I paid $35.5k for my new Trail w/KDSS at the dealer in Chandler. I'm not broke and this wasn't an aspirational purchase so spending an extra $5k for exactly what I wanted vs settling for a used truck that's been through god know's what was an easy decision for me. The Carmax in Gilbert had a couple used 5th gens, but they wanted ~$30k for them, they both had north of 40k miles on them, and they were both ex-rental cars. Plus, I wanted a Trail and these were SR5s. Easy decision.
Life's short and I don't purchase cars every day. It's worth it to me to spend a few extra gr's and get exactly what I want since I plan on keeping this vehicle a very long time.
Again your point is noted and I'm not disagreeing in the slightest. But your decision to commit to the additional purchase price is based on your own personal value and expectation you've put on the trail. The issue isn't what your "Willing to extend yourself to for what you believe is the right vehicle"
It's the position of the original argument that more or less... "Old vs New Pricing is a drop in the bucket"
Lets just take the figures of 30 and 35k not over complicating the scenario and then lets use 2.9% interest which I believe (I know but for arguments sake we'll just go with it) is a very reasonable and obtainable rate for used or new with a 5yr/60m term.
Your new vehicle of 35k (Assuming OTD) would place you at a payment with no money down of:
$627.35 a month
If one were to buy lets say a used vehicle (Not debating trims right now) for 30k, that would place you at:
$537.73
So even in just using this example, thats an extra $1,075 a year for someone to be financially capable of paying without compromising other area's of there day to day.
And to your example of your purchase.... It just goes up from there:
http: //www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action?feedSegId=28705&rpp=50&trId=55489&trId=33543&requestorTrackingInfo=RTB_SEARCH&stkTypId=28880&PMmt=1-1-2&zc=85310&rd=99999&mdId=20482&mkId=20088&searchSource=SORT_NEW&crSrtFlds=stkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId&pgId=2102&sf1Nm=price&sf1Dir=ASC&sf2Nm=location&sf2Dir=ASC
Now while I'm not calling you a liar that you got your trail for that price, if you did, it's a remarkable deal and congrats. But pending availability and trim levels it's not the typical selling price of that truck. I'd also like to add, that at the risk of assuming, I can almost guarantee you didn't walk OTD at that price, I'm sure that price didn't include your Taxes/doc/plate etc. which changes the bottom line figures substantially.
All that said, the only reason I even put this much time into discussing the variables is because there is a very real difference between the bottom line and for some folks that difference is going to be very clear reason why used vs new is hardly a "No brainer to buy new" if you see what I'm saying? A hundred + dollars is someones school loan, utility bill or grocery fund per month. That is a very clear reason why used vehicles make sense for some and other have the LUXURY of buying new and what they want.
Please by all means discuss
.