Some people really do need the space/towing capacity that large SUVs have, and since the market is flooded with them, they can be obtained for significantly less than otherwise. What's happening now is the folks who bought them simply because they wanted to be big, bad, and intimidating are letting them go. Necessity is replacing desire.

I agree, it only makes sense to buy a SUV if you really do need one, regardless of price. In addition, I don't see any reason to buy any car brand new, because of the initial depreciation loss. IMO, the best value is to find a late model, low mileage used car that meets your needs and to keep it a long time.

So then it sounds like the best thing to do is to buy a 3yr old low mileage compact car and then put about 30,000 miles on it and sell it 3 yrs down the line for not much less than you paid for it. I heard that used compact cars are now actually rising in value and people are paying obscene amounts for low mileage compact cars. Might be prudent to pay top dollar for a Prius just to avoid big depreciation.

Nope, you'll still take a hit on depreciation. I'm not exactly sure what you're asking, but CTRUGBY has the right idea: buy what you need, maintain it, and drive it until it owes you nothing, many years down the line.

I would buy a 3-5 year old car and keep it for 10+ years, as long as it doesn't start costing more than it's replacement value, or your needs don't change. Flipping a car after 30K miles is unlikely to work, you will still have to buy another car in the same "market." Personally, I wouldn't buy into the prius fad unless I was doing a very specific type of driving.

A used SUV(your statement says used SUV) is an excellent buy for those in need as the purchase price is lower than usual and choices are better than ever. The loss of value year to year as a percentage still remains the same whether a small - large vehicle. Once you get past the steep initial depreciation loss year to year is similar across vehicles.

Not everyone is interested in resale value. I buy used cars (5yo or so), keep them for 12 to 15 years, and run them into the ground. When I'm done with them, they usually have 250k to 300k miles on them and are basically shot. Then I junk them.

If you don't need the capability of an SUV, then why would would entertain the idead of buying one? Personally I'm looking around for 2005-up F-250/350 Crew Cab V10 4x4 to replace my aging Bronco, Since nobody makes a full-sized 2 door SUV anymore this is the closest thing there is. Of course this would not be a daily driver, but more of a boat-towing, trash hauling, snow conquering, hunting/fishing, off-roading vehicle.

I don't own one of the HUGH SUV's. I just own a mid-size 4runner....I wouldn't have bought it unless I needed it.

I have a neighbor that owns a Expedition. And they'll buy another one. They have 3 teenagers and 2 pre-teen...All in sports. It's just used to drive everyone around. They MIGHT put 8k miles/year on it, so that equates to just a few hundred a year on gas more then a subcompact.

But I'll admit there are a lot of people who own them and don't need them. How many people have bought H1's and actually NEEDED it. I'd buy a smaller SUV if I could. I'm about at the smallest I can get that can tow my trailer and haul my family on camping trips.

A long wheelbase minivan with a small engine has just as much inside room and uses half the gas an Expedition does. Why does anyone need AWD and a brute of an engine to drive kids to their soccer game? It seems every gas guzzler owner says they "need the space". Lee Iacocca invented the minivan for those who used to buy regular vans, but wanted more economical operation. Somewhere we are confusing reason with excuse.

A friend of my wife is married to a computer specialist who works close to home in town, and never sets foot in the wilderness. He "needs" a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the hemi engine to carry these heavy coputer parts home.

A long wheelbase minivan with a small engine has just as much inside room and uses half the gas an Expedition does. Why does anyone need AWD and a brute of an engine to drive kids to their soccer game? 

Because it's also used to tow their 6000lb boat to the lake every weekend. There's no way you can do that with ANY minivan ever built.

And when you're only talking about a savings of MAYBE $400/year because of the so few miles they drive. That $400 is NOT going matter one bit.

You did not mention the towing requirement; that changes everything of course.

Towing a boat every weekend is one thing, but too many SUV owners try to justify their purchase by towing the boat twice a year (spring drop-in, fall pull-out). Rent a damned truck for two days a year to do chores like that!

The vast majority of SUVs will never tow anything, and will never leave pavement (until they roll over on the Interstate). They prove how hairy-chested their owners are, even the soccer moms. I pity the few people (for their gas costs) who can actually justify owning one, and laugh at the "suffering" of the rest. Reality check time, folks!

