damnit! why is finding a used car so fscking difficult!! **where do i take a car to get it looked at? **

[BigToque]

grrrr!

I've been looking for like 2 months and cant find anything I want!

If it looks nice, its got like 8 billion miles on it, or its 10x more than i want to spend!!

why cant i find a nice looking, low km, low price, reliable, 5spd car?!?

 

[SavageDubz]

A lot of miles does not mean the car is bad. It all depends on how the owner took care of it.

 

[Homer_Simpson]

b/c nice look, low km, reliable, 5 spd cars are not cheap...

of course it all depends on what you consider nice, low km, etc. and how much you are spending...

Homer

 

[JohnnyKnoxville]

Ha Ha I know what you mean ,sometimes it can take months of searching before you find the right car.Keep waiting and save up enough money, you can buy a brand new one which is a better deal in the long run.

 

[pinoy]

My guess is, your not from the US (don't get mad, it doesn't mean anything). Because every corner here sells used cars and........you stated km, not mileage. Am I wrong?

 

[BigToque]

<< A lot of miles does not mean the car is bad. It all depends on how the owner took care of it. >>



but odds are, a car with high km's will be a gonner before a car with low km.

This is what I'm looking for:

5 Speed
< 200,000 KM (125,000 miles). (Prefer < 150,000 KM (95,000 miles))
< $4,000 CDN ($2600 USD)
2 Door

Something that looks nice. By nice, I mean looks somewhat sporty. I don't care if its 22HP, as long as it looks decent and won't break down every 5 miles you put on it.

 

[BigToque]

<< My guess is, your not from the US (don't get mad, it doesn't mean anything). Because every corner here sells used cars and........you stated km, not mileage. Am I wrong? >>



You're correct. I'm from Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

 

[Eug]

www.autotrader.ca

Too bad you don't want a low km (115000) 4-speed automatic from Toronto. Low-end car but running smoothly.

BTW, how much do you guys think I can get for this thing?

Ford Escort 1988 with slight rust in a couple of spots down low otherwise the body is good. Recently replaced battery and tires, and brakes are new. Passed emissions and is safety certified. A/C no longer works though, but heater does. AM/FM Radio. Interior clean and seats in immaculate shape. Regularly maintained.

I've been trying to figure out what to advertise it for. Book value is CAD$1100 (US$715). I've seen worse cars go for CAD$1500 uncertified, so I'm thinking of listing it for CAD$1500 (US$1000).

I'm buying a Toyota Prius this month so I need to sell quickly - only one parking spot.

 

[BigToque]

1988 Honda Prelude SI

Now forget about the damn spoiler... think I should phone this guy?

Where do I take a car to get it looked at to see if its in good shape? My dad thinks the people doing safety checks won't tell me what kind of shape they think its in.

 

[Eug]

Yes, safeties just say the car is safe to drive, not that the car is in top running condition.

By the way, it is good to know who did the safety, since some unscrupulous mechanics looking for a buck will safety just about anything that runs.

Anyways, what do you guys think I could get for my car? $1500 is reasonable?

 

[OS]

yeah I've given up looking for a good used car, I'll probably buy a new one now.

 

[Cooltech2k]

haha Here in Idaho I See early 90's sports cars cars foing for between 2k &amp; 3k all the time... &amp; Thats with low miles &amp; Great cond.

 

[BigToque]

<< haha Here in Idaho I See early 90's sports cars cars foing for between 2k &amp; 3k all the time... &amp; Thats with low miles &amp; Great cond. >>



Thanks. Next time I'm in Idaho, I'll be sure to shop around

 

[BigToque]

so where do I take a car to get it looked at and get someone's honest opinion on the quality of a car?

 

[BigToque]

bump for the people that missed my question...

where do I take a car to get it looked at?

 

[snakesnfrogs]

take the car to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection---whether you get it from a dealer or individual. If they won't let you get the car checked out by your mechanic, tell them you'll go look somewhere else.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you do not have a mechanic, take it to a dealer service department of the manufacture. Expect to pay between 1-1.5 hr labor.
They will give you an complete analysis and cost estimate.

Make sure that you give the vehicle a good workout first before you spend the $$ for the checkout.
Test it on the freeway at above speeds, back roads with plenty of rough pavement.

This will allow you to get a feel of the handling and noises. If you have some good hills nearby, try them for load stress. Expect to spend at least 1 hr to get a proper workout.

If they have maintenance records, check them.
An oil change sticker from a non fast oil shop may give you a clue on who has maintained the vehicle. The shop should give you feedback on what the track record has been for repairs and recomendations.