Advice re: Deployment & Car

ProfMagoo(ret)

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Quick background: my stepson is an O-2(armor) and single; his brigade will deploy in a few months; he currently owns (and is paying off) a 2016 Mazda 626 (I think).

He was telling me that he plans to store the car via some Army storage deal. I was thinking that it would be better to sell the car (rather than pay for 9-months of depreciation and storage) and that, given deployment cycling and his single status, that he'd be better advised to lease short-term for his vehicle needs.

Anyone here have a suggestion or experience as to what seems to work better? Normally, I'm a pay-it-off and run it 'til it drops sort of fellow, but his situation seemed different.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

GG
 
Definitely sell it. Bank the money he’d be making payments with and use that money for a down payment when he comes back to get a new car.
 
How much does he owe on it and what's it worth now?

Not at all sure, to be honest. I think he purchased it a year ago as a certified pre-owned, but I didn't ask him the specifics. So probably about 1/4 of the way through the amortization. Mazda's tend to hold value well, but I couldn't say on the value/debt ratio. But yeah, I understand that would be helpful vis-a-vis my question. :oops:
 
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If it's been financed less than a year, he's likely upside down on the note and would have to pay to sell it. If that's the case, I'd just keep it and pay it off. Build the credit and lesson learned.

If he's able to sell it for the value of the note or a bit of cash out, then go that route for sure.
 
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ABCTs are deploying every 2-4 years right now...Army "storage" is nothing more than a fenced (maybe fenced) lot on post and if he stores, he will want to cover it securely. The issue with selling...he will need personnel trans up to the day he departs and then again on the day he returns, so as long as he has that covered, he can sell if that is his preference. My recommendation would be to keep the car; deployed or not he is making payments, and buying another new car when he gets home puts him back in the same conundrum 24- 48 months later (or faster for exercise deployments), and he does not need the distraction of buying and selling a car every time he deploys/redeploys.


A gaggle of LTs had formed up for professional development with the Battalion CDR around the battalion flag pole. The CDR challenged them with a simple math problem, asking the LTs to measure the height of the flag pole. After about ten minutes of watching the LTs stare at the pole, speaking amongst themselves about how they would measure it, the CDR excused himself and left them to their task.
A few minutes later a young SGT was walking by and stopped...perplexed by the LTs all staring up at the pole, "Gentlemen, is there something here I can assist you with?" The LTs all turned to him, and one said, "Not unless you can skinny up that pole and with this tape measure and tell us how tall it is." Several of the LTs laughed and snickered.
The SGT looked around and walked up to the pole, "Why would you climb it?" The SGT squatted down at the base of the pole, wrapped his arms around it, pulled it out of the ground and laid it down. He then took the tape measure from the LT, measured the pole, gave the measurement to the LT, put the pole back in he ground, rendered s snappy salute and then continued about his day.
The LTs looked at one another, the one with the tape measure just shaking his head, "Isn't that just like a SGT, we need the height and he gives us the length!"
 
ABCTs are deploying every 2-4 years right now...Army "storage" is nothing more than a fenced (maybe fenced) lot on post and if he stores, he will want to cover it securely. The issue with selling...he will need personnel trans up to the day he departs and then again on the day he returns, so as long as he has that covered, he can sell if that is his preference. My recommendation would be to keep the car; deployed or not he is making payments, and buying another new car when he gets home puts him back in the same conundrum 24- 48 months later (or faster for exercise deployments), and he does not need the distraction of buying and selling a car every time he deploys/redeploys.

That's why I thought leasing might make sense for his specific situation (given the current deployment tempo and 9-month absence). Thanks for the feedback.
 
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when I was in the navy the storage program started and ran the car every so often while you were deployed as well as transporting you to and from the pier to the lot
 
I say sell it and pocket the insurance and storage money. Avoid leasing cars unless you can write it off. Need a ride, get an Uber or Lyft.
Hertz, Avis and the others also rent cars cheap if you reserve it online in advance.
Used cars are in demand these days if they are in good shape. He should sign up and list it here.
When the time comes for another car, check out Hertz used car sales as well as the other rentals.
Wake County values my '17 Edge at $21K and I only paid $18K for it last year.
 
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I agree with sell it now, and only buy cars he can pay cash for while he is in a life situation that is single and being deployed. Using ride share services instead of owning is another good option, but those services may not be great wherever he is.
 
Before he deploys, he can turn his plate into the DMV and drop his insurance down to storage coverage. I did that back in 2011 at Bragg. I dont remember the details but that's what I did. Stored it on a guarded/fenced lot on post. If anything is damaged while stored, they will pay to fix it. My bumper was dinged and they cut me a check for around $800.

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A gaggle of LTs had formed up for professional development with the Battalion CDR around the battalion flag pole. The CDR challenged them with a simple math problem, asking the LTs to measure the height of the flag pole. After about ten minutes of watching the LTs stare at the pole, speaking amongst themselves about how they would measure it, the CDR excused himself and left them to their task.
A few minutes later a young SGT was walking by and stopped...perplexed by the LTs all staring up at the pole, "Gentlemen, is there something here I can assist you with?" The LTs all turned to him, and one said, "Not unless you can skinny up that pole and with this tape measure and tell us how tall it is." Several of the LTs laughed and snickered.
The SGT looked around and walked up to the pole, "Why would you climb it?" The SGT squatted down at the base of the pole, wrapped his arms around it, pulled it out of the ground and laid it down. He then took the tape measure from the LT, measured the pole, gave the measurement to the LT, put the pole back in he ground, rendered s snappy salute and then continued about his day.
The LTs looked at one another, the one with the tape measure just shaking his head, "Isn't that just like a SGT, we need the height and he gives us the length!"
I’ve seen that movie. :D

 
Send it home if you can. It will sit and go to pieces or worse.
 
Send it home if you can. It will sit and go to pieces or worse.

Yeah, the problem is we'll already be car-sitting his vintage jeep: I mean as in WWII US Army vintage that is licensed (I think) as a historical vehicle. Basically, it's his "I'm bada$$" vehicle to drive around on post (being an AF brat I wanted to say "base").
 
Yeah, the problem is we'll already be car-sitting his vintage jeep: I mean as in WWII US Army vintage that is licensed (I think) as a historical vehicle. Basically, it's his "I'm bada$$" vehicle to drive around on post (being an AF brat I wanted to say "base").
You keep his car and send the Jeep to me to watch for him! I’ll put it inside in a nice warm place with my 3 Jeeps!
 
You keep his car and send the Jeep to me to watch for him! I’ll put it inside in a nice warm place with my 3 Jeeps!

I might take you up when it comes to ongoing maintenance! That and, of course, I'll have to drive it around "the block" periodically to keep it loosened up!
 
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