Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options

Purchasing Used Vehicles

1235733

Comments

  • gkbenjigkbenji Member Posts: 29
    > What vehicle is it...?

    More of the Saab story, Terry. (BTW, The dealer's final offer on the 9-5 wagon I was looking at was $17.8K, which not only was about $500 higher than your original estimate, but the "real" price was $1500+ higher because it needed a new wheel, new tires, and was overdue for 30K maintenance. Makes me wonder what they overpaid for the car.)

    There's that one 2.3turbo here, a couple in Denver, and from there you gotta go to Arizona, Salt Lake or further. There are many reasonably priced wagons elswhere, like Atlanta and New York, even factoring in travel/transport.

    If you go to saabnet.com, there is a listing of recommended Saab mechanics in every state, so it is possible I could find a mechanic in, say, Atlanta who would do a good inspection.

    I don't really like the idea of buying a car sight unseen, but otherwise it might be a long time before the right car shows up in this area.
  • plentoplento Member Posts: 1
    I am in a sales position where I put about 40k-50k miles a year on my car. My current car is simply to small (being a 2 door) and a 5-speed (which I love but isn't practical).

    My question is what should I be looking at?
    I need something All Wheel Drive that wont kill me on gas, is still comfortable and fun to drive and reliable!

    I am sure a used car will be my best option. But does it make sense to pick up a 2002 325XI with about 30K on it and still pay in the neighborhood of $25k...

    In two years this car will have well over 100k on it and I am sure I'll be up-side down on it... I am just not 100% sure what makes the most sense to do?

    Any thoughts or advice would be very helpful!

    Thanks
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,456
    Maybe not that fun, but any Subaru...

    Or, Saab 9-2X

    The only way I would buy the BMW, is if it was CPO and had the 100K mile warranty..

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • driftracerdriftracer Member Posts: 2,448
    with an automatic - plentiful, cheap, AWD, good on gas.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    I was watching our local news broadcast Monday night and they did a story on a guy who recently purchased a used Blazer directly from a Major car rental company, not a dealer. The consumer got home and found a toggle switch hidden under the hood that turned the speedometer/odometer on and off....mmmmmm as if this wasn't interesting enough

    Here is the part of the story that really got my attention. The rental car company, america largest, purchased the car from an auction and then sold it on their lot. I had NO idea that they sold cars other than their own rental cars. The rental company purchased it at an auction just like a dealer...The consumer thought it was one of their previous rentals.

    The investigation continues......

    Am I the only one who didn't know that at least one major rental firm buys auction cars to sell? I always thought they only sold their own previous rentals.
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    You are going to convert a car into a junker in about two years.

    Personally, I would buy a boring midsized sedan (i.e., Taurus, Century, Impala) 2 years old for about $8-10k with 30k miles and use it up. Of the three, I'd favor the Impala as my wife is getting about 30 mpg in Chicagoland with hers and the car is pretty darn comfortable.

    I would not buy anything new as the car will not be worth much when you get done with it.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,456
    Interesting... I knew they took trade-ins.. I just figured they would segregate those on the lot... or have a sign that it wasn't one of their rental cars... or that they wholesaled them.. I had no idea that they were actually purchasing cars at auction for resale..

    Misrepresenting a car as a former rental.. that has to be a first.

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • driftracerdriftracer Member Posts: 2,448
  • steine13steine13 Member Posts: 2,825
    Unless your route is in CO, I don't think you "need" AWD. Forget the BMW for reliability issues, unless you absolutely love it.

    Other than that, jlawrence is right when he says you'll convert the car to worthless in 2-3 years. But I'd say that since you'll spend so much time in the car, it should be something you like. So it comes down to, is your liking the vehicle worth $5k/year? If it's worth $8k per year, the bimmer becomes interesting again.

    If you want middle-of-the-road, I'd say Subaru Legacy Wagon for $22k and be done with it. But I'd get the 5speed :-)

    -Mathias
  • gussguss Member Posts: 1,167
    Mathias

    I see that you are not recommending the Vibe as a good used wagon.I have this on my short list of cars to look at and was wondering if you thought this was the same value as the Prizm?

     I personally like the looks of the Vibe better then the Matrix, I am just wondering if most buyers felt the same way and this make the resale between he two negligible.

     I see you are recommending the Subaru wagons, do you think these are a better deal used ?

     Any input from the used car Guru would be most appreciated.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ........ It depends on the situation ..

