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	  <title>Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with usedcar</title>
      <link>http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/usedcar</link>
      <description>Questions tagged with 'usedcar' at Ask MetaFilter.</description>
	  <pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:56:42 -0800</pubDate> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:56:42 -0800</lastBuildDate>

      <language>en-us</language>
	  <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
	  <ttl>60</ttl>	  
	<item>
	<title>Can anyone recommend housing and car dealership in the Houghton/Hancock area of Michigan Upper Peninsula?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/138085/Can%2Danyone%2Drecommend%2Dhousing%2Dand%2Dcar%2Ddealership%2Din%2Dthe%2DHoughtonHancock%2Darea%2Dof%2DMichigan%2DUpper%2DPeninsula</link>	
	<description>Can anyone recommend housing and car dealership in the Houghton/Hancock area of Michigan Upper Peninsula? I am moving mid-December to the Houghton/Hancock area in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan from Mississippi. Housing search has not been very fruitful so far. A lot of the apartment complexes or property management companies don&apos;t have information on the Internet, so I am stuck with very few posting that are online. I can see that there are a number of apartment complexes, but I don&apos;t know which one to begin with. Can anyone recommend any 1 bedroom apartments to rent for a single person?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Also, can anyone mention any car dealers to go to or to avoid for a good used car?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.138085</guid>
	<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:56:42 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>hancock</category>
	<category>houghton</category>
	<category>housing</category>
	<category>michigan</category>
	<category>upperpeninsula</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>i2d2</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Reverse Ebay?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/135693/Reverse%2DEbay</link>	
	<description>Used Car Buying Time! Is there a website that allows a user to enter the model car they want to buy with the amount they want to pay that dealers can look at and make an offer?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.135693</guid>
	<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:21:44 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>meeshell</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Best recovery from a bad car deal?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/135610/Best%2Drecovery%2Dfrom%2Da%2Dbad%2Dcar%2Ddeal</link>	
	<description>Just over two weeks ago a young friend bought used car from a dealer who&apos;s 80 miles away. The car came with serious engine problems. The dealer says they&apos;ll take it back for a refund but won&apos;t return the full price she paid. They say they&apos;ll keep their costs, but won&apos;t even discuss on the phone the amount they&apos;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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;tee. And the guarantee company say they have no record of the guarantee she has (checking the serial number) perhaps because the dealer didn&apos;t register it, or maybe just because it takes more than a couple of weeks to go through.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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? &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Some background: I looked at the car (&apos;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&apos;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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;m unduly negative.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.135610</guid>
	<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:18 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>dealer</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>anadem</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Some questions about selling a car</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/133701/Some%2Dquestions%2Dabout%2Dselling%2Da%2Dcar</link>	
	<description>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&apos;t know if there are &quot;car identity thief&quot; 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&apos;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&apos;t have any loss/damage coverage, but I&apos;m guessing I should until it&apos;s sold.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.133701</guid>
	<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:01:22 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>craigslist</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<category>vehicle</category>
	<dc:creator>crapmatic</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>What&apos;s the best market to sell my lemon? </title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/133047/Whats%2Dthe%2Dbest%2Dmarket%2Dto%2Dsell%2Dmy%2Dlemon</link>	
	<description>How should I go about selling a car with some mechanical issues? I&apos;ve had my Subaru Outback for about 5 years - I&apos;ve been thinking about replacing it with something more fuel efficient (I really don&apos;t need the AWD), compact, and fun to drive. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The issues are:&lt;br&gt;
1. Possible starter/solenoid problem - sometimes it takes me 5 or more turns of the key to get the engine turning over.&lt;br&gt;
2. Strange shifting issue in low gears - sometimes the car will struggle to throttle up/get out of first gear - even when I&apos;m trying to give it full gas.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
These first two issues seem to go away once the car is warmed up.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
3. Electrical/security system issue - can&apos;t use power locks without triggering alarm system&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I also have been driving on mismatched tires for the past couple of years - which I&apos;ve recently heard is a bad, bad thing with an AWD vehicle.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;m not considering?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.133047</guid>
	<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:14:50 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>cardealer</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>pilibeen</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Fuel efficient, fun-to-drive hatchbacks for &lt; $4500</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/130898/Fuel%2Defficient%2Dfuntodrive%2Dhatchbacks%2Dfor%2D4500</link>	
	<description>Which hatchback should I be looking at? Plus: diesel vs. gas engines... So I&apos;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&apos;m also considering the idea of a compact pickup truck. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&apos;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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;m already interested in?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
