buying a car (help)

[Fly_On_Wall]

Okay i'm getting my licence finaly in 2 weeks (hopefully unless something comes up agin)

i'm looking for something real cheep but don't want a used car from a used car lot

i'm thinking getting a previously owned at a dealer (this means someone baught it and couldn't pay so it was confenscated and sold at a lower price)

but I don't know anything about cars
can someone help me figure out how to go about looking for the right car for me and how to get it?

 

[Baraka]

A Car

Not sure where you're based ... but suggest a little internet surfing to start with - check your price range and model.

Questions like do you want a car, ute or 4WD ... sedan / wagon or hatch ... etc etc ... will point you in the right direction at least.

Good luck ...

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

that's what I'm doing

 

[unclej]

fly there are a lot of variables that you'll be dealing with. when you say cheap do you mean $1000-1500 or $3000 or so. obviously the older the car the cheaper it will be but the more potential problems you could be facing.

first, most new car dealers will have a decent selection of 2-3 or 4 year old cars that they have taken in trade. the older cars are generally sold at a wholesale auction and that's how they end up on the "we tote the note" lots. a lot of them have been wrecked, damaged in floods, etc. so you're wise to be very cautious there.

if you go to a new dealer find out if they're offering any warranty at all. if not, get an independent mechanic to check it out. most will do that for a modest fee. if they offer a small warranty you can feel a little better about it. most of those dealers check out a car fairly closely before offering it for sale.

a couple of things to do....look closely at the tires. check for unusual wear on the inside or outside edges. that most often means the car needs an alignment. look for rust under the wheelwells and under the matting in the trunk. you know, hidden places. sight down the sides of the car. squat down and put your eyes close and look down the sides. part of what you're looking for is inconsitencies in the paint. spots that are a little less glossy than others. look for consistency in the lines of the car on both sides. if they're different the car could have been wrecked and reparied.

check all the fluids. the oil and transmission oil should be fairly clear and not look or smell burnt.

when you get into your search if you have some specific questions feel free to pm me. i'm not an expert but i've only owned one new car in my life. and i've owned a bunch of cars.

good luck

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

well i'm going to bring my dad wit me when I look at them.

and i'm going to get a chrylser at a new lot (but get a pre owned as I said) I don't pay taxes that way (I was a chrysler worker)

i'm looking say 10-20 k that actualy yes is the cheeper ones
okay mabey more like uner 18k.

I fugure i'll be paying it off for like 8 years with a good loan.

I 'could' lease and actualy thought of that but have heard some bad things

 

[unclej]

in your price range you'll be looking at a better caliber of car and you're chances of getting a lemon are smaller but my advice is still good advice no matter how new the car is. it's great that you're dad is gonna be there. that's what we dad's get paid for.

 

[freakygirl]

Fly

for 18K you can get a base model of a brand new car...or even a fully loaded if you go with a smaller model car.

why go for used if 18k is your price range?

 

[GuyJD]

I'm not sure where you live. But I'm currently in the market for a truck myself.

Try www.carloandoctor.com and www.discountautomart.com.

These 2 guys specialize in good previously owned and used cars. It is probably more appropiate for you to go with a used vehicle (no more than 5 years old) because if this is your first vehicle ever, your insurance may run pretty high.

If you are in another area, outside those 2 websites, try www.carsdiect.com. I think they are national.

You may want to consider what type of car you want to drive (i.e., full size, compact, mid-size, etc.).
Good luck.

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

Fly

for 18K you can get a base model of a brand new car...or even a fully loaded if you go with a smaller model car.

why go for used if 18k is your price range?

it's called canadian money

I can only get one car for 18K canadian that is a neon.

I"ve looked into the neon but can't get anything added for that price (speacial tires, brakes, shocks, and radio)

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

*bump*

help

 

[Silverluna]

eeww...canadian money sucks! My ex lived in alberta...we'd write snail mail...(VERY expensive!)


Anyhoo....good luck Fly... Picked a colour out yet?

 

[brokenbrainwave]

look for something like a Honda Civic..great milage and reliablitly. The Neon is pretty much junk after say 40,000 miles, used to sell them and they are not that reliable. For 18 K Canadian money there out to be a low milage Civic out there. Take it from an not to happy Focus owner, cant beat the Honda

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

look for something like a Honda Civic..great milage and reliablitly. The Neon is pretty much junk after say 40,000 miles, used to sell them and they are not that reliable. For 18 K Canadian money there out to be a low milage Civic out there. Take it from an not to happy Focus owner, cant beat the Honda

Chrysler gives me a discount. I'd rather get one of those.... and I get well added bonuses I don't remeber them all.

