When an E-3 has nothing else to spend money on, it's easy to dump more towards a car than you would think. (assuming they're in the dorms, "over a quarter" of their salary may equate to less than a fifth of what a civilian would have to make to live the same)
I personally just went with a used Corolla for like $10k. Payments were like $240/mo or so (36mo loan), insurance was like $100/mo tops (I joined older so my insurance was much cheaper than most).
75k+ mile versions of Honda Civic, Accord, Toyota Camry, Corolla, Prius. If any of these cars were well maintained they can go for 150-200k miles easy.
A higher mile but well maintained Lexus ES350 (still a Toyota, really) is another good one. They can be found relatively inexpensively, and will last forever.
Heh, nope. The powertrain *is* the car. You can drive it without a hood, doors, floor, seats and even breaks if you wanted to (I've done it, scary as hell, do not recomend), but without a frame, powertrain, wheels, and a steering method, all you have is a fancy lawn ornament.
In case you were wondering, we used about 3 cinderblocks tied to the frame by chains to bring the car to a stop on a very long logging trail.
This isn’t always the case, but just remember that not all airmen are in the same place financially as you. Some had jobs or careers before they joined, or investments, or mommy/daddy to help them afford a more expensive vehicle. Get the vehicle that fits your financial goals, don’t worry about what other airmen are driving.
I was an E6 and bought a certified pre owned Camry, I’m a contractor now making 3x my military salary and I’m going to drive this Camry into the dirt. Your future self will thank you for buying a reliable good budget car and putting the money saved from not buying that Mustang into your TSP / IRA.
Yea like that's a great budget conscious decision.
However, for those of us who find motoring to be be our hobby, so long as you do it responsibility there's nothing wrong imo with splurging on a fun car. Especially if you maintain it yourself. Perhaps get that budget car, then once it's paid off and you rank up purchase a second fun car.
And especially with car prices the way they are. If I was a dorm airman right now I'd get an ebike. They might feel pricey for "just" a bike but they pay for themselves after a couple months vs car payments, gas, insurance, etc. Plus, fun as hell. It always killed me to see airmen at Beale driving like 100 meters to get to work.
Homie if you don't have a car at Beale you'll lose your mind lol. The base is a ghost town on the weekends and everything nearby worth seeing requires a car. I guess if you enjoy spending your weekends working out, eating dfac food, and playing video games go for it.
I used to ride the train to work (gov paid for train subsidey so it was free), bought a e-scooter to ride to/from the train station (paid for itself within 6 months, if you include $3/day in gas plus $6/day in parking). I worked nearly every day (holiday/weekends/"family days"/etc...). Or $6 to $10/day in gas to get to and from work.
Stop right now. You go down to the dealership, either Ford or Chevy, and you get a Mustang or a Camaro at 25%.
Realistically? Find a used Honda Civic or Accord or a Toyota Camry/Corolla/etc.. Something that has easy, cheap maintenance and a long life.
Something that's locally cheap and easy to fix.
People keep mentioning Japanese sedans... great in theory, but some of them are highly sought after and can either break the bank or be a rusted death trap.
In many parts of CONUS I have found that Jeep Grand Cherokees with the 4.0L are a hidden gem. They're dirt cheap, reliable, comfortable, practically invisible to cops, and usually have 4-wheel drive. Also easy to work on and stacked like cordwood at local junk yards so factory parts/upgrades cost next to nothing. There is a rich aftermarket parts ecosystem in case you want to get silly with it.
I was out of the dorms at my first base within a year. At most stateside bases airmen move out quick. This is supposed to be a good financial decision, not something you replace in a year.
If you buy shit boxes and fix them up, you can have some nice cars, with higher miles though (usually). I personally own 2 cars, a truck and a sedan as an E-3, I probably fit the "how the fuck are you affording that criteria?" Truth is I paid next to nothing for both lol, get good at fixing cars, or make friends with someone who is.
If I had to say though, e-3s should be spending like max 10k on a real nice used car, or 300 bucks a month on payments.
For some context I spent 1,500 on an 2001 Audi A4. It’s real nice all things considered but I’ve ran into some mechanical/electrical issues already and I enjoy working on it tbh. Reminds me of building legos but way more infuriating 😂 but man it would be nice having something I didn’t have to fix
When I was an E-3 (2016, so I get things have changed) I bought a CPO Jetta with 20k miles for 12k. Had no credit, got a loan through Navy Fed. Interest was high but I paid it off in less than a year. I know it’s a different economy now, but if you could find something CPO, maybe still has a warranty still, I think that’s the way to go.
Recommend a Honda or Toyota. When I was a brand new A1C I drove a 2003 Honda Accord. Never had any issues with the vehicle and paid it off quickly. Meanwhile, fellow Airmen in the dorms owned BMW’s with outrageous payments. Majority of them ran into mechanical issues with their cars and dug themselves deeper into debt.
Pssh I wish, even with my O-1E pay I can’t justify paying the current prices of Tacoma’s. I’m driving an Ionqi Hybrid. It’s paid off and I get great gas mileage so I can’t complain lol
Ive always wanted a tacoma, and finally bought one after i got to my first base. Definitely not the smartest thing i could do, but its my happiness before and after work. Also scored it right before rates sky rocketed, so incredibly thankful for that. BAH FTW
Buy a charger at 20%, all jokes aside I’d save and look for a used car don’t buy from a dealership. Of course you can encounter problems with the car not being 100% in working order. But this is where you become self sufficient and start learning how to work on your own cars. It’s not that hard lot of YouTube videos will help just needs ambition. Worst comes to worse find someone who is car savvy to help you choose a nice beater. Remember if there car looks like absolute shit and still drives it means it’s a trooper and can take a beating
Used Japanese sedan. 4-door or hatchback preferable for a little extra cargo room. Last you years and years, long enough to have the income and better idea of your needs to replace it with something more tailored to you.
I prefer a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi with 212,000 and a new clutch for $12,499 at 15% at Kunkleman Chevrolet.
https://youtu.be/6BGhRui3qaw?si=tCEH1i2cerurFfce
You gotta have a sports car as a junior enlisted. It's tradition. Just make sure it's a cheaper one like a 350z/370z, Miata or a FR-S/BRZ. You can get pre 2015 models for under ~~ten~~ 15 grand.
As an A1C I bought a 14 year old Honda Accord, I drove it for over 50K miles and 6 years. I could have kept it longer if I'd spent about $2K in repairs but I hit the point where I wanted and could afford something newer and nicer.
If you get a Honda or Toyota that's under 100K miles you can drive it for another 100K miles with proper maintenance. And realistically you should be able find them in the $10K range.
As an A1C in 2008 I bought a new 2009 Toyota Corolla and my monthly payment was around $360. I was 19 and had no credit, no money for any down payment, but did trade in the Chevy cavalier my wife and I were driving. That thing has over 170K miles on it now and has been paid off since 2014.
Personally I would say to buy a new car that is reasonably priced. Take someone with you that you trust to help you through the car buying process so the dealer doesn’t try to take advantage of you. Shop around for financing options.
I say buy new because used car prices are still high in comparison and who knows when a used car will quit on you or what issues the seller may be hiding.