My budget is no more than $4,500. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;d probably be owning a late 90&apos;s/early 00&apos;s vehicle... I&apos;m also interested in the idea of biodiesel or veggie oil conversions. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Thanks!</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.130898</guid>
	<pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:27:45 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>biodiesel</category>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>compact</category>
	<category>diesel</category>
	<category>hatchback</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>pilibeen</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Out of state used car headache</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/130015/Out%2Dof%2Dstate%2Dused%2Dcar%2Dheadache</link>	
	<description>I&apos;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&apos;ve never bought a car before, so it&apos;s all new to me. If I buy this car, the original owner has to take the plates off -- then I guess I&apos;ll need a NY in-state temporary plate to get it to my house.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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 &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/register.htm#temporary&quot;&gt;less than clear&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Problem 2: Where the heck do I keep it? Will I get ticketed if it&apos;s on the street? Will I get ticketed for moving an unplated car during street cleaning?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Problem 3: Where do I pay sales tax?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Anybody done this before?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.130015</guid>
	<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:44:26 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>newjersey</category>
	<category>nj</category>
	<category>nyc</category>
	<category>registration</category>
	<category>resolved</category>
	<category>title</category>
	<category>transfer</category>
	<category>used</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>zvs</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Tips for selling a used car myself (USA)</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/129966/Tips%2Dfor%2Dselling%2Da%2Dused%2Dcar%2Dmyself%2DUSA</link>	
	<description>Does the hive mind have tips for selling a used car myself (USA)? My elderly mother just quit driving, and I&apos;m trying to sell her 2001 Chevrolet Blazer (Austin, TX area). I&apos;ve plugged it into Kelly Blue Book and priced it slightly above what they recommended and am willing to go a few hundred dollars below the recommendation. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
We put very clear signs in the car windows and keep it parked in front of our house on a fairly busy suburban street. Plus, we&apos;re driving it some just to get it out more. And, of course, we put it in Craigs List and plan to renew the ad every few days.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
A lot of people now park cars for sale in public areas along major roadways, but I&apos;m not crazy about that option because I don&apos;t really like the practice and for fear of vandalism or theft of parts (or less likely, theft of the vehicle itself).&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
What else should we be doing?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
We&apos;re not in any hurry to sell, and we&apos;d like to get as good a price as we can. Not opposed to options that cost money.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.129966</guid>
	<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:32:04 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>tippiedog</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Please help me find the make/model I want, so I can focus on the next steps. Thanks!</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/129554/Please%2Dhelp%2Dme%2Dfind%2Dthe%2Dmakemodel%2DI%2Dwant%2Dso%2DI%2Dcan%2Dfocus%2Don%2Dthe%2Dnext%2Dsteps%2DThanks</link>	
	<description>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. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;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 &#8211; an individual seller has already paid for the car and I might as well buy a fuel-efficient used car for less from them).&lt;br&gt;
&lt;li&gt;It&apos;d be great if I could put &amp;gt;$4k down on a car that is also less than ~$12k. That&apos;s a most comfortable loan amount for me.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The newer the better.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;li&gt;I would prefer a hybrid.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Must be able to transport bikes and surfboards (shortboards inside with seats folded down) and longboards (at least three) up top. Cars like Prius&apos;s are NOT designed for this...curved roof and significant drag make it not practical.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The smaller the better. I like finding parking and not being a big bohemoth on the road.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;li&gt;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&apos;t want to take on something with a short life span, known problems, or high repair cost.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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 &apos;meh&apos;. I used to have a Mini Cooper, but that thing was too small. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Any suggestions, both car-wise and perspective-wise?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/li&gt;</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.129554</guid>
	<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:56:05 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>auto</category>
	<category>buy</category>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>certified</category>
	<category>hybrid</category>
	<category>purchase</category>
	<category>shopping</category>
	<category>surfmobile</category>
	<category>transportation</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<category>vehicle</category>
	<dc:creator>iamkimiam</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Purchasing a used VW Cabrio with a online vs. sticker price discrepancy</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/126567/Purchasing%2Da%2Dused%2DVW%2DCabrio%2Dwith%2Da%2Donline%2Dvs%2Dsticker%2Dprice%2Ddiscrepancy</link>	
	<description>I am interested in purchasing a used VW Cabrio which is listed (recently) online at ~$7800, while checking out the car this morning on the lot, it has a sales price of ~$9400. I am hoping to communicate with the dealer today, but am unsure how to proceed with this price discrepancy noted, and in general. Please help, thank you.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.126567</guid>
	<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:55:18 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>Cabrio</category>
	<category>Price</category>
	<category>UsedCar</category>
	<category>VW</category>
	<dc:creator>strangelove</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>How to sell a car?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/125827/How%2Dto%2Dsell%2Da%2Dcar</link>	
