Buying a previously owned car

[Garet Jax]

Here are the criterion I used:

1) Want it to be safe (just totalled my 2000 cavalier and was lucky to walk away sans any injury (except soft tissue))
2) Want to finance and keep the payments low (~$2000 if possible)
3) Want it to be comfortable. I am a big guy and I am sick and tired of my cavalier type vehicle.
4) Want it to have warranty left so as to minimize the unexpected costs.
5) Want the finance to be at most 5 years.
6) Got ~5000 for the cavalier settlement so I am maxxed at about $15,000 for the new car price.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Here are the criterion I used:

1) Want it to be safe (just totalled my 2000 cavalier and was lucky to walk away sans any injury (except soft tissue))
2) Want to finance and keep the payments low (~$200/month if possible)
3) Want it to be comfortable. I am a big guy and I am sick and tired of my cavalier type vehicle.
4) Want it to have warranty left so as to minimize the unexpected costs.
5) Want the finance to be at most 5 years.
6) Got ~5000 for the cavalier settlement so I am maxxed at about $15,000 for the new car price.

What car fits all these criteria?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Won't have warranty left, but a used Volvo S60 with ~50,000 miles will fit all the others. Great cars too, amazingly comfy seats, very safe, can find them for $14K to $15K with 50K miles, so lots of life left.

ZV

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Won't have warranty left, but a used Volvo S60 with ~50,000 miles will fit all the others. Great cars too, amazingly comfy seats, very safe, can find them for $14K to $15K with 50K miles, so lots of life left.

ZV

I looked at those, but the warranty is very important to my wife and I. We are buying a new house this year and it will be tight for us. We don't want unexpected car payments.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Here are the criterion I used:

1) Want it to be safe (just totalled my 2000 cavalier and was lucky to walk away sans any injury (except soft tissue))
2) Want to finance and keep the payments low (~$200/month if possible)
3) Want it to be comfortable. I am a big guy and I am sick and tired of my cavalier type vehicle.
4) Want it to have warranty left so as to minimize the unexpected costs.
5) Want the finance to be at most 5 years.
6) Got ~5000 for the cavalier settlement so I am maxxed at about $15,000 for the new car price.

What car fits all these criteria?

Lincoln Town Car. Main selling points are Big, comfortable, and cheap. It's also loaded with luxury features, and is one of the classiest vehicles on the road (my opinion). The Ford 4.6 is as solid as motors come, and starting in '97 (maybe '96, not too clear on this) they used 4r70w transmissions which, as auto boxes go, are rock solid. The later models have an even better track record that the '97s (which I have), though I think the pre-'98 look is much better.

For 15k you could probably get a 2003 model. Or get a '97 for 6 grand and put the other 9 away for eventual repairs. 9 grand would keep a town car on the road almost indefinately, unless you got a lemon.

 

[compuwiz1]

Go buy a full sized Buick! Do it! Find the best Buick you can find, while still eligible for a 100K warranty. Do it!
Most of them are undervalued on the market right now.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Here are the criterion I used:

1) Want it to be safe (just totalled my 2000 cavalier and was lucky to walk away sans any injury (except soft tissue))
2) Want to finance and keep the payments low (~$200/month if possible)
3) Want it to be comfortable. I am a big guy and I am sick and tired of my cavalier type vehicle.
4) Want it to have warranty left so as to minimize the unexpected costs.
5) Want the finance to be at most 5 years.
6) Got ~5000 for the cavalier settlement so I am maxxed at about $15,000 for the new car price.

What car fits all these criteria?

Lincoln Town Car. Main selling points are Big, comfortable, and cheap. It's also loaded with luxury features, and is one of the classiest vehicles on the road (my opinion). The Ford 4.6 is as solid as motors come, and starting in '97 (maybe '96, not too clear on this) they used 4r70w transmissions which, as auto boxes go, are rock solid. The later models have an even better track record that the '97s (which I have), though I think the pre-'98 look is much better.

For 15k you could probably get a 2003 model. Or get a '97 for 6 grand and put the other 9 away for eventual repairs. 9 grand would keep a town car on the road almost indefinately, unless you got a lemon.

If we buy 2003, then the warranty would not be active.

