ensignmobile

[Thisguy]

Just get an Accord, save up some money and then get a cool car when you make JG.

That's very good advice. Especially if you wait until you deploy and use Navy Autosource (provided you want an American car). I had a 2006 Mustang GT Coupe lined up for 28,710, but I couldn't do it because they can't deliver it until Nov/Dec. To give you an idea how good of a deal that was, I tried getting the same car in the 2005 model earlier this month, and the dealer said the MSRP was 29,115, and they were marking it up 2Gs, and weren't coming down from that. Car dealers are the most crooked SOBs.

Long story short, I settled on a 2002 Pontiac Firebird (V8) through Carmax.com saved about 10Gs vs. the 'stang.

 

[Grant]

now to determine which I would want more...the extra HP and the Z06 performance, or the convertible.

Please dont get a convertible. If you do, be ready for everyone to ask if its your girlfriend's/wife's car...

Pretty soon I want to dump my current truck ('99 Chevy Z71) for an '06 Chevy 2500HD crewcab shortbed 4x4 with the Duramax diesel... Or maybe I'll just keep my current truck (its been very reliable so far, with 98k on the ticker), and get a bass boat. I'd love a 19'-20' with an outboard in the 200-225 hp neighborhood. We'll see.

 

[Fezz CB]

2001 Toyota Tacoma. Its paid off in Dec, then im giving it to my brother next May. Im thinking of getting a prerunner w/ crew cab. Yea, keepin it toyota ova here. Good, cheap, reliable vehicles i think.

 

[Gatordev]

Love the GT's but it has come down to that, or an M3.....what do you all think?

Damn, you're asking about what to budget for, and you're looking at an M3?

As a "comfortable" post-deployment(s) O-3, I'm having a hard time enjoying the idea of paying for a regular 330i. That said, an M3 is a nice ride, if not a thirsty one.

 

[ip568]

$ 2,500 Fob

<P>
Was a total POS. Stopped running if it rained. Pieces fell off on the highway. Crank case cracked open. Electrical system caught fire three weeks after the warranty expired. Women were not impressed.

 

[doubledeuce]

98 wrangler all payed off. Of course what I would spend on payments goes into modifying it. Damn jeeps and all their cool toys/add-ons.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Being a post deployments Capt with 6 years of flying time and single, and looking at 6 more months of tax free, I'm driving a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Limited. Just about every option available with the exception of a Nav system and DVD player. Get alot of crap "looks like a minivan" statements, until they get inside. Then it all makes sense... I'd wait 'till you have those deployment dollars burning a hole in your pocket...

 

[Cyclic]

Mustang....unless it's a special edition like a Saleen I would not buy it for anything, everybody has one and in five years it'll have as much prestige as a 90 GT, it will look and feel ordinary and cheap. Unless you're buyng a truck or a Vette don't buy american, it's a 5 year disposable vehicle.

When I was in OCS in '96 I bought an '88 RX-7 Turbo, $3K. When I got to the fleet I decided to get another car because I built it for racing and the gas was killing me. So I bought a four year certified '95 M3, very steep price but now it's paid for...it was worth the high payments.

Oh yea, I kept the RX-7 to play at the racetrack!!

 

[gregsivers]

I've got a 2002 Toyota Tundra TRD. Bought it in 04 for 22.5 with the USAA loan. I love the thing, although the gas prices are really starting to be a b!tch.

 

[rare21]

buy an ex police car...free ticket to fly...95% of the time...tickets are far and few between

 

[Richthofen]

I want Mini cooper if I ever make it =)

 

[DanMa1156]

buy an ex police car...free ticket to fly...95% of the time...tickets are far and few between...but if you all want to be tough...its got a 5 star crash rating...

My grandfather had an old police car. From what I've heard, it was the shiz. But yeah, old cop cars are cool.

 

[SoICanBeFree]

Brett: you gotta crunch in the 3000$ tax-credit with the Prius/a hybrid in addition to the savings on gas.. and the fact your getting a nice piece of machinery Toyota sells at a loss to lower the average MPG of its fleet. If you live in DC like I do you also get a free pass into the HOV Lane which is sweet.

Rare21: My friend drives a Crown Vic Police Interceptor he bought used... all the cops just wave to him as he speeds around figuring hes brethern.. one cop even pulled out after him when he was speeding, hit the lights, saw it was an interceptor gave him a wave and let him go..

 

[TheBubba]

I want Mini cooper if I ever make it =)

My friend drives a mini... it's a b***h if there's no mini dealership nearby... he says most places won't fix'em... and if you have to replace the tires... prepare to empty your wallet... run-flats are expensive...
on the plus side, good gas mileage.

 

[Flash]

'96 Dodge Avenger was my Ensignmobile. It will take me a lot to buy another Dodge or Chrysler product. My passenger window had a nasty tendancy to produce a high pitched whistle when I drove over 60mph in hot weather :icon_rage. That was just one of the many quality control problems I had with the car.

'04 Volvo S60R is my Ltmobile, 300hp turbo :icon_smil . I got it through Volvo's own military sales program and got $7000 off the sticker, when the cars were going for over stciker and higher (several of the European carmakers have their own military sales programs: Volvo and BMW both do, I think Audi and Mercedes too).

My dream car is a '05 M3, the newer styling is uglier than sin. With a wife and the housing prices here in DC, I just couldn't swing it though.....