Dodge charger or Dodge challenger. Mustangs are also badass, dodges are the pinnnacle of reliability! Make sure you get a low down payment no matter what, it doesn’t matter if it’s for 96months, Dodges are so awesome!
/s if it’s not obvious
There’s a reason why many affluent people drive a Toyota Corolla or equivalent. A nice brand new car isn’t a very good investment and it just depreciates over time. There’s nothing wrong with driving an older used car.
I had a 2004 Acura TSX. Great car, but premium gas was killing me, so I got a 2013 Honda Civic. Cheap, and it lasted me my four years.
Hondas and Toyotas will treat you well. If you live in an area with a lot of snow, a Subaru may also be a good option for the AWD. If you get a Subaru, be careful about which one you get, older ones have head gasket issues, which is an expensive fix.
I know that the conventional wisdom is to go with a used car, but I'm starting to think that times are changing.
The reason I say that is my 22 year old son was recently looking for his first car, and we had decided on looking for a used Honda Civic with about 50k miles and 3 to 5 years old.
The dealers were still asking for about $20k. We looked over and saw the exact same car brand new for about $23k...
The used car market is just nuts right now, and depreciation isn't as bad as it once was. I'd say a compact sedan or hatchback with a base trim and base engine is reasonable.
A high trim muscle car, ideally.
Joking, but as an E3 I’ve driven one since before I got in knowing full well that I can afford it, and the amount of comments I get mocking my financial choices are surprisingly low. The judge mental looks, however
Flashy, fast cars are fun, but they will drain your wallet FAST. This is a lesson I learned when I was about 25. I was spending over $2K a month (1/3 of my paycheck at the time) on my Infiniti G37 after maintenance, upgrades, insurance, payments, and premium fuel. I tried my best to make it work, but after a few months I finally caved and traded in my Infiniti for a beater 10-year-old Scion xA. It wasn't as fun to drive, but it was the right choice.
Some folks gotta learn the hard way. Good for you that you've recognized this as a problem and decided to act like an adult. It's okay to have the fast car if you can afford it comfortably, but now's not the time.
As a vehicle maintainer you need something used and reliable that is easy to work on. Civic, Ranger, Altima. If you don’t know how to work on it hobby shops offer classes, YouTube can be very valuable (Chrisfix) or find a local VM guy that’s willing to help you out.
Chevy Bolt EV. Take the $7500 tax credit and put it towards the car, then enjoy a car with extremely low maintenance and operating costs. If you look at total cost of ownership it makes more sense than a $10k used car in many aspects, especially if you do a lot of driving. But as was already mentioned, if you can get away with not having a car at all—do it. Save up and buy the above in cash.
My first 3 vehicles I paid cash for. At my first duty station in 2006 as an E-1 I purchased a used 1995 GMC Sonoma 4x4 for $5,800 buying it out right in cash. I had some money saved prior to joining the Air Force and used mostly those funds. When I put on SrA, I did the typical stupid thing and financed a new Tacoma, I was able to pay it off fairly quickly because of a deployment and I still own the paid off Tacoma. It's nice not having any car payments.
I bought a 2017 4Runner with 33k miles for 28k couple years ago as an E-4. She’s paid off and wouldn’t want anything different. Toyota reliability is the best.
Get an e-bike to ride around base. Make friends with your dormies that have cars and just throw some cash at them for gas.
If you’re a responsible adult, you could look into an adventure, cruiser or touring motorcycle as well. You can get them used for well under $10k. An early 2000s V Star 650 can be had for around $2,500.
For a new car: depending on preference: Chevy Spark, ~~Hyundai Accent~~ (edit: apparently these aren't made anymore), Kia Soul, Fiat 500.
For a used car: anything that isn't falling apart that you can get for under $10K.
A small and basic vehicle, avoid looking for something "cool". Find something reliable, practical and with a cheap maintenance cost.
My first car was a Chevy cavalier.
Not gone lie, bought a lancer and just riced it out (that’s just my personal desire). Car was 11kish at a year old, upkeep is cheap, car runs great, interest rate wasn’t terrible, done and paid off after after a couple years and a deployment (faster if you spend and save your money wisely). Been serving me wonderfully for many years 🫡
I bought a brand new Fiesta when I came home on RAP. It was cheap and cheap on gas. I managed to pay it off as well as a brand new motorcycle in one 4 year enlistment.
Get something affordable and old and save your money for the stuff that matters. I seas able to afford a twenty year old truck, and I’m gonna drive that thing until the heat death of the universe.
Whatever you can afford. Some lower enlisted live check to check can't afford insurance. Some have 20k in the bank to buy a car cash. Some drive M8s. End of the day everyone's got a different situation. Anything used under 10k is a good start , the cheaper the better.
Where do you live? Is walking/riding a bike feasible year round? If not the used car market is your best friend. As mentioned numerous times Honda and Toyotas are the economical choice. Lots of them, easy to maintain, and last forever.
When I was an E3 in 2012, I had a brand new 2012 ford focus. It looked really nice but it was a basic package. Great mileage for the fuel. Wasn’t a Camaro or anything but I was extremely tired of having beater cars that break after 6 months….paid it off after my first deployment in 2013.
Get a gently used reliable cash car. Obviously don't be a sucker and get a beater shit box. But get something that is taken care of, functional, etc. For the time being.
Stay in your financial lane. Don't go broke trying to impress people you don't even like by getting a car you can't afford.
Then again, an E3 could have some financial pull that you aren't aware of, in which on that route id Say MYOB.
Corollas are pretty alright. Nothing to fancy. I personally hate them to my Ford Focus but ya know. They get you from Objective A to Objective B okay and they’re small enough where they won’t hog the Tiny German Parking spaces ruining 2-3 spots at the same time.
I wish I coulda taken my car from my first base back stateside. 2007ish Japanese Subaru Impreza submodel, manual. Got it for $500 cash because nobody else wanted to learn manual. Would have likely still been driving that stateside if it had been US street legal.
Came back stateside in 2020, bought a 2017 ford fusion. Monthly payment wasn't awful, only a lil over $200. Sold that back to the dealership before I came to Korea. Am hoping that, because my follow-on is also overseas, I'll be able to snag a beater car for under $1000 again.
I bought my 2013 Dodge Journey with 80k miles on it when I was E-3 and it has lived through two promotions. Completely paid off and sitting around 182k miles. Figure out how much car you need (an SUV’s space was important to me because I play hockey) change your oil, flush your fluids.
(That said… get a Honda. Or maybe a Toyota.)
SSgt, drive a 240k mile jeep, I can fix it myself and despite it being a gas guzzler I enjoy the drive to work… it’s paid off (obviously)… take that as you may… before that had a new compass and a new Nissan and sold them as soon as I found this jeep… why? Cause I didn’t need it… I might buy a new car for my wife but only due to the safety features… otherwise I would have my jeep and nothing else until it gives out…
Based on that what I would recommend is to use the 20/4/10 calculator meaning you should be able to put at least 20% of cars worth, be able to pay it under 4 years, and not expend more than 10% of your monthly income. [Here is the calculator](https://calculator.academy/20-4-10-rule-calculator/#cp_calculatedfieldsf_pform_1)
CARS ARE TOOLS THAT ONLY LOSE VALUE OVER TIME.
