Buy new or buy pre-owned or buy vintage?

[smithnframe]

I buy new occasionally…….but I’m always on the hunt for vintage military and used vintage S&W N frame revolvers, Sharps rifles etc etc etc!

[JimB..]

Mixed bag for me. With used guns I do end up with other people’s problems more often than I’d like. They are simple machines, and the fixes are rarely difficult, but the lack of honesty is disappointing. It’s gotten to where I mostly won’t buy a used gun that the seller says they have never fired.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Read an article on a business website recently that farmers are paying high prices for midsize used tractors that have no computerized systems. Seems the new computerized tractors in the similar HP range are not as reliable, cost like crazy new, and can only be worked on by the dealer who has the computer analysis equipment. Makes sense to me. The guy who cuts hay on my place, who I know could afford new tractors, uses older JD and Case tractors with his hay equipment.

A friend whose brothers are big time grain farmers in South Dakota says they search the farm sales for good used older tractors that suit their needs too, and would only buy new as a last resort. A few years ago they had to pay a hight price for a used JD combine, but have gotten good service from it since.

My best friend's son (Brent) is a auto-mechanic and works for an independant shop, they also work on tractors. Brent stumbled into a low hours IH 1086 for cheap, as it was in a fire. Wires were gone and some hydraulic lines, but engine/trans internals were OK. He's been working on it for a couple years in his spare time, with the help of his more experienced co-workers. He had a goal of how much he'd spend on parts for it. He recently told me he is still on budget. He also said, they seem to be going higher and higher $ at auctions, just as your business website says. Brent figures it'll be worth twice of his investment...not including his own hours, but I think he's doing it for the learning, more than the $.

[sharps4590]

Baby Boomer here. We didn't have two nickels to rub together growing up so the value of work and getting the biggest bang for your buck was a way of life....and still is, except for the work. I fully retired about 2 years ago.

We're comfortable and can afford what we want new but neither of us do that. Ironically, there is no way I'd spend what my late father-in-law did on the 2017 Mercedes we inherited, which he bought new. But, I'd spend that much on the right vintage roadster at the drop of a hat. There isn't a new firearm made today I'd buy but, again, I'll spend several thousand on the right pre-WWII or WWI rifle. Electronics, computers and the like....meh...I wouldn't have any of it if it wasn't almost a necessity today. Even so, I stay at the most basic level and the "newest, latest, greatest" is utterly meaningless to me. Guitars, (I've been playing for 58 years), again, I can afford the best but have fallen in love with the mid grade Gretsch guitars. Good value for the dollar and, I don't know that I play well enough to justify an $8,000 guitar. Appliances, the wife buys new. We built our house 17 years ago, I contracted it, having been an electrician and worked construction 43 years I put a lot of sweat equity in it by doing a lot myself, so did my wife. Consequently we got a lot of bang for our buck and installed the best quality stuff we could find along with a lot of nice amenities.

Basically, if we really want it, at this stage in our lives, we can afford it, new, used or otherwise....but the upbringing is always there, niggling away in the back of our heads and we'll often pass....but there's always that exception.

[Ed K]

For me the best deals are older items of a mechanical nature (read higher quality in general) that were bought by the previous owner with high expectations but somehow were not used or used very little. This stuff can be hard to find:

- A few years back I bought a well-maintained 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 p/u with a 12V Cummins, manual trans and well under 100K miles for $5K
- Earlier this year I bought a very high quality lathe with tooling purchased by the original owner in the late 70's with good intentions ... it was never used!

Yes, these deals are hard to find but satisfying when you do.

Sometimes I buy new: 2002 Kubota, 70HP and could probably get every penny back on it. However I'm not "blessed" - I shell out money on property taxes, groceries and electric bills like most everyone else

[Cosmic_Charlie]

New cars are the worst. If you buy a new seven series Beemer and keep it for six years it will have lost a thousand a month in value. Our last four cars have been used.

[shooterg]

Clothing/shoes I buy new (Made in USA so I don't have many change of clothes !) . If I don't get 300,000 miles out of a used vehicle picked up (usually from first owner) I feel cheated . And I have a lot of "pre-owned" reloading supplies. Heck, even the cats are somebody else's drop offs . Got to own up to buying the wife 2 new cars, but the last one only needed a head gasket at 254,000 and she wouldn't wait for me to fix it - nixed anything new, but got her a clean one owner with 32,000 and too danged much electronic stuff - I absolutely hate the "TV dash" !

[faraim]

I will buy something used if it has been taken care of. Used not abused. I've found out the hard way that if I buy the latter, by the time I've bought the parts to fix it, I have more money in it than it'll ever be worth.

[smoked turkey]

I like to buy used in good to excellent condition. That goes for almost anything I buy. Lately it has not worked too good for me because things I like are selling too high. So I've passed on several things and therefore I'm not buying any big ticket items. I'm also a "fixer", so in general I'm keeping my stuff running as best I can. Generally I think the older stuff is better than the new.

[Harter66]

I paid $500 for a 15 yr old explorer if I was more motivated I'd buy the clutch cylinder set , but it's hard to do that when you've driven it 65,000 miles and it had 265,000 on it when i bought it and threw a set of tires on it . 3 of those 4 are still not with lots of tread left . I didn't do so well on the 85' F250 6.9 diesel 4 yr ago but I think it was on its 4th trip around the odometer .