	<description>After someone has agreed to buy my car from me, what are the steps? I am selling my car. I am going to list in on craigslist, do some word-of-mouth, blah, blah. I&apos;m not that concerned about how to get someone to notice it and buy it, but I have no idea what to do after someone makes an offer.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I currently owe $6500 on the car. It&apos;s worth a bit more, and I think I will be able to get $8000 for it, if any of this is relevant.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Anyway, so how does one transfer ownership? Am I supposed to assume that the buyer will just give me the money and I will just pay off what I owe? I really do not understand anything whatsoever about this process, so please explain to me, step-by-step, what I need to be prepared to do.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.125827</guid>
	<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:31:37 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>sellingacar</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>foxinthesnow</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>A few questions about cars.</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/124920/A%2Dfew%2Dquestions%2Dabout%2Dcars</link>	
	<description>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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
1. Having grown up in a &quot;buy American&quot; family - yes yes, I know - I&apos;m not very familiar with Toyota, Honda, etc. I&apos;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&apos;m looking for the under-$20,000 range.) For reasons I don&apos;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? &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;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&apos;d been in an Aveo in the accident.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;ve owned, than I am in huge cars like a Grand Marquis or a Crown Victoria. As a compromise one model I&apos;m looking at is a Saturn Astra. Does it drive and park like a smaller car? (I haven&apos;t actually seen one in person.) &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;small&gt;As my dad&apos;s pointed out to me, while I loved my Cobalt, I&apos;m not sure I want another one. He thinks I may have flashbacks being in a car with an identical dash. I&apos;d just have to test drive one to know for sure.&lt;/small&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
4. Edmunds.com and Motor Trend don&apos;t have the safety ratings for the Astra. Motor Trend says &quot;they&apos;re coming soon.&quot; Where can I find safety ratings for cars that haven&apos;t had them published yet? Do they exist?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
5. Would you buy a car from CarMax? Are they trustworthy?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.124920</guid>
	<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:23:51 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>carmakemodel</category>
	<category>carmax</category>
	<category>newcar</category>
	<category>safetyratings</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>IndigoRain</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Help me sound smart when purchasing a car!</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/124267/Help%2Dme%2Dsound%2Dsmart%2Dwhen%2Dpurchasing%2Da%2Dcar</link>	
	<description>Buying a used car from owner: what questions to ask? As my old Toyota is on its last legs, I&apos;m looking to replace it with a new(er) model.  I&apos;m hoping to buy it directly from the owner to avoid paying a dealer&apos;s markup.  I&apos;m meeting a guy for a test drive tomorrow..what stuff should I ask him?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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&apos;m missing something...what smart things should I ask, or what do you wish you had asked a previous owner?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
*bonus question* he&apos;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&apos;m having a hard time finding other sellers to compare prices to.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.124267</guid>
	<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:05:56 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>sale</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>genmonster</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>What do I do with my old car?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/124129/What%2Ddo%2DI%2Ddo%2Dwith%2Dmy%2Dold%2Dcar</link>	
	<description>What do I do with my old car? I finally replaced my 1991 Honda Civic (132,800 miles) with a new car, and now I&apos;m not quite sure what to do with it.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I recieved this car ten years ago from my parents when the insurance company totalled it. At that time, the body had suffered hail damage, the windshield had cracked and there&apos;s a dent in the frame on the driver side.  Since then, I&apos;ve been taking it to shops / repairing various non-cosmetic things like the distributor cap, exhaust and whatnot.  It&apos;s been a good ten years, but I need reliable transportation and repairs are starting to get out of hand.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Recently the engine started acting crappy: hesitation, rough idling, and now it seems that one of the cylinders isn&apos;t firing. I can&apos;t get the spark plug out of the non-firing cylinder.  The engine runs, but without all 4 cylinders firing it&apos;s a very bad ride. Pictures under the hood &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.flickr.com/photos/jldugger/3601746669/&quot;&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.flickr.com/photos/jldugger/3601747105/&quot;&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.flickr.com/photos/jldugger/3602556594/&quot;&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Because of this, I didn&apos;t bother trading it in at the dealership, and it sounded like they wouldn&apos;t take it anyways.  So now it sits on the street, racking up minor insurance expenses. I&apos;d like to get rid of it.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
a) My title doesn&apos;t indicate it&apos;s a salvage. Is this a red flag, given that the insurance company totaled it?&lt;br&gt;
b) Should I bother taking it to a mechanic for an inspection and get an estimate at repairs?&lt;br&gt;
c) If I junk it, what kind of prices can I expect them to pay? &lt;br&gt;
d) If I junk it and want to transfer the license plate to the new car, do I need to say something, and to who?&lt;br&gt;
e) Is there anything I need to know about merchantability when selling to a friend to repair? A coworker occasionally buys cars to fix and resell, just like he buys broken iPods to fix and resell on a much more expensive scale.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.124129</guid>
	<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:03:16 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>automotive</category>
	<category>resolved</category>