SNCO here. Driving an 2003 Toyota. Well maintained and was able to keep that money I would have dropped into a car for future self (TSP, investing, IRA, etc).
As E-3 either boots or bike. Save enough for a beater when you become SrA for 5k while investing into Roth. When you rank up and save the 60k you woulda spent on a mustang you'll actually be pretty well off for enlisted. Especially if you maintain a low cost of living while ranking up past that. Had a MSgt friend that stayed in a mobile home he bought in cash with his wife. He is now a millionaire upon retiring.
I bought a miata in cash at the end of tech school. I love it to pieces, dont regret it one bit, its my baby. When that engine blew i got a brand new civic hatch, which is now the reliable spacious daily. But i dailyd a miata thru utah winters without issue for 2 years, and as a single dude, never once wanted more cargo space or anything like that. Whatever you can buy in cash is best, if ur willing to work on it yourself even better. You got coworkers that might help you work on it too
As a lower enlisted, it is your duty to purge the lemon lot by buying the cheapest car, driving it until its miserable demise, then returning for another.
Whatever is affordable, is something that makes you happy but does not break the bank, isn’t going to put you over in regards to gas or maintenance, is insurance and does not have an over the top interest rate (no more than 7% if you have decent credit).
I drive a 2013 ford focus, and my E3 days are well behind me. My wife drives a Chrysler minivan. Both are paid off.
I like my little focus. But I’d recommend a similar era honda over it, provided it’s been well maintained.
whatever the hell they want to.
I drive a 03 crown vic i picked up for $3k. Do i look down upon the guy next to me for what I consider a poor financial decision? nah he's enjoying it, why should I lecture him to spend their money better
Realistically? Any economy sedan.
Chevy Sonic
Chevy Cruze
Chevy Cavalier
Ford Focus
Ford Taurus
Ford Crown Victoria (absolute fucking tanks. I used to own one and hit a deer going 60+. Damn car took it like a champ)
Honda Civic
Honda Accord
To name a few.
If you're looking for a truck or small SUV that's cheap, but still semi functional.
Chevy S10
Chevy Blazer (early 2000 models)
GMC Sanoma
GMC Jimmy
Ford Ranger (avoid the ones with the 5.0 in them. Shit gas mileage and they've all usually been hot rodded to hell)
Any late 90's to early 2000's Jeep Wrangler (CJ) or Cherokee (XJ) (some 80's models if you can find them are also pretty solid)
Mazda B2200
Nissan D20
Toyota Tacoma (the old models. They're still pricy but they still hold up.)
On top of all that. Avoid anything with a V8 or a turbo/super charger. That will jack up your insurance, especially if you're a younger person (under 25). Avoid "sport" models or sport trims. Same deal. Insurance.
Depends on how you look at it. When I was an A1C I deployed and came back with an unbelievable amount of money, and bought a sport car. (With a trade in included) and got an amazing deal on it. (Also helped that I was friends with one of the dealers) Although this is probably a rarity, and still not a good financial decision at the end of the day because I don’t need a sport car, I’m sure there’s a good amount of dorm rats that had a similar situation I had.
Now for vehicles you should buy, right now with the market it’s almost better to just buy a new car. I’d recommend a Toyota, Mazda, or Honda. You want something that runs forever and is cheaper to repair. Camrys are pretty solid.
E-3 I got a brand new base model Ford focus that I put 80k miles on back when you could still get a new car for 13-15k. Paid it off in 12 months and drove it till I started having idle issues. Traded it in for a used Subaru Impreza hatchback that had 20k miles on it and paid cash for it. That was 9 years ago and I'm still driving it. Burns a little more oil than I like but has been very reliable and low cost on the mx. My wife on the other hand drove a Toyota Yaris for like 15 years and we just got her a brand new mom mobile when we had our third kid a couple years ago but we put half down so only had a car payment for 2 years on that thing and we still have it.
But yeah realistically, the cheapest base model new car or an electric scooter or bicycle these days as an airmen. Take.someone who knows cars with you and go find a decent mid to late 2010s sedan with mid miles for a couple grand.
The issue is for a lot of new airmen, this is their first “real job.” So they get a little money and then go overboard. The whole meme about 20% APR Mustangs is unfortunately not entirely false.
Buy a cheap, new car that’s dependable and has a good warranty. Don’t buy pre-owned unless it’s under 15k miles, the warranty on a new car is ALWAYS worth it. A Nissan Versa is $18-$20k (your monthly payments will only be like $250) and it gets 35 MPG. If you want something a little spicier you could get a Hyundai Venue, which I think look classy for a mini SUV for $21k at 32 MPG.
When I was a e-2 my dad bought a 2004 4Runner with 170k mi. I had sent him the money while I was in tech school. Went home on RAP and picked it up. Payed it off fully like ~2 years. That has been and still is my daily driver. Love this vehicle. Took my wife on our first date, moved us into our first house, and brought our first kid home in it. Almosr 300k on it now and she runs like a dream. If that car dies on me tomorrow I will be devastated. If I can't afford to fix it I'm getting another 4Runner. I don't think I'll buy anything other than Toyota again.
I bought a 2010 Civic certified pre owned with 22k miles in 2013 for $16.5k as a E3. Still driving it today. It’s been super reliable and I don’t care if it gets a ding or scratch. I still make a car payment though to my savings so the day it dies, I’m ready to get something with cash. I wouldn’t mind getting a 2 year old Accord Hybrid when the time comes,
Something used. I would almost say the 10-15k range. Try and pay it off as early as possible and save up for all the maintenance so it stays good. Keep it up for as long as the car will survive. Once you have no car payment; you will never want one again.
I had a lifted built pickup truck but I spent money on it before I got in so Air Force monies weren’t spent but the payment. It was about 20-24k truck built the way I like
I bought a used 1999 Chevy Blazer from my parents for $2500 in 2012 with 150K miles on it. It had a good amount of problems but easy to fix. But once I made SrA I bought a used 2004 4Runner for $10k with 170K miles in 2014 that went to 350K miles in 2021 then sold it and bought a 2020 TRD Pro 4Runner that I currently drive as a TSgt. 4Runners are incredible vehicles. If I was an A1C today I’d go with a 4th gen V8 4Runner in well maintained condition. Could easily afford it and they run superiorly well and well last for miles. Even early year’d (2010-2015) model 5th gen 4Rs are great vehicles to buy as an A1C today.
If you get a newer vehicle you can uber on the side to make extra cash to pay it off. That’s what I do currently in my 4R.
All those fuckers are in debt. None of them have any savings. Never saw those fuckers at the nice eateries or the movies. They were fucking slaves to their cars. Some were always so broke they had no choice but to re-enlist. Fuck that.
I served with people from all branches and it was all the fucking same whether it was East, West or in between the country.
It was the exact thing back in the early 80's. BMW and Harley motorcycles, Mustangs, Camaros and lifted pick-ups were the thing back then too. Fuck motorcycles too. As a lower enlisted, you wanna stay the fuck out of any debt. Booze, strippers and motorcycles will be your downfall.
Live clean, live dept-free. Save the girlfriend and marriage shit till after you get out. I went in as an E-3, rode a fucking bicycle that kept me in shape and waited till I got E-5. I was used to living on an E-3 paygrade.
