Cars in MA (Boston: apartments, condos, credit)

[newenglandgal123]

Cars you love, cars you love to hate, cars you pay cash for, cars you finance.....share your thoughts here so mods don't get mad about car posts on other threads

[newenglandgal123]

For anyone who bought a new car recently and thinks they are cheaper than buying one that's a few years old w/low mileage....what's your model, monthly car payment and loan term?

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

For anyone who bought a new car recently and thinks they are cheaper than buying one that's a few years old w/low mileage....what's your monthly car payment and loan term?

Bought one less than a year ago. Due to production issues a used one was nearly the same price as a new one. The new one qualified for a $3500 state EV incentive and had lower finance rates than used (2.49%). I put down the amount of the incentive and financed. Really happy to have the cash earning over 4% with Marcus instead of spent on paying up front.

2022 Bolt EUV, 72mo, $360. If I bought a new one today it would also be eligible for an additional $7500 federal tax credit, so foolish to buy used.

If the rates tank or I just feel like it I could cut a check the same day.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

Bought one less than a year ago. Due to production issues a used one was nearly the same price as a used one. The new one qualified for a $3500 state EV incentive and had lower finance rates than used (2.49%). I put down the amount of the incentive and financed. Really happy to have the cash earning over 4% with Marcus instead of spent on paying up front.

2022 Bolt EUV, 72mo, $360. If I bought a new one today it would also be eligible for an additional $7500 federal tax credit, so foolish to buy used.

If the rates tank or I just feel like it I could cut a check the same day.

This scenario where you bought EV and got the rebate,it works out better than used for sure. Non EV, different story.


I had to look up this model, as I don't think I've seen one in person before on the roads. I definitely wouldn't want to be involved in a crash in this thing though. Financially it sounds like you got a great deal, but safety wise......I don't know....too small.

[yesmaybe]

Good call.

I actually did take a look at car prices recently, because had to make a decision on whether to fix the current car. Granted I was looking at like Camrys and Civics, you know the mainstream stuff and not something that's like 80k. Used prices there are garbage. Ended up getting it fixed.

One issue I have though is that since I live in a condo I am getting a little anxious about whether I could be forced into an EV if I wait too long to buy new. Talk about range anxiety.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Good call.

I actually did take a look at car prices recently, because had to make a decision on whether to fix the current car. Granted I was looking at like Camrys and Civics, you know the mainstream stuff and not something that's like 80k. Used prices there are garbage. Ended up getting it fixed.

One issue I have though is that since I live in a condo I am getting a little anxious about whether I could be forced into an EV if I wait too long to buy new. Talk about range anxiety.

Why do you think you'll be forced into an EV since you're in a condo? Condo associations have a lot of rules but I don't think they can go so far as dictate what type of cars people park on the premises, can they?!

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Why do you think you'll be forced into an EV since you're in a condo? Condo associations have a lot of rules but I don't think they can go so far as dictate what type of cars people park on the premises, can they?!

They can really do whatever they want as they set the rules up. So it really all depends on what the community wants. Some restrict trucks, especially concerning commercial vehicles. This can apply to pickup trucks/suvs that are plated as commercial as well. Can even disallow guests who arrive in such vehicles.

For example

https://www.hoatalk.com/Forum/tabid/...c/Default.aspx


The problem with regulating that folks buy an EV is that they have yet to set up the infrastructure to support 100-200 cars needing to charge. Right now, in MA, i see office parks with maybe 10 stations, and they are all usually full through the day, but the lot is full of more EV's that can't (or don't want) to charge. I haven't really seen MASS incorporation of charging stations for commercial properties or residential neighborhoods. Usually it's just one or two. My own office building does not have any spots and claim it's too expensive to put in place (due to our parking lot layout and how we'd have to route the power) and there's no ROI on it. Short of gov't grants, there's no motivation to spend that sort of $$

It's been a couple years since the 2035 mandate (only new EV's being sold) but i haven't really seen much in the way of widespread infrastructure being developed. Sure, I've seen affluent folks buy EV's and set up chargers in their garages (my electrician friends say this makes up a good chunk of their work these days), but I don't see this widespread in apartments and condos beyond maybe 2-3 spots. Also, what do you do about on-street, congested neighborhoods like the North End, or BackBay? How are those folks charging now, and what will happen when 50-75% of the vehicles in this area are EV and need to charge?

Im not opposed to EV's at all, but I don't see myself getting one anytime soon. I've been in the market for a new car for at least a year, but current conditions have caused me to wait and see. (and keep squirreling money away in an account for a car)

[yesmaybe]

Yeah I was talking about the State and not the association. Car won't last to 2035 (lol) but I could see less teethy measures put in place to make it harder to buy a gas car.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

They can really do whatever they want as they set the rules up. So it really all depends on what the community wants. Some restrict trucks, especially concerning commercial vehicles. This can apply to pickup trucks/suvs that are plated as commercial as well. Can even disallow guests who arrive in such vehicles.

For example

https://www.hoatalk.com/Forum/tabid/...c/Default.aspx


The problem with regulating that folks buy an EV is that they have yet to set up the infrastructure to support 100-200 cars needing to charge. Right now, in MA, i see office parks with maybe 10 stations, and they are all usually full through the day, but the lot is full of more EV's that can't (or don't want) to charge. I haven't really seen MASS incorporation of charging stations for commercial properties or residential neighborhoods. Usually it's just one or two. My own office building does not have any spots and claim it's too expensive to put in place (due to our parking lot layout and how we'd have to route the power) and there's no ROI on it. Short of gov't grants, there's no motivation to spend that sort of $$

It's been a couple years since the 2035 mandate (only new EV's being sold) but i haven't really seen much in the way of widespread infrastructure being developed. Sure, I've seen affluent folks buy EV's and set up chargers in their garages (my electrician friends say this makes up a good chunk of their work these days), but I don't see this widespread in apartments and condos beyond maybe 2-3 spots. Also, what do you do about on-street, congested neighborhoods like the North End, or BackBay? How are those folks charging now, and what will happen when 50-75% of the vehicles in this area are EV and need to charge?

Im not opposed to EV's at all, but I don't see myself getting one anytime soon. I've been in the market for a new car for at least a year, but current conditions have caused me to wait and see. (and keep squirreling money away in an account for a car)

Wow, I didn't realize associations had that much authority....seems like they can make people's lives pretty miserable if they really want to. What happens if a business owner has one vehicle and it has commercial plates, buys a condo then a year later the association amends the rules & regs to ban parking of commercial vehicles? Do they get fined each day it's parked or they'd have to take the association to court to try to get the rule changed?

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Yeah I was talking about the State and not the association. Car won't last to 2035 (lol) but I could see less teethy measures put in place to make it harder to buy a gas car.

You never know, don't Camrys usually go for at least 300K miles? Someone else posted this week that they had a 1980s station wagon pass them on route 3....didn't say want brand.