I usually lurk around here for helpful information and for once I actually have a question that might be answered on here.
Currently, I’m saddled with a dilemma. My current vehicle, a 2017 Volvo XC60 T6 R-Design, is about to use up its last manufacturer paid maintenance. This means that the next service will cost me around 300+ dollars, but while I was at the dealer to get the brakelight replaced under warranty, I learned they were ready to offer me a hefty trade-in equity for the car. The car is paid off so it will go directly towards a new car of my choice. I was offered an 2019 XC60 T6 Inscription pretty much loaded to the gills for 62k and a 2019 XC90 T8 Inscription at 76k again fully loaded to the gills.
So I was wondering, as a college student (entering sophomore this coming fall), should I just keep driving the XC60 (currently has 19k on the clock) and just swallow the cost of maintenance or trade it in while I still have equity on it towards a new car that comes with 4 years of prepaid maintenance?
Also, which one should I go for? I was thinking the hybrid T8 to maybe get the money back through the gas pumps?
In my mind, I should take it so that entirety of my college life the car is covered under warranty for maintenance and any other foibles. But does anyone else have an opinion?
We have a 2018 XC60 so we know the prices pretty well. It is difficult to price out an XC60 T6 to much beyond $62K at full sticker, so being offered one for $62K is not much of a deal. Don’t know the XC90s all that well.
But in any case, you are financially far better off keeping the 2017 XC60.
@hebegebe Well, that’s the funny thing actually. I couldn’t believe they call that 62k a deal considering the 60 isn’t even a hybrid. Also since you own one, how’s the Sensus working for you? I heard it was great but other long term users are reporting system crashes and in one instance, the entire driver’s cockpit display just going completely black at highway speed.
@jym626 Well it’s not that i cannot afford, I was just thinking that it might be better to save the money on the maintenance and just trade up. But I want to see people’s input.
It’s my wife’s car, but she has never complained about the Sensus system, except for an issue with getting CarPlay to work properly for a while. But that was resolved within a couple of weeks during a service appointment.
Overall she is really happy with it. We received one of the very first one new style XC60s that were released, so we expected some teething problems with it. But the few issues we had were pretty minor, and were handled well by the dealer, so no complaints.
@hebegebe That’s quite assuring to know. I appreciate your swift response because it is really a tempting offer but then again, having no car note is even better. I’m literally pulling at every straw to justify it but if I listened to myself, i’ll be on the way to the dealer with the title in hand. So hopefully some friendly CC members can knock some sense into my head today lol.
If your current car is paid in full, but a new car would add a monthly car payment, KEEP YOUR CURRENT CAR. Even a “small” monthly payment is going to be way more than the scheduled maintenance on a car with 19K miles. Once you are approaching 100K miles, then have this discussion with yourself. Yes, your car won’t be worth much, but you’ll have saved yourself years and years and years of car payments.
The best financial decision is to keep a paid off car for as long as possible. New cars lose a ton of value the minute you drive it off the lot. And a dealership is doing what is best for them, not you. How are you paying for a new car, even with a trade in? IMO no college sophomore needs to be driving a $76k car. Heck, I don’t even drive a $76k car and I drive a Tesla.
@jym626 I mean of course there’s no need for a sophomore to drive a 76k car but then again, life isn’t always why but sometimes why not? I saw it as an opportunity to park in better slots since I’ll fly under the radar of campus security. But then again, I’m starting to see it isn’t exactly a smart move to do it solely for parking privileges.
Ack autocorrect. The why not is because. …
The payments and interest rate and loss of value of a new car in the first year or so far outweighs the cost of maintenance. Just buy an extended warranty if you are worried about possible future repair costs (but it’s not likely to cover basic service).
@bopper so far that is the general census albeit my mind is still trying to rationalize it though. I mean how nice would it be to be able to park in the University President parking spot without anyone noticing? I know its crazy but like a new car would fly right under the radar.
@bopper oh yeah I learned that the hard way when I was literally verbally assaulted when I complained to my friends that were complaining their cars not starting that my heat seaters were either too hot or too cold. Essentially setting one is useless setting two sets your butt on fire and setting three just charcoals your butt. Yeah i still remember the look of pure hatred on their faces.
Assuming this is serious…Of course people and security will notice. You will be forever known as the-student-with-the-expensive-car-who-thinks-they-can-park-in-the-president’s-parking-spot. Thereby putting a target on your back that goes far beyond your car and parking spot.
If $300 scheduled maintenance is a bother, how much will the parking citations and costs related to having the car towed to the impound lot be a bother?