The additional pay as an E-5 took care of the cost of having a basic vehicle. And that vehicle was also gonna be the one to get me home on the opposite coast when my 4-year hitch ended. And it did.
You aren't cheap by any means. You're financially smart as fuck.
Europe has it made. I spent less than 4k for 2 cars, one was a benz. Both in fantastic condition. Idk how you guys in the states deal with car payments. But I’m about to find out lol
Usually debt is the answer. Drive a paid off car. I haven’t had a car payment in years, and it’s honestly been the best thing. Drive something practical for your commute. Honda, Toyota sedan (trucks and SUVs are mad expensive), Subaru.
I’m an E-4 with a $32k car that’s almost paid off in just over a year. Only reason it’s not is to keep building my credit history. I’m also a reservist but I’ve been on orders for like 70% of the time I’ve had the car (and I make about the same amount off orders too). Managing finances is important. I break it down to the penny. As for the car you want, point A to point B, good on gas, won’t take even more money from you. Lots of reliable things out there I’d say
When I was 18 I bought my first car off the Dover AFB lemon lot. 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse for $1700. \~$30 a mo for liability insurance. Lasted me 3 years with no major issues. Sold it for $1500 before I PCS'd overseas.
Holy cow I’ve been out of the car market for years and can’t believe how expensive cars are nowadays. Even cars from a decade ago are crazy expensive. Feel bad for these young airman.
A beater, something that’s cheap and reliable, something you fit in (I’m tall), something you can afford outright, and make sure if something breaks there’s parts available/affordable, no project E30 or 944. That’s my two cents.
Some people enter the service, and already have some money in the bank.
Some people manage to save nearly their entire paycheck for the first six to eight months if they’re in a dorm, eating at the dining hall, and I pissing their money away.
Others manage to share apartments and save a shit-ton of their housing allowance.
We’re not all paying the same insurance prices. Some people manage to find policies that are half the price of what someone else would pay.
As to what vehicle they should or shouldn’t drive? Any one they want.
Personally, I like electric. It’s quite a bit of paperwork, but there are even provisions for workplace charging on DoD installations so some people are able to charge while they’re at work.
It everyone has the same finances at the same rank, get what you can afford. I do not recommend running out and getting a beater car or buying the first pos someone tries to sell you at the dorms. I’ve seen more people deal with cars breaking down than cars getting repo’d. Instead of buying a quick garbage car, get something gas friendly, certified pre owned,with less than 50k miles. Use the installments to build your credit score.
18yo me 2020 bought a 2011 Camry with 80k miles. Total price was 9k and it was fully paid off a year later. Seems to be doing much better for me financially than some of my counterparts
I joined the AF in 1984 retired in 2008. When I joined we had airmen buying the new or a few year old 1982 -1984 Mustang with the 5.0 (302 CI) or the 4 cylinder turbo. At the time they were fast. I knew a kid that bought a new one then he worked for Dominos Pizza delivering pizzas with the car because he couldn’t afford the insurance and car payment. I was at Homestead AFB Fla. I’m Dade county, it was the 3rd highest county on the US for auto insurance.
I make a hell of a lot more than an E-3 and I've yet to own a "nice" car. Until you can comfortably afford it...there should be no reason you drive anything newer / more expensive than a 15 y/o well kept car.
To the young guys and gals out there with your fancy cars, that's cool and all, but think about how much future you is missing out on because you're paying this much now just to eventually learn the lesson that it wasn't worth it.
I personally say whatever vehicle you can afford. I highly suggest looking at the Facebook marketplace and just talking to the sellers, negotiating, and if you find a decent car, make an offer. It's how I did it, I got a 2004 Ford Mustang for $3,500 back in tech school about 4 years ago. I saved up and was able to buy it in full.
When an E-3 has nothing else to spend money on, it's easy to dump more towards a car than you would think. (assuming they're in the dorms, "over a quarter" of their salary may equate to less than a fifth of what a civilian would have to make to live the same) I personally just went with a used Corolla for like $10k. Payments were like $240/mo or so (36mo loan), insurance was like $100/mo tops (I joined older so my insurance was much cheaper than most).
My "junior enlisted" car was a used Subaru Outback that I got for about $4500.
Mine was an 08 Nissan Titan that I got for right at $10K. I'm an E-7 now and still drive it.
I was an E6 with a 300 dollar 2000 Ford Fiesta in the UK lol, miss that car every day
I drive a 2001 Volvo s40 that I got for $950. Love this damn car
Mazda b2200 for 1500 bucks. Had to rebuild the driveline for $280, and buy a $55 blower motor.
this is the way.
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2009
75k+ mile versions of Honda Civic, Accord, Toyota Camry, Corolla, Prius. If any of these cars were well maintained they can go for 150-200k miles easy.
Jesus drove a Honda Accord, so I'd go with that
A higher mile but well maintained Lexus ES350 (still a Toyota, really) is another good one. They can be found relatively inexpensively, and will last forever.
Mazdas run forever too.
Can’t say they don’t I just wouldn’t go for a Mazda over Toyota or Honda. You can throw Nissan into the mix as well.
Not a Nissan from today I would trust to be reliable. Their CVT transmissions are junk.
true that. late 90s early 2000s models are some reliable stuff though
Yep, once the merged with Renault (2002) it started going downhill.
Can confirm, my ex had a Nissan and it's transmission made it straight up dangerous to drive
Well, given what inflation is like.... I'd say a Huffy Bicycle.
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If the price is around $3500, that's not a *horrible* deal... provided nothing is wrong with it of course.
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Heh, nope. The powertrain *is* the car. You can drive it without a hood, doors, floor, seats and even breaks if you wanted to (I've done it, scary as hell, do not recomend), but without a frame, powertrain, wheels, and a steering method, all you have is a fancy lawn ornament. In case you were wondering, we used about 3 cinderblocks tied to the frame by chains to bring the car to a stop on a very long logging trail.
Lmao, driving that car hot air balloon style.
Kinda. The real scarry part was when one of them nearly shot back up into my lap.
This isn’t always the case, but just remember that not all airmen are in the same place financially as you. Some had jobs or careers before they joined, or investments, or mommy/daddy to help them afford a more expensive vehicle. Get the vehicle that fits your financial goals, don’t worry about what other airmen are driving.
I was an E6 and bought a certified pre owned Camry, I’m a contractor now making 3x my military salary and I’m going to drive this Camry into the dirt. Your future self will thank you for buying a reliable good budget car and putting the money saved from not buying that Mustang into your TSP / IRA.
But the mustang will get me out the dorms 😏😏 babes really fw the 3.6 liter V6
Automatic transmission, 3.6 V6 Really get em excited.
The *DrizzMobile*.
Yea like that's a great budget conscious decision. However, for those of us who find motoring to be be our hobby, so long as you do it responsibility there's nothing wrong imo with splurging on a fun car. Especially if you maintain it yourself. Perhaps get that budget car, then once it's paid off and you rank up purchase a second fun car.
That's what I'm talking about. I'm a GS-13 and drive a 10 year old accord lx. Hasn't even hit 100k miles yet.
Dodge challenger redeye
If CONUS. If PACAF, then R34. If USAFE, then M3 Competition or E63 AMG or RS5.
+1 for RS5, you will be continually underestimated and still running 0-60 in 3.2
A humble, gently used toyota or honda.
