So some kid pulled out in front of me Monday morning. I find out today my car was deemed a total loss and I should find out sometime next week how much I'm going to be getting. I have a feeling I'm going to be sitting on around 5-6 k, possibly more, hopefully not less, and I need to use this money to get a new (to me) car.

If anyone has any advice on going about getting a car, I'd be up for hearing it. My main concern lies in whether or not I can trust the small time, possibly shady used car dealers that often have cars with a price tag lower than what it seems it should be (example: http://www.dealercarsearch.com/retaildetail.aspx?inv=2&dealer=741&id=178551&bgColor=000000 - Exclusive Carz... really could I trust these people?).
I also wonder about the feasibility of getting a mechanic to look at the car before I buy it or doing a Carfax report (or both). They've gone up so much, something in the range of $30 for one, or $40 for as many as I want over 30 days.

I just haven't had to do this before and I don't have a lot to spend. Looking for some advice.

1/14/2009 10:13:30 PM

It would help to know what kind of vehicle you're looking for. Pickup, 4 door, 2 door, does MPG matter, do you have a preferred manufacturer, etc.

There's a lot of stuff you can get in the 5-10k range which would mean no or a very minimal monthly car payment.

1/14/2009 10:17:23 PM

honda civic is the only car you should check out

1/14/2009 10:20:10 PM

^^ I've been driving a Ford Focus compact, but that's the only compact i found that fit me comfortably. I'm 6'5'' and a bigger guy, so ideally I would prefer a small SUV of some sort. The rental car they gave me is a Kia Sorento and it's probably the first car I've sat in and immediately been comfortable in. For that reason, I looked around for those and found that older one at the Carz place. I'm tempted, but I really don't know if I can trust that place. I guess I can ask for a carfax report when I go look at the car or get one myself.
I thought about a truck, but I don't think I'd want one. Honestly, I feel like I'd be helping someone move every weekend and I'm too much of a pushover to turn people down when they ask. Plus I drive around with 2+ others fairly often. We don't need a terribly fuel efficient car, that could be my wifes that we use on road trips. I'm OK with 15 or so MPG or better. I like Kias the newer Kias and have heard good things about their reliability. I've had poor experiences with Chevys and the Focus was falling apart on the inside after 4 and a half years.


^ I worry I wouldn't fit comfortably in a Honda. I've ridden around in friends Honda's and had to tilt my head sideways because I didn't have enough headroom. I guess I could try one if I go to a used car dealer, but I've never been able to fit in them well before.

1/14/2009 10:50:06 PM

Quote :

"carz"

Quote :

"ezee"

fuck no i wouldn't step near those guys...not to mention you're thinking of buying a Kia with 115k miles on it

do you have something about spending more money than you get? if you can spring for another 4k, your options will improve a lot

1/15/2009 4:02:26 AM

Are you looking to buy something for cash with the money you get from insurance, or to use that as a down payment (and if so, how much do you want to spend?)

1/15/2009 3:32:59 PM

realistically, im not in any position to take on another car payment since we just took on one for my wife. I have a feeling I'll actually get between 5k and 7k for the car. I'd like to spend only this and I guess I could throw in a thousand or two in my savings account, but ideally I'l like to not have to touch that.

How bad of an idea is it to go for a higher mileage car? My friend wants me to get this Interceptor I found, but I'm not sold on yet since it's so far away. If I do find a higher mileage car, should I look for those that have already replaced some of the standard stuff (timing belt, etc) that you end up replacing as the car ages?


Edit:
So I got to thinking. I definitely want to get a larger car than I had before, be it a medium size SUV or a medium to large sedan. I guess I could also get a truck, but I think that's the last choice. I'd have to find a great deal to get that. I probably couldnt afford anything terribly new (< 5 years old) in either of these categories, so if my options were to go with an early 2000's model car with high mileage, or a 90's model with higher mileage, which would you go with. Obviously I'd like something reliable, but I don't know what the most reliable choice would be considering my larger car preferences.

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 4:37 PM. Reason : add]

1/15/2009 4:13:28 PM

Gonna post some shit I find. Maybe some of you guys will have some pros and cons, or just be able to confidently say "dont buy that piece of shit!"

'99 Passat GLS (88k miles) - http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/994274616.html

1/15/2009 4:41:36 PM

'02 Passat GLX (101k) - http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/991755825.html

Note, I have no idea if passat's are reliable cars, or if VW require any special work if something is wrong like BMW's do (so I've heard, obviously I'm not a car person or I'd know what the hell i was doing).

