You know who makes more money off a car than the person who built it? The person who fixes it. Dealerships practically weep with joy when your warranty expires.
Tires, brakes, oil changes, timing belts—these aren’t one-time costs. They’re a slow, rhythmic drumbeat of expenses that last as long as the car does. And the car? It’s designed to give out just when you’ve paid off the loan. Convenient.
Depreciation You Can Feel in Your Bones
Drive a new car off the lot, and it loses 20% of its value right there—like setting a stack of cash on fire while you buckle your seatbelt.
After five years, your $40,000 SUV is worth $15,000. So you’ve paid $25,000 for the privilege of losing that money, plus all the gas, insurance, and repairs in between. Who really bought the car? You did. But the bank, the mechanic, and the oil company all got their cut first.
