Just to second sairose- Subarus are EXCELLENT cars to buy, and they REALLY retain their value. My mom's 4 year old Impreza is worth probably around $10K still, and it wasn't an expensive car to begin with. VW also hold their value well, at least jetta's do (i wanted a jetta, they were all out of my price range).

Go to this site and read what they have to say. www.carbuyingtips.com.

Have your loan already in hand and if their interest rate is better that yours use the car dealers.

Bringing this thread to the top. . .
 

I KNEW I could count on GreekChat to help me in my time of need! All I had to do was perform a search!

I think I'm being faced with having to buy another car. Oil light came on yesterday (and hubby had just changed the oil about 2 weeks ago) and yesterday afternoon he picks the car up to check it out, but before going home, he stops to put gas in it. He calls me from the gas station and says "It died." I'm asking what died and he's telling me that my car died.

Long story short, we get it towed, and the mechanic couldn't open up the engine - it was locked up. So they're dropping the oil pan to see if they can see into the engine. If we have to get another one, it'll be between $3,500 and $5,000 (like we have that under our mattress!). It's not worth it. My car is a '96 Ford Taurus with 175,000+ miles. I really would like a good used Honda accord or an Explorer.

This thread gave some good advice, hence the reason I brought it back TTT just in case anyone else is planning to purchase a vehicle.

btb87

DON't get an explorer. My parents have had 2 now and they both had the same propblem. The service department at the dealership keeps telling them that this problem is common in explorers. Their transmission went..OR so they thought. They had it replaced and since then the sensor light has gone on about 20 times. Everytime it goes on they have to take it to the dealership to have it reset or some other problem fixed. Luckily it is all under warranty but they won't drive it anywhere because the light always turns on. Once the light is on the has problems shifting through the gears. PAIN IN THE ASS!!

We live in California and my parents are on a trip back east. They drove their 93 Honda Accord that when they left had 207, 000 miles and was running strong. They are on their way back home and have yet to have any problems. AMAZING little car!!

Thanks for the tip. I think I'm gonna get my husband's car (which I don't want, but beggars can't be choosers) and he's going to get a truck, which he was looking at over 2 weeks ago anyway, so it's probably worked out.

Speaking of your parents' Accord, they'll probably have it for quite a while. I traded my Accord for the Taurus that I know is now out of commission - when we traded it, it had 314K miles! How's that for quality?? :)

Wow that is amazing also. We had bets as to how far they would make it before they broke down. I can't believe that they made it all the way across the US and back with out a single problem. I know they will drive that car until they can't anymore.

Re: Buying A Car
 

Buying a car can be scary, but my husband and I have gone through Edmunds.com . Once you know what you want to buy, Edmunds will give you the dealer's cost and the average buying cost of each car. This gives you alot of bargaining chips in your corner. I've never bought a car for more than $300 over cost since finding this site!

There's also info on whether the dealer gets a kickback and if there are any rebates to help you out...you can also check online to specific dealers to see if they're willing to provide email quick quotes. You print out the quick quote and bring it to the offering dealer. They "have" to sell you the car at that price for the time slated on the email! Settles any bargaining needed!

Good luck!

Funny, I started this thread, what, close to 2 years ago and I still haven't bought one!!!! Now, the "Check Engine" light comes on, it over heats daily, and the transmission is slipping....

What could all of this mean???

BUY A NEW CAR, SIGMAGRRL!!! GEEZ!!!

LOL...

Another vote for Subarus! Within my family, we have had 12 of them - one as long as 11 years! We're toying with taking a photo of all of the current Subarus with all of the current owners - maybe they'd give us a free oil change or something!

One tip I've always tried to stick to is remembering that the dealership does need to make a profit, but it shouldn't be more than $500-$1,000. I've played two dealers against each other (don't we all?) and the most I've been able to save off of the sticker price is $5,100.

I bought a brand new Hyundai Elantra a few months ago, and I LOVE it!!! Hyundais from a few years ago were (evidentally) pieces of crap, but the ones now are really good, and they have a GREAT warrantee.

My husband bought a '97 Mustang through Carmax. He really enjoyed the car-buying experience through them. They have really high standards about the cars they sell. I would definately check them out.

Good luck with the shopping!