Help a Virgin Car Buyer Out
I am new here on this forum, and as a resident of Manhattan for the past 30+ years I can say that I haven't had the need for a car. I do have a drivers license and know how to drive, however! Anyhow, my wife and I are currently in the process of buying a house upstate, and we'll need to get a car. The thought of buying a car is daunting. So I was hoping to get some advice from those much more experienced than I...
Considering our bank account is taking a hit from purchasing a home, our first thought was to buy a used car. Something with a good reputation for safety, reliability, etc. Like a Honda CR-V or a Subaru Forester/Outback. We want something like that - plenty of cargo space and AWD. I've heard people say how great Carvana and other online sources for used cars are, so I've been browsing for weeks now on TrueCar, CarGurus, Autotrader and a bunch of other sites. Finding one of those cars in good condition (no accidents or damage, clean title, etc), with fewer than 70,000 miles for a price we can afford is challenging. And when I've found cars that seem to be within our budget, there are always ludicrous add ons that bring the price out of reach. For instance, today I found a 2016 Honda CR-V on TrueCar, listed for $12,900. That sounded great... Until I found out that there were over $5000 in random ridiculous fees added by the dealer. The reports of bait and switch tactics by local dealers here in NYC are so numerous that it's worrisome.
So maybe it makes more sense to buy a new car? I believe a new CR-V, Forester or Outback would be in the $26,000 range. Maybe financing one of those would give more peace of mind and even save money in the long run?
If we go the Carvana route, do we just dive in, have the car delivered and just trust that it won't fall apart one day after their guarantee period expires?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Recommendations for other cars that would be substantially cheaper but also reliable would also be welcome. Honda and Subaru are just two names I know and hear predominantly great things about. We do like the idea of having that cargo space in the back, and AWD is appealing as well. Thoughts? Suggestions? Advice? Thanks in advance!
Considering our bank account is taking a hit from purchasing a home, our first thought was to buy a used car. Something with a good reputation for safety, reliability, etc. Like a Honda CR-V or a Subaru Forester/Outback. We want something like that - plenty of cargo space and AWD. I've heard people say how great Carvana and other online sources for used cars are, so I've been browsing for weeks now on TrueCar, CarGurus, Autotrader and a bunch of other sites. Finding one of those cars in good condition (no accidents or damage, clean title, etc), with fewer than 70,000 miles for a price we can afford is challenging. And when I've found cars that seem to be within our budget, there are always ludicrous add ons that bring the price out of reach. For instance, today I found a 2016 Honda CR-V on TrueCar, listed for $12,900. That sounded great... Until I found out that there were over $5000 in random ridiculous fees added by the dealer. The reports of bait and switch tactics by local dealers here in NYC are so numerous that it's worrisome.
So maybe it makes more sense to buy a new car? I believe a new CR-V, Forester or Outback would be in the $26,000 range. Maybe financing one of those would give more peace of mind and even save money in the long run?
If we go the Carvana route, do we just dive in, have the car delivered and just trust that it won't fall apart one day after their guarantee period expires?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Recommendations for other cars that would be substantially cheaper but also reliable would also be welcome. Honda and Subaru are just two names I know and hear predominantly great things about. We do like the idea of having that cargo space in the back, and AWD is appealing as well. Thoughts? Suggestions? Advice? Thanks in advance!
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Comments
If you’re moving to a city Uber might be a better choice until supply frees up hopefully next year.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible