Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with car and usedcar

Best recovery from a bad car deal?

anadem — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:18 -0800

Just over two weeks ago a young friend bought used car from a dealer who's 80 miles away. The car came with serious engine problems. The dealer says they'll take it back for a refund but won't return the full price she paid. They say they'll keep their costs, but won't even discuss on the phone the amount they'll return. How best can she get all her money back? My friend paid with cash and check. When she found the repair would cost a bit more than the check she gave, she put a hold on the check. But the dealer has the pink slip, so she has no title to the car and the dealer is threatening repossession because of the hold on the check.

The deal included a three month guarantee of engine and drivetrain, but the engine problem is a bad timing belt which is not covered by the g'tee. And the guarantee company say they have no record of the guarantee she has (checking the serial number) perhaps because the dealer didn't register it, or maybe just because it takes more than a couple of weeks to go through.

What options does my friend have? This is in California. The dealer is Rush Motors in Fremont. Should she return the car then take the dealer to small claims court? Would standing in the street outside the dealer at the weekend with a suitable sign help them decide to give a full refund? Is a lawyer the best option?

Some background: I looked at the car ('92 VW Passat) with her before she bought it. The engine made a noise which Radwan (the salesman at Rush Motors) said was because a hydraulic adjuster on the timing chain needed pumping up. I suggested it might be timing belt noise but Radwan and his sidekick insisted the car had a timing chain not a belt. Radwan said he'd get the adjuster fixed, and my friend went back two days later and bought the car (the noise was temporarily gone). The noise returned later that day, and she had the local VW dealer here identify the problem.

The car cost $5800 (I think) of which $4500 was paid in cash and $1300 as check. The repairs are estimated at $2300. My guess is (since these are such slimeballs) they will try to keep at least $1000 of her money, but maybe I'm unduly negative.

Some questions about selling a car

crapmatic — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:01:22 -0800

Car selling questions: (1) Is there any reason for me, as a seller, not to disclose the VIN in a car ad, say on Craigslist? A Carfax lookup would reflect favorably on this car, but I don't know if there are "car identity thief" issues here. I know dealers list VINs all the time. (2) What is considered a reasonable precaution if someone wants to take a test drive or have their mechanic inspect the car? I'm not sure what would stop a thief from asking for a test drive and then never coming back. This is an older model car so I don't have any loss/damage coverage, but I'm guessing I should until it's sold.

What's the best market to sell my lemon?

pilibeen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:14:50 -0800

How should I go about selling a car with some mechanical issues? I've had my Subaru Outback for about 5 years - I've been thinking about replacing it with something more fuel efficient (I really don't need the AWD), compact, and fun to drive.

Within the past few months, some mechanical/electrical issues have been showing up sporadically - which makes me think now is a good time to finally sell it.

The issues are:
1. Possible starter/solenoid problem - sometimes it takes me 5 or more turns of the key to get the engine turning over.
2. Strange shifting issue in low gears - sometimes the car will struggle to throttle up/get out of first gear - even when I'm trying to give it full gas.

These first two issues seem to go away once the car is warmed up.

3. Electrical/security system issue - can't use power locks without triggering alarm system

I also have been driving on mismatched tires for the past couple of years - which I've recently heard is a bad, bad thing with an AWD vehicle.

So, considering all the above - how should I sell this car? Should I go to a dealer, not say anything, and see what they offer? If I try to sell it on Craigslist, advertising all the above issues, am I going to get any decent offers? Is there an another option I'm not considering?

Fuel efficient, fun-to-drive hatchbacks for < $4500

pilibeen — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:27:45 -0800

Which hatchback should I be looking at? Plus: diesel vs. gas engines... So I'm looking to trade in my boring wagon, and get something more fuel efficient, compact, and fun to drive. Ideally this would be a hatchback - but I'm also considering the idea of a compact pickup truck.

I'm not really sure where to start my search. I know that I like the Subaru Impreza Outback (though bad gas mileage), the Honda Civic hatchback, and the VW Golf.

