Dead Puppy

[Michael L. Riebs]

----- Original Message -----
From: "josh Wyte" <josh_wyte at yahoo.com>

> Many of you do all the repairs yourself, either out of
> necesity or simply because you enjoy it.
<snip>
> Many times this means paying someone to fix the car

That's what I mostly do!

> but it's much more of a financial decision for me now,
> and sorry to say it, but it makes far more sense to
> sell a car before it hits 100k miles, then to take the
> depreciation hit and continue to own it.

It's very much a financial decision for me too! I have a $55K automobile (as
priced new) in my driveway. i paid $8K for it - after someone else had taken
the "depreciation hit", with 157K miles on it. I'll now have car payments
for 36 months, and then maintenance only! I can't wait 'till 2006 when I can
get myself an old A8!

> Even if I have it paid off, previous years of
> ownership with older, high mileage "luxury" german
> cars have shown me that they are exceeding expensive
> to own once they hit 110k miles plus.

Too bad! Well, your bad experience is our gain! That's why we all ove you so
much! We get your rejects! Thanks - and I mean that from the bottom of
myheart!

> Why should I
> shoulder thousands of dollars in maintenance repairs

Over how long?

> for a car that's rapidly depreciating when I can

Well, for me, having bought my car past 100K, it's not depreciating very
fast any longer.

> easily afford a newer, faster, better (arguably) car?

Savings? Retirement? Longer, better vacations? Private school for the kids?
College fund? Dunno - maybe you should spend your disposable income on a
newer car. That's for you to decide. Just offering a few possible answers to
your question.

> Sorry, but I'd rather take on a small monthly payment
> to get into a certified, audi warrantied S4 than keep
> my A4...

Well, there's the next money waster - the Audi certification. Anyone have
any input here? I mean, there are lots of newer used Audis around without
the "Audi certification", and they are often cheaper. Then you pay $60 to
the Audi dealer, and have it gone through before you buy it!

> Just my opinion...

Same here.

Michael Riebs
Grand Rapids, MI
'90 V8Q
'98 A6QA

www.1stchoicegranite.com