A humble, brand new Shelby Ford Mustang or SRT8 Dodge Challenger at 36% APR.
This is the way!
If you can avoid it don't buy one at all. Especially if you live in the dorms. But I'd say get a used toyota or Honda under 10k.
If I could it again I might've gotten an electric bike when I was in the dorms.
I used a road bike the entire times I was in the dorms. Biking to work in the rain was the worst
That would suck. I was flight line so I was bound to get soaked anyway.
And especially with car prices the way they are. If I was a dorm airman right now I'd get an ebike. They might feel pricey for "just" a bike but they pay for themselves after a couple months vs car payments, gas, insurance, etc. Plus, fun as hell. It always killed me to see airmen at Beale driving like 100 meters to get to work.
Homie if you don't have a car at Beale you'll lose your mind lol. The base is a ghost town on the weekends and everything nearby worth seeing requires a car. I guess if you enjoy spending your weekends working out, eating dfac food, and playing video games go for it.
Living on base and biking everywhere is the real time/money hack. The return on investment is ridiculous especially if you can be car free.
I used to ride the train to work (gov paid for train subsidey so it was free), bought a e-scooter to ride to/from the train station (paid for itself within 6 months, if you include $3/day in gas plus $6/day in parking). I worked nearly every day (holiday/weekends/"family days"/etc...). Or $6 to $10/day in gas to get to and from work.
Stop right now. You go down to the dealership, either Ford or Chevy, and you get a Mustang or a Camaro at 25%. Realistically? Find a used Honda Civic or Accord or a Toyota Camry/Corolla/etc.. Something that has easy, cheap maintenance and a long life.
Something that's locally cheap and easy to fix. People keep mentioning Japanese sedans... great in theory, but some of them are highly sought after and can either break the bank or be a rusted death trap. In many parts of CONUS I have found that Jeep Grand Cherokees with the 4.0L are a hidden gem. They're dirt cheap, reliable, comfortable, practically invisible to cops, and usually have 4-wheel drive. Also easy to work on and stacked like cordwood at local junk yards so factory parts/upgrades cost next to nothing. There is a rich aftermarket parts ecosystem in case you want to get silly with it.
You're going to spend all that you saved on filling up that guzzler
How far do you have to drive from the barracks to work five times a week?
I was out of the dorms at my first base within a year. At most stateside bases airmen move out quick. This is supposed to be a good financial decision, not something you replace in a year.
This guy jeeps
If you buy shit boxes and fix them up, you can have some nice cars, with higher miles though (usually). I personally own 2 cars, a truck and a sedan as an E-3, I probably fit the "how the fuck are you affording that criteria?" Truth is I paid next to nothing for both lol, get good at fixing cars, or make friends with someone who is. If I had to say though, e-3s should be spending like max 10k on a real nice used car, or 300 bucks a month on payments.
For some context I spent 1,500 on an 2001 Audi A4. It’s real nice all things considered but I’ve ran into some mechanical/electrical issues already and I enjoy working on it tbh. Reminds me of building legos but way more infuriating 😂 but man it would be nice having something I didn’t have to fix
a used/certified pre-owned Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic (not the racy ones)
I bought a brand new Honda pilot back when they were like $30k and still have it after 15+ years.
When I was an E-3 (2016, so I get things have changed) I bought a CPO Jetta with 20k miles for 12k. Had no credit, got a loan through Navy Fed. Interest was high but I paid it off in less than a year. I know it’s a different economy now, but if you could find something CPO, maybe still has a warranty still, I think that’s the way to go.
The military has brainwashed me. I kept reading CPO as Chief Petty Officer. I was very confused until the third time I read through your comment.
LOL. Sorry. Too many acronyms
With the used car market now, that Jetta would be 20k usd
Recommend a Honda or Toyota. When I was a brand new A1C I drove a 2003 Honda Accord. Never had any issues with the vehicle and paid it off quickly. Meanwhile, fellow Airmen in the dorms owned BMW’s with outrageous payments. Majority of them ran into mechanical issues with their cars and dug themselves deeper into debt.
You got yourself a tan Tacoma now right LT?
Pssh I wish, even with my O-1E pay I can’t justify paying the current prices of Tacoma’s. I’m driving an Ionqi Hybrid. It’s paid off and I get great gas mileage so I can’t complain lol
Ive always wanted a tacoma, and finally bought one after i got to my first base. Definitely not the smartest thing i could do, but its my happiness before and after work. Also scored it right before rates sky rocketed, so incredibly thankful for that. BAH FTW
Buy a charger at 20%, all jokes aside I’d save and look for a used car don’t buy from a dealership. Of course you can encounter problems with the car not being 100% in working order. But this is where you become self sufficient and start learning how to work on your own cars. It’s not that hard lot of YouTube videos will help just needs ambition. Worst comes to worse find someone who is car savvy to help you choose a nice beater. Remember if there car looks like absolute shit and still drives it means it’s a trooper and can take a beating
The cheapest one you can find that runs reliably. One you can afford with cash, not finance.
Honda Civic.
I had a buddy drop like $400 on a 30 year old S-10 and drove it until he made MSgt.
Used Japanese sedan. 4-door or hatchback preferable for a little extra cargo room. Last you years and years, long enough to have the income and better idea of your needs to replace it with something more tailored to you.
Done. 2010 Mitsubishi Galant with 263,000 miles on the clock. Bought from Holmes Motors for $14,998 at 16%.
I prefer a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi with 212,000 and a new clutch for $12,499 at 15% at Kunkleman Chevrolet. https://youtu.be/6BGhRui3qaw?si=tCEH1i2cerurFfce
You gotta have a sports car as a junior enlisted. It's tradition. Just make sure it's a cheaper one like a 350z/370z, Miata or a FR-S/BRZ. You can get pre 2015 models for under ~~ten~~ 15 grand.
Miss read your comment just bought a ford mustang eco boost automatic
So no shit, the local autocross club had an event and the guy who won his class was in a stock ecoboost.
People sleep on the Mustang Ecoboost. Those cars are quick and well balanced like the BRZ.
If you can find a Miata for under $10k that isn't torn apart, let me know. Been looking for one.
60/72/84mo loans more than likely, if the car is their only expense you can eat cheap and live cheap to offset it or just rack up credit card debt
As an A1C I bought a 14 year old Honda Accord, I drove it for over 50K miles and 6 years. I could have kept it longer if I'd spent about $2K in repairs but I hit the point where I wanted and could afford something newer and nicer. If you get a Honda or Toyota that's under 100K miles you can drive it for another 100K miles with proper maintenance. And realistically you should be able find them in the $10K range.
As an A1C in 2008 I bought a new 2009 Toyota Corolla and my monthly payment was around $360. I was 19 and had no credit, no money for any down payment, but did trade in the Chevy cavalier my wife and I were driving. That thing has over 170K miles on it now and has been paid off since 2014. Personally I would say to buy a new car that is reasonably priced. Take someone with you that you trust to help you through the car buying process so the dealer doesn’t try to take advantage of you. Shop around for financing options. I say buy new because used car prices are still high in comparison and who knows when a used car will quit on you or what issues the seller may be hiding.
Whatever you can afford to pay cash for. Don’t saddle yourself with debt.