My ideal vehicle would have good fuel economy: 30/mpg +, manual transmission, fun to drive, have room for stuff. Any other vehicles I should be considering? Thoughts on what I'm already interested in?

My budget is no more than $4,500.

Also, I was wondering what the general opinion of diesel engines is. Are they much worse, emissions wise, than gas (even with the Golf TDI getting 50mpg)? Outside of biodiesel and veggie oil conversions, is it a total sin to own a diesel? Keep in mind my budget...I'd probably be owning a late 90's/early 00's vehicle... I'm also interested in the idea of biodiesel or veggie oil conversions.

Thanks!

Out of state used car headache

zvs — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:44:26 -0800

I'm looking into buying a used car, and found a pretty good looking one from a colleague in New Jersey. I live in Brooklyn. How the heck does this work? Parking and title questions follow... I've never bought a car before, so it's all new to me. If I buy this car, the original owner has to take the plates off -- then I guess I'll need a NY in-state temporary plate to get it to my house.

Problem 1: Do I just leave it in NJ until I manage to get NY plates? Do I have to get title to get a transfer plate, or does that include title? The website is less than clear.

Problem 2: Where the heck do I keep it? Will I get ticketed if it's on the street? Will I get ticketed for moving an unplated car during street cleaning?

Problem 3: Where do I pay sales tax?

Anybody done this before?

Please help me find the make/model I want, so I can focus on the next steps. Thanks!

iamkimiam — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:56:05 -0800

I need to buy a new, used or certified used car real quickly. I could use some help deciding on a make and model that meets some specific criteria. I have ~$4000 I could put down on either a brand new or certified used car (not to exceed $25k). I could manage about $6000 for a direct-from-seller used car.

I want something fuel efficient and/or hybrid, but I am not currently not keen on buying a hybrid from a individual seller (hybrids are more expensive and if I am going to invest in one for environmental and economic reasons, I would prefer the extra up-front cost to count toward the public financial record of support of this type of innovation – an individual seller has already paid for the car and I might as well buy a fuel-efficient used car for less from them).
It'd be great if I could put >$4k down on a car that is also less than ~$12k. That's a most comfortable loan amount for me.
The newer the better.
I would prefer a hybrid.
Must be able to transport bikes and surfboards (shortboards inside with seats folded down) and longboards (at least three) up top. Cars like Prius's are NOT designed for this...curved roof and significant drag make it not practical.
The smaller the better. I like finding parking and not being a big bohemoth on the road.
Good track record, reliable. I tend to sell cars when I suspect they are going to start causing problems a year or two down the road, and so I don't want to take on something with a short life span, known problems, or high repair cost.

I currently have a Mazda Protege5 wagon, which is a pretty great all around car, minus the fact that mine is almost done for, its no longer made, and the gas mileage is 'meh'. I used to have a Mini Cooper, but that thing was too small.

Any suggestions, both car-wise and perspective-wise?

A few questions about cars.

IndigoRain — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:23:51 -0800

I have a few questions about buying a new or used car. Having recently had my car totalled by a 17-year-old with no license who pulled out in front of me, I need a new or used car. I have a few questions.

1. Having grown up in a "buy American" family - yes yes, I know - I'm not very familiar with Toyota, Honda, etc. I've had a Saturn SL1, a Chevy Lumina Euro, a Mercury Topaz, and the one that was wrecked was a Chevy Cobalt. My parents have had Fords, Lincolns, and Mercuries, most of which are out of my price range. (I'm looking for the under-$20,000 range.) For reasons I don't understand, they were always anti-Pontiac and anti-Chrysler, perhaps due to bad experiences. How do I get comfortable with other brands? Should I just take them out for test drives?

2. Back when I went to buy my Cobalt, brand new, I was intending to get an Aveo. However, my parents (who were signing with me) insisted I should never get the cheapest car they make, because it's usually crap and also unsafe. Does this hold true? Do the cheapest cars tend to fall apart faster and also perform less safely in car accidents? My mom is convinced that I or my friend would be dead if we'd been in an Aveo in the accident.

