Buying a USED car
 

My brother and I have decided to buy a car. Only thing is it will be a used car. I'm talking shit box used car. At the moment that's all we can afford at the moment. Basically it's to get us to school and work and around the city. We're looking to spend no more that $6000CDN on the car.
My problem is I don't know anything about cars, and where to start. I've looked at used cars on the web. But just reading an ad doesn't tell me much. I'm looking for some advice.
What make of car is more reliable as a used car? What kinds of things should a look for when I'm buying the car (I don't want to end up with a lemon)?

Thanks

See if you can find a reputable mechanic and find out how much he/she would charge to take a good look at the car you want to buy.

That doesn't guarantee something won't break, or that the mechanic will find every flaw, but he or she is more likely to find major problems than someone who, by your own admission, knows nothing about cars.

Don't buy a Ford! Or as my parents say "Fix Or Repair Daily!" My parents bought my brother a used Explorer a few years ago and it's been a continuous disaster the whole time. Coolant leaks all over the place, transmission quirks, broken power windows, leaky seals around the windows and sunroof, a/c is a mess, etc.

Actual cell phone conversation we had once when he was coming over to my apartment:

Me: "Hey, where are you?"
Bro: "Umm, just outside your apartment."
Me: "Well, why don't you come inside?"
Bro: "Umm, hang on a sec, I'm waiting to see if the smoke is going to stop coming out of the hood of my car."

At this point I ran out to the parking lot. Even though he had just paid $$$ to get a coolant leak fixed, now there was another coolant problem. The engine had overheated (in the less-than-2-mile trip from his apt. to my apt.) and coolant had EXPLODED all over the place under the hood.

My first two cars were both Oldsmobiles. Not the trendiest, but they were very reliable. Plus, they were a good value so I essentially had a luxury car, just a few years older. My first car had power everything, and an electronic display that showed the time, mileage, when you needed to get the oil changed, etc. Plus, with that kind of car, you know it was owned by some little old lady before you who probably took very good care of it.

Buy a HONDA! It will be cheap and will run FOREVER! Let me know if you have any questions.

That's what a few of my friends have suggested.

Any particular model? Year?

Get an accord or a civic! they're cute and they really will last!

I agree about Honda, they are the number one used car. Parts are easy to find and are cheap. As much as I love my Chevy Honda's do TEND to have a long life.

Try to get as new as possible. I say 1998 or newer and you should be find.

Hondas hold up well....Toyotas did hold up well (back in High School when I had one), don't know if the newer ones do as well or not....Saturns hold up well mechanically....exterior/interior does too if someone took care of it. I don't know what the Saturns are like in Canada, but don't buy an early model L Series. They were made in a different factory than their other cars and those first couple of year models had problems. Also, their S series (original series) cars between the years of about 95-97 have been reportedly having big problems as they get older, so you may want to avoid that year model also.

Of course, I'm basing this on talking to Saturn owners in/around Arkansas, so the ones up north may be different. I've had 2 Saturns (98 coupe and 2003 Vue) and I've had no problems with either. I did lots of interstate travelling with the coupe, too.

Good Luck! Let us know what you get! (And don't forget to have an outside mechanic check it out before you buy).

PsychTau

I was told that carfax.com is good to investigate used cars you are interested in purchasing. All you need is the VIN and it will give you the history of the vehicle.

Good Luck! :D

I probably won't be getting my for another few months at least. Still need to save up some more. Just, looking for some advice on buying used cars right now.

Thanks, everyone for the tips.

Is that site only for U.S registered cars?

I don't know. A friend of mine used the site when purchasing her car. She is here in the US.

:confused:

Hondas are great cars.

Your money will go a little farther if you stay Japanese, but go to a lesser brand like Mazda. I got a nearly new Mazda 626 for a great price last June. They've discontinued hte 626 in favor of the 6, so you can get them fairly decked out for less than a stripped Accord or Civic.

I really hate to say this, but I have basically had bad luck with American built cars and very good luck with Mazdas. I've had particularly bad luck with Chrylser products -- although I have one now. Along with two Mazdas. And a Saturn. And a Ford.

I was very fortunate to get my 2001 Cavalier for $6000. My dad knew the owner so I knew we weren't getting ripped off.

My suggestion is to visit this website called Edmunds.com and type in the necessities you're looking for in a car and then find different makes and models/years. I dunno if you're paying cash, but they also have a payment calculator that can figure out payments with different terms and months.