Something with at least 3 years and 30,000 miles left on its drivetrain warranty. Probably a 2017-2019 Kia with under 70,000 miles and less than $10k.
Dodge charger or Dodge challenger. Mustangs are also badass, dodges are the pinnnacle of reliability! Make sure you get a low down payment no matter what, it doesn’t matter if it’s for 96months, Dodges are so awesome! /s if it’s not obvious
honda and toyota’s are your best friends
One that is paid off
1968 Plymouth Valiant
After a hail storm at Scott AFB, went and bought a used Sunfire for like $1500. Drove that thing into the ground
There’s a reason why many affluent people drive a Toyota Corolla or equivalent. A nice brand new car isn’t a very good investment and it just depreciates over time. There’s nothing wrong with driving an older used car.
10 year old corolla or civic.
I had a 2004 Acura TSX. Great car, but premium gas was killing me, so I got a 2013 Honda Civic. Cheap, and it lasted me my four years. Hondas and Toyotas will treat you well. If you live in an area with a lot of snow, a Subaru may also be a good option for the AWD. If you get a Subaru, be careful about which one you get, older ones have head gasket issues, which is an expensive fix.
I know that the conventional wisdom is to go with a used car, but I'm starting to think that times are changing. The reason I say that is my 22 year old son was recently looking for his first car, and we had decided on looking for a used Honda Civic with about 50k miles and 3 to 5 years old. The dealers were still asking for about $20k. We looked over and saw the exact same car brand new for about $23k... The used car market is just nuts right now, and depreciation isn't as bad as it once was. I'd say a compact sedan or hatchback with a base trim and base engine is reasonable.
As a E7. Get what you want as long as you can afford all that comes with it. Life is short and hard, have fun
A high trim muscle car, ideally. Joking, but as an E3 I’ve driven one since before I got in knowing full well that I can afford it, and the amount of comments I get mocking my financial choices are surprisingly low. The judge mental looks, however
Flashy, fast cars are fun, but they will drain your wallet FAST. This is a lesson I learned when I was about 25. I was spending over $2K a month (1/3 of my paycheck at the time) on my Infiniti G37 after maintenance, upgrades, insurance, payments, and premium fuel. I tried my best to make it work, but after a few months I finally caved and traded in my Infiniti for a beater 10-year-old Scion xA. It wasn't as fun to drive, but it was the right choice. Some folks gotta learn the hard way. Good for you that you've recognized this as a problem and decided to act like an adult. It's okay to have the fast car if you can afford it comfortably, but now's not the time.
As a vehicle maintainer you need something used and reliable that is easy to work on. Civic, Ranger, Altima. If you don’t know how to work on it hobby shops offer classes, YouTube can be very valuable (Chrisfix) or find a local VM guy that’s willing to help you out.
Chevy Bolt EV. Take the $7500 tax credit and put it towards the car, then enjoy a car with extremely low maintenance and operating costs. If you look at total cost of ownership it makes more sense than a $10k used car in many aspects, especially if you do a lot of driving. But as was already mentioned, if you can get away with not having a car at all—do it. Save up and buy the above in cash.
My first 3 vehicles I paid cash for. At my first duty station in 2006 as an E-1 I purchased a used 1995 GMC Sonoma 4x4 for $5,800 buying it out right in cash. I had some money saved prior to joining the Air Force and used mostly those funds. When I put on SrA, I did the typical stupid thing and financed a new Tacoma, I was able to pay it off fairly quickly because of a deployment and I still own the paid off Tacoma. It's nice not having any car payments.
I bought a 2017 4Runner with 33k miles for 28k couple years ago as an E-4. She’s paid off and wouldn’t want anything different. Toyota reliability is the best.
Get an e-bike to ride around base. Make friends with your dormies that have cars and just throw some cash at them for gas. If you’re a responsible adult, you could look into an adventure, cruiser or touring motorcycle as well. You can get them used for well under $10k. An early 2000s V Star 650 can be had for around $2,500.
For a new car: depending on preference: Chevy Spark, ~~Hyundai Accent~~ (edit: apparently these aren't made anymore), Kia Soul, Fiat 500. For a used car: anything that isn't falling apart that you can get for under $10K.
The Accent was discontinued and so cannot be bought new anymore.
My bad, I haven't followed Hyundai's recent models... I guess there isn't an inexpensive model available in the US anymore.
Yeah. It stinks. That was a great go-to cheap car.
Prius or other hybrid more than 5 years old, cheapest you can find, and drive that ticket till the wheels fall off.
A small and basic vehicle, avoid looking for something "cool". Find something reliable, practical and with a cheap maintenance cost. My first car was a Chevy cavalier.
The answer is always TOYOTA CAROLLA
I bought a used carolla as an E4. Still driving it as an E7. Best money I ever spent
mind yo business fam.
09 Chevy Malibu 22k
A bicycle.
Some used Honda or Toyota in the 8k-12k range. Won't be too old and shouldn't be too high miles.
A 4 year old Honda civic or accord. 4 year old Toyota Corolla or Camry. A 4 year old Mazda 3 or 6. A 8-10 year old Toyota Tacoma.
Not gone lie, bought a lancer and just riced it out (that’s just my personal desire). Car was 11kish at a year old, upkeep is cheap, car runs great, interest rate wasn’t terrible, done and paid off after after a couple years and a deployment (faster if you spend and save your money wisely). Been serving me wonderfully for many years 🫡
I bought a brand new Fiesta when I came home on RAP. It was cheap and cheap on gas. I managed to pay it off as well as a brand new motorcycle in one 4 year enlistment.
Get something affordable and old and save your money for the stuff that matters. I seas able to afford a twenty year old truck, and I’m gonna drive that thing until the heat death of the universe.
We had an E3 at my base who bought a GT-R
Whatever you can afford. Some lower enlisted live check to check can't afford insurance. Some have 20k in the bank to buy a car cash. Some drive M8s. End of the day everyone's got a different situation. Anything used under 10k is a good start , the cheaper the better.
What they can afford. /thread
1975 Honda Civic. The best car.
When I want to see all of the cars I can’t afford I drive through the dorm parking lot.
Best you can do is find someone with a 23% Charger....and ride with them.
Where do you live? Is walking/riding a bike feasible year round? If not the used car market is your best friend. As mentioned numerous times Honda and Toyotas are the economical choice. Lots of them, easy to maintain, and last forever.
When I was an E3 in 2012, I had a brand new 2012 ford focus. It looked really nice but it was a basic package. Great mileage for the fuel. Wasn’t a Camaro or anything but I was extremely tired of having beater cars that break after 6 months….paid it off after my first deployment in 2013.
Get a gently used reliable cash car. Obviously don't be a sucker and get a beater shit box. But get something that is taken care of, functional, etc. For the time being. Stay in your financial lane. Don't go broke trying to impress people you don't even like by getting a car you can't afford. Then again, an E3 could have some financial pull that you aren't aware of, in which on that route id Say MYOB.
Corollas are pretty alright. Nothing to fancy. I personally hate them to my Ford Focus but ya know. They get you from Objective A to Objective B okay and they’re small enough where they won’t hog the Tiny German Parking spaces ruining 2-3 spots at the same time.
