I figured I would ask everyone's thoughts in this forum. My wife owns a 2010 ralliart, we bought it together back when we car pooled, I wanted a car that was fun to drive, and she never drove anything before like it. I ended up buying a WRX (dont hate), and she uses the car as an everyday commuter. We still have two years left on the payoff and I am at the point where I usually trade the car and upgrade to a newer version.

Here are my thoughts and why I am considering keeping it.


1. The car has 46,000 miles. If we wait to trade in a few months the miles will be above 50k and the value goes down

2. The car was in a small accident, so of course the value is deminished with that.

3. I owned a 2000 GTI (102,000 miles) a few years back and traded in for next to nothing and regret giving it up. But I can buy one similar for the same amount I sold it for now. So the way I see it, pound for pound not a bad loss.

If I sell the Ralliart, what is the likelihood we could ever buy one again down the road? Sportback, nav. I understand these vehicles were not built in bulk compared to a VW. I feel I would be able to sell the car for a tiny profit at a dealership now, but maybe later I could sell it for an even higher profit, or pay it off and keep it.

I was interested in what everyone on this forum thinks. We enjoy the car, but are getting to the point where increased matainance will be required, belts, brakes, clutch, springs, etc. What is the usual cost of keeping these things running? LIGHT USE.... my wife usually never goes past 3000rpms, only when she gets mad and needs to pass someone or merge into traffic.

 

If you are close to paying it off, I would keep it. Any car you buy is going to need maintenance and if you buy anything at a dealership whether its trade-in or buy used, the dealership makes the profit, you don't. They supply what you demand. Thus, the transaction is mutually beneficial if you get something sparkling new and they get profit.

You have to decide if you need something "new" or if money saved is more important.

 

Yeah, get the title and keep it. Save some money in the long run. It's only a 2010 and the newer Ralliarts aren't much different if at all.

 

^this.
And they will be even harder to find in the future (it took me months to find one in 2011...