1/15/2009 5:16:01 PM

Used medium to medium-large SUVs you could get for 5K-8K:

Toyota RAV4
Toyota Highlander
Toyota 4Runner
Honda CRV
Honda Pilot
Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Murano
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Acura MDX
Lexus RX300/RX330
Infiniti QX4

(only listing Japanese)


[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 5:50 PM. Reason : ]

1/15/2009 5:49:31 PM

i could do a medium-large sedan as well, but i kind of like mix feel of a car and a truck that an SUV could offer. I know its stupid, but I always hated the inconvenience of "tailgating" in a Focus. I also hate climbing down into a car. I'm 6'5 and it feels like I'm folding myself into the car every time I get in. I've really liked driving around the mid-size SUV rental I've had this week and I think I'd enjoy driving an older one around that i could afford, I just dont know which ones are the best bets for reliability.

1/15/2009 5:55:43 PM

Any of the ones I listed would be better than a Kia for reliability.

Among the ones I listed, go for either Toyota, Honda, Acura, or Lexus.

1/15/2009 6:02:55 PM

IMHO, you'd be NUTS to buy anything Volkswagen that's older or with high miles. They aren't bad cars, but they sure aren't built to the standards that either Toyota or Honda are.

And I'd no sooner be caught buying a Kia than I would be caught balls deep in a drag queen's ass.

1/15/2009 6:29:38 PM

From what I've seen and read, kia's arent nearly as reliable as say a honda or a toyota, but theyve become reliable cars, moreso than a lot of american models. Again, thats just reviews and stuff I've read on some car sites. I don't know if it applies to older models.

1/15/2009 9:31:17 PM

nm, that shit was a scam

as was another one.. at least I'm fairly sure it is... here's the email

Quote :

"Hello, This 2006 Ford Escape XLT 3.0L V6 with 95,011 miles, runs and drives excellent. You will not have any problems with registration since it's still registered in IL. I am the second owner of this Escape, I bought it when i was serving in Fort Sheridan, U.S. Army base near Highland Park, IL. for my wife as a wedding gift, slightly used in 100% working and looking condition, very well maintained with a full service history. It has no leaks or drips and does not smoke at all. I have dropped my price to $4250(purchase price) This way, both parties will avoid wasting the other person's time with negotiations. I want to take the opportunity to assure you that this deal is 100% legitimate. Which means that you will have a 15 days inspection period before buying the vehicle. The financial part of this deal will be managed by the eBay's buyer protection program. If you want to complete the purchase please send me your; Full Name and Shipping Address and I will notify eBay that you are selected as my buyer and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure. Click on the link below for more info & pics about the car. http://zedgunxlt.page.tl/ This is an urgent sale and it will be my top priority since I need to sell it before Jan 27th. when i will be deployed in Iraq with my platoon replacing the troops scheduled to come home. Please email me ASAP if you want to move forward and let me know if you need anything else. Cpt. Zachary Edgan "

[Edited on January 16, 2009 at 2:57 PM. Reason : very nicely formatted too]

1/16/2009 2:28:17 PM

Quote :

"IMHO, you'd be NUTS to buy anything Volkswagen that's older or with high miles. They aren't bad cars, but they sure aren't built to the standards that either Toyota or Honda are."

it really depends on which engine you choose. the 2.0 was a workhorse. some of the other engines (vr, 1.8t) had some known problems but were still decent. my 1.8t has 140k+ on it and i still drive it daily and have yet to have a problem. i did do some work to the car when i first got it, but it was mostly maint. stuff (timing belt, freshened up suspension, etc) and some other small mods (coilovers, chip, exhaust). and the turbo was dead when i got it but that was a cheap and relatively easy fix.

the early 1.8ts (the one i have and the one that came in the b5 passat) had some sludge issues and the 2.8 V6 is ok (not the same as the vr i mentioned earlier)

if you want someone to check a vw out for you before you buy, let me know

1/16/2009 4:53:57 PM

i give up... im going to get a mule and blanket and ride that sumbitch to school every day

1/16/2009 6:27:18 PM

i keep coming back to this car...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/994579755.html

1/16/2009 8:15:39 PM

A Ford.
With 151,000 miles.
145,000 of which were put on it by a person who didn't own it.


For $6500.

This is terrible, this idea.

1/16/2009 10:05:12 PM

seriously, its your money, but that's terrible idea.

i feel your pain though. i hate car shopping. i'm in the market for a new car myself, and even though i have a decent budget to work with, i really don't see anything i like.

[Edited on January 16, 2009 at 10:41 PM. Reason : .]

1/16/2009 10:39:58 PM

I was going to make a thread similar to this since I'm also waiting to get the word on what I'm gonna get from the insurance company for my car.

Good bets in the 8k range? I'm really open to anything, but I'm a big dude so I wouldn't fit in anything too small. No trucks or huge SUV's.


