The guy in this video bought almost exactly the same car I did in March, 2025- A 2011 Honda Civic with a cracked windshield. Only difference is that mine is a Coupe. Also, in my area a dealership can't sell a car that doesn't pass state inspection, and a car with a cracked windshield doesn't pass inspection, so I had to wait until the windshield was replaced (at their expense) before I could drive off. Does ANY state motor vehicle department allow dealerships to sell cars that won't pass inspection?
This guy paid a lot less for his car than I did for mine, but my odometer was (is) really low and I'm not told how many miles were on HIS Honda. Mine doesn't make weird noises and the AC works fine and- again- the windshield was brand new. 18 months after purchase, I don't need new brake pads either.
(That unfixed crack in the windshield continues to bother me. In my state, a police officer will eventually pull you over and cite you for that. You can't just "ignore" a cracked windshield.)
Because this is the United States, a person faced with a $2000 repair bill v. four years of $340 a month for a new car is an easy choice- the new car. Because I think I'm a Stranger in a Strange Land, I pay the repair bill and keep my old Honda for another several years. It's a no brainer- which ought to make it obvious even to Americans.
This guy did three dumb things. The first one was not getting that cracked windshield replaced, which certainly would have resulted in a fine. The second was buying Pria a car. She's smoking hot, but jeesh. Let her buy her own car. The third was paying off his younger brother's car. Why would anyone do this? What does kid brother's debts have to do with him? That's money that could be going into investments. Kid brother is going to pay this guy back by just getting into debt again. Probably by signing up for a new car.
Overall, this guy is really smart, besides having a girlfriend who was probably way too good for him when the relationship started (did anyone else think that he was going to end up with that other girl he met at the elevator?) He made some odd missteps, but everyone does. I'd take his advice.
I don't have a car fund. I have an emergency fund that will become a vacation fund assuming that there's no emergency. If it's up to me, the car I currently own will be the last one I EVER own, because once it's paid off- in three months, more than 2 years in advance- I will NOT miss making those payments.)
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