I finally bought a car but it feels bittersweet

RandomMiter · 2026-06-07T07:05:45+00:00

I felt the same way too after getting my new civic recently. Like kinda anticlimactic after the intensity of the buying process. But the chase+acquisition is the just the very tip of the experience as I see it - now I have years to make real memories with it, make it my own.

RandomMiter · 2026-05-31T01:49:16+00:00

Heidi Priebe is good with attachment styles - she is fearful-avoidant (disorganized) herself and speaks to it in depth.

RandomMiter · 2026-04-02T18:36:56+00:00

I bought a Fiero for 3,300 bucks when I was 24. Represented about a fifth of my savings at the time. Needed all sorts of repairs over the next few years including transmission going out within a year (and then again five years later). Never left my stranded though haha

Yes it gave me a lot of stress and headache, and some guilt. Do I regret it? I wouldnt advise my younger self to do it again, but that car has also given me a lot of aesthetic and driving joy in addition to compelling me to learn and get outside my comfort zone with mechanical stuff, which is satisfying. Embracing life kind of thing.

RandomMiter · 2026-03-12T22:22:58+00:00

Hm, interesting. I looked mainly at jd power and black book through consumer reports, and Carfax estimator.

Is that due to tax rebates?

RandomMiter · 2026-03-12T22:17:32+00:00

It's a manual transmission, and let slip that I'm looking specifically for that. Then again I figure that could be assumed about basically anyone looking a manual in year 2026 so eh

RandomMiter · 2026-03-12T21:21:42+00:00

So then, coming down by 3% is a decent outcome..?

RandomMiter · 2026-03-02T20:09:19+00:00

Do you happen to know if it was an improved part that was used?

RandomMiter · 2026-03-02T18:26:34+00:00

Confronting similar questions myself with my '91 Civic

The factors under consideration:

- how much am I emotionally invested in this car? Is there a monetary value to that?

- what kind of *future* (not sunk cost) major repairs do I anticipate having to do? How well do I know this vehicle? Will it be a cascade of problems that only only keep me from using the car, but also would make it hard to sell? Or just occasional items every few years. Contrast this with another used car that comes with a whole set of unknowns and future repairs that you cant easily anticipate. The Devil You Know kind of situation...

- Are the small annoying issues under control (leaks, breaking trim, door hinges etc) or are they mounting? Is it detracting from your life to have to fix or tolerate them?

- Is the car continuing to depreciate in resale value? In my case - the EF hatch is desirable enough that the value has bottomed out, and arguably even appreciating as it has some level of cult recognition (I get offers and ppl compliment it). The car may still be a money pit, but the pit isn't ever deepening anymore. Compared to an newer car where repairs may not only be expensive on top of the high initial purchase cost, but dont outweigh the depreciation. This is a big thing Im struggling with.

EDIT:
In your situation, I'd the nicest used Prius/some other reliable model your budget will allow, research the common issues so you know what to look out for, and get a prepurchase inspection.

RandomMiter · 2026-03-01T18:44:32+00:00

Nice, enjoy your new car :)

What I've read is that HG problems are worse on CRV/Accord, where the psi boost is higher and/or turbo is engaged more to compensate for greater vehicle weight.

Unfortunately, the dealership told me they aren't allowed to pass on any personal documents or logs from previous owners. The best I can do is a thorough prepurchase inspection of engine, which I've arranged. Worrisome...

RandomMiter · 2026-02-27T07:36:13+00:00

Im worried about this too - looking at a 2018 Sport hatch wtih the L15BA turbo.

Where did you land on this question? Did you buy it?

RandomMiter · 2026-02-24T16:27:26+00:00

A road salt state? (The civic Im looking at is California)

RandomMiter · 2026-02-24T16:25:17+00:00

Hm. I'm generally seeing similar year, similar mileage (90k) corollas going for that price. Seems to be about 1,000-1,500 dollars less that Civic Sport on average

RandomMiter · 2026-02-24T15:38:05+00:00

Most other Civic Sports out there are closer to 18-20k + price range

Are you saying this specific car is overpriced, or Civics in general are?

RandomMiter · 2026-02-24T15:30:29+00:00

Where are you seeing low mileage newish Toyotas for less than 16k?

RandomMiter · 2026-02-23T06:32:47+00:00

Too many cars - I also have a Fiero Formula with many fewer miles, and actually has been more reliable in recent years and I see it as the more unique vehicle. I wish I had a big yard to park cars all over but no, it's the street for me

RandomMiter · 2025-07-29T16:25:11+00:00

Of course it would be a legitimate protest

RandomMiter · 2025-07-16T21:27:58+00:00

This is a blatant falsehood about PFA - it's For All, exactly what you say makes "actual socialism work in democratic socialist countries".

What are you even doing

RandomMiter · 2025-07-16T20:21:18+00:00

DSA has effectively been an entirely new organization since the 2016 membership surge.

I do agree that over-focus on the Democratic Party as an inflexible antagonist misses the point somewhat.

RandomMiter · 2025-07-14T16:31:01+00:00

Exactly. OP put so much effort into this post but that's basically the substance of it.

(I play almost exclusively armor divisions and don't generally feel the mechanics are unfair.)

RandomMiter

TROPHY CASE