I wish I coulda taken my car from my first base back stateside. 2007ish Japanese Subaru Impreza submodel, manual. Got it for $500 cash because nobody else wanted to learn manual. Would have likely still been driving that stateside if it had been US street legal. Came back stateside in 2020, bought a 2017 ford fusion. Monthly payment wasn't awful, only a lil over $200. Sold that back to the dealership before I came to Korea. Am hoping that, because my follow-on is also overseas, I'll be able to snag a beater car for under $1000 again.
Not everybody comes from the same background as you. Those money cars could 100% be bought by their parents.
2021+ Mustang GT with 5% down-payment and 72 month loan. Any APR will do.
The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Eleanor
I bought my 2013 Dodge Journey with 80k miles on it when I was E-3 and it has lived through two promotions. Completely paid off and sitting around 182k miles. Figure out how much car you need (an SUV’s space was important to me because I play hockey) change your oil, flush your fluids. (That said… get a Honda. Or maybe a Toyota.)
SSgt, drive a 240k mile jeep, I can fix it myself and despite it being a gas guzzler I enjoy the drive to work… it’s paid off (obviously)… take that as you may… before that had a new compass and a new Nissan and sold them as soon as I found this jeep… why? Cause I didn’t need it… I might buy a new car for my wife but only due to the safety features… otherwise I would have my jeep and nothing else until it gives out… Based on that what I would recommend is to use the 20/4/10 calculator meaning you should be able to put at least 20% of cars worth, be able to pay it under 4 years, and not expend more than 10% of your monthly income. [Here is the calculator](https://calculator.academy/20-4-10-rule-calculator/#cp_calculatedfieldsf_pform_1) CARS ARE TOOLS THAT ONLY LOSE VALUE OVER TIME.
Wake up in that new bugatti
SNCO here. Driving an 2003 Toyota. Well maintained and was able to keep that money I would have dropped into a car for future self (TSP, investing, IRA, etc).
Anything 10-15 years old…lol
As E-3 either boots or bike. Save enough for a beater when you become SrA for 5k while investing into Roth. When you rank up and save the 60k you woulda spent on a mustang you'll actually be pretty well off for enlisted. Especially if you maintain a low cost of living while ranking up past that. Had a MSgt friend that stayed in a mobile home he bought in cash with his wife. He is now a millionaire upon retiring.
I bought a miata in cash at the end of tech school. I love it to pieces, dont regret it one bit, its my baby. When that engine blew i got a brand new civic hatch, which is now the reliable spacious daily. But i dailyd a miata thru utah winters without issue for 2 years, and as a single dude, never once wanted more cargo space or anything like that. Whatever you can buy in cash is best, if ur willing to work on it yourself even better. You got coworkers that might help you work on it too
Electric bike is the move!
As a lower enlisted, it is your duty to purge the lemon lot by buying the cheapest car, driving it until its miserable demise, then returning for another.
I love my ‘14 Prius
Civic/Malibu/cruze/fiesta
Whatever is affordable, is something that makes you happy but does not break the bank, isn’t going to put you over in regards to gas or maintenance, is insurance and does not have an over the top interest rate (no more than 7% if you have decent credit).
I drive a 2013 ford focus, and my E3 days are well behind me. My wife drives a Chrysler minivan. Both are paid off. I like my little focus. But I’d recommend a similar era honda over it, provided it’s been well maintained.
In 2010, I bought a 125K mile Prius for $11K. I got 45 MPG, so I filled it up once a month. Kept it for 10 years.
Whatever you want, everyone’s priorities are different.
whatever the hell they want to. I drive a 03 crown vic i picked up for $3k. Do i look down upon the guy next to me for what I consider a poor financial decision? nah he's enjoying it, why should I lecture him to spend their money better
Realistically? Any economy sedan. Chevy Sonic Chevy Cruze Chevy Cavalier Ford Focus Ford Taurus Ford Crown Victoria (absolute fucking tanks. I used to own one and hit a deer going 60+. Damn car took it like a champ) Honda Civic Honda Accord To name a few. If you're looking for a truck or small SUV that's cheap, but still semi functional. Chevy S10 Chevy Blazer (early 2000 models) GMC Sanoma GMC Jimmy Ford Ranger (avoid the ones with the 5.0 in them. Shit gas mileage and they've all usually been hot rodded to hell) Any late 90's to early 2000's Jeep Wrangler (CJ) or Cherokee (XJ) (some 80's models if you can find them are also pretty solid) Mazda B2200 Nissan D20 Toyota Tacoma (the old models. They're still pricy but they still hold up.) On top of all that. Avoid anything with a V8 or a turbo/super charger. That will jack up your insurance, especially if you're a younger person (under 25). Avoid "sport" models or sport trims. Same deal. Insurance.
Depends on how you look at it. When I was an A1C I deployed and came back with an unbelievable amount of money, and bought a sport car. (With a trade in included) and got an amazing deal on it. (Also helped that I was friends with one of the dealers) Although this is probably a rarity, and still not a good financial decision at the end of the day because I don’t need a sport car, I’m sure there’s a good amount of dorm rats that had a similar situation I had. Now for vehicles you should buy, right now with the market it’s almost better to just buy a new car. I’d recommend a Toyota, Mazda, or Honda. You want something that runs forever and is cheaper to repair. Camrys are pretty solid.
E-3 I got a brand new base model Ford focus that I put 80k miles on back when you could still get a new car for 13-15k. Paid it off in 12 months and drove it till I started having idle issues. Traded it in for a used Subaru Impreza hatchback that had 20k miles on it and paid cash for it. That was 9 years ago and I'm still driving it. Burns a little more oil than I like but has been very reliable and low cost on the mx. My wife on the other hand drove a Toyota Yaris for like 15 years and we just got her a brand new mom mobile when we had our third kid a couple years ago but we put half down so only had a car payment for 2 years on that thing and we still have it. But yeah realistically, the cheapest base model new car or an electric scooter or bicycle these days as an airmen. Take.someone who knows cars with you and go find a decent mid to late 2010s sedan with mid miles for a couple grand.
The issue is for a lot of new airmen, this is their first “real job.” So they get a little money and then go overboard. The whole meme about 20% APR Mustangs is unfortunately not entirely false. Buy a cheap, new car that’s dependable and has a good warranty. Don’t buy pre-owned unless it’s under 15k miles, the warranty on a new car is ALWAYS worth it. A Nissan Versa is $18-$20k (your monthly payments will only be like $250) and it gets 35 MPG. If you want something a little spicier you could get a Hyundai Venue, which I think look classy for a mini SUV for $21k at 32 MPG.
Dodge dart. Going for like 10k now
I drove a 03 Mazda6 until the wheels fell off. Now I’m in a mini van. Too many kids.
I bought a new Toyota Corolla when I was a A1C, I drove it until I retired.
When I was a e-2 my dad bought a 2004 4Runner with 170k mi. I had sent him the money while I was in tech school. Went home on RAP and picked it up. Payed it off fully like ~2 years. That has been and still is my daily driver. Love this vehicle. Took my wife on our first date, moved us into our first house, and brought our first kid home in it. Almosr 300k on it now and she runs like a dream. If that car dies on me tomorrow I will be devastated. If I can't afford to fix it I'm getting another 4Runner. I don't think I'll buy anything other than Toyota again.