3. My parents will likely co-sign on this car too and so have some say in what kind of car I get. Mom wants me to get a huge car for more protection, despite the fact that I was not terribly injured. I am far more comfortable in smaller or midsize cars, like the ones I've owned, than I am in huge cars like a Grand Marquis or a Crown Victoria. As a compromise one model I'm looking at is a Saturn Astra. Does it drive and park like a smaller car? (I haven't actually seen one in person.)

As my dad's pointed out to me, while I loved my Cobalt, I'm not sure I want another one. He thinks I may have flashbacks being in a car with an identical dash. I'd just have to test drive one to know for sure.

4. Edmunds.com and Motor Trend don't have the safety ratings for the Astra. Motor Trend says "they're coming soon." Where can I find safety ratings for cars that haven't had them published yet? Do they exist?

5. Would you buy a car from CarMax? Are they trustworthy?

Help me sound smart when purchasing a car!

genmonster — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:05:56 -0800

Buying a used car from owner: what questions to ask? As my old Toyota is on its last legs, I'm looking to replace it with a new(er) model. I'm hoping to buy it directly from the owner to avoid paying a dealer's markup. I'm meeting a guy for a test drive tomorrow..what stuff should I ask him?

I already know: ownership history, reason for selling, highway v. city mileage. I plan to ask for the VIN to get a carfax report, and have the car vetted by my mechanic, but I feel like I'm missing something...what smart things should I ask, or what do you wish you had asked a previous owner?

*bonus question* he's asking exactly the Kelley Blue Book value- is this considered a totally reasonable (even a good) price? Almost all the cars of this make and model in my area are being sold by dealerships, so I'm having a hard time finding other sellers to compare prices to.

Help me choose a new family car!

dellsolace — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:29:44 -0800

Help me find/decide on options for a new, family-friendly car. My 2000 Neon has served me remarkably well, all things considered, but now that we have a little one (attached to enormous car seats), we are in the market for a larger and safer vehicle.

I would really like something that meets the following criteria, more or less: a hatchback or station wagon, manual transmission, decent mileage, under $30,000. I am not averse to used cars, but I want something with modern safety devices, particularly side airbags (have you ever watched those horrible side-impact crash tests?), and something in decent shape (not more than 40 or 50 thousand miles).

We currently have one 1-year old daughter, and may be in the market for another child down the line (2-3 years). Rear-facing car seats behind the passenger seat in our current cars means one of us has to sit in the back. Packing the whole family with luggage and presents for Christmas is already almost impossible and could get worse. You get the picture.

I've been particularly taken by the Mazda5, which seems to be a very versatile and fun car. We have a 3 now, but the backseat is a bit tight. If the car is roomy, I'd consider a regular 4-door, but I like the style of hatchbacks and wagons, actually.

Any suggestions?

How do I sell a car that's financed?

twiggy32 — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:20:48 -0800

How do you sell a car when you owe the car company money? I am moving and I need to sell my car. I owe more money than it is worth, but I am able to make the difference up. But what is the procedure when both parties need to pay the car company before the title gets released?

Got the loan...now what?

thatbrunette — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:37:40 -0800

So remember when I asked about getting a car loan? Well, I got one (yay!). Now I've been to a used car dealership and found the perfect car (yay!). Only that's not the end of the story... I laid out my budget restrictions to the dealership, and had a test drive with a great little car (Chevy Aveo). I was happy, they were happy, I went home to get my loan paperwork. By the time I came back, they were hemming and hawing and telling me that they simply couldn't sell the car for what they had told me and that I'd have to pay $1,000 more. Since I refuse to be strongarmed I told them I wouldn't be buying a car from them, and left.

