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arkons · March 2005

Im only 21 years old, I have two very small collections on my credit report totaling not over 1000 dollars. I had a car loan which my father had co-signed for me and I made 17 consecutive on time payments of 367 on a 16,000 car loan and then paid the whole thing off in cash due to someone wrecking into me and totalling it and the insurance company paying it off. My problems is, I want to buy a 2 or 3 year old car for about 10,000 dollars but my credit score is only about 550. How much money would I need to put down to get a car loan for 10,000 on my own with my credit with no co-signer? I also own my own business as of 6 months so I dont have tax return yet to prove it.
Please give me advice.
Thanks so much

arkons · March 2005

I was also just going through my credit report, I have a hospital collection for 200 dollars and then I have another one for exactly twice as much from the same hospital, posted only a few months after the first one. I think its the same collection but its on my report TWICE? This is wrong isnt it? It looks like 2 collections but they are both the same?

Kirstie_H · March 2005

You need to contact the credit reporting agencies, in writing, to notify them of the error. For your financing question, please visit our topic titled Purchasing Used Vehicles, where others can help you.

zakiman · March 2005

I am looking for the forum where I can get advice on how to negotiate the end of lease buyout with the leasing company (Honda). My lease ends in may and I was contacted by AHFC over the weekend asking on what I have decided to do. Any techniques ? By the way, my deal was 3yrs/45K, but I have 62K miles on the car now. Also, if its not too much trouble, what'\s the name of forum where Terry? gives TMV value or should I just rely on kbb.com ?
Thanks in advance for your time.

litlbstard · March 2005

Ok, I need help bad. Leased a 2000 Audi TT, used with 12,000 miles in 2002. It was Audi Certified. Soon after my warranty ran out, my engine died last October. Talked to Audi, they refused to do anything for me. Replaced the engine ($6000)Just found out i need a new clutch, $600.(didn't replace it yet, but its slipping really bad!!! My car lease is running out in 7 months, so i dont want to put any more money into the car.

Should I
A) Try to sell the car with a busted clutch? MY buy out is $12,000, maybe i can get $13000 for it.
B)Drive another car until this lease runs out and hand it in?
C)Buy another car at a delearship and make them buy my car out, but they will only give me around $10000 instead of $12000 if i cell it myself?

CarMan@Edmunds · March 2005

Hello zakiman. This sounds like an excellent question for the following discussion: "Real-World Trade-In Values".

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CarMan@Edmunds · March 2005

Hi litlbstard. I am sorry to hear about all the car problems that you have been experiencing. This sounds like a good question for one of the following discussions: "Any Questions for a Car Dealer?" or , "Lease Questions - Ask Here". I am sure that you will get a number of responses if you post your message there.

Car_man
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zakiman · March 2005

Thanks Car_man...!

CarMan@Edmunds · March 2005

You're welcome, zakiman.

Car_man
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likeitornot · April 2005

I've been doing a lot of reading on buying cars, financing, general insurance quotes and looking at local dealers sites checking out prices and trying to find one I like. I need the monthly payments for both the insurance and car payments as low as possible. (for the first few months at least)

Right now I think I'm going to go with a used Honda Civic, possibly an Accord. Although lately I've been looking at Acura Rsx's. I want something small, reliable and easy on gas. The lowest year I'd go is 2002. I'd like the price to be around $10,000 and 15,000, the lower the better but whatever.. I'm more concerned with the total monthly payments and I know that can make the total cost more with interest. My FICO score is 666. I pay all my balances off each month, except for one card that is almost paid off and will be paid off before I get a car. :confuse:

One thing that is confusing me is I'm seeing 2002 Honda Civics for about 15,000 and brand new 2005s for around the same price. Makes me think I'd be better off going with a new one if the 2002 is going to cost more to fix it every month. I know a lot of it has to do with extra features which most of them I don't really care about.

Then there's the thing with insurance. I had my license when I was 16. I think that was good for 1 or 2 years, I never renewed it because I didn't have a car to drive anymore. So it expired. (stupid, I know that now) I'm 23 and just got it back. I've been going to sites like Progressive.com and doing quotes just to get a general idea on insurance costs with the different models and makes. They recommended $359 a month on 2002 Civic. I guess I need to go with full coverage because I'm going to finance or take out a loan. But none of the sites say what exactly full coverage is. They want you to customize everything. I also don't want to put my SS# in to do a quote because I don't want a million inquiry marks on my credit report.

