Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Opinions on my current situation!

Guys I'm debating buying a 2000-2001 A4 1.8T(19k-22k) or a 2000 S4(27k-32k) (Quattro). Of course I really want the S4 but right now I can't really afford it. However I can afford a A4 (if I can find one at the right price).

These are my options:

1) Sell my SVT and buy the A4 right now keep about the same car payment but be in another 4+ year contract. I could keep this until I can afford an S4 and trade up.

2) Stick with my SVT and just wait until I can afford an S4(At lease till Dec). The only problem with this is I'll have lost alot of value on my SVT, and I'll more than likely have put alot more $ into it. Since as of right now I'm begining to need a New Clutch, Tires, Suspension...etc

There are alot of things I'm concerned about also.

1) Being locking into another contract when my SVT is 1.5 till its paid off. I owe 5k on it still.

2) If I wait to sell my SVT I will most definatly loose alot of money, where I can sell now and probably break even w/ what I bought it for. But I guess its all relative since if its paid off I get everything?

3) I also have to worry about a engaugement ring....We have been dating for 5 years and I know once I graduate from college (December) I'll want to do this.

4) Next year about this time I'll have to start paying my College loans. I really have no Idea how much these payments are but I'm guessing they aren't too bad, although I have a feeling I will want to pay more than the minimum.

Well I guess this all depends on what type of job I have when I graduate. I guess what I'm asking is should I buy the car considering my upcoming responsibilities. But at the same time I'm handling it now and its not like my SVT will be paid off before I graduate, either way I'll be paying a car payment!

Anyways thanks for listening. Just needed to vent. Figured that maybe you guys have been through a similar situation and you could help!

PS: I WANT AN S4 BAD!!!!

Save. You can live with the SVT for a while longer.

I second that. You never know what you will find if you wait a wihle longer... I REALLY wanted another contour (after the first LX) for SOOO LONG, and nearly jumped on the "perfect deal". I asked what I should do, and they told me the same thing... wait... I did, and I found the SVT for 11-flat. PERFECT condition... couldn't ask for more.

Keep your options open... See what turns up..

Ray

Right after I totalled my Contour I was gonna get this nice black SVT with tints that was right near my house. The day before I was gonna buy it I found my current car. I'm glad I took this (not that the SVT was a bad car or anything).

My advice is to hold onto the Contour as long as you can bear it. There's always going to be something out there to tempt you. Right now it may be an S4, and in 3 years it might be the upcoming S4. $5k isn't too bad - try to get it paid for and see if you can sock away cash when you no longer have payments. With the major expenses you have upcoming (loan, ring), you'll want to figure out what the future job is going to allow you to do.

I'm 4 months away from owning my SVT, and as tempted as I am to do something new (Cooper S, G35, new Z), being able to bank some cash for a year or two is really going to give me the flexibility down the road so as not to be paycheck to paycheck. And if you ever plan on saving for a house, you'll be glad not to be stuck in another 4 year commitment. Plus you'll save on insurance.

The cheapest car to drive is the one you currently own (provided there are no huge repair bills ie blown tranny). The cars you want will still be around in a couple of years, and by now, the SVT has taken most of the depreciation already, so I can't imagine you would lose all that much more on it. Good luck whatever you decide.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still undecided. But you guys have good points! I guess I just needed to hear it from someone other than myself

I'll probably end up waiting at least until I graduate, but probably later. We'll just see how things go.

Thanks again....feel free keep reply'ing!

-Pay off the SVT.
-Save money for the ring so that you wont have to finance it.
-Save for college loans and when you get your payment booklet, start making principal payments.

You don't want the A4, you're settling for it because you can't afford the S4. Doesn't make sense since you said yourself that you would trade up. Basically your going to have car payments for a long time on top of housing, insurance, college loans, ring, etc.

It doesn't make sense to get into a different car just because you want one. You'll need, without a doubt, money for college loans and engagement ring.

Separate wants and needs. Take care of needs first.

I think you should wait. I don't know exactly what your situation is (age, finances, etc) but I'm 26 and if I could do everything again:

rent until you can't bear it any more, then rent one more year, then buy the house/condo

stick with the old car as long as you can bear it, sock some money away, and then when you're ready, you'll be able to afford the S4 instead of A4. (For me it was SVT now or A4 later...I chose SVT now)

Now that I own the SVT, it's a committment I made to myself to keep it (plan is 8-10 years). There may be more enticing cars (lately the car manufacturers have been turning out some juicy stuff) but the SVT is wonderful in its own right, cheap to own, and bags of fun. You may find nicer cars, but the SVT still feels special, so what's wrong with that (and saving money in the process).

I recently test drove an SVT Focus and even with all the accolades it's been collecting, it didn't put a smile on my face. Got back in the Contour and matted it. I was home again.

Kerry

Sell the SVT, and buy a cheap beater. Drive it until you've saved enough for a nice downpayment on the S4 (and don't forget that ring)..

I was in a similar situation about 3 months ago.. Ended up selling the SVT and will get the car I really want (M3 probably, though you never know) in a few years, after everything else I'm trying to do is out of the way (pay off mortgage, etc).

To me, the SVT was a losing proposition, as it depreciates so fast. I also was in need of tires, brakes, struts, and all within 5-10K, and it just didn't make sense from an economical point of view. That clutch job will run you about $1100! That's money you're not going to see again. Something to think about.

Whatever you do...don't buy the ring. No, I'm not being facetious.

Pay your college loans off or your car off or both but if you dump money into a rock, it's gone. It'll end up costing you more in the long term as you'll still be paying off a car loan (and the interest on it) or a college loan that you could have paid off sooner if you didn't buy a ring.

Just my opinion.