Flash forward to now, when I have found another Aveo being sold by a private seller. The carfax report checks out, I'm going to test drive it this week. But I'm nervous to be buying from a person and not a licensed dealer... I already know that I love this make/model of car, that it's right in my budget, and that it will suit me best for what I'm looking for. Is there anything else I should ask in this situation, since it's private seller and not a dealer? Any warning signs or red flags to look for? What is the (if any) recourse I can take if this car breaks down a week after buying it?

Getting rid of a dead car from far away.

NortonDC — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:14:12 -0800

My car died far from home. What's the best way to get rid of it? Relevant points:

I already have another car, so I definitely want to get rid of the old car.

The old car is in Waynesboro, VA.

My home is very close to Washington, D.C.

It's a long trip.

The car is a 2000 Honda Accord V6 2-door, 115,000 miles, the extra-fancy edition, with a some visible but non-obvious damage on the rear bumper area.

The engine has very low compression in two cylinders, for which the recommended repair is to replace the engine, which is projected to cost $3,500 to $4,000.

I put $750+ in new Michelins on the car a month before it died.

The mechanic made an offer to buy it as is for $500.

I want to be rid of it quickly but I also need to make sound money decisions, so what should I do?

WTB Wheels, Not Enough $$$ On Hand

BeerFilter — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:06:11 -0800

Are individuals selling used cars frequently willing to work with a purchaser with regard to a payment plan or are they really expecting the full asking price all at once? I need to buy a used car soon. I have a job but I don't have a lot of money saved up.

For instance, there's a nice-looking used car for sale on my ride home from work. The writing on the window says $2700. I don't have $2700 right now. I could put $1000 in the seller's hand right now, but it'd probably take me 6 weeks to earn up the rest. I could pay the rest out over say, a couple months.

FWIW, this is the 3rd used car for sale I've seen sitting in front of this house in the last couple months, suggesting this person liquidating his personal fleet. I bring this up because maybe this could be an indicator of someone eager to make a deal? Someone who just wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible?

Of course everyone's different, and some sellers would be willing to work with me and some would not. I'm just wondering what the general expectation is when people sell their cars to other people, and whether I shouldn't bother looking for cars until I have more money saved up.

long distance car buying -- slightly paranoid and overeager buyer

TayBridge — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:47:09 -0800

After months and months of looking, I've finally found my dream car. The problem is, it's a few hundred miles away from me... and my trusted mechanic. Help me make this happen! I'm in Orange County. My dream car is in San Francisco. I really don't mind having an excuse to fly up there; in fact, I'm looking forward to making a weekend of it. The prospect of finally ending my search for a new car and getting a little vacation out of it to boot is proving irresistible. However, I want to make sure that in my excitement I don't end up buying a lemon.

I've talked to the seller (a private seller, not a dealer) and received satisfying answers to all my concerns. I've checked the carfax report, and it's clean. It's been smogged and is registered until next year. If it was in Southern CA, the next step would be to have my mechanic check it out. Since it isn't, is it ridiculous to imagine I'll be able to find a trustworthy mechanic in San Francisco who'll be able to check it out on a weekend on short notice? (Unfortunately, the weekend is the only time I'd be able to get away from work.) Is it better to try to inspect it myself? I'm no expert on cars, but would it be possible to learn enough in a week to be able to determine for myself whether it's fundamentally sound? If it is, I'd appreciate any books or websites you could recommend.

To those who've bought a car long distance-- are there any particular pitfalls you can think of? Am I crazy to go to all this trouble for this car, or should I wait (probably a few months, at least) until one pops up closer to where I live? The car itself isn't rare, but the particular combination of options the SF car has is.

This is my first time buying a car without a parent's help, so I apologize for being so naive / overeager / particular / paranoid, etc. Thank you, Ask MeFi.

First-time car seller looking for best way to sell a car in NYC

dcjd — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:55:45 -0800

First-time car seller looking for best way to sell a car in NYC? I moved to Manhattan a few months ago, and I brought my car with me. I hardly ever use it now, and its costing me a lot of money and aggravation. I'm thinking that it might be time to get rid of it, however, I've never sold a car before.

