Decisions, Decisions

I am trying not to worry, but that is not in my nature. I am really worried about the potential tariffs to come. I am also very concerned about the Google trend of searching what a tariff is post election, I mean, am I surprised that this country is that stupid? Absolutely not. That was the point. 

Anyway, I was planning on updating my car (I know, finally) in 2025. I feel this pressure to do it now, prior to any potential tariffs or preemptive price raising (gouging-lets be real, cars are already too expensive). I'm ready to buy a car, and I found a model I really like, but it's expensive and I'm not sure I should. It's definitely a WANT and not a NEED. I could probably get my car to last for another 2 years. I want to buy a 2025 Toyota Crown Signia. I love the wagon look, it also gives me a bit more space and a little luxury without going overboard. It's also equipped with the latest safety and those doors are thick as fuck, apparently taken some safety specs from Volvo and incorporating into this car. 

I've driven the car already and love it. However, with the price tag, I don't NEED a hybrid. I have a hybrid now and it's nice, I'm used to them, but I don't commute anymore and haven't for almost 9 years. I go to the gym and run errands. Purposely buying a new hybrid seems wasteful, although I know that most cars are trending to be some kind of hybrid or EV. 

I have also been trying to look at a 2021 Lexus NX hybrid that's priced quite well online, but I suspect that is simply because this dealership has "dealer fees" even on used cars, which I refuse to pay. Nitrogen in the tires? Tint on an already tinted car? Be so fucking for real right now. I expect having to negotiate those off on a new car, not used.

Additional factor is that my catalytic converter is going. My check engine light came on last month, I had the codes pulled and it is the cat. With the Prius, this will be negligible, if it does go out, it would produce more emissions, which right now it's a low emission car anyway... From what I could find online, that is really the downside, and it might get louder. I did a cat cleaner thing in the fuel tank three weeks ago and the light hasn't come on since. To be fair it turned off a couple days after it came on, then came back after a couple weeks. I got an estimate for the repair/replacement, $1200, which for a car that's maybe worth $2500 at this point, it's not worth the repair. 

I'm not sure what to do at this point, so I'm just going to keep saving I guess. I hate being an adult and having to make decisions sometimes.