                 There is a lot rental companies that have a "used car Mgr" that sell off their lot .. and when the inventory gets low they travel to the auction to purchase, ya know - 20/30 vehicles+ whatever, it's common ...

                    Usually they're in the rental lanes because they get a free float for 30/90 days and/or free transport depending on the volume purchased - but just because it's in the rental lane doesn't make it a rental vehicle and most of those guy do little, if any, history of the vehicle(s) ... the mileage deal, it should have been caught at the service end, off the computer, not off of the Odo ... but again, these guys buy in bulk, most don't get paid a whole lot and/or most don't care because it's a "corporation" ...................... :)

                                     Terry.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,456
    where I can get that switch for my odometer.. Something tells me I could go with a 10K/yr lease next time....

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • steine13steine13 Member Posts: 2,825
    "I see that you are not recommending the Vibe as a good used wagon.I have this on my short list of cars to look at and was wondering if you thought this was the same value as the Prizm?"

    I've got one (bought new), and I like it.. but it's a very different vehicle fromt he Prizm. A lot rougher around the edges, clunky shifter, and fairly loud. OTOH, it handles great, is not nearly as bland, at a very practical vehicle. I guess they are a good value used, but I don't really know... mine is 13 months old; I bought it for $15,500; sticker was $18, now it's worth, according to Terry, a little under $11 to a dealer with 10k on the clock (base/5sp/pwr/no roof or alloys). I guess that does make it a good value, but the ones I see offered for sale are pretty expensive. If you have the old (blue) GM Card, where rebates can reach $3,500, the Vibe is a great car to get... I cashed in $2,600 and was pretty happy.

    My guess is that a Vibe is going to be $1k-2k cheaper than the comparable Matrix, but I don't really know. I read somewhere that GM is putting these into rental fleets, so that should drive prices down.

    Subarus are a pain to buy used; typically expensive enough to be a better value new -- at least at typical dealer retail prices. I was talking to a guy here in town who is offereing a 34k base Outback 5sp that was 'around' $22k street price new... he's asking $17 and would probably take anything over $16... and I think he might get it, though not from me... that is less than 20 cents per mile driven for him. At that price, I'd rather drive the "from new" miles myself.

    -Mathias
  • gussguss Member Posts: 1,167
    I thought they were a bit cheaper than the Toyota Matrix,with a little better styling to my eye. Just need to get used to the driving position.I was hoping they would fall to the same deal as the Prizm, although I am sure you don't.

    The real deals on small wagons I have been seeing are in '02 &'03 Ford Focusses.A little more room than the Vibe and the quality seems to be improving.

     If you can think of any other deals on smaller wagons please let me know.
  • jontalusjontalus Member Posts: 5
    My autocheck report shows a Town Car I would like to buy was sold at an Auto Auction with only 2000 miles on it. Why would a new car be sold at an Auto Auction?
  • jontalusjontalus Member Posts: 5
    My autocheck report shows a Town Car I would like to buy was sold at an Auto Auction with only 2000 miles on it. Why would a new car be sold at an Auto Auction? Was it damaged when it came off the truck?
  • saturnleiasaturnleia Member Posts: 2
    I'm new to Edmunds, but I signed on because I'm looking for recommendations on buying a new car--this seems like the best place to try posting. Specifications:

    1. Price is essential. I have around $6000 to work with for a used car, and would consider a lease if anyone knows of a good deal (under $200 a month total) that would allow me lots of miles.
    2. The car needs to have really good gas mileage because I travel long distances.
    3. I need a TON of storage space, enough for a 5-foot keyboard/case and PA system, ideally without having to skimp on passenger space (i.e. fold down seats, etc.).
    4. Dependability is really important, because I'm tired of cars breaking down on me.

    Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!
  • thelinsterthelinster Member Posts: 10
    I'm not sure how to make comparisons on some of the used cars I'm considering. Here's an example. A 2000 Infinity GS20 with 70K miles vs a 1997 Infinity I30 with 58K miles. The cars are similar and both have nice features like leather, sunroof, Bose sound. All of the engine stuff (sorry for using the techincal term, "stuff") is basically the same. The 2000 seems to have a few more door dings, but nothing major. I like the dealer with the '97 I30 better, in sales approach and service rep. But I won't necessarily be using the dealer for service, so maybe it doesn't matter. Anyway, both cars are right at $10K out the door. I would, of course, get an independent mechanical check before buying the car. So, assuming all other things are equal, is a 97 with lower mileage worth the same or more than a '00 with more? Am I rambling too much? Do you want me to stop?