I think I've had 3 cars in 40 years of licensed driving with under 100,000 on them and I've had a payment on just 4 of probably 20 or so most of which I drove well over 100,000 miles and only a couple under 40,000 .

I would say of 40+ die sets ,65 moulds , 3 pots , 6 metallic presses , 6 shot shell presses , trimmers (2 bench mounts , Lyman , and Lee pilot types) and associated tools there probably aren't 50 pieces I bought new . Of the moulds there are 3 that were made about the time Remington discontinued their 25,30&32 and just before the 357 became a thing . Of the communal arms of the family it's a 2/3 for those over 50 years old and those newer . Only 15% >< were purchased new by anyone in the family much less me . That includes Dad's Dad's 1957 M70 06' bought new in 1958 , obviously on its 2nd pass down not new .

I have 15-16 moulds I personally bought new and it's sure nice to have them , it's also nice to score an as new 4c Lyman with handles or an 8c H&G with handles that needs some cosmetic attention for $50 too .

I find nothing wrong with the Ohaus M3s . I recently bought my first lube sizer ..... Herters assembled it out of Lyman's left over 45 parts , all but 1 H&I are pre owned .

For me it's more about the economics of buying a quality tool . I'll buy it new , but if it's available for half or less used and in good condition I'm on it . Sometimes I'm just a Scrooge it took me 5 yr to admit there was a better way to lube and size than my thumb and Lee push throughs then it took 7 years to find one for sale at a price I wanted to pay ......I also bought a set of RCBS 264 WM a Forster bench rest sizer and inline seater dies , 2 sets of 6.5×50 Japanese , a set 6.5-257 Roberts AI , a set of 257 Roberts , a set of 45 mag , 2 sets of steel 45 Colts while I searched show tables and sale boards for most of 10 years and ended up with a set of Herters 7.7 Japanese dies . I forgot the set of CH 32 Rem dies that also came to me before the 7.7 dies after I got the rifle .

I guess I'm a used buyer over all .

[jonp]

Wife and I are well into 6 figures of income but having grown up into hardscrabble families with grandparents from the great depression we still can a garden, buy used and make due. Habits are hard to break but i think they will come usefull in the not to distant future. Darn socks, fix that old car, weld a mower deck, make your own soap etc.

Those of us on this sight that can food, hunt, forage, fix whats broke and pinch a dime till it screams will make out ok. The rest if the government dependent mob not so much

[rking22]

I buy new molds on occasion, but used in a heartbeat from here. I wouldn’t touch a mold from fleabay with a 10 foot pole. I buy used guns, almost nothing new I have any interest in, last new was the 44 special GP100. Computer, well when I had one it was always used and 1 version outdated. Autos are a mix, mostly used but I did buy a 18 Sonata new. It will be my last new automobile. Way too much unnecessary and aggravating eletronical stuff on the newer ones. My daily driver is a 97 s10 I paid 150$ for 2 years ago, about 36,000 miles ago. Appliances are bought new, happy wife…. Aggravating that a kitchen gas range needs a computer and touch screen, really!!!! Guess what, top oven won’t light, thinks it’s already at temp, gotta get working on that. I spent 40 years working on tech (CNC machine tools and robotics), I can fix the stuff but really, and I mean REALLY resent having to do it. Throwaway mentality on everything now, I’ll pass. Dove hunted Friday with a M17 Remington from 1929, still works perfectly and looks beautiful too boot! Yep, I bought it used

[1Papalote]

I keep one newer vehicle for eventless traveling, aka reliable transportation. Don't like getting towed. The others are a 93 Ford exploder (ranch ride), and 02 Merc Marquis (wife's car, grocery getter). If given the opportunity, I'll buy older working appliances, problem guns, etc.
For me, Walmart chainsaws, air compressors and similar items are best left at Walmart. I'll buy new quality items in these catagories.

[WRideout]

Like you I buy experienced stuff. I have never owned a new car. I even got my wife used! She came with two second hand kids.

If she reads this, you will be sleeping on the couch.
Wayne

[Idaho45guy]

New cars are the worst. If you buy a new seven series Beemer and keep it for six years it will have lost a thousand a month in value. Our last four cars have been used.

Normally, but in these literally crazy times, it's not always the case.

I paid $36,000 for a brand new Toyota 4Runner in 2019. Last oil change, the dealer offered me $42,000 for it. I told him if he could sell me a used Tundra similar to miles and condition as my 4Runner, then I would do it. He couldn't even come close.

Buddy up the street has a 90 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that needs restored. He's wanting around $1000 for it. Thinking about offering a trade for a rifle he likes of mine.

But, even new, those Grand Wagoneers were unreliable.

[jonp]

Like you I buy experienced stuff. I have never owned a new car. I even got my wife used! She came with two second hand kids.

Im glad you said that and not me. I was going to ask for your last words but i think we have them already

[zarrinvz24]

To me, new does not mean good quality any more.

Seems that these days, it usually means the opposite.

[rbuck351]

I prefer to buy older quality stuff that is distressed and cheap and then rebuild it with the exception of some things like electronics and optics.
About ten years ago I got a 2001 Chevy Cavalier for some mechanical work on another car. It had 85,000 miles and a rod knocking. A $200 craigs list motor and I'm still driving it at 220,000 miles.