A New Vehicle Upgrade

 Sometime in 2025, my wife and I have decided to trade in our 2015 Toyota Venza for a newer vehicle...  bear in mind, WE NEVER BUY NEW.  We always look for a year-old vehicle that has been LEASED with low mileage.

When we purchased the 2015 Venza in 2016, it had been leased and only had 7,500 miles on the odometer.  It was like a brand-new vehicle.  We actually drove to Ohio from East TN to purchase the car. It is now approaching 100,000 miles so it is time for a newer one.  We've been very pleased with its performance, riding comfort, and durability.

We are looking at the RX350 Toyota Lexus.  We wanted to buy another Venza, but Toyota is only manufacturing the hybrid, and we do not want to go that route because:

• resale value is low
• cost of battery replacement
• doesn't perform well in the cold

We might look at other vehicles and what we look at are the following criteria:

1. must ride well
2. low maintenance costs
3. must perform well
4. have carrying space
5. not too big or too small
6. latest safety features
7. gas mileage
8. durability

When we purchase the vehicle and are left with the cost after our trade-in value, we will put the expense on an American Express Delta card to receive our frequent flyer points.  Then, in the next couple of days, we will transfer money out of savings and pay off the credit card, so we are left with NO DEBT.

At 77 and 72 years of age, it is doubtful that my wife and I will do a whole lot of driving over the next ten years.  For the five/six years we drove the Venza we averaged about 8.000/8,500 miles each year.  Those miles will probably drop down to 5,000/6,000 each year, so when I am 87 years old, there will only be about 60,000 on the vehicle when we sell it to some young, interested buyer or junk yard.

Lesson Learned:  Don't Buy A NEW VEHICLE