    Thanks.
  • asafonovasafonov Member Posts: 401
    I am not familiar with the Infiniti GS20 - do you mean the G20? If you do, it and the I30 are rather different animals, the latter being essentially a nicer plusher Maxima.

    G20: compact, based on a Euro-market Nissan ???, which is not sold in the U.S. 2.0 4-cylinder engine. I drove a 5-speed Nissan variant and it is rather nice and nimble. The G20 may feel a little more sluggish since they are often automatics, and with sunroof and other doodads weigh more.

    I30: midsize, based on the Maxima. 3.0 V6. Only automatic transmission.

    I would look at Edmunds what the fair retail prices for these are, ask Terry (rroyce) here or on the Real-World Trade-in Values thread for a second opinion, but, most importantly decide what you like better!
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,330
    I would get the G20, largely because I like the car better. It is quite a bit smaller, and should get better mileage than an I30.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,330
    you mention leasing, but your needs description raises quite a few red flags (largely the miles you will drive). You can get a high mileage lease, but that will cost extra.

    6K is a tough $$ amount to get something that will be real reliable for long distance travelling. But, at that or maybe a little more, there are a few cars that might fit your needs.

    Of course, keep in mind that you might get something that had some paintwork or has higher miles to get down to your target price, just make sure it's mechanically sound.

    Choices:

    -Focus station wagon (should be long enough)
    -Corolla wagon (might be pricey)
    -a PT Cruiser? Not sure how cheap they have gotten, but would hadnle the gear.
    -

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,736
    ok, so rather than give you an opinion on which car to buy, I think you are asking a more general question as to age vs. miles, are you not? In that case, my vote is going to be for lower miles ... under the right circumstances. Now, in the example you gave, the cars are very different, yes, so that kinda throws a wrench in the works. But, let's say they are the same vehicle, 3 years apart, but 12k less miles on the older one. Of course, if this were all true, they would not be the same price. BUT, if they were, I'd go for the newer one only because the mileage difference does not offset the 3 years age difference. If you were talking about 2 vehicles that were 2 years and 50K miles apart, well, my decision would easily be for the 50K less mile machine that is 2 years older.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • kwietstorm6kwietstorm6 Member Posts: 11
    If I see a Certified honda @ an Acura dealer, is it the same Certified warranty that you would get from the Honda dealer? I wondered if I am limited to getting a certified Honda from a Honda dealer only. Any thoughts greatly appreciated
    Isell- jump in please i would love to hear your opinion!
  • jglackinjglackin Member Posts: 164
    This would be akin to buying a CPO Dodge at a Jeep dealership. Both nameplates carry Chrysler warranties.
    Just be careful that it is a Honda Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle, not something else. Many warranty companies sell certification programs to dealerships that, at quick glance, can appear to be a factory program.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,456
    I would bet against it being a certified Honda.. There are a lot of dealers that sell all of their cars as "certified", no matter who makes them... it is usually a marketing scam.. I really doubt an Acura dealer has a "true" CPO Honda...

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • thelinsterthelinster Member Posts: 10
    Thanks. I actually was kind of looking for both answers, but primarily the general milege vs age version. I've always bought new, so this whole experience is full of questions. I appreciate the help.
    LH
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,736
    no problem. Not sure I helped much, though. ;)

    Oh, almost forgot something else. There is such a thing as too little miles on an older car. For example, my mother-in-law has a Ford Tempo that they bought new back in.... hmmmm... i think its a '92. Anyway, its got a whopping 18K miles on it. I'd be biting my nails if I tried to take that on my daily highway commute.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • uo_puo_p Member Posts: 1
    I'm currently looking for a used car and am wondering if there is any advantage in waiting until January when the car is a year older versus the end of the month and year in December.
  • driftracerdriftracer Member Posts: 2,448
    January or December - the "years" are counted as model years and are based on when new models come out - usually around August/September - December to January won't make a difference.
  • shoppingnowshoppingnow Member Posts: 1
    I understand that, from a negotiating standpoint, a good time to buy a new car is at the end of the month.

     

    Is the same true when it comes to buying a used car from a dealership - that the end of the month is better?
  • dbauerdbauer Member Posts: 416
    the end of the month is better for the salesperson sometimes. in my personal case, ive been doing this long enough to know that, i want your deal on the 1st or 2nd of the month. i need a good start to the month to get my momentum going.