Also anyone know any sites to find out how reliable a local dealer is? I want to do a Carfax report, but would also like to read reviews on a dealer if there are any. I went to dealerrater.com, but not many listed in my area. I'm from RI.

So any advice on where to start or whatever?

likeitornot · April 2005

I meant to post that as a new topic. I guess that's not possible? This forum is really confusing, sorry about that.. Can any mods move it or delete it or something? :confuse:

CarMan@Edmunds · April 2005

Welcome to Edmunds.com, likeitornot. If you've got questions about purchasing a new or used vehicle, you've definitely come to the right place. You were not able to post your question as a new discussion because that feature it turned off here in the Smart Shopper Forum. I can point you in the right direction. You may want to try posting this message over in one of the following discussions: "Purchasing Strategies - Questions & Success Stories" or "Selecting and Buying My First Car". Also, make sure to check out the 10 Steps to Buying a Used Car.

Car_man
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likeitornot · April 2005

Thanks. Anywhere else I can maybe post my questions? I don't seem to be getting much help or replies anywhere. I just don't want to get screwed buying one

Kirstie_H · April 2005

You're getting responses in our Selecting and Buying My First Car discussion, and that's the best place to continue. We discourage posting your message in multiple locations.

Once you've narrowed it down to a few choices, we can point you toward some discussions about those specific vehicles, where you can get feedback from those who already own the car. That's the best way to find out about reliability and customer satisfaction.

crystal2 · April 2005

Hi, Car_man, I posted a question to you in the Extended Warranty forum (recent post from earlier today, 4/8/05). Can you look at it and respond. Sorry, I was not sure if you are still active there, so I am trying to get your attention. The ext warranty is for a 2002 Audi A6 (details in the post over in Ext Warranty). Thanks in advance for your response. Crystal2

CarMan@Edmunds · April 2005

Hi Crystal2. I do still monitor the extended warranty forum and will head over there now to read your post.

Car_man
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simone1 · April 2005

I'd like to reactivate the odometer discussion. I'm in the process of trading in my 1989 190E 2.6 for a 1991 300E 4matic. I ran a AutoCheck Vehicle History Report on my 190E and discovered 100,000mile rollback. What can I do. I've had the car for 4years this October.

Kirstie_H · April 2005

Done:
Odometer Fraud

jipster · April 2005

What happened to "ask the town hall host"?
As well as "inconsiderate salespeople"?(though I think I know) Also I run into links to new boards/topics all the time, that I wouldnt think to do a search for, that are interesting. Do you have a link that lists ALL the boards and topics? My goal is to make daily entries in each board.

par69 · April 2005

I drove a 2004 A8L yesterday. The car has been at the dealership unsold for 13 months. The MSRP was $74670. The invoice is $69756. They offered the car at $66756. I think this is too high considering that in 3 months the 2006 model will be out. I'd be interested in your opinion. Thank you.

jipster · April 2005

How many miles does it have on it?

par69 · April 2005

80 miles

Kirstie_H · April 2005

Ask the hosts has been renamed Forum Finder: Get Directions Here. A lot of new members were confused by the title, and thought "ask the hosts" meant, "get a technical answer from the hosts," which isn't what we intended it to be.

"Inconsiderate Salespeople" died a natural death. The only easy way to get a list of ALL boards and ALL topics is to subscribe to every board, e.g., use the "browse by board" feature, then subscribe to each board. That'd be a LOT of discussions to keep track of!

Kirstie_H · April 2005

Looks like you've found the Any Questions for a Car Dealer? discussion, and that's the best place to get feedback!

no0b · April 2005

I couldn't really find this anywhere or a subject to ask it in.....

How can you tell how much gas a car will use? Anyone have any links that explain this or anything....

:confuse:

jipster · April 2005

I am surprised that "Inconsiderate Salespeople" would die a "natural death"
Are you sure it wasn't euthanizied? Can it be resurrected?