(Sorry to hijack this thread, but it seems as if you're going to make a terrible decision anyway)

[Edited on January 16, 2009 at 11:30 PM. Reason : .]

1/16/2009 11:29:31 PM

I've seen you, Ronny, you're not huge. Maybe in the pants, but I wouldnt know anything about that. Either way, we're both in the same situation, have about the same amount of money to spend, and need about the same size car.

^^^ With the Ford, the only reason I really considered it was my friend said that the police kept their cars well tuned up and maintained during that time. FWIW, it was a K9 unit, so I don't know if that precluded any crazy driving, but I assumed the cops would take care of their vehicles... maybe not. Some of you guys might have experience with this.

1/17/2009 9:38:15 AM

Why would they have replaced the engine after 50k miles on this car? Wreck? Or just shit luck?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/996310515.html

(I'm not looking at this car, I'm just curious)

1/17/2009 10:13:41 AM

you can buy a crown vic from the SHP near the fairgrounds for less than that, they have marked them down. I bought one, it was a rock solid car and lots of fun to drive, but it was spartan on the inside. They come with 3.55 rear gears and get about 18-20 mpg. If you need a car this size I would look for a used one from some old lady that's not a cvpi, it will have higher gears for better mileage and a nicer interior. pops has a regular crown vic and it is noticeably more comfortable than the police car I bought. The police cars have true dual exhaust and are rated for 15 more hp than a regular one, I couldn't tell a difference between the two.

1/17/2009 11:09:08 AM

^^ It's more likely that the engine failed at a higher mileage and they installed a junkyard engine that happened to have less miles than the original one. For example...Maybe they stuck an engine with 90k into the car at 140k.

1/17/2009 12:26:53 PM

oh ok, that makes sense. I think buying a used car is a lesson in settling for something. I should probably go out and look at some of these cars and see if I like them OK. I think I just don't want to feel like I'm downgrading, you know, and I've found very little. Plus I'm not familiar with what I like and what would be reliable for longer periods of time.
I found a Camry I'm going to look at. There an Acura I think I'll go look at sometime, both of them 98's. I'd like to find a truck or SUV to test drive and see if I really would prefer that, but I'm not finding many options.

1/17/2009 12:33:45 PM

you need a geo tracker 4 banger

1/17/2009 5:11:29 PM

I don't want to hijack your thread but I have some related concerns and didn't want to clog up the garage with a new thread similar to this one.

I want to get a new car. My 2000 Dodge ES Stratus is at 146K and still runs fine. I need to get the back brakes/etc. fixed apparently, the air only works on high, and it's due for an oil change, but otherwise, runs fine and no major damage.

I want to get a mini cooper. No need for the S, just a hardtop with less than 50K. Preferably a 2004 or newer. I found a few and the prices just seem...well, too good to be true.

1 - So, should I keep my current car until it dies?

2 - Should I get a mini, in general? I read the thread SilverSurfer wrote aboiut GF wanting a mini and they seem to get good reviews.

3 - Is this too good to be true? 1004 mini ~14K for 15,586 miles....
http://tinyurl.com/89vg8x

1/17/2009 5:18:38 PM

^^seconded. I drive one on a daily basis. I just replaced the transmission ( at 178,000 miles). Other than that my 94 tracker hasn't had too many problems. Although my interior is beat the hell up/ no carpet I have gotten my $600 out of it for the past 5 years.

1/17/2009 5:57:40 PM

im thinking about just buying a cheap ass older car that, even if i put a little work into it, itll still be cheap, driving it around until i graduate (year and a half) and then maybe get a newer, nicer car when i graduate. I think more than anything, I'd hate to buy a 5-7k car and still have to put the same work into it.

1/18/2009 10:06:39 AM

^ If you can find a solid e30 (1981-1991 3-Series) BMW then I'd say go for it. I bought an 89 325i a few years ago and it has been a tank. I basically paid $1500 for it ($1000 for the car + $500 for repairs that I knew it needed when I bought it.) After one year of driving I put new tires on it ($200 installed) and picked up a couple of used rims for $50 to replace a bent one that I had and get a spare tire. After the second year I put a used steering rack in it and put on new tie rods for about $115. Now it's acting like it might need a fuel pump which will cost a couple hundred bucks, but it's a very easy swap on that car.

I've barely got $2k in the car and I have probably put 40,000 miles on it as a beater/commuter over three years. I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of it already.

There was a 1991 318is on Craigslist last week for $1250 or so. Might want to look there if it's something you'd consider.

message_topic.aspx?topic=444580&page=1

[Edited on January 18, 2009 at 11:47 AM. Reason : l]

1/18/2009 11:44:24 AM