Hey guys -
Here's the deal. I own a 2002 Mazda 626 LX with 104,000 miles and I've yet to put out a single penny other than routine maintenance. I purchased it used in 2003 with a windfall. I planned on driving this car until it died a long, prolonged death. However, there are a few things that have been repeatedly coming up in the last six months that are really making me want to get a different vehicle.
The first reason is major, and if some of you don't live an animalcentric lifestyle, may seem silly to you. My dog goes with me everywhere. I'm very actively hiking, kayaking, and other outdoorsy type things with my dog. Yes, my dog kayaks:) Having a sedan wasn't a horrible deal with one labrador. Other than the seats getting dirty/wet all the time. I have covers and blankets and many things down to try an keep the car clean to little avail. What is now making it worse is that I take my best friends dogs with me all the time. A golden, border collie, and a labrador in the back seat of my car is very difficult. Plus, golden/border collie hair sticks to flipping everything.
In addition, putting the sports equipment and fitting things in the car with the dogs, and a possible copilot is consistently making making plans difficult.
Next reason, I bought my own house this year and supplement my income as much as possible through flipping and selling of items. Probably 9 months out of the year I make more doing that than I do working. Since this has become such a large part of my life/income I have had multiple opportunities to make good money flipping free or low cost items but have been unable to do so because I cannot transport them. I lose out on money making opportunities probably once a week, sometimes 5 times a week simply because I have no way to transport larger items.
In addition, I'm doing all kinds of work on the house and can't transport any of that either. It's getting really tiring having to cajole people into helping me all the time.
I've been interested for over a decade in the Honda Element because of the waterproof seats, suicide doors, and rubber floors. It seems like the ultimate dog car, plus with the removable seats I can fit quite a bit of stuff in there too - whether it be to sell or for outdoor sports. I've been doing research though and they are more than I want to spend. I just can't stomach $12,000 for a 7 year old car. So I've been looking (after reading an MMM Post) at the Ford Focus Wagon. Doesn't have the cool cleanability factor of the Element, but has the big back area I'd like for the dogs/sports equipment, plus the ability to fit a few people and, according to MMM, ability to transport large items. It also gets 35 mpg, vs my current 20mpg, vs the Element's 18mpg. I am seeing a ton of these vehicles on the market and they are listing for $4,000 give or take. But they all seem to have pretty high mileage. I'm seeing 130,000 - 160,000 and that worries me. I've still got 5-7 years in my car before I hit that.
My preference would be to get a loan for it (WAIT!) and then pay it off immediately after I sell my car. I can't be without a vehicle and don't want to be snowed by trade in value. I will have enough from my school $$ and the sale of the car to pay off a car up to $5,000 this March.
I appreciate any and all comments. Or, if someone would like to show how generous they can be in FI and give me an Element, my labrador would thank you:)