I would have loved a Honda Civic and they really do hold up well. However for the price you're looking at, you'll probably have to go with a 1998 or older. I priced those (1998's) in 2001 and they were still above $10000 back then.

Best of luck!

Mazda is owned by Ford, so you're really just buying a ford, look at the Explorer [91-94] and Navaho, exact same.

Just my $.0198597 worth.
-Mark

I'm not too concerned with the age of the car. I mean I'm not looking at anything older than 1990 and even then I don't really want to look at anything older than 1995.

Hey I found a 1995 mustang for $4,900. My next question was, what's wrong with it?

I'm looking on autotrader.ca for cars. The US sites don't work for me since I am in Canada, and I'm not going to the states to look for a car.

The car I'm going to get is going to be a shitbox, I'm just hoping it's a shit box that I don't have to pump thousands and thousands of dollars into because it keeps breaking down.

I intend on paying cash. The car doesn't have to be fancy ( I don't have a lot of money). It just needs to get me from A to B.

You'll probably do best getting a stripped Corolla or Civic or Sentra. Those cars are USUALLY the undead of cars. You just can't kill them.

A friend of mine had an 83 Corolla go 250K miles before they sold it. Not before it died, before they got rid of it.

FI had a Maxima that went 225K miles no problem.

Japanese cars rock.

If you live in an area where it snows a lot I would NOT consider a mustang. My best friend just bought a NEW mustang and has had a terrible time driving in the snow. As a matter of fact, my cavalier is handling better than her mustang. For what it's worth!

What about the Eagle Talon? Does anyone know anything about these cars?

Actually, no you aren't buying a Ford, you are buying from Ford but it isn't a ford.

Some of the platforms might be similar but that's about it.

There is no car by Ford (that I know of) that can even be compared to the Mazda RX series (they have rotary engine power). If you take care of them they will last you forever, as will many other Mazdas that don't have rotary engines.

While the Navajo and the Exploder were built off the same platform, the majority of Mazdas aren't. My family owns 3, and two were built in Tokyo and have absolutely no Ford connections. Ford also owns only 33% of Mazda. I'm actually refusing to buy the new 3, which I would love, because I believe they're being manufactured here. I do not want American hands touching my car.

My family is big fans of foreign cars - after years of problems with Fords (a Windstar, an Escort, and God knows what my parents had before they had me) and Chevys (my parents drove them in high school and when they first got married) we pretty much stay foreign now. My daddy is looking at getting the new 6, which is very similiar to the 626, and I think my mom is keeping her Tribute (similiar to the Escape but much more visually appealing) for a few more years. I've decided I'll be rocking my Protege until I'm out of law school and I have a nice Audi to take home and love.

One of the other big reasons we steer away from American cars is that my dad and I will both only drive stick shift, and most American manufacturers won't let you get a fully-loaded car with stick. (yet they claim they want us to get better fuel economy....) Because Ford played such a heavy role in manufacture of the Tribute, the only stick available is on the four-banger, which is obviously going to be a pooch in such a large SUV. My mom doesn't mind driving automatic, so that's okay for her, but it wouldn't fly for us. And like Blaine said, Ford isn't gonna be making a rotary car that's as awesome as the RX series anytime soon. In addition, the few Ford vehicles that have been successful were based on designs from Mazda or Volvo.

Sorry for the enormous post, I'm just really passionate about Mazdas. :D

Zoom zoom,
GP

I have heard good things about Mazdas as well.

My friend has a Precidia. I like her car, but it's so small. I'm fairly tall and getting in and out of her car is a bitch. It's perfect for her because she is so tiny.

I also don't know how to drive standard so it's only automatic cars for me.

Mazdas are good cars. I'm actually looking at the Mazda 6 and I've heard great reviews.

My current car is a Ford Escort ZX2. Surprisingly, I've had very few mechanical problems with it (knock on wood) considering it's a Ford. Part of the reason is probably because the ZX2 is basically the Mazda Mx6 with the Ford logo on it. After the discontinuation of the Mx6, Ford created the ZX2 in 1998 using the Mx6 engine, design, etc. If you look at the Consumer Report ratings of the ZX2 and compare it to the other Ford cars, there is a huge difference in the mechanical ratings (the ZX2 having very few problems in comparison to the Taurus or Explorer). I truly believe that the reason is because Mazda had originally designed the car.

If you're tall, you don't want a Talon. They are very similar to an Eclipse.

