YACT What used car to buy?

[weiv0004]

Allright so I need to buy a used car within the next week or so. I'd like to spend 7500 or less. But I don't need the car to last a looong time. I'm thinking in around 3 years I would like to buy a new car (3 years is the length of the loan I will be getting.) Does anyone have any suggestions? I was looking at honda civics, It looks like I could get one from 2001 for my price. However, I also saw some really cheap Ford Tauruses as well. I'm currently driving my dad's old 95 taurus, and haven't really run into any major problems with that, however I hear there have been major problems with taureses in general. It looks like I could get a much newer car ~2003 with much fewer miles on it (about 40,000 less actually) for my same 7500 price. Any suggestions or comments?

(edit) Another question: I've been looking at prices on kbb.com and was wondering how much I should reasonably expect to pay above trade in value on a used car from a dealership. I understand they expenses to recoup, but what's a reasonable profit for the dealership? I remember going with my dad to purchase a car once many years ago. The asking price was somthing like 5 grand, and he wrote a check in front of them for half of that. He ended up almost walking out twice, but ended up pulling an additional 60 bucks cash out of his wallet to seal the deal. I assume half of asking price is uncommon, but what is typical? Thanks.

 

[waggy]

i have a 93 grand am. in great condition! cheap!
]

edit: for $7500 you can get a very nice Taurus. i was looking for a new vehicle myself about a month ago. i seen a LOT Of 2003-04's going for around that. with around 50k miles or less.

i had a 2003 that was great. i thad no trouble (well besides the damn corn field). it was a great car though under powered.

 

[Reckoner]

How about something like this?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
How about something like this?

perfect :thumbsup:

 

[Stunt]

1998 = a few years old?

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: Stunt
1998 = a few years old?

A sh!tty car is a sh!tty car, doesn't matter what year it steps out of the assembly line. Why not just get something that is proven to be reliable? That 1998 Maxima just may run and perform better than a lot of "newer" cars.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
Allright so I need to buy a used car within the next week or so. I'd like to spend 7500 or less. But I don't need the car to last a looong time. I'm thinking in around 3 years I would like to buy a new car (3 years is the length of the loan I will be getting.) Does anyone have any suggestions? I was looking at honda civics, It looks like I could get one from 2001 for my price. However, I also saw some really cheap Ford Tauruses as well. I'm currently driving my dad's old 95 taurus, and haven't really run into any major problems with that, however I hear there have been major problems with taureses in general. It looks like I could get a much newer car ~2003 with much fewer miles on it (about 40,000 less actually) for my same 7500 price. Any suggestions or comments?

3 years? Why not just get a 3-year lease? My Saturn ION lease was $1,000 down and is about $200 a month. It's a tad more total than you want to spend but you get a new car and maintenance is free, plus you don't have to go through the hassle of selling it at the end of the lease.

 

[Stunt]

Can get a 2001 civic with <100,000 miles for <$7,000.

Civic is proven reliable, cheap on gas, low insurance cost, and decent size.

 

[LordMorpheus]

i bought a '97 lincoln town car for 6999.00 2 months ago. Great car. Hell of a lot of car for the money.

 

[Aimster]

1997-1999 Nissan Maxima SE w/ these options:

Leather/Bose/Sunroof/16" Wheels/Fogs/Heated Seats/White Gauges/Automatic Climate Control/Spoiler/

=

Enjoy

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: Stunt
1998 = a few years old?

A sh!tty car is a sh!tty car, doesn't matter what year it steps out of the assembly line. Why not just get something that is proven to be reliable? That 1998 Maxima just may run and perform better than a lot of "newer" cars.

and the ATOT japanese car fanbois come out of the woodwork.

 

[Aimster]

Infiniti version of the Maxima:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Infiniti...emZ330009316037QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[weiv0004]

3 years? Why not just get a 3-year lease? My Saturn ION lease was $1,000 down and is about $200 a month. It's a tad more total than you want to spend but you get a new car and maintenance is free, plus you don't have to go through the hassle of selling it at the end of the lease.

Well, I did consider that, but I'd like to have something to show for my money after the 3 years, even if it is an older car with 2+ owners, It's liable to still be worth somthing, at least in trade in. Talking to my dad about used car buying, he says that he is happy with a car, if he gets 1 year of (major) problem free driving per $1000 dollars spent. I thought this seemed like he was expecting too much from a car, but he definately drives his cars to death. I would be happy with spending ~7500 on a car, if I could get 3 years of solid use out of it and still be able to trade it in towards a new car for a few thousand dollars.