Buying a car

[Makdyn]

Yesterday when I was driving to work my car would not go over 55 miles. After I got to work I called my step father who works on my car and told him. he said drive it slow on the way home and I will look at it. Ok so it took me almost an hour to get home driving the streets instead of the highway. He looks at it and guess what it needs a new transmission. Great Hey guess what I already put a new transmission in it after a couple of months of having it almost three years ago. This car is a 1995 ford Taurus with 215,700+ miles on it. There is no way I am putting another $1700 for a new transmission when the car is only worth $100.

So now I have to buy a new car. or new to me. I am not financially ready to buy a car. I was looking more towards christmas to buy a car because all my credit card would be paid. I maybe have two weeks to find a car that I want and can afford. Here is another problem. Step father is insisting that I buy a Hyundai santafe or tucson. I am sure those are very good cars and they look nice and have a nice warrenty with them, but that is not what I want. I want a honda crv or toyota rav-4. They may not have this 10year/100,000 mile warrenty but they dont need it cause they are good cars. Alittle bit more of a purchase price but will last a hell of a lot longer and a better resale value. Plus I am paying for the car so I want what I want.

I am going to a dealers today with a guy from work because step father would probably not come with me unless it is a Hyundai and I am not going to a dealer without someone.

Thanks for reading just needed to get it out.

 

[brittsmum1998]

Tell your stepdad we just bought a 2007 santafe hyundai. Have you looked at the 2007's yet? They really are a nice SUV and very affordable. We went from a mini van to the santa fe and I looked at every SUV out there and was only attraced to the Hyundai.

 

[Lisa_M]

I bought a car 2 weeks ago after mine bit the dust, so I understand where your coming from. I looked at SOOO many different brands it was ridiculous.

I would recommend going with your gut on Honda or Toyota. Hyundai's have had a TERRIBLE reputation in the past and as a result they have put a great warranty on their product. Do you want a great product with an ok warranty or a potentially lousy product with a great warranty? I have heard they have come along way in recent years, but their resale value is still quite low. If you are buying new or leasing you can expect a large depreciation in the first 5 years. Check out Edmunds.com They have great information about cars-especially best bets for used cars.

 

[tinaluis]

I agree with the previous poster. You can almost never go wrong with a Honda or Toyota. Good luck!

 

[KarenAylwood]

Sorry to hear about the transmission

I definitely agree with you (and the previous two posters) - stick with Honda or Toyota. Better resale value and a MUCH better product in general. Very reliable and again, the resale potential is a big positive. I have a 2005 Toyota (Corolla, bought in June of 04) and I love it- no problems at all.

Goodluck!

 

[dvcgirl]

I agree with most here....buy a Toyota or Honda, and buy used because you have a tight budget and that's the best financial decision. I have a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner with almost 100K miles on it....never any big problems, just normal maintenance. I plan on having it another 5-7 years barring any major repairs. Then we'll go out and buy a gently used Toyota.....and keep it another decade or longer.

 

[Hedy]

Personally, I'd go with a Honda or Toyota; I've ridden in RAV-4's and liked them. Have you checked out preowned Toyotas?

 

[Makdyn]

thanks everyone I am more leaning towards a Honda CRV. I have about two weeks max. to find a car before my cars kick the bucket. Hopefully. It really does suck to not be able to go fast. It takes for ever to get anywhere.

Why does this have to happen at the beginning of the month. How can I get any good deals at this time they have the hole month to make there quota.

 

[Lisa_M]

Can you pay cash? If so, you have the best chance of getting a great deal. Say, I have X amount of money and I'm willing to buy that car today. They will want to sell it. Make sure you look online to see what the fair value is for the year model and miles of the car you want to buy. That is what we did and we undercut by about a $1500. Then we settled on $1000 under the KBB value. We didnt' have cash, but we financed through AAA and got a great rate. If you want their number and a contact person, PM me. He was great to work with.




edited to correct my typos

 

[PirateKitty]

thanks everyone I am more leaning towards a Honda CRV. I have about two weeks max. to find a car before my cars kick the bucket. Hopefully. It really does suck to not be able to go fast. It takes for ever to get anywhere.

Why does this have to happen at the beginning of the month. How can I get any good deals at this time they have the hole month to make there quota.

I bought a 2003 Certified Honda CRV and I love it. I also got a good deal trading in my other Honda, and got a special interest rate because the car was certified. I've owned 3 Honda's and have never had a major problem.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I bought a car 2 weeks ago after mine bit the dust, so I understand where your coming from. I looked at SOOO many different brands it was ridiculous.

I would recommend going with your gut on Honda or Toyota. Hyundai's have had a TERRIBLE reputation in the past and as a result they have put a great warranty on their product. Do you want a great product with an ok warranty or a potentially lousy product with a great warranty? I have heard they have come along way in recent years, but their resale value is still quite low. If you are buying new or leasing you can expect a large depreciation in the first 5 years. Check out Edmunds.com They have great information about cars-especially best bets for used cars.

I've talked to people who LOVED their hyundais and also researched online. I'm very surprised and nervous to hear that. Even the car groups have given them a great rating (at least the 2007's I researched)

 

[DawnM]

I wonder if any have made it to 200,000 miles and still run???? I think that is the key...not the rating of the newer ones. In fact, I am surprized you got that far on a Ford! We have had 2 Fords and I will never buy another one.

We have 2 Saturns. One has 110,000 miles on it and has never had anything much done to it. We also have a Toyota Sequoia that we hope will run forever.

My friends' hundai died after 76,000 miles.

Dawn

I've talked to people who LOVED their hyundais and also researched online. I'm very surprised and nervous to hear that. Even the car groups have given them a great rating (at least the 2007's I researched)

 

[pilgrimage]

Guess we got lucky--my mom's taurus wagon has 198,000 miles on
the original transmission. She changes oil every 3500 miles and may
have just been really fortunate.

 

[we3disneygo]

we've had good luck with grand prix's

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I'm sorry your forced to go car shopping.
I hate it!

I have a 95 Taurus with only 57,000 miles which is going on it's last leg.
it needs a new muffler system at $900.00.
the mechanic didn't think it was worth it!

good luck with your choice!

 

[crazelion]

Nissaian, Honda, Toyota is your best on cars. I have Nissian Sentra that is going strong for 1993 car that has over 100,000 miles on it.

 

[lpbm4]

I agree with most posters--Toyota or Honda is best. They are built to last. You pay more money now but it's worth it in the long run! Good luck!!

 

[Tigger1221]

I have a 2006 Toyota Rav 4 and I LOVE IT. It has been to orlando twice and has had to have one oil change. It is a great car and my family is not gentle on cars.

I originally wanted a Honda CRV but the Rav for was much less $$$! Love my choice.

 

[Chicago526]

And remember, even though your car has a bum transmision, it's still worth SOMETHING, if nothing else for parts and scrap metal. Start calling around junk yards and part yards and see what they might give you for it. And someone might be willing to sink in the cost of the transmision and get it running again if there doesn't seem to be anthing else wrong with it, you may want to try calling a few used car dealers, since they get parts for cost and they often have a service department that can do the work for them, it costs them less to repair it and they could still make money when they sell it.