On Cars

[jetpack_monkey]

I have never owned my own car. Living in a giant metropolitan area as I do, this is becoming more and more problematic. While my roommate has stated on several occasions that she's more than happy to cart my butt around should I need it, that limits my transportation to bus schedules and her availability. Plus, I feel like a huge mooch, even when I do chip in for gas.

I would like to purchase a car. There are a couple of problems with this:

1) My credit sucks, due to some credit card debt from years and years ago.
2) I don't know anything about cars.
3) I have a lot of expenses in the upcoming year.
4) Insurance in Arizona is insanely expensive.

Any thoughts, ideas? Any help at all would be much appreciated.

Comments

[hjcallipygian.livejournal.com]

To add to qkellie's suggestion:

I lease my car. It's less expensive, but you only want to do it with a car that holds its value well over time. The better the car holds value, the better deal you'll get on the lease. Also, insurance is more expensive. Mine nearly doubled when I went from a paid-off car to my new lease, and the new car had better security, even.

Credit is your biggest problem, really. However, if you have no debt now and can pay off a car successfully, it's a good way to improve your credit.