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My wife and I currently own a 1997 Honda Civic DX 4 door with approx 120K miles on it. We just moved out of NYC and feel we may need a second car. Considering the age of our current car which is in decent condition, should we buy a beater car for a second vehicle or spend more to buy a new or late model used car and use the Civic for our second car? I'm leaning towards a newer car as we have a infant child and the Civic doesn't have the latest and greatest in safety features, plus it's beginning to show its age.
Just buy a 3-4 year old car that is bigger and has the curtain side airbags. No need to buy a new car. You don't say your budget but if you are east coast I would get an AWD car if you plan on driving around more.
If you have an infant on the way, downgrade the civic to 2nd status and buy a newer larger car.
Believe me... you are going to take a trip to the emergency room (most likely for non-serious issues) a few times and you will want a dependable car that will start right up the first time.
If the Civic has been maintained properly, That thing has many many miles of life on it... Enough life to pass on to your child when they turn 16...
I never understood why people automatically think they need to get a "safer" car when they have a child on the way. Ive been raising children practically my whole life and it still doesn't make sense. The thought of having a safer car sounds good, but that doesnt mean youre absolutely safe. I know, I know, parents want the very best for their child
Cars just have more airbags now. The best you can do is drive safe instead of being a moron on the road. Accidents are unpreventable and the best you can do is avoid them.
The only real solution is to not drive the child around in a car all the time, until they are older.
I know my opinion may be out of whack but thats just how I feel. I know a bunch of new parents and they got new cars.
Bottom line, A car is always going to be a car youre taking a chance no matter what youre driving. A new car feels nice though, but it seems theres so many maintenance hurdles and problems when cars are new.
Our child is 6 months old. The civic starts and runs fine but is showing her age. We didn't drive her much while living in NYC but we now live in Northern New Jersey and my wife will have to take the car to get to her job on weekends which will leave me with a baby and no vehicle for emergencies or even to run errands.
I suppose my fear is that if we spend 5k on a second car the Civic will soon die on us and we would have to buy another car anyway. I know cars last longer now a days but the Civic is 17 years old!
120k miles on a civic is pretty much just getting broken in lol.
Civics are everywhere and parts arent to demanding on the wallet. They are VERY simple to work on yourself and thats why I like them personally. Simplicity is a good thing, something that new cars just dont have.
I think by safer, you mean you want a bigger heavier car, like a full size sedan or something. Are there any makes you happen to like or ones that you want to avoid?
What you're doing makes sense. With two drivers and both child care and work demands it makes sense to have two cars in the suburbs.
It sounds as though you like your Honda just fine, which is a good thing because Hondas are both reliable and economical. You could get a new, or new-ish, Civic or Accord to be your primary vehicle and you'll do just fine. Same with a Corolla or Camry. I do not think you need AWD in northern New Jersey.
Our child is 6 months old. The civic starts and runs fine but is showing her age. We didn't drive her much while living in NYC but we now live in Northern New Jersey and my wife will have to take the car to get to her job on weekends which will leave me with a baby and no vehicle for emergencies or even to run errands.
I suppose my fear is that if we spend 5k on a second car the Civic will soon die on us and we would have to buy another car anyway. I know cars last longer now a days but the Civic is 17 years old!
Most people on this forum are going to tell you not to get a second car or to get a second older car. For $5000 your probably going to get a civic that is just a few years younger than your present car.
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