Kirstie_H · April 2005

no0b, are you talking about a particular make/model, or just fuel economy in general? If you tell us specifically what you're asking, we can help you find the right place for your question.

Kirstie_H · April 2005

It ran its course and became too argumentative, with finger-pointing a-plenty.

Re-activating it would constitute the greatest comeback since Lazarus, so I wouldn't hold your breath

no0b · April 2005

I was wondering about fuel economy in general. I wanted to compare a few different cars by it but didn't know how to tell.

Kirstie_H · April 2005

OK, I think the best thing for you to do right now is to type "gas mileage" into the keyword search box at the left. There are several discussions about Van gas mileage, SUV mileage, and Sedan mileage, and general gas mileage questions. One of those discussions would provide a good starting place for your research.

CarMan@Edmunds · May 2005

Hi no0b. The EPA tests all new vehicles that are sold in the U.S. and publishes estimated mileage for them. You can find out what sort of gas mileage any new vehicle gets by visiting the New Vehicle Pricing section of this site and selecting the vehicle that you are interested in. Once you have gotten to the pricing page for the vehicle that you have selected, select the "Reviews and Specs" tab and then select "Specs" under the "VEHICLE FEATURES" list that appears along the left side of the page. This will bring you to a page that lists that vehicle's estimated mileage, how many miles it can get on a full tank of gas, etc...

Car_man
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ellusionz21 · May 2005

I've read a few places where people get good deals by going thru a fleet manager. Who are fleet managers? How do these people get ahold of them? And what kind of deals can they get this way?

Kirstie_H · May 2005

Our topic called Any Questions for a Car Dealer? is a good place to ask your question.

mav1 · May 2005

I have been on the market for a new S4. The dealership I leased my last car from has an S4 that I would like to buy. Invoice price for this car is $49,340
(with options) they want $51,000 this price includes a charge of $506.00 for prep of car and a office fee, that I have never heard of before! and is not on the agreement as a separate item.
they also would like me to buy an extended warranty. I am not sure what to do.
Is this $506.00 charge for preping the car legitimate? and is $51,000 a good price.
Please help! buying cars has really stressed me out. I have not been able to sleep much, I am writing this and its 4.30 am.

mav1 · May 2005

I have been on the market for a new S4. The dealership I leased my last car from has an S4 that I would like to buy. Invoice price for this car is $49,340
(with options) they want $51,506 this price includes a charge of $506.00 for prep of car and a office fee, that I have never heard of before! and is not on the agreement as a separate item.
they also would like me to buy an extended warranty. I am not sure what to do.
Is this $506.00 charge for preping the car legitimate? and is $51,000 a good price.
Please help! buying cars has really stressed me out. I have not been able to sleep much, I am writing this and its 4.30 am.

mav1 · May 2005

I made a mistake in my first posting, the price for the car is $51,506.00 inclusive of $506.00 for preparing the car and office fee

Kirstie_H · May 2005

Hi mav1,
Please look at our existing discussion about the Audi S4 to get opinions from others who have purchased this vehicle.

delange · June 2005

Where should I post a question about people's experence dealing with Honda Financing? We currently have a loan approved with USAA, but Honda offered to beat it. So, I want to find out how easy or hard they are to deal with before I decide to switch from a company that's aways been easy to work with. The price difference would be enough to go to the trouble.

Kirstie_H · June 2005

Questions About Financing New Vehicles is a great place to start. You can also use the make/model search feature at the left to find topics about the exact car you're looking at. For each make/model, we have a topic about prices paid & buying experience. That's where other members share their purchasing/financing experiences.

notyou2 · July 2005

Where would I find information about the pros and cons of buying a NEW 2004 vehicle, still on a dealer's lot. Is it a smart investment now, or a bad investment.

CarMan@Edmunds · July 2005

Hi notyou2. There's nothing wrong with purchasing a new 2004 model at this point, provided that you get a significant discount over what you would have to pay to purchase an equivalent 2005 model. Even though it is still technically considered to be a new vehicle, it has already depreciated quite a bit. I personally would want at least a $1,000 difference in price, if not more, before I would even consider an '04 over a newer model.