Chrysler/Dodge vehicle. They aren't made anymore. There was a defect with its rear view mirror. This was in the early 90s. A few friends of mine in college had one. Other than all of this, I don't know much about it.

One more comment. :)

In Consumer Report's car issue (I think it comes out during the spring), they rate the best used cars. I believe that the top of their list is always the Civic, Camry, and Accord. You may be able to find the info online.

Used cars suck! Whatever you do, make sure you take a mechanic you trust with you. Also, don't bust ALL your money on just purchasing the car because most likely, you will need to fix problems. I bought a used 94 camry, it's supposed to run forever..unfortunately I put more $ fixing the car than I bought it for because the previous owners did NOTHING to maintain the car....After that, I promised my next car will NOT be used.

Good luck!

That's my biggest concern. I don't want to end up with a lemon and end up putting my money into fixing the car every 5 km. Unfortuately, in my present situation a new car is not an option. I'm far too poor to get a new car.

I would go with either an Accord or Civic. Both come either 2D or 4D and the Civic also comes in a 2D hatchback model. ANY year is good AFTER 1991. You don't want to go much older than that anyways. I know more than I should about Honda's since my boyfriend owns and races one. So, if you have ANY questions feel free to ask. I'm usually on AIM during the day (ztabchbum) 9-5 est. Parts can be found just about anywhere and for relatively cheap. Good luck!

The Eagle Talon and the Mitsubishi Eclipse are ALMOST the same car. I had a Talon and it was FANTASTIC! But, I would not recommend it because the parts are harder to find since the vehicle is no longer made.

Try and find a vehicle that the previous owners have the maintenance records. We bought a 94 Camry that the previous owners had all the records of maintenance and it has been great!

If you go for a Honda make sure that you ask about the timing belt. They need to be replaced every 90,000 miles and if they aren't and it goes bad it blows the engine. Also they are very expensive to change but have to be done. The same goes for a Toyota but if it goes you don't loose your engine.

Good Luck

As one who currently drives a used car (used when I bought it) here are some pointers I use when shopping for one:

1. Get the VIN number of the car and run a CarFax report on it. (www.carfax.com) It's free to get the basic information, but if you need more detailed information it's $20 for the service. The CarFax report will tell you the vehicle's registration history; whether it was declared 'salvage' because it was totaled or had a previous use as a taxicab or a rental car. (Contrary to popular belief, not every former rental car is trashed out; some of the higher-end car makes used by rental companies are in pretty decent shape and have had regular periodic maintenance done on them.)

2. My personal preference - get a used car with less than 50,000 miles on the odometer. Some finance companies will not finance used cars unless they have less than 50,000 miles or are less than five years old. Most lease-return cars are well taken care of. Some of these will fall under the 'certified used car' program, where they have been inspected and still carry the remaining new vehicle warranty.

3. Try to get a car that has good availability of parts. Generally, most automakers will have a five-year supply of parts made for each make's model year in their system; more popular makes may have even more.

The 626 is generally a good car. I just traded mine in for a 2000 Nissan Altima SE. The 626 has transmission issues all-around though. The are built by Ford. Be careful.

Honda or Toyota, well unless they have over 100,000 miles!:)

I agree with Honda being the number one choice, being a car girl and all:cool: , also, Hyundai's are pretty good-I had an excel(ugly as hell) that took me for a looooooong time with much driving-over 200 thou miles. And I have an 01 accent right now that I have had for 6 months, and its doing great!! Just make sure you have it checked out before you get it. And if you can, you should get it from a dealer, and not a private seller-mine came from a dealer and as a bonus, they do free oil changes and tire rotations as long as I own the car!!

Steve to true!:)

Honda: Maryville, Oh.

Toyota: Murfreesboro: Tn.

Well for two!

On my 4 th Honda! Only way to fly for me! Resale is execellent also on either a Honda or Toyota! :cool:

Actually, the Canadian Honda models are made in Alliston, Ontario.


My parents have been buying Hondas. They are on their 3rd Honda. They won't ever buy another GM vehicle...not after the passenger and drivers side doors fell off 5 times.

ETA: There is also a Ford plant in Oakville, Ontario and a GM plant in Oshawa, ON.

I'd buy new if I were you and get the 40th anniversary 911. If you can't, then I'd buy and old Lotus Elise.

-Rudey

Oh thanks for the tips Rudy...now let me just reach in and pull all this money out of my ass!:D