Buying A Used Car
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- vaxorcist0
Edmunds has a "total cost of ownership" calculator... only for pretty recent cars, but it tells you a LOT about what to expect if you pick car X vs car Y....
- vaxorcist0
confessions from the dealer service department:
- estetic0
if you can deal with the looks, I have driven the wheels off my scion xB (toyota) - 275,000 miles since 2004. Tons of room, decent in bad weather and reliable as hell. I have had 1 sensor go out at 36 miles, other then that its just fluids, tires and gas... with the manual gearbox its actually 'fun to drive' in the curvy bits.
If I was in the market for a used car I would be looking at honda and toyota exclusively.
- pinkfloyd0
I had a civic before, a college gift from my parents. Parking was brutal around here, but I was actually glad it got stolen 2-3 years ago. It ran well on 119,000 miles.
I was just talking with this guy who's selling a 2005 Corolla with 40,000 for 8k. Found it strange that he said I can take it to a mechanic only if it's nearby or if I bring my own mechanic. Seemed a bit shady
- He said he was busy, and that I couldn't bring it to a mechanic I picked 30 minutes away.pinkfloyd
- Frosty_spl0
Also, never ever buy a used car from a dealer. Unless you hate money.
- pinkfloyd0
Do pricing on cars vary by state? Would I be better of buying in NJ, PA, CONN. or is the average prices about the same?
- There's a slight difference. As with time of year.waterhouse
- vaxorcist0
that craigslist guy listed the VIN in the ad, so he's probably not too shady..... www.carfax.com, check the VIN, pay a mechanic his hourly rate to look at it, and you might have a good car...
He probably didn't want to wait around while you drive it to a far off mechanic.... and some people might just drive off with it....
- pr20
Dude, it's NYC - you gonna pay a small fortune in traffic and parking tickets.
- formed0
Get an Acura, like a Legend. There are tons, reliability is amazing and they are pretty nice cars all around (nice leather, features, etc.).
You can find one at any price. My sister got my folks old one, been in the family for about 20 years now.
In NY you might want to look at a smaller one, Legends can be big.
- waterhouse0
Every time I see a man driving an Acura Legend, I feel jealous.
- omg0
They need a self-defense device that you can put on your windshield that will attack people trying to put fliers, junk, parking tickets. Like some kinda weapon that will slice their hands off or something, or shock them if they try to touch my car.
- noob123450
Mid nineties Toyota Camry's and Honda Civics. Get one with the lowest miles you can find. Even if/when you have to repair them it's pretty cheap and every mechanic know how to fix them because they're so common.