After Years of Saying “Don’t Buy New,” Scotty Kilmer Bought a New Car

Scotty Buys a New Car

For more than a decade, Scotty Kilmer has built an empire on a simple, often blunt message: don’t buy new cars. The veteran mechanic and YouTube personality has repeatedly warned viewers about depreciation, unnecessary tech, and wasted money, instead championing well-maintained used vehicles as the smarter long-term play.

That’s why his latest revelation landed like a bombshell. At 72 years old, Kilmer admitted – half joking, half sheepish – that he had finally broken his own rule and bought his first brand-new car.

The decision, he explained, wasn’t impulsive. In fact, it took decades. Kilmer framed the purchase as a practical exception rather than a philosophical reversal, citing price, longevity, and proven engineering. He also openly credited his wife, to whom he’s been married for 48 years, for influencing the choice.

“She deserves a new car,” Kilmer said, noting that this was the first brand-new vehicle either of them had ever owned. For a man whose brand thrives on contrarian advice, calling himself an “official hypocrite” was part confession, part punchline.

For Fans, It's Really No Surprise

Kilmer’s choice was a 2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE, purchased for about $31,000, well below today’s average new-car transaction price. Under the hood is Toyota’s familiar 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 225 horsepower. Kilmer emphasized how the instant electric torque makes the sedan feel quicker than the numbers suggest, while still returning roughly 50 mpg in city driving and high 40s on the highway. For him, that balance of efficiency, simplicity, and performance was the point.

Equally important was Toyota’s hybrid track record. Kilmer highlighted that Camry Hybrids have been around for nearly two decades, with Prius technology stretching back more than 25 years. He praised the non–plug-in setup, arguing it avoids the long-term complexity and exposure issues of larger battery packs mounted under the car. Practical touches sealed the deal: a deep trunk, folding rear seats, an actual spare tire, straightforward controls, and an interior that favors durability over flash.

In Kilmer’s view, it’s a modern car that still respects old-school common sense, which is exactly the kind he’s spent years recommending.

Not All New Cars are Made the Same

Rather than undermining his credibility, Kilmer’s purchase arguably reinforces it. He didn’t chase luxury, all-wheel drive, or top-trim excess. He avoided SUVs despite their popularity and dismissed pricier alternatives as poor value. In other words, he applied the same logic he’s preached for years – just to a new car instead of a used one.

As he’s noted in past interviews, reliability, simplicity, and long-term ownership costs matter more than trends or spec-sheet bragging rights. Of note, the Camry is probably the only brand-new car that Kilmer has recommended in the past.

Kilmer is clear that this isn’t a blanket endorsement of buying new. It’s a rare exception shaped by price parity, proven technology, and personal circumstances. If anything, the moment humanizes a figure often seen as immovable in his opinions. After decades of telling millions what not to buy, Scotty Kilmer finally found a new car he could live with, comfortably, economically, and without losing sleep over it.

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