Buying a car shouldn’t feel like financial quicksand – but for Ashley from Jacksonville, Florida, that’s exactly what happened when her husband’s $72,000 impulse buy turned their financial picture upside down.
On a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, Ashley laid out her case to financial guru Dave Ramsey, who didn’t hold back. “$72,000 for a Kia?” he exclaimed, his disbelief echoing the sentiments of anyone who’s ever tried to make a budget work with a champagne-priced car in the garage.
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Ashley’s husband had already paid off a reliable car. Then, he decided to upgrade to a $32,000 SUV. It was not the best financial move but not catastrophic. But then the dealership dangled the shiny bait of a Kia EV6 – a car he didn’t need and couldn’t afford. A year later, they owe $65,000 on the EV. Ashley says he can’t sell the car because the highest amount he’s “getting” for the car is $40,000. That’s $25,000 underwater, with a monthly car payment of $1,200 – not including insurance.
“Oh and our rent is $1,500,” Ashley added. “We’re not in a financial place to afford this car.”
Naturally, Ramsey wanted to know where the $40,000 valuation came from. “Who said?” he asked. Ashley explained that her husband had checked with a few dealerships.
Ramsey immediately fired back. “Yeah, he’s not good at this,” he said, cutting her off. “You’re telling me it dropped $32,000 in just one year?”
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Ramsey cut right to the point: “Your husband called the same dealer that screwed him the first time and asked what they can give him for it. And they thought, ‘Oh, we’re going to get this guy again.'”
Ashley’s husband isn’t alone in feeling the sting of buying a new EV. Electric vehicles are depreciating faster than gas-powered cars. A study from iSeeCars.com, reported by Spectrum News 1, shows used EV prices dropped 31.8% over the past year compared to just 3.6% for traditional cars. It’s a harsh reality for anyone expecting EVs to hold their value like a Tesla stock tip.