 

[riff]

Just remember that if you are an unmarried male under the age of 25, you will pay up the Kazoo for insurance.

Remember- insurance is part of owning a car.

 

[riff]

And I love my VW Jetta.

 

[Silverluna]

COLOR!!!??!

who cares about added bonuses.....the color, fly, its all about the color!

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

Just remember that if you are an unmarried male under the age of 25, you will pay up the Kazoo for insurance.

Remember- insurance is part of owning a car.

that's why..... I put the car in my mothers name
put myself on as a secondary driver. I pay mine and my moms insurance.... and still end up getting off cheeper

yes i've planed this stuff for awhile now. I just never planed on how to get the car lol

 

[Azwed]

Don't get a neon espesialy if it is a few years older. They have massive problems with the way the head mounts to the block of the motor. Nearly all of them will start leaking oil after 50 to 60 thousand miles. The repair is in the 700-900 USD range.


I am trying to think what kind of chrylsers you can get for that price range. You want to stay away from any car with the neon motor. That means the PT cruiser and i think the base trims of the Breeze.

Are you thinking coupe(two door) or sedan(four door)?

Either way if you can find a V6 powered Sebring or Stratus you would be in good shape. Don't get a 4 banger though because they are incredibly underpowered some of them use the Neon motor.

Since you are getting a car that is a few years old the coupe version of the stratus is probably called the Avenger. If you can find one of those in good shape with a V6 I would definetly take it. The Avenger uses a version of the 2nd gen Mitisubishi Eclipse platform which is a very solid well designed and engineered platform. When the Avenger became the Stratus Coupe I think the discontinued using the Eclipse platform but I am not positive.


Any other questions just fire away and you have a specific question about a particular vehicle I can look it up get info from my mechanic/auto body friends.

 

[Azwed]

that's why..... I put the car in my mothers name
put myself on as a secondary driver. I pay mine and my moms insurance.... and still end up getting off cheeper

yes i've planed this stuff for awhile now. I just never planed on how to get the car lol

smart move.

 

[TWB]

Okay i'm getting my licence finaly in 2 weeks (hopefully unless something comes up agin)

i'm looking for something real cheep but don't want a used car from a used car lot

i'm thinking getting a previously owned at a dealer (this means someone baught it and couldn't pay so it was confenscated and sold at a lower price)

but I don't know anything about cars
can someone help me figure out how to go about looking for the right car for me and how to get it?

Don't do it! They are a waste of money, and all you are doing is buying into the the vision of the Man.

Walk
Ride a bike
take public transportation
Buy a horse.

Cars suck.

 

[Azwed]

Cars rock.


God damn environazis

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

Re: Re: buying a car (help)

Don't do it! They are a waste of money, and all you are doing is buying into the the vision of the Man.

Walk
Ride a bike
take public transportation
Buy a horse.

Cars suck.

lol you dont' know me do you? knee problems can't walk well or ride my bike anymnore

and I try public transport but don't go to my work.

car man car

actualy I want a jeep or a minivan something bigger
but thoser are more oney

 

[Cara_f_32]

I've spent many a day.....

at a chrysler dealership. For $18,000 you should be able to get just about any of the chrysler cars that have been pre owned. I personally am not a huge neon fan mainly because they are a low model of car and sound like a tin can when you ride in it. I like quiet that way i can crank my tunes. That is the same reason I dont' like the roadster which is basically a neon with a fancy body.

I bought brand new, but i know that my gf and her family have been driving her intrepid for 6 years and have about 220,000 kms on it and haven't done more than maintenance to it.

Same goes for my truck, I bought brand new, but the cummins diesel in my opinion is the best diesel engine on the marker.

If i were a young woman getting my first vehicle from chrysler I'd be looking at getting a little sport dakota extendacab truck. Why? Men dig chicks who drive trucks......

 

[Azwed]

You could swing a used 4 banger Wrangler for 18,000 canadian. Not sure how could that would be in canada during the winter though.

I used to have a Jeep cherokee and it was the best car on earth. They never die ever. They are completly water proof, I know because I had it submerged to the rearview mirrors. They get good MPG for their size. I was getting 30 or so on the highway when mine was 10 years old and 135,000 miles on it. The problem is that they are so good that that they hold their value very well. You would have a hard time finding one for 18,0000 canadian that was in good shape. You might get lucky though so if you really want one I would have the dealer look around the surounding area for you.

 

[TWB]

Re: Re: Re: buying a car (help)

Hmm. Bummer.

What about the horse?

If not, get the mini.

WHere do you live? How bout a Harley?

hehe