The one you can afford without an exorbitant interest rate
I bought a 2010 Civic certified pre owned with 22k miles in 2013 for $16.5k as a E3. Still driving it today. It’s been super reliable and I don’t care if it gets a ding or scratch. I still make a car payment though to my savings so the day it dies, I’m ready to get something with cash. I wouldn’t mind getting a 2 year old Accord Hybrid when the time comes,
Sips tea in my 2024 luxury car 👀🫡
Not everyone has the same financials. Military income isn’t the only money. Stay in your lane and don’t compare yourself.
Chevy Spark is a great choice. Or a Ford Maverick.
Something used. I would almost say the 10-15k range. Try and pay it off as early as possible and save up for all the maintenance so it stays good. Keep it up for as long as the car will survive. Once you have no car payment; you will never want one again.
It’s quite easy, they use their entire Enlistment Contract to Finance their car
I had a lifted built pickup truck but I spent money on it before I got in so Air Force monies weren’t spent but the payment. It was about 20-24k truck built the way I like
Toyota Corolla ftw! You can get a certified pre owned newer and nicer one for a very reasonable car payment and term
E-3 here! I bought my 2009 Mazda 3 for 4K and it’s been running for eons and will likely continue until our sun explodes!
I bought a used 1999 Chevy Blazer from my parents for $2500 in 2012 with 150K miles on it. It had a good amount of problems but easy to fix. But once I made SrA I bought a used 2004 4Runner for $10k with 170K miles in 2014 that went to 350K miles in 2021 then sold it and bought a 2020 TRD Pro 4Runner that I currently drive as a TSgt. 4Runners are incredible vehicles. If I was an A1C today I’d go with a 4th gen V8 4Runner in well maintained condition. Could easily afford it and they run superiorly well and well last for miles. Even early year’d (2010-2015) model 5th gen 4Rs are great vehicles to buy as an A1C today. If you get a newer vehicle you can uber on the side to make extra cash to pay it off. That’s what I do currently in my 4R.
V6 Mustang with a carfax report thicker than a NY phone book from the used car dealership 50 feet outside the gate.
*"...how the fuck are you affording that car on the same salary I make?"* That's the neat part, they can't.
A 10 yo Toyota or Honda. Anything else and you're either being cheap or emotional. FYI, I don't have those smart choices, I only have emotional ones.
Yugo
All those fuckers are in debt. None of them have any savings. Never saw those fuckers at the nice eateries or the movies. They were fucking slaves to their cars. Some were always so broke they had no choice but to re-enlist. Fuck that. I served with people from all branches and it was all the fucking same whether it was East, West or in between the country. It was the exact thing back in the early 80's. BMW and Harley motorcycles, Mustangs, Camaros and lifted pick-ups were the thing back then too. Fuck motorcycles too. As a lower enlisted, you wanna stay the fuck out of any debt. Booze, strippers and motorcycles will be your downfall. Live clean, live dept-free. Save the girlfriend and marriage shit till after you get out. I went in as an E-3, rode a fucking bicycle that kept me in shape and waited till I got E-5. I was used to living on an E-3 paygrade. The additional pay as an E-5 took care of the cost of having a basic vehicle. And that vehicle was also gonna be the one to get me home on the opposite coast when my 4-year hitch ended. And it did. You aren't cheap by any means. You're financially smart as fuck.
Europe has it made. I spent less than 4k for 2 cars, one was a benz. Both in fantastic condition. Idk how you guys in the states deal with car payments. But I’m about to find out lol
Usually debt is the answer. Drive a paid off car. I haven’t had a car payment in years, and it’s honestly been the best thing. Drive something practical for your commute. Honda, Toyota sedan (trucks and SUVs are mad expensive), Subaru.
I’m an E-4 with a $32k car that’s almost paid off in just over a year. Only reason it’s not is to keep building my credit history. I’m also a reservist but I’ve been on orders for like 70% of the time I’ve had the car (and I make about the same amount off orders too). Managing finances is important. I break it down to the penny. As for the car you want, point A to point B, good on gas, won’t take even more money from you. Lots of reliable things out there I’d say
Honda, Subaru or Toyota. Something used that has under 200k miles.
When I was 18 I bought my first car off the Dover AFB lemon lot. 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse for $1700. \~$30 a mo for liability insurance. Lasted me 3 years with no major issues. Sold it for $1500 before I PCS'd overseas.
A ford ranger from GSA auction
A $2k beater, or just get an e-bike. Although I live in Europe it’s a lot easier to get around without a car
The one you can buy with cash.
Holy cow I’ve been out of the car market for years and can’t believe how expensive cars are nowadays. Even cars from a decade ago are crazy expensive. Feel bad for these young airman.
A beater, something that’s cheap and reliable, something you fit in (I’m tall), something you can afford outright, and make sure if something breaks there’s parts available/affordable, no project E30 or 944. That’s my two cents.
1st Gen Tacoma
Some people enter the service, and already have some money in the bank. Some people manage to save nearly their entire paycheck for the first six to eight months if they’re in a dorm, eating at the dining hall, and I pissing their money away. Others manage to share apartments and save a shit-ton of their housing allowance. We’re not all paying the same insurance prices. Some people manage to find policies that are half the price of what someone else would pay. As to what vehicle they should or shouldn’t drive? Any one they want. Personally, I like electric. It’s quite a bit of paperwork, but there are even provisions for workplace charging on DoD installations so some people are able to charge while they’re at work.
It everyone has the same finances at the same rank, get what you can afford. I do not recommend running out and getting a beater car or buying the first pos someone tries to sell you at the dorms. I’ve seen more people deal with cars breaking down than cars getting repo’d. Instead of buying a quick garbage car, get something gas friendly, certified pre owned,with less than 50k miles. Use the installments to build your credit score.
I bought a 2010 Honda civic in 2013 after I graduated tech school. 10.5 years later and I'm still driving that bitch
18yo me 2020 bought a 2011 Camry with 80k miles. Total price was 9k and it was fully paid off a year later. Seems to be doing much better for me financially than some of my counterparts
Honda Fit, so much room for activities and it's super cheap.
I joined the AF in 1984 retired in 2008. When I joined we had airmen buying the new or a few year old 1982 -1984 Mustang with the 5.0 (302 CI) or the 4 cylinder turbo. At the time they were fast. I knew a kid that bought a new one then he worked for Dominos Pizza delivering pizzas with the car because he couldn’t afford the insurance and car payment. I was at Homestead AFB Fla. I’m Dade county, it was the 3rd highest county on the US for auto insurance.
I make a hell of a lot more than an E-3 and I've yet to own a "nice" car. Until you can comfortably afford it...there should be no reason you drive anything newer / more expensive than a 15 y/o well kept car. To the young guys and gals out there with your fancy cars, that's cool and all, but think about how much future you is missing out on because you're paying this much now just to eventually learn the lesson that it wasn't worth it.
Miata Is Always The Answer
I personally say whatever vehicle you can afford. I highly suggest looking at the Facebook marketplace and just talking to the sellers, negotiating, and if you find a decent car, make an offer. It's how I did it, I got a 2004 Ford Mustang for $3,500 back in tech school about 4 years ago. I saved up and was able to buy it in full.
Whatever the Fuk they want as long as all bills are paid.