     

    everyone is different.

     

    dont wait till the end of the month just to try to save an extra hundred bucks, especially on a used car...that car may not be there by then.
  • volvodan1volvodan1 Member Posts: 188
    You will ALWAYS find a salesperson who is trying to get a good start to the month. Not that we won't sell you one at the end of the month, but to find the proverbial "desperate" salesperson who is trying to hit his bonus, that's difficult.

     

    Like dbauer said, maybe you save a couple of hundred pesos "if" you find "that" salesperson who is trying to hit his number. Maybe

     

    If you find a car you like, buy it.

     
  • mazda04rx8mazda04rx8 Member Posts: 37
    I had a 1987 toyota supra in pristine condition with only 40k miles. It was recently totaled by a woman who rammed into the back of my car at 45 mph when I was standing still waiting for the light to change. It looks like replacement cost for a similar car is between 7-10k while the insurance company is willing to give me slightly over book. Any suggestions on how to go about getting true value other than thru the courts.

    Thanks
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,456
    If you are with someone like State Farm, call your agent, and ask them to go to bat for you.. If you are a long-time client, they can usually make something happen... My aunt did the same thing.. in '92, she had an '85 Mark VII with only 36K miles, and got T-boned.. They only wanted to give her $5600.. She called her agent.. told them how perfect her car was.. cried a little bit.. Presto... $8900..

     

    If you are with Geico, or some other mail-order, internet based insurance company... Not much hope for you, I'm afraid..

     

    regards,

    kyfdx

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    And exactly the reason I stay with State Farm.

     

    Still, it's hard to recoup the real value on an older car like that one. They tend to go by the books and they really don't care if you threaten to take them to court.

     

    Been there.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ..... Insurance agents are a convenience and nice to have ... that said, it's not like the old days and they don't have the "horsepower" that they used to have, most are on a tracking P&L statement that is watched very closely every quarter, including State Farm - but that's a subject all to itself ...

     

                 Anyway .. depending on where you live, the condition and the style it can be based on auctions figures and the previous history, I've seen clean base models do as much as $5,300 with 60k ... remember, the squeaky wheel always gets the grease when it comes to insurance companies, books like the Robb report and pics can always help ....

     

                                Terry.
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    I left State Farm in 1989 when I could not get the agent to return any of my phone calls after my house had been burglarized. Even though the claim was under $500, they cancelled my homeowners policy ten days before renewal.

     

    I was very leary about moving from an agent based insurance company to a "over the phone" service center with Metropolitan. However, I have found that the service through a call center from MET has been more responsive than Allstate, State Farm, or American Family has been. And through our corporate group plan, the savings over State Farm or Allstate has been about 50%.

     

    Getting back to the topic, when dealing with any insurance company, there is generally some leeway that the adjuster has with the amount that you will be reimbursed for your claim. Like in most business situations, you generally don't get what you don't ask for. If I had a car that was very low mileage, I would ask the adjuster for what the car was worth as documented by some comparables. You will probably not get everything you want but it does not hurt to ask for what is reasonable.
  • ratnocletratnoclet Member Posts: 1
    Hi.
    When I check out the 99 Sebring I'm thinking of buying on Carfax it says that the vehicle was serviced at 15 miles for electrical and other stuff and then auctioned soon after listed as manufacturer's vehicle. What does this kind of listing mean? Am I right in suspecting that the maker just had the car returned cos it didn't work and then put it up for auction. It seems to have been part of a corporate fleet over the next three years (pretty low mileage so I'm guessing that doesn't mean rental !) and a personal car for the next two. Thoughts ?
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I would forget the Car Fax and just concentrate on the condition of the car. A lot of the Car Fax stuff really makes little sense.
  • dbauerdbauer Member Posts: 416
    i agree. if it isnt listed as a lemon or manufacturer buyback, then its insured by carfax up to $5000 i think. IOW, if it turns out to be a buyback or lemon, carfax will pay you for the car.
  • bimbalasbimbalas Member Posts: 5
    Hi,
    I'm thinking of purchasing a 1998 BMW 328iS coupe,6cyl,4speed automatic overdrive and with 150000 miles ..for 6000-6500$(Kelly Blue Book value 8200$)...is it a normal deal considering high milage of the car..what things I should look at before buying it?What major problems this car can have because of it's high milage?
    It's an individual selling this bimmer,I'm going to look at the car on saturday,checked carfax everything seems ok,owner has all the maintenance records,he's the second owner and was doing most of the highway miles from home to work.Does anyone have any experience in buying a high milage bimmer?Any suggestions?