We have the $9,000 however we want it to go to the down payment of the house without cashing our savings. So it is very unlikely that we will have extra money after the house purchase.

Hint (this is very close to what I decided to pursue).

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Go buy a full sized Buick! Do it! Find the best Buick you can find, while still eligible for a 100K warranty. Do it!
Most of them are undervalued on the market right now.

My criterion almost immediately precludes all non-american cars since the safe ones have such high resale value. I have to admit once I found the car I decided to pursue, I stopped looking without ever really looking at Buicks.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Won't have warranty left, but a used Volvo S60 with ~50,000 miles will fit all the others. Great cars too, amazingly comfy seats, very safe, can find them for $14K to $15K with 50K miles, so lots of life left.

ZV

I looked at those, but the warranty is very important to my wife and I. We are buying a new house this year and it will be tight for us. We don't want unexpected car payments.

If you're playing it that close, buy a $5K to $8K car and budget another $1K for repairs that may come up (probably won't).

ZV

 

[Kur]

You could get a new Scion TC! with FULL warranty for under 18,000 =P

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Go buy a full sized Buick! Do it! Find the best Buick you can find, while still eligible for a 100K warranty. Do it!
Most of them are undervalued on the market right now.

My criterion almost immediately precludes all non-american cars since the safe ones have such high resale value. I have to admit once I found the car I decided to pursue, I stopped looking without ever really looking at Buicks.

Buick buyers do not drive many miles, and they are a decent car...probably one the best GM has built. Plus, they have a 4/50000 factory, bumper to bumper warranty. Go drive a used Buick, and get back to me. If you do it right, you will make a hell of a buy.
Get a certified one.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Kur
You could get a new Scion TC! with FULL warranty for under 18,000 =P

I could, but I might as well buy another Cobalt (Cavalier) and save some money since I really don't care what I drive. Besides that $3000 is beyond our budget and would open up a lot of other options.

My intention is probably to put the minimum possible down and save the settlement money as a car (emergency fund) or a make up fund if I don't sell the current house for as much as I hope.

 

[redgtxdi]

New:

2007 Hyundai Elantra (though I'd push you to get a Sonata)

Used:

Accord/Camry (just do the CPO thing & enjoy)

 

[huberm]

a used pontiac G6 or a new Chevy Cobalt (GM now has a 100,000 mile warranty on all new vehicles)

 

[spaceman]

get a subaru sub 30k
if you are worried about warranty purchase an extended one thru the manufacturer.
as with any used car, expect to replace some things(brakes,etc.)

 

[vi edit]

If I wanted big, comfortable, and safe - I'd look at a Ford 500.

Best safety ratings of pretty much any car on the road.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Won't have warranty left, but a used Volvo S60 with ~50,000 miles will fit all the others. Great cars too, amazingly comfy seats, very safe, can find them for $14K to $15K with 50K miles, so lots of life left.

ZV

I looked at those, but the warranty is very important to my wife and I. We are buying a new house this year and it will be tight for us. We don't want unexpected car payments.

Buy a used car at a reputable dealer and buy a used car warranty for it.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Won't have warranty left, but a used Volvo S60 with ~50,000 miles will fit all the others. Great cars too, amazingly comfy seats, very safe, can find them for $14K to $15K with 50K miles, so lots of life left.

ZV

I looked at those, but the warranty is very important to my wife and I. We are buying a new house this year and it will be tight for us. We don't want unexpected car payments.

Buy a used car at a reputable dealer and buy a used car warranty for it.

Just be sure to get the OEM(from Ford, Chevy, ect) one that extends the original bumper to bumper. Not one of those 3rd party ones that charge a deductable and have more exceptions than covered items.

 

[thedarkwolf]

You can buy a brand spankin new ford focus for $10k right now.

 

[Specop 007]

So buy cheaper then 15k. Find something used thats around 12 or 13k and put the rest in the bank. You could almost do a whole powertrain on 3k as long as you dont go for something classy.

 

[totalcommand]

why the euphemism? just call it a used car.

 

[overst33r]

2002 Maxima if you want any fun in driving your car. Buick or Towncars if you are laid back and just want A to B transportation.

 

[andy04]

Get an Impala, it will fit all your criteria