Used EVs… Should I wait for better tech or go for it now?

We own a Bolt EUV and love it, but for road trips, it’s a bit small, and the slow DC fast charging is a pain. We’re thinking of trading in our 10+ year old gas car and getting either a used ID.4 or maybe a new Equinox.

The issue is, the longer I wait, the less my current car is worth (about $5k now). It could also have some big issue soon that leaves me needing to buy something immediately, with no time to shop around. But if I wait, EV tech will be even better in my price range. I mean, the ID.4 Pro gets 10 more miles of range and 20KW faster charging every year!

On the flip side, if I trade it in now, at least I’ll get something for it, and I won’t be in a panic buying situation. I could even wait till the end of the year when dealers want to hit their sales goals and offer better deals. Plus, road trips will be more fun sooner.

So… do I trade in now and settle for last year’s EV tech for the next 10 years, or keep the gas car going a little longer and wait for the next wave of EVs?

There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

Jason said:

Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

Kenneth said:

Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

What kind of car are you driving?

MAKENA said:

Kenneth said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

What kind of car are you driving?

It’s a 2001 BMW 540i Touring, and I swapped it to a 6-speed with a limited-slip differential. Love it!

Kenneth said:

MAKENA said:
Kenneth said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

What kind of car are you driving?

It’s a 2001 BMW 540i Touring, and I swapped it to a 6-speed with a limited-slip differential. Love it!

Very nice!

MAKENA said:

Kenneth said:
MAKENA said:
Kenneth said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

What kind of car are you driving?

It’s a 2001 BMW 540i Touring, and I swapped it to a 6-speed with a limited-slip differential. Love it!

Very nice!

Thanks! I’m planning to put in a lightweight dual-mass flywheel when I replace the clutch. Should make rev-matching a lot smoother.

Kenneth said:

Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

I’m jealous! I wish I had a manual. Plus, no transmission fluid to worry about. The 2000s-era Japanese cars are practically indestructible!

Jason said:

Kenneth said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

I absolutely love my 2001 car. Nothing out there today matches the feel, performance, and simplicity of maintaining it myself. It’s got 208k miles on it and still runs great, though I’ll need a clutch soon. Oh, and three pedals all the way.

I’m jealous! I wish I had a manual. Plus, no transmission fluid to worry about. The 2000s-era Japanese cars are practically indestructible!

I still change my gearbox oil every couple of years.

Jason said:

Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

If you care about the environment, you should sell your gas car and switch to an EV. Keeping an old gas car running isn’t as green as you might think.

Imani said:

Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

If you care about the environment, you should sell your gas car and switch to an EV. Keeping an old gas car running isn’t as green as you might think.

Why would I scrap an old car if it still has some value? Someone else can drive it after me.

Kenneth said:

Imani said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

If you care about the environment, you should sell your gas car and switch to an EV. Keeping an old gas car running isn’t as green as you might think.

Why would I scrap an old car if it still has some value? Someone else can drive it after me.

Sure, but eventually someone’s going to scrap it, and scrapping is actually better for the environment than keeping it running forever.

Imani said:

Kenneth said:
Imani said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

If you care about the environment, you should sell your gas car and switch to an EV. Keeping an old gas car running isn’t as green as you might think.

Why would I scrap an old car if it still has some value? Someone else can drive it after me.

Sure, but eventually someone’s going to scrap it, and scrapping is actually better for the environment than keeping it running forever.

In theory, yeah. But in reality, it doesn’t always happen that way.

Imani said:

Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

If you care about the environment, you should sell your gas car and switch to an EV. Keeping an old gas car running isn’t as green as you might think.

I’d still rather sell it. There are so many kids who need cheap cars for work and school around here.

Jason said:

Imani said:
Jason said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Exactly. My dad kept saying that next year’s car would be better, and now he drives a car from 2001 and watches TV on something from 2004. Sometimes it’s fine to hold onto things, but it’s also nice to treat yourself to something new every once in a while.

If you care about the environment, you should sell your gas car and switch to an EV. Keeping an old gas car running isn’t as green as you might think.

I’d still rather sell it. There are so many kids who need cheap cars for work and school around here.

Oh, totally, I get that. I’m just saying that in the big picture, old gas cars aren’t as eco-friendly as people assume.

Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Feels like the PC world where you’re always waiting for the next upgrade. You’ll end up waiting forever if you keep looking ahead.

Randy said:

Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Feels like the PC world where you’re always waiting for the next upgrade. You’ll end up waiting forever if you keep looking ahead.

Totally. My TV, car, and computer are all 10 years old, and they’re working just fine. I feel like this forum is all about chasing the latest tech, while the personal finance crowd focuses on just using what they’ve got.

Mark said:

Randy said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Feels like the PC world where you’re always waiting for the next upgrade. You’ll end up waiting forever if you keep looking ahead.

Totally. My TV, car, and computer are all 10 years old, and they’re working just fine. I feel like this forum is all about chasing the latest tech, while the personal finance crowd focuses on just using what they’ve got.

Yeah, people here tend to chase the newest stuff instead of making smarter financial choices. I used to try and argue with folks, but now I just let it go. I didn’t do everything perfectly, but I’m in my 40s and don’t need to work anymore, so that was my priority.

MAKENA said:

Mark said:
Randy said:
Nathan said:
There’s always going to be something better coming… you can wait forever if you’re always chasing the next thing.

Feels like the PC world where you’re always waiting for the next upgrade. You’ll end up waiting forever if you keep looking ahead.

Totally. My TV, car, and computer are all 10 years old, and they’re working just fine. I feel like this forum is all about chasing the latest tech, while the personal finance crowd focuses on just using what they’ve got.

Yeah, people here tend to chase the newest stuff instead of making smarter financial choices. I used to try and argue with folks, but now I just let it go. I didn’t do everything perfectly, but I’m in my 40s and don’t need to work anymore, so that was my priority.

I only buy something new when the old thing can’t do what I need anymore. Sometimes it breaks, sometimes it just becomes too outdated to work right.