What's the best method to get rid of my car and not get ripped off? Should I have the car inspected before listing it, or is that something the buyer would want to do themselves? I'd like to be safe, as I'm sure there are plenty of people on craigslist who might try to scam me out of my vehicle. The car is registered in NY, gets decent gas mileage, and I have the title to it.

What should I expect in a used car given a budget of $4000-6000?

deansfurniture5 — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:15:38 -0800

What should I expect in a used car given a budget of $4000-6000? After reading through past posts on MetaFilter, along with poking around the web, I'm pretty set that I want to get either a Honda, Toyota, or Nissan for my first car (I'm a 19 year old college student). I've got a budget of right around $4000 to $6000, and I've been poking around craiglist, autotrader, and other similar sites. However, I really don't know what to expect in a car (i.e. what's a "good" mileage to get, what year). I've looked on kbb.com and edmunds.com, but what I really want to know is what to look for in terms of reliability.

Any thoughts/suggestions? Also, just to note--I'm not necessarily as interested in which make/model to get, but rather what to look for in the car.

Hopefully that's enough info to start the discussion, thanks in advance!

Car purchase could be the death of me...

liquado — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:24:43 -0800

I just got a kick-butt new job, and I'm already in stressed-out, dejected pain -- over buying a stupid car to get to it. I've just gotten this great new communications officer gig that kicks all kinds of ass (short hours, lots of holidays, good pay, interesting travel, casual office environment, networking opportunities galore -- yay!). I start on Monday, and am crazily excited.

The catch is the car.

We're currently a single-vehicle family (minivan), having just booted our last beater into the back-40 three weeks ago, because of terminal fixability issues. This job showed up out of the blue, and I was hired, literally, three hours after the interview. We had planned on single-car-ing it for the next little while, but this has massively accelerated the need to purchase something. So, I have five days to find a vehicle. Here are my issues:

1) We live in a rural area, four hours from Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, so there is a dearth of used vehicle options;

2) I want something that's in the 5-8K range (so I can pay cash);

3) I've looked at all kinds of used vehicles in Winnipeg, and though I know many will recommend a Corolla, Civic, Tercel or Accord, the price on these cars in Winnipeg are *insane.* I cannot in good conscience pay $8,000 for a 1994 four-door Tercel with 170,000k on it, that looks so cheap, the gas pedal must be an option;

4) I'm not super image-conscious, but I want something that has a little style. I have a minivan for hauling the kidlets around in, so it would be nice to have something a little sportier -- yet still good on gas -- to drive to work in;

5) I'm not a mechanical idiot, but I also don't have the time in my day to dink around with a car that's not going to be reliable.

I'm totally dejected over this, because I'm running out of time, and feeling like I've got to spend substantially more money than I thought, on cars that look not-so-reliable. I guess I'm looking for some opinions on other cars that are in that price range that I've found (all in the 1999-2003ish age):

-Olds Alero
-Pontiac Grand Am (I swear to god, half of Winnipeg owns this or a Cavalier)
-Pontiac Grand Prix

....or, should I suck it up and spend more on something else?

Thanks, hive mind....

Was I born every minute, too?

metaculpa — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:57:49 -0800

Buying a used car from a dealer who bought it at an auction - and he doesn't have the title. Heya,

I'm buying a used car from a dealer who bought it at a dealer auction. I've had the car checked out mechanically and whatnot, and I'm comfortable with that side of things. The title is "in transit" from the owner, and so the dealer doesn't have it. He says he'll complete a temporary registration in the meantime, and pass on the title when it comes.

This seems a little weird to me, but I havn't bought a car this way before. Thoughts? Preferably quick thoughts?

Thanks!

What should I do with my overheating 1994 Nissan Sentra ?

kingb — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:44:32 -0800

What should I do with my 1994 Nissan Sentra ? It has 270K miles on it and now the water pump needs to be replaced. I don't want to put any more money into it. Will a scrapyard or a used parts dealer pay me for it ? How much should I expect to get ? Any specific recommendations for Tampa, Florida ? Thanks for your help !