Car_man
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sdfanintx · July 2005

I was wondering if I could post somewhere and get some recommendations for a particular car to buy, given a handful of parameters (i.e. price, mpg range, longevity, space, etc). I already have an idea of what I am interested in (makes/models), but I wanted to see if anybody could make a case for other cars that I might not be considering. Is there a generic area for a post like this. Smart Shopping would see like it, but I am not sure about a particular thread. Thank you very much!

Kirstie_H · July 2005

Oh sure! Our members will be more than happy to help you spend your money - hopefully wisely

We have a topic called Please help me decide between... if you're looking at a range of new cars and want advice. If you're looking for a used vehicle, try Used Vehicles: Best Bets

If you've narrowed it down to a body style, like sedan, we've got Help Me Choose! on the Sedans board, and similar discussions on Wagons & SUVs.

Pick one, and I'm sure you'll get feedback - possibly more than you want!

jmiller42 · July 2005

I am looking for recommendations on when the best time to buy is, for example, end of month, end of year, wait to buy a new '05 until the '06's come out, buy now if the employee pricing as good as it gets - any help would be great!!

Thanks in advance!!

CarMan@Edmunds · July 2005

Hi jmiller42. The end of the model year tends to be an excellent time to purchase a new vehicle. If you are interested in purchasing a Chrysler Group, Ford, or General Motors product this is a very good time to buy. It is difficult to say whether their incentives will get any better than the Employee Purchase prices that they are offering right now. Even if they do, their supply of leftover 2005 models will probably be fairly picked through once this program ends. For more feedback on this issue, try stopping by the following discussion: sysop, "Any Questions for a Car Dealer?" #, 15 Dec 2000 2:07 am.

Car_man
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skovatch · September 2005

Hi there,

My wife has decided she wants a new Prius, and she's currently driving a 1997 Honda Odyssey. We also have a 1999 Passat we've been trying to sell for about 5 months now, and after having the sale fall through 3 times now we're getting a bit aggravated with selling it ourselves.

I haven't seen any discussion on this, but I'm looking for advice or even the feasibility of trading in both vehicles for the Prius. Does this happen often? Am I asking for a long haggling session? Or, is there another alternative?

Thanks,
Scott

CarMan@Edmunds · September 2005

Hi Scott. I certainly can imagine that having a sale of your car fall apart three times is very frustrating. You certainly can trade in both of your vehicles in on a new Prius. This sort of thing happens all the time. The least confusing way to handle this sort of transaction is to treat all three transactions, the trade of your Odyssey, the trade of your Passat, and the purchase of your new Prius separately. Do some research on-line to figure out how much you want for your vehicles as trades prior to visiting any dealers. You can find out approximately what they are worth by looking up their Edmunds.com True Market Values in the Used Vehicle Pricing section of this site. You also may want to stop by the following discussion: "Real-World Trade-In Values". One of our most knowledgeable community members, Terry, frequents that discussion and he is often kind enough to give community members who give him an accurate description of their vehicles with his opinion on their value. Once you know what you want for your trades, figure out how much you should pay for your new Prius. You should be able to get a good idea of how much this model is selling for right now by visiting the following discussion: "Toyota Prius: Prices Paid and Buying Experience". An alternative to trading both of your cars in is selling them to a CarMax if you have one in your area. I have heard that they are fairly easy to deal with.

Car_man
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skovatch · September 2005

Thanks, car_man. Fortunately, it looks like the third time will be the charm, and I won't have to do a three-way deal. I did look into CarMax, but unfortunately I'm in Ohio, and the nearest ones look like they're in Chicago. I think we're doing okay on the sale. Negotiations were based on the Edmunds pricing, though a bit on the low side, but it's sold. Now we just need to navigate the next negotiation.

CarMan@Edmunds · September 2005

You're welcome skovatch. I'm glad that everything worked well out for you.

Car_man
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Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums

encinoomnia · September 2005

I am trying to buy new car. I feel ok about the price they have given me, 11% off of MSRP. Problem is the trade in.
I went to the dealer few days ago to get appraised, I got printed sheet. Price was pretty good. Today, I am at the dealer where I am trying to buy new car(differrent brand) they are low balling me $3000 less. I walked out. I think I should wait few days and go back in . What else advice can I get?

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