Buying A Used Car
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- pinkfloyd0
These advice have been gold and very helpful. Thanks!
- vaxorcist0
How many miles? It's the maintenance intervals that matter. Check this info online once you find the car make/model/year you're looking for.
First thing I ask with a Honda / Acura is when the previous owner replaced the timing belt. I do NOT ask "did you replace the timing belt" because people will probalby say "yes" in order to sell it... I ask WHEN, and wait for the response....
For example, if you have a Honda with 70,000 miles, that car might have just had it's 60,000 mile service done, and it's probably in great shape.
Compare that to a Honda with 65,000 miles that has NOT had it's 60,000 mile service done, and/or even the 30,000 mile service done, that car may need thousands in repairs....
Most hondas and many other cars have "interference engines" where you HAVE TO replace the timing belt every so many miles, if you don't, and the timing belt breaks, the engine is massively messed up. Replacing this timing belt is $200-400 or so.
If a timing belt breaks on a "non-interference engine" car, it's no big deal except you're stranded on the road and have to pay $250-400 to fix it, your engine probably won't be fried....
a list of older cars with interference engines:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ti…I'd ask a mechanic if the model you're looking for is an interference engine or not.
- Frosty_spl0
- I miss my volvo, it was great, except parts were expensive and the local dealer was a total asshole...vaxorcist
- section_0140
I'm driving my second Honda civic and the biggest problems combined were a faulty strut and a transmission sensor. The strut was under warranty and the sensor I changed myself in 10 minutes (I'm no mechanic by any means). I'll never buy anything but a Honda for a daily driver.
Parts are cheap, they're easy as shit to work on and their dependable. Not much more to say there.
- 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.
- pinkfloyd0
Oh yeah, what are some of the reliable used car brands? I hear volkswagons have a lot of problems with their engines. I'm leaning towards a toyota, honda, maybe a ford.
- waterhouse0
Are you looking to buy from an owner or a dealer?
- I'm open to both, unless there's a disadvantage to one of thempinkfloyd
- EquilateralDSG0
Even if you buy the car you would want to rent a car for a long drive like that.
- panacea0
Where are you located? I can give you some for Florida.
- d_rek0
buy used from an owner, not a dealer, with cash.
if you buy from a dealer you're likely to get a shit deal which you will have to finance anyway. In that case, you might as well finance a new vehicle and pay a little extra per month to have a shiny new piece of crap.