.
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If you buy an expensive exotic car like a La Ferrari or a McLauren P1, and never drive them, they will appreciate in value and be worth more than what you paid for.