What do you do when buying a used car?

[mom2mikel]

I've always bought new so this is a first for me and I was hoping for some guidance. I'm looking to buy my 16yo DD a used car under 3K. Is my best bet starting at Craigslist and doing my research once I find a few cars we are interested in? Or are there better places to find used cars? I don't think Carmax sells cars that cheap.

Once I find one, what steps do I take to check it out? Run the VIN? Do I take it to a mechanic to have them check it out?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I want to find a decent car for her within budget (or am I insane to think I can find something decent for that price?)

I'm in the suburbs of Chicago -- if that makes a difference!

Thank you

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I would probably run it through one of the sites to check the vin# and definitely bring it to a mechanic. If you are buying it from a private sale, they are not going to be held to any lemon laws. I like to watch the People's Court and any time there is a dispute about a used car, the buyer never brought it to a mechanic. I think it is definitely worth whatever charge your mechanic has to have the car checked out. Good luck...I bet she is super excited!!

 

[mrodgers]

I check it out myself, but for you girls, I would recommend taking to a mechanic to check out.

Looking for a car, I check out autotrader.com, cars.com, edmunds.com. Also, searchtempest.com has an auto section that you can select several search sites from.

KBB.com, NADAguides.com, and edmunds.com are 3 good sites for price checking. Edmunds is really good for researching the particular models and years you are interested in. It will give recall info and some other info on any problems that may have arrived.

I usually seek out forums for particular car models. Example, I found Rav4world.com when I decided I wanted a Rav4 and after joining, I could see all TSB issued (Technical Service Bulletins.) TSBs are not recalls, they are just bulletins explaining a particular common problem that has come up on a car and is a technical document instructing the shop how to fix said problem. TSBs are not recalls, but most recalls do have a TSB. Example is with the Rav4, in early years of the 3rd generation, a clunking in the steering column developed. A redesigned steering shaft was engineered and changed on the assembly line and a TSB issued to the dealers on what and how to fix if someone came in with a warranty claim complaining about a clunking steering system.

 

[seashoreCM]

Take your time on a test drive. Include some freeway driving if there is a freeway nearby. Hint: Have in mind a route to follow yourself instead of asking the seller as you go.

It should run perfectly every inch of the way, er, mile after mile from the very start.

Do not accept any excuses from the seller, like "it needs a tuneup"

1. Why didn't you the seller give it the needed tuneup first?
2. It might really need an engine overhaul.

This part needs some luck. You're be better off if the engine was not warmed up before you do the test drive.

Then, when you get back, try out everything including the seat sliders and window controls.

 

[Darcy03231]

Having 4 children we've bought lots of used cars. Recently most have been from Craigslist.

We've always had our mechanic completely check the car out before purchasing. It's well worth the money. We've ruled out several cars that had big problems this way.

If someone won't let you have your mechanic check it out - move on.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I've always bought new so this is a first for me and I was hoping for some guidance. I'm looking to buy my 16yo DD a used car under 3K. Is my best bet starting at Craigslist and doing my research once I find a few cars we are interested in? Or are there better places to find used cars? I don't think Carmax sells cars that cheap.

Once I find one, what steps do I take to check it out? Run the VIN? Do I take it to a mechanic to have them check it out?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I want to find a decent car for her within budget (or am I insane to think I can find something decent for that price?)

I'm in the suburbs of Chicago -- if that makes a difference!

Thank you

Personally, I never buy a used vehicle without test driving it, checking out what info is available on the vehicle through Carfax and getting it checked out thoroughly by a mechanic. You can never get a 100% answer on a used vehicle, but I feel pretty good if I take those steps.

 

[cats mom]

Another option to consider is one of the car rental places.

We used Hertz rent2buy for a beginning driver car. I won't say the process was smooth as silk, because it wasn't, but the price was nice.

Some people say to never buy a car that's been a rental, and there are definitely things to watch out for, but we've had the one we bought for several years now and it's been a great little car.

I can't remember all the details, but I think we had a complimentary 2 hour rental and if we had returned the car within that time there would have been no charge. Since we liked the one we picked up we then had 3 days to test drive, take it to a mechanic, etc. There would have been a rental charge if we had returned the car then, but we bought it, so there was no charge for the rental period.

Because it was a rental the mileage was high and there were more little dents and dings than you would expect to find on a well cared for private car. But we were buying it for a 16 yr old who wasn't going to drive long distances, so the mileage has balanced out. Plus we expected she might add a few dents and dings anyway... and she has.

You still have to do your homework. We looked at going the rental car route again recently but we were able to find a better price for what we wanted elsewhere. It's one avenue to consider though.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Commenting on PP Hertz I just saw, allows 3 day to try program for those who want to buy a rental

http://www.hertzcarsales.com/

This would give you a lot of time to decide and take it to a mechanic.

 

[mom2mikel]

Thanks for all the great advice! To good is that I have several months before we need it so I have time to be picky (picky relative to the price range)!!

