Wife doesn't get it.

AngryCorvair wrote: sometimes the wife needs to hear it from someone else. in my case, she chose to listen to dave ramsey.

+1

That or a female friend of hers who she trusts.

I think if you sit down with her and do the dollars and cents thing, on paper, side-by-side, someone who's an accountant won't be able to deny that most (I say most because for something like a newer BMW or Merc it isn't the case) slightly used cars are cheaper than new ones.

And if she's fighting you this hard, there is just a slight chance that underlying all this, she does realize it's cheaper, but just wants something new, and likes shopping for new things and all those other stereotypical things women like, and doesn't want to admit it.

Full disclosure: I totally do this when I'm at a tool store. I don't need a Sawzall at all, I just want one. That's why.

My stepdad just bought a Hyundai Genesis. He bought a 2010 'retired rental' with 26k on the clock. It was $19,000.00 cheaper than a new 2012.

Made good sense to me.

Twin_Cam wrote: And if she's fighting you this hard, there is just a slight chance that underlying all this, she does realize it's cheaper, but just wants something new, and likes shopping for new things and all those other stereotypical things women like, and doesn't want to admit it.

Ha. My wife does this.

She somewhat hates the fact I'm handy with a wrench because I can keep any POS on the road when all her friends are driving shiny new lease mobiles.

Don't ignore the fact that it may just be that some people just want to spend their money on a new car. My wife is that way. Sure there is other stuff that the extra money could go towards (we bought with cash so no loan) but she just wants new cars. We all spend silly amounts of money on pursuits that don't matter. Some of us spend it on tires/gas/tools for brief periods of fun chasing each other around tracks, some spend it on food/beer at restaurants, some travel, some spend it on nice homes, spend it on yard/gardening.. the list is endless.
If all of you needs are filled, your rainy day fund is in place, and buying a new car represents no real financial hardship for you let her have it don't fight about it. Make sure you put enough down and pay agressively on any loan to keep the car below wholesale value so you could always sell it easily at no loss should the need arise (if financing).

nocones wrote: ... If all of you needs are filled, your rainy day fund is in place, and buying a new car represents no real financial hardship for you let her have it don't fight about it.

Those are some big "if"s there.

Our “silly amounts of money” drains are 7, 4, and almost 1, plus a 35-year-old house. New cars don’t really play in that scenario, particularly when we’re still hacking away at debts incurred/ dumb financial moves made in our 20s. Student loans, old CC debt, etc. Dave Ramsey would be proud, but we’ve still got a long way to go, and we’re doing all this on my respectable-but-not-exorbitant middle-class salary, with some help from her photography business.

I’d LOVE to be able to put her in a new car, but that’s not what she wants. She wants to wait until her current car is paid for in 2.5 years, and then for ME to buy something new, which is unilaterally opposite to what I plan to do. I want to find something for $6k-8k or so, pay for most of it at the front end (trade + cash or sell out of the SUV and put that cash and some more down) and then be done with car payments completely within a couple years. Then start socking that $$$ every month into savings, debt reduction, maybe actually going on vacation with the kids occasionally, etc. Appliance commuter cars aren’t where the smart money goes, especially when I’m putting 20k a year on one.

Yeah sounds like you need to have a heart to heart and show her how the new car woud negatively impact your family goals. I highly doubt she will still desire the new car when you show her that your objections are based on family success.