Buying a (used) car for the first time, need a lot of help :(

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Chu

Banned
Jan 2, 2001
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Hello all, it looks like I will soon be in need for a car. Between my HORRIBLE driving and living in one of the worst areas in Chicago for parking and insurance rates, I have never even considered looking for one, but it looks like I will need one for the fall when I head back to school. I know absolutely nothing about cars, and know no one who does :\ I am so worried about getting ripped off, and in my current financial situation I just cannot afford a car that will break down on me. Anyone have any advice to help me look for one?

Thanks in advance,

-Chu
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
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Everyone always forgets the most valuable piece of information that we need, can anyone guess what that is?
 
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bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,869
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possible choices for what you need:

a) learn to use the search button on AT for past threads RE: similar instances
b) learn to use google. It is your friend
c) pics
d) none of the above

-=bmacd=-
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,035
442
136
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Everyone always forgets the most valuable piece of information that we need, can anyone guess what that is?
Click to expand...

lemon check?
Click to expand...

No, keep gue$$ing genius.
 
FelixDeCat

FelixDeCat

Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
31,054
2,691
126
1) How much do you have?
2) How much are you willing to spend?
3) How old are you.

My advice - buy a clunker junker (the most reliable you can find). Im talking the $2500 and below range. If you are just starting off my best advice is this: dont waste money on them. If you can afford it, buy brand new. Ive had 14 cars in 15 years and learned a lot of hard lessons along the way. Between the purchase and sale prices Im out about $80,000 (I keep a spreadsheet). That money would have been much better spent elsewhere. Good luck.

Edit - I doubled checked my spreadsheet:

13 cars (12 + 1 truck).
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Take all the money you have saved for the car... spend only half of that on the initial purchase. Use the balance to bring it up to snuff. You'll need brakes, tires, exhaust, battery, belts, hoses and probably a tune up. I'd go for an old RWD Chevy for something durable, cheap and easy ti fix. Most likely, nobody will mess with it either!
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,035
442
136
Chu,

Please answer these questions so we can help recommend the best car for you:
1) What cars (make and model) are you interested in and why? You've gotta have at least 2 in mind.
2) How much is your budget? How much can you afford for the car? How much can you afford in monthly payments for 5 years?
3) Do you want a 2 door coupe or 4 door sedan?
4) Automatic or manual transmission?
5) Intel or AMD?
6) Is fuel economy (saving $ on gas and making the tree huggers happy) important to you?
7) Do you want a new or used car?
8) How many stickers/decals do you plan on putting on the car to increase it's horsepower prowress?
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Chu,

Please answer these questions so we can help recommend the best car for you:
5) Intel or AMD?
Click to expand...
do what now? i think you're confused. too much chowdah at quizno's will do that to you
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
"I am so worried about getting ripped off..."

Buy from a private owner, instead of a dealer, and don't buy a sports car, it's probably been tortured!
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,035
442
136
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Chu,

Please answer these questions so we can help recommend the best car for you:
5) Intel or AMD?
Click to expand...
do what now? i think you're confused. too much chowdah at quizno's will do that to you
Click to expand...

It's better than my original question, Quizno's or Subway, we all know the answer to that don't we?
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,035
442
136
Originally posted by: Yield
Quizno's or Subway,
Click to expand...
Subway.. I just had it for dinner! :D

In Canada it's good anyways. I have never liked fast (ish) food places in the US.. Cdn subway is good!
Click to expand...

You must've had the mayo special because you're wrong! Quizno's ownz Subway, unfortunately they cost more :(
 
C

Chu

Banned
Jan 2, 2001
2,911
0
0
Heh, it's always about money ;) I guess that is the most important question, so I will answer that one first. Right now, at this very moment, I have $1,000. By the time I need to make the purchase (mid august), I will have somewhere between $1200 and $2000, and maybe a bit more if I make my life a living hell for the rest of the summer (which I am assuming I will have to do). This is not a lot of money :\

Anyways, on to Rossman's questions:

>> 1) What cars (make and model) are you interested in and why? You've gotta have at least 2 in mind.

As I said, I know *NOTHING* about cars. The models I am interested in are ones that can reliably get me from West Lafayette to Chicago and back (~130 miles each way) twice a month, and West Lafayette to Cleavland or Madison about once a month (~250-370 miles).

>> 2) How much is your budget? How much can you afford for the car? How much can you afford in monthly payments for 5 years?

I can afford $1000-$2500, maybe a bit more :( I can also afford ~$100-$150/mo once I start driving. Does this even cover insurance?

>> 3) Do you want a 2 door coupe or 4 door sedan?

I personally like 4 doors better, but I could care less. I am a very big person though . . . most 2 door cars i have been in have almost no room in the back, and that is definatly gonna suck for the person who has to sit behind me ;)

>> 4) Automatic or manual transmission?

With my l33t skills, automatic, no question.

>> 5) Intel or AMD?

Whatever makes the most sense at the time :) Of note though, my last three computers have been a Celeron 566 @ 900, a P3 700 @ 933, and a P4 1.6 @ 2.2. Can we see a trend?

>> 6) Is fuel economy (saving $ on gas and making the tree huggers happy) important to you?

Screw the tree huggers, saving gas looks like it's gonna be VERY important in the next few months if Bush really does try something in the middle east reguarding Israel or Iraq.

>> 7) Do you want a new or used car?

As I've said in the topic, for $2500, I am not so sure I have enough for a used one that won't cost me twice that in repairs.

8) How many stickers/decals do you plan on putting on the car to increase it's horsepower prowress?

Hrmm . . . good question :D
 
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ultravox

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,072
12
81
I would give you this advice....there are 2 ways to go depending on your budget. You can buy some pos for not much and have it nickel and dime you to death or you could get something a little better- more expensive initially but less in need of fixing every month.
My daughters friends all bought pos's for $1-$2 k. They then proceeded to spend every penny they had and could earn on constatntly repairing their pos. In the end they wind up with a pos that has cost them $5k. If they had spent $5k to begin with, chances are they would not have spent any $$ on repairs or at least if they did it wouldn't have been to have a good running POS. What you want is some old ladies car....a Nova or a Cavalier or something that no young kid in his right mind would want hence not something that's had the crap run out of it impressing friends, girlfriends etc.
The other option would be to go in hawk a little more and buy a high-zoot fancy car but used. An older Audi or Bimmer. If they have'nt been owned by 76 different people, chances are they have been well kept and require less repairs . People who buy new Audi's have money and after the gaurantee expires they ususally maintain the car well because thay spent an arm and a leg buying it. Now these cars might cost more to repair than a '68 Nova but you usually don't repair them as often. Good Luck!
 
T

tommyc

Member
Jul 3, 2000
147
0
0
Of equal/greater importance to knowing what type/size vehicle you need and how much you can afford to spend (less is better imho) is to ask around until you find a good and trustworthy mechanic.
Whenever I need to buy used vehicles of any sort my mechanic checks it out from top to bottom for only 50 bucks and lets me know if anything will need immediate attention and how much it will cost and what will/might need $$ in the short/long term I plan to keep it.
The money I pay him do do this has saved my ==s twice from spending MANY times that amount to fix
a problem I didn't see/forsee.
If you find a car you are REALLY hot for then ask the seller to let your mechanic ckeck it out for you. If they refuse then leave immediately and look elswhere.
 

Buy a $200 K car,they are cheap semi reliable and no one would even think of stealing it.
 
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