Most folk don’t particular enjoy buying new cars. Unless you’re filthy stinking rich, it’s gonna be a decision that sticks with you for a good few years. If you end up making the wrong choice, you’re gonna pay for it down the line, both financially and emotionally. There are a few brands of car that, though they can be good rides in the short term, simply don’t hold their value as the years go by.
Volkswagens, for instance, don’t fetch nearly as high of a price outside of Europe. They’re plenty cheap to get, sure, but if have one you want to get rid of, good luck. Doesn’t help that they’re prone to long-term transmission and general wear issues.
Chrysler cars used to be valuable all over the place, but these days, they’ve lost some of their luster. If you manage to get a clean 100,000 miles out of a new Chrysler, well, consider yourself one of the lucky few.
Fiat cars are very stylish and interesting to look at, but as means of transportation, eh… not so much. Their general assembly leaves something to be desired, and as the years march on, those poor little wagons need to work their engines twice as hard just to get where they need to be.
Probably the most ill-advised car purchase these days would be a Jeep. Jeeps were huge a couple of decades ago, especially with their image as a heroic war car. My mom used to drive one when I was a kid. These days, though, they go through parts like cheap plywood. Don’t be surprised if you need something replaced every time you get an oil change.
