Ask:
On your last car / truck / van, did you buy new, buy used or lease or was it a gift or inheritance?
Answer:
I got a new car last May. My first ever "new" car. All others (an astounding total of two) have been second hand and driven into the ground. I specifically chose a car that should last me for 10 years at least: a Toyota Corolla. I don't like big cars and SUVs, so the Corolla was a compromise between the Mini that I wanted and the gas guzzler DH would have preferred.
Toyota doesn't make Corollas with the options that I wanted as a standard option package for the south eastern US, so I had to wait an extra 3 months for my car to be custom-made for me. But it was completely worth the wait!
Apparently manual transmission with ABS-braking and side-curtain airbags aren't a common request in the the south eastern US. Go figure. I wanted every safety option available to me. I would have compromised on colour and the sound system, but not on safety.
We financed but this will be the last car we ever do that for. Of course, we're not going to buy another car for 6 years when DH's gives up the ghost.
Answer:
Never bought a new one until I was pregnant with my oldest DD and I was driving a rag-top Tracker.. not too safe for a baby - we bought a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. I still have it and it's paid off and I'm going to run it til it falls apart!