My kingdom for a horse: Trustworthy SoCal car dealers/mechanics

lalochezia — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:14:34 -0800

Buying-a-used-Car in SoCal-filter : I'm looking for good used car dealerships in the Pomona / Inland Empire / greater LA area. Also, for good independent mechanics to examine a prospective used car. Also: Examples of dealers/mechanics to avoid and general advice. I'm looking to buy a newer-than-2001 used car for 10-13k* at the end of July near to Pomona/Claremont, CA. I'm happy to go further afield to buy, but the nearer the better.

Does anyone have (or know of) any good / bad experiences with a particular dealership? Reputations of said dealers?

Bonus if you or someone you know bought a car in the last 3 months and had a good (or bad) interaction with a particular salesman / F&I office / post-dealer experience.

After I test drive the car, I'd like to get it examined by a mechanic to make sure it's kosher. Suggestions in the Pomona / Claremont / inland-empire areas? What's the going rate for an examination? Any joy in persuading/not persuading dealers to let you have the car examined?

Any other advice on buying a used car in SoCal gratefully received.

* I'm currently narrowing my choices from the standard Accords, Civics, and their import clones (nissan, mitsubishi hyundai, etc), as well as thinking about off-the wall cars like the Scion xB, VW cabriolet, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider, Toyota Matrix and some others. Criteria: reliable, automatic, economical, 4-seater commuter car, fun. Any advice on these would be appreciated too!

I want a Peugeot. Am I insane?

serazin — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 14:13:59 -0800

I'm looking for a diesel that I can cram my kids, dog, girlfriend and friends into. (I posted previously about this.)For some reason I'm now obessed with getting a used Peugeot. I live near San Francisco. How would I go about finding a Peugeot? (They aren't sold new in the US.) I called a local European car repair shop and asked who sells them used and he said "no one". Not promising. Any ideas?

Buying out a lease on a car.

eurasian — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 19:19:40 -0800

Buying a used car. Basically paying the buyout of a lease. Am I getting a good deal? Standard kms for the age, 4 year old Mazda Protege 5. I'm basically paying $200 less than what it would cost this person to buy it out. Is this a good deal?

And for posterity, if one buys out someone elses lease, is it generally a good deal for the car?

Buy a used Japanese car - go on used Japanese welfare.

unixrat — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 09:43:09 -0800

Buying American: Does buying a foreign *used* car matter? I've always bought cars made in America, from American-based companies. (Multi-national corporate yadda yadda, I know..) I've got my eye on a used VW which seems like a good deal, but my conscience is nagging me.

The damage is done, right? Does it the used car market matter to the Buy American mindset? VW isn't going to get another sale and I'm not in the market for a new car. The used car dealer is not associated with any make - it's an independent outfit that has done me well in the past.

What are the best new or used car dealerships in Atlanta?

jpburns — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:52:04 -0800

My sister-in-law is looking for a low-priced new or used car, probably a Toyota, but she's also looking at a Kia or a Hyundai. We're in the metro Atlanta area [MI]... and we're looking for good online resources for finding out:
1/ Customer satisfaction for models/makes.
2/ Local dealer ratings.
3/ Any other useful resources?

Thanks

$10 to $15k used car suggestions

skwm — Thu, 18 Mar 2004 11:05:55 -0800

Used car suggestions: I've got 10 to 15k to spend...[mi] I've got about 10 to 15k to spend on a used car. I'm thinking of a Volkswagen Golf, or a Honda Civic hatchback. I like their size, and I like the style as well.

I don't really know a thing about cars, so any other suggestions as to a decent used car - I'm looking for something from around 2001 or 2002, with less than 40k miles on it - would be appreciated. Features that are important to me are mileage, reliability, and I would like to have a sunroof, as well as a manual transmission.

What kind of car can I expect to get for this amount?

Also, I can pay about 60 to 70% of that in cash - what kind of discount can I expect? Is doing that even wise?