 

[Disneefun]

I check it out myself, but for you girls, I would recommend taking to a mechanic to check out.

Sexism much? I'm a girl and I can take a car apart and put it back together myself, thank you very much. Not to mention the engine in our RV and most power boats. Anything else you'd like to stereotype?

 

[mrodgers]

Sexism much? I'm a girl and I can take a car apart and put it back together myself, thank you very much. Not to mention the engine in our RV and most power boats. Anything else you'd like to stereotype?

Well, since every post except for mine recommended to take it to a mechanic until you showed up ranting, don't you think the stereotype fits? I wouldn't take it to a mechanic. I can't say I know any girls who would do the same. Sheesh.....

 

[PatMcDuck]

I agree with many suggestions here..... running prospects thru Car Fax is a must. I used Autotrader.com and Cars.com usually. One good idea is letting friends and family know you are looking for a good used car. If you can get one from them, you will know the history of the car. You could save them from trading it in for peanuts. (if you pay the amount they would get on a trade in, you would have a GREAT DEAL).

Looking for a good used car is lots of work. You will have sometimes when the car is described as one thing, and when you get there to see it, it is a MESS. Or it was "JUST sold to someone else", the old bait & switch.

I prefer buying used cars from new car dealers, they have the best ones, and they do not want to tick you off; many come with at least a 90 day warranty. For example, we got a used Hyundai Tucson from a Range Rover dealer, and they treated that (cheap) Tucson like gold, it was by far the cheapest used car they had (took it for a trade, sold it instead of sending it to auction). My husband got his Equinox this way, a trade in to a dealer that sold expensive imported sports cars, they were like, take it away, get it off our lot! (it was only a few years old, but had very high mileage)

We got the kids first used car for $3000, and it was a mistake, as in a complete disaster within 9 months. After that, we had to increase the budget for used cars. There are also some good used car dealers. I was always too worried to buy from Craigslist, or newspaper ads. But that is just me, other people obviously swear by it.

Good luck.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Sexism much? I'm a girl and I can take a car apart and put it back together myself, thank you very much. Not to mention the engine in our RV and most power boats. Anything else you'd like to stereotype?

Yikes!! A bit over the top. OP and her DD are female. A lot of people call females - regardless of age - "girls". Maybe jump on mrodgers now for ageism, too? And I must say that a girl who "can take a car apart and put it back together" herself is NOT commonplace.

OP - I used Cars.com to search around my area; KBB.com to get an approximate price; and Carfax to get details on an individual car. DEFINITELY take a test drive - keep the radio off to better hear the car. Find a large empty-ish parking lot, get the car going and hit the brakes hard; turn hard to the right in a complete circle then do the same to the left; hit the gas from a dead stop... some of the things I did when test driving. Keep an ear out for any strange noises. Make sure you know what, if anything, will be removed from the car before you buy it (I once actually had someone tell me that they were planning to remove the radio and speakers - leaving empty holes - if I bought the car ) Above all... if your gut tells you "no", LISTEN to it and walk away.

 

[sullins5]

Another thought and what we always do...

We always check out Consumer Reports "best used cars" and "worst used cars" for reliability and before we buy! We bought both of our kids used cars from individuals. Knew that both of them were rated dependable, asked the owners if we could take it to a mechanic, dh drove them, and checked out their history online.

In that price range, Consumer Reports (the '11 book) recommended Honda Accords, Toyota Corollas, Hyundai Accent, Mitsubishi Galant, Subaru Impreza...And if you went to 4K, it included a whole lot more! That book is 2 years old, but we've always found Consumers Buying Guide to help tons!

I'd look at that book at the library and see what the next few issues say! Good Luck!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I check it out myself, but for you girls, I would recommend taking to a mechanic to check out.

mrrodgers, please join the rest of us in the 21st century

OP, be wary of buying a hurricane damaged car:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/n...by-hurricane-sandy-lure-unwitting-buyers.html

 

[njmom47]

We just bought ds a used card and we looked for 2 months!
I am very leery of CL. To me, there was a lot of ads with the exact same format, although different cars and email addresses (all to Gmail) and the cars and prices just seemed to be too good to be true.
We went on Cars dot com and looked in our local Auto Shopper and the newspaper.
You could also ask around...my dmom's neighbor was going into a nursing home and my dbrother bought her car.

 

[FamilyGuy]

You've got some great, great advice on this thread.

No reason to be concerned about any source of vehicle as long as you have it thoroughly checked out by a professional.

Also, it is easy to jump at the first car that seems like a decent deal. Patience is your friend for sure. I encourage you to take your time; the right deal will come along.

 

[jedijill]

mrrodgers, please join the rest of us in the 21st century

Amen! Restoring a 66 Mustang on my own. Rebuilt the carb, replaced the starter, rewired it, replaced the ignition all without relying on a man to do it for me.

Perhaps the poster should have phrased his recommendation to use a mechanic with a bit more tact and awareness.

Jill in CO