    Bimbalas
  • spartaninprspartaninpr Member Posts: 1
    Hi all!Are documentary fees,registration fees,dealer prep and the like negotiable profit centers for the dealer or are they written in stone?What is the dealer's definition of an "out-the-door"price?
  • jasmith52jasmith52 Member Posts: 462
    Well I've bought and have driven high mileage cars. My experience with high mileage cars is that they run but often can use some (mechanical) work. Don't expect a trouble free car with this mileage. Also BMW's aren't exactly cheap to repair or known for being reliable.

    Your price is a little fuzzy. If you can beat the wholesale KBB price by a couple of thousand then that's worth taking a look. If their price is relative to a KBB private party price then I may be interested if the car was outstanding. If the price is relative to a KBB retail price then keep looking or go buy a car from any dealer as this price is nothing special. Many people are confused as to what BB price is, make sure they deduct for the mileage and don't add for a stereo and stock wheels etc.

    As far as what troubles you can expect - well you name it, anything can fail with this mileage. Engines and transmissions are very expensive to repair so make sure that at least those two are good. If the car has electrical problems then just pass on it - those can be a nightmare.

    Something to think about - Maybe you should pay some more to buy a newer-better car or change the type of car that would suit you. Personally I don't get the logic that if you drive a 10 year old foreign status car with very high mileage that that's somehow better than driving a late model American car.

    - Good luck with your search
  • icedog97icedog97 Member Posts: 141
    I am looking at spending 5-6K on a used car and I am considering an older car like a 97 Accord EX with 90-100K miles or a newer car (yet not that much newer) like a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire SE with 50K miles.

    I had an Accord back in 97 on a lease and it was a great car.

    This car is for the daily commute to work (about 40 miles round trip), so I want something that I can rely on.

    My problem would have been solved if I hadn't gotten to the dealer too late on that 2000 Mazda Protege ES with 57K miles that was $5595!!!!

    Any thoughts? Are domestics in this price range and years (2001's) reliable enough? We have a Malibu Maxx (2004) and I know the newer domestics are made better and seem like they will be more reliable down the road.
  • dbauerdbauer Member Posts: 416
    if you are in the market for a protege/sunfire sized car, then i would recommend a 2000/2001 ford focus. with 50/60k miles, you can get one in the $5k-$6k range easily...maybe less, depending on options and condition.

    ford has turned me into a believer with this car. other than a few recalls in 2000, they have been nearly bulletproof in reliability.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,456
    I'd keep looking for another car like that Protege or maybe a Prizm...

    I think you have the right idea with getting an import.. But, the Accord might be a little overpriced..

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • steine13steine13 Member Posts: 2,825
    "[..]Acord might be a little overpriced.."

    Accords usually are.
    moretc over on RWTIV got his '00 EX with 146k appraised at $5 wholesale, take $7,9 from private party.

    A UC dealer I know locally has a white EX auto with 95k on the lot... he's got $7,200 in it.

    Accords are incredible in what people will pay for them. I think they're very good cars, but they don't walk on water. Generally, I'd stay away... if one could be bought for wholesale or so, then maybe.

    -Mathias
  • jlawrence01jlawrence01 Member Posts: 1,757
    Personally, I like domestic cars but to compare an Accord with a Sunfire is NOT an apples to apples comparison.

    Personally, compare an Accord to a Taurus or an Impala as they are similar vehicles sizewise.

    My mechanic is a Honda fanatic and we had this discussion about the Accord vs. Impala this morning. He told me that the Impala would cost me "thousands more in repairs over the life of the car". I turned around and said "have I spent thousands with you over the past five years ...??" "Well ,no. But YOU are different ..."

    But I do know that when I bought my old Ciera in 2000 that the similar year/ mileage Accord was about $7k more ... And that was a retail to retail comparison.
  • ingridringridr Member Posts: 20
    I am looking at getting a subscription to one of these sites to check some VINs. Is one better than the other? Consumer Guide is run by Experian. I typed in one VIN into both search engines and Consumer Guide had 26 records found whereas Carfax had only 24. Consumer Guide is 23.95 for 60 days and Carfax is 24.99 for 30 days. Is Carfax that much better? Thanks for any input!
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Most of these "records found" are nothing. Maybe a trip through emission station or something.
Sign In or Register to comment.