YACT Buying a used car... Help me decide!

[weiv0004]

Ok, so I'm buying a car within the next week. I've been researching endlessly for the last few weeks and have come up with a few options. I've got a car loan from capital one with a max price of $7500 though if possible I'd like to get something for less than that. I'd like to buy a car with good mileage, that will give me a solid 3+ years (the length of my loan) of reliable service, and still have some value left, so I can trade it in towards a new(er) car purchase when my loan is paid off. I'm not looking for a lot, just a couple thousand dollars in trade in. I live in the twin cities (Minnesota) so that also means I need something with decent winter safety. Anti-lock brakes are a must for me. Some of the cars that I am looking at are:
2001 Nissan Altima with 82000 miles at an asking price of just under $8K
2001 Mitsubishi Galant ES with 87000 miles at an asking price of $6500
Or anyone of many Ford Tauruses ranging from 2001-2002 with around 50k miles for asking prices around $7-8k.

I know tauruses have some reliability issues, and the resale on them is total crap, but since I only need ~3 years out of the car and am only asking for a couple thousand back in trade in, this might be a good option, especially since there are tons of them around with features/and options that I need and want.

Any suggestions, opions or options that I'm not considering? Thanks alot!

 

[amdskip]

A Taurus will have no real resale value, stay away from the turds.
I'd definately get the Altima over the turd.

 

[xanis]

The guy above me (amdskip) is right, the Taurus has crappy resale value. I would go with the Altima or Galant.

 

[bobdelt]

I just bought a brand new focus for 12k with a five year, 100k miles bumper to bumper warrantee. Obviously out of your price range, but it would service you for a lot more than 3 years.

I think the cars youre looking at have too many miles. I'm sure you can find a good car with fewer miles than that.

Are you looking at dealers? Autotrader? How are you finding these cars?

I'd probably get the Taurus but buy an extended warrantee or something.

 

[weiv0004]

think the cars youre looking at have too many miles. I'm sure you can find a good car with fewer miles than that.

I'm only considering dealers, not private parties...I'd feel more comfortable buying some where I can go back to if there turns out to be immediate problems with the vehicle. Do you have any suggestions for cars I should be looking at? I've been using carsoup, cars . com and autotrader so far.

 

[rohizz]

Altima or Galant, can't go wrong either way. Make sure you get some kind of Certified Warranty, and stay away from anything American.

 

[PandaBear]

My dad owns a Taurus 01, it is not bad other than resale value and interior comfort. The only problem so far is battery, EGR (warranty), and warpped rotor. From what I found out, the tranny problem is fixed in 00, and even before the fix, the tranny from 96-99 should last around 70-90k easily, and if you are doing ATF change frequently (30k interval) it should last 120k.

For the money, it is not a bad choice, as long as you do not plan on trading it in before it is completely depreciated to 1-2k.

 

[PCMarine]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
My dad owns a Taurus 01, it is not bad other than resale value and interior comfort. The only problem so far is battery, EGR (warranty), and warpped rotor. From what I found out, the tranny problem is fixed in 00, and even before the fix, the tranny from 96-99 should last around 70-90k easily, and if you are doing ATF change frequently (30k interval) it should last 120k.

For the money, it is not a bad choice, as long as you do not plan on trading it in before it is completely depreciated to 1-2k.

QFT

Taurus owner here. Dirt cheap to buy, maintain (2000+), and insure. Gas mileage is good for a larger midsize car, and winter driving is probably typical of any FWD car.

Granted my next car will be a lot more exciting, the taurus has really helped keep the costs down.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Xanis
The guy above me (amdskip) is right, the Taurus has crappy resale value. I would go with the Altima or Galant.

Uh...isn't crappy resale good for a used car buyer?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: weiv0004

think the cars youre looking at have too many miles. I'm sure you can find a good car with fewer miles than that.

I'm only considering dealers, not private parties...I'd feel more comfortable buying some where I can go back to if there turns out to be immediate problems with the vehicle. Do you have any suggestions for cars I should be looking at? I've been using carsoup, cars . com and autotrader so far.

if you're buying 'as is,' which you are, the dealer isn't going to help you if you have immediate problems.


what you need to do is take the car you're looking at to a mechanic that you know, to see if stuff works right.

 

[LordMorpheus]

I bought a 1997 Lincoln Town Car Cartier for 7 grand two months ago and love it. (bought at 81k miles)

Find a 90's generation (1990-1997) LTC and test drive it - some people love the way they drive, others hate it, but if you like it it's the car to go for. Got so much more presence and character than those other cars.

as for winter driving, it is rear-drive, but it's got four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, mine has traction control, and some models have limited slip differentials. It's heavy enough to not be all that slippery. Don't rule it out just for being RWD.

 

[iamwiz82]

You are forgetting tax, title and license in those prices. That is going to easily run $600-$700 on a $7500 car. Do you have the money to cover that?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Altima

 

[EngenZerO]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Altima

 

[Pepsi90919]

buy the taurus