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aplummer a day ago

That’s how it works now, for 5 bucks you just zoom down fastrak. Always blows my mind seeing 911s sitting in traffic instead of using it

red369 a day ago | parent | next [-]

Off topic, but prompted by your 911 comment.

I had a couple of friends buy cars at the same time - one bought a new Subaru, and the other a used 997 Porsche 911. The 911 cost more, but not a large difference in price. In that part of the world, the Subaru (and almost all new cars) loses 40% in the first year in depreciation, and continues to drop off at 10% - 15% per year. The 911 has more expensive maintenance and insurance, but has so far, and could easily continue to be depreciation-proof. The difference in fuel is less than you might think too given how much lighter (and risky in crashes) older smaller cars are. So far the 911 has turned out to be by far the more sensible financial decision. Obviously there are much more financially-prudent alternatives to both, but I find it interesting how older interesting cars are looked at as frivolous purchases, but new utilitarian cars aren't.

Your comment was presumably talking about new or expensive 911s, and I don't want to criticise what you said at all. I just wanted to say something to hopefully encourage some people to consider sillier, more-fun cars as perhaps not a crazy option.

There are a million practicality reasons why this wont work out for most people, but a lot of families have two cars. I really like seeing the 2nd car being something in that realm of interesting but nearly as reliable, costs more in maintenance but less in depreciation, less practical but more enjoyable. It feels to me like that has gotten less common, and a lot of people think every vehicle needs to be as practical as possible.

aplummer a day ago | parent | next [-]

Oh yeah I’m a big fan of 911s (and fun cars in general) that’s why I’m always looking!

But I’m also a new Maserati owner and your Subaru friend is doing rookie depreciation numbers above…

slaw 20 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

40% depreciation in the first year is a myth. Show me one year old vehicle you can buy for 40% off.

red369 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

It seems that I was talking about a place with one of the highest depreciation rates (1) in the world, so what I said may not be widely applicable at all. I didn't realise it varied so much by country. I should have remembered that New Zealand has unusual prices because it gets a lot of used car imports from places like Japan and Singapore who get rid of their cars quickly.

1) https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/89145417/new-zealand-h...

This is an old study which points to New Zealand having quick depreciation in the first year. Looking around briefly, I think depreciation reduced substantially since COVID, and I think those numbers in that study may have been too high anyway (the study found over 50% in the first year). I'm interested in what happened, so I'll try and find what the reality is when I get a chance.

nothercastle 13 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Sometimes you would be lucky to see the supposed 10% first year depreciation Numbers

13 hours ago | parent | prev [-]
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nostrademons a day ago | parent | prev [-]

$5? Rush hour on 101 is $20 to drive the ~10 miles between Brittan and Embarcadero.