Towing a boat every weekend is one thing, but too many SUV owners try to justify their purchase by towing the boat twice a year (spring drop-in, fall pull-out). Rent a damned truck for two days a year to do chores like that!  

You have no idea what you're talking about. Go and TRY to rent a truck to tow with on the weekend you need one....especially on a holiday like 4th of July. It's IMPOSSIBLE...I know I tried. You have to reserve one MONTHS (7-8) in advance. You might be able to if you live near large metro airport (I don't). Rental agencies do NOT have a lot of trucks to rent. Even the large ones in our area has 1 or 2 that can tow with. Some have trucks to rent but you are NOT allowed to tow with them. I only tow my trailer 4-5 times during the summer...it's just IMPOSSIBLE to rent one at the times I need it. Especially since most of the time we decide to go camping on Thursday before the weekend because the weather is good.

Mike, I think he's talking about keeping the boat at a marina and hiring someone to put it in/out once a year, as opposed to having to drag it to the lake every-time you want to use it.

One reason that I don't currently own any campers, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, boats, race cars, etc. is the necessity of owning a tow vehicle. Maintaining those toys is bad enough, but also having to own a big, silly truck makes it more trouble than it's worth (for me).

Mike, I think he's talking about keeping the boat at a marina and hiring someone to put it in/out once a year, as opposed to having to drag it to the lake every-time you want to use it.  

If you drive the boat to a Marina ONCE a year..then back...then yea you MIGHT be able to rent a truck to do it..But not everyone can.

One reason that I don't currently own any campers, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, boats, race cars, etc. is the necessity of owning a tow vehicle. Maintaining those toys is bad enough, but also having to own a big, silly truck makes it more trouble than it's worth (for me). 

I own a camper because I'm getting too old for tenting. Although my youngest and I do some back backing and mountain climbing. But when the family wants to go camping for a long weekend..the camper is far far better. It's something we like to do, and it's just plain easier then trying to RENT something. My 4runner doesn't get GREAT gas mileage..but I average about 22 highway...which isn't bad.

I'm not saying you shouldn't do the boating/camping thing, it's just more trouble than it's worth for me. My kids are teenagers now and too busy/uninterested to go "family" camping anyway. I've rented RVs in the past (when the kids were small), but I hate having to drive big RVs around locally, so I do understand the advantage of camping trailers. When my kids move away, I might get back to doing some "real" camping in the mountains (I'm not much of a climber, but I do like to hike a little).

Regarding boating, I learned a long time ago that I can't sail to save my butt, and motor boats don't really interest me. Of course, I don't currently live near much water anyway. I like Warren Buffit's approach; when someone asked him why he didn't own a yacht he said that he didn't need one because his friends all owned them. (-;

You have no idea what you're talking about. Go and TRY to rent a truck to tow with on the weekend you need one....especially on a holiday like 4th of July. It's IMPOSSIBLE...I know I tried. You have to reserve one MONTHS (7-8) in advance. You might be able to if you live near large metro airport (I don't). Rental agencies do NOT have a lot of trucks to rent. Even the large ones in our area has 1 or 2 that can tow with. Some have trucks to rent but you are NOT allowed to tow with them. I only tow my trailer 4-5 times during the summer...it's just IMPOSSIBLE to rent one at the times I need it. Especially since most of the time we decide to go camping on Thursday before the weekend because the weather is good. 

Why would you go to a rental agency for a tow vehicle? Why not U-Haul or one of its competitors? Also, my local hardware store has rental work trucks that would be good tow vehicles.

If I wanted to rent a tow vehicle, I think a car rental agency is the last place I would go.

Why would you go to a rental agency for a tow vehicle? Why not U-Haul or one of its competitors? Also, my local hardware store has rental work trucks that would be good tow vehicles.
 

I tried them. First off...I'm going camping with a family of 4 so I need a Van of some sort..NOT a Bench seat cargo truck. UHaul has several vans they rent...BUT Not ALL are equipped to Tow. They were actually the FIRST place I tried. There's a very big UHaul in Manchester NH.

So-o-o-o-o it's a sailboat right?

With solar back-up?

No wonder why gas is $4+ a gallon.

buy - buy - buy