	<category>salvage</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>pwnguin</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Help me buy a used car in the bay area!</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/123362/Help%2Dme%2Dbuy%2Da%2Dused%2Dcar%2Din%2Dthe%2Dbay%2Darea</link>	
	<description>Got a used car dealer in the Bay Area/Peninsula to recommend? Hi all,&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&apos;m moving to the Bay Area to start work and need to buy a used car (probably a Honda civic/accord or something similar) and am looking for your recommendations on a good used car dealer around the Burlingame/San Carlos area or nearby. Is it too much to hope to find one that won&apos;t try to rip me off?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
In case these details are relevant: budget is 5k to 9k, will pay up front, and I don&apos;t have a trade in vehicle.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Welcome also is any advice about buying auto insurance!&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Thanks in advance :)</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.123362</guid>
	<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2009 10:56:17 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>autoinsurance</category>
	<category>bayarea</category>
	<category>cardealer</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>skaye</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Help me choose a new family car!</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/122104/Help%2Dme%2Dchoose%2Da%2Dnew%2Dfamily%2Dcar</link>	
	<description>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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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). &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&apos;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&apos;d consider a regular 4-door, but I like the style of hatchbacks and wagons, actually.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Any suggestions?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.122104</guid>
	<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2009 10:29:44 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>cars</category>
	<category>familycar</category>
	<category>hatchback</category>
	<category>newcar</category>
	<category>stationwagon</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>dellsolace</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>How do I sell a car that&apos;s financed?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/121369/How%2Ddo%2DI%2Dsell%2Da%2Dcar%2Dthats%2Dfinanced</link>	
	<description>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?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.121369</guid>
	<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 20:20:48 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>finance</category>
	<category>sell</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>twiggy32</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Got the loan...now what?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/116275/Got%2Dthe%2Dloannow%2Dwhat</link>	
	<description>So remember &lt;a href=&quot;http://ask.metafilter.com/115473/Prepare-me-for-applying-for-an-auto-loan&quot;&gt;when I asked about getting a car loan&lt;/a&gt;? Well, I got one (yay!). Now I&apos;ve been to a used car dealership and found the perfect car (yay!). Only that&apos;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&apos;t sell the car for what they had told me and that I&apos;d have to pay $1,000 more. Since I refuse to be strongarmed I told them I wouldn&apos;t be buying a car from them, and left. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Flash forward to now, when I have found another Aveo being sold by a private seller. The carfax report checks out, I&apos;m going to test drive it this week. But I&apos;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&apos;s right in my budget, and that it will suit me best for what I&apos;m looking for. Is there anything else I should ask in this situation, since it&apos;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?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.116275</guid>
	<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:37:40 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>aveo</category>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>dealer</category>
	<category>privateparty</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>thatbrunette</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>What&apos;s the correct order of operations concerning insurance and registration after buying a car from a private seller in Illinois?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/108547/Whats%2Dthe%2Dcorrect%2Dorder%2Dof%2Doperations%2Dconcerning%2Dinsurance%2Dand%2Dregistration%2Dafter%2Dbuying%2Da%2Dcar%2Dfrom%2Da%2Dprivate%2Dseller%2Din%2DIllinois</link>	
	<description>I&apos;ve agreed on a price for a used car with a private seller in Illinois. I know I need to A. get the signed title, B. register the car with the DMV, and C. get insurance. But what&apos;s the correct order of operations, and which steps &lt;i&gt;must&lt;/i&gt; be completed before driving the car at all? I understand that C must be completed before driving the car at all. I can&apos;t find any conclusive information online about whether B is required before driving the car (such as driving it to the DMV), and the information telephone lines are closed on the weekend. Assuming it is required, is the following the right order of operations?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
1. Obtain insurance in advance.&lt;br&gt;
2. Buy car, getting signed title then. I understand the seller must remove their plates at this time.&lt;br&gt;
3. Leave the car (presently not driveable by anyone!) where it is.&lt;br&gt;
4. Visit DMV (in some other car or a taxi), pay sales tax and obtain registration.&lt;br&gt;
5. Return to car and affix (temporary) plates.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Should 1 and 2 be swapped? Can they be without delaying the overall process? &lt;i&gt;Must&lt;/i&gt; they be, perhaps because one must be the owner to obtain insurance for a particular car? Is this rest of this order correct?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.108547</guid>
	<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:12:46 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>carinsurance</category>
	<category>carregistration</category>
	<category>illinois</category>
	<category>resolved</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>hAndrew</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Getting rid of a dead car from far away.</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/106185/Getting%2Drid%2Dof%2Da%2Ddead%2Dcar%2Dfrom%2Dfar%2Daway</link>	
	<description>My car died far from home.  What&apos;s the best way to get rid of it? Relevant points:&lt;blockquote&gt;I already have another car, so I definitely want to get rid of the old car.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The old car is in Waynesboro, VA.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
My home is very close to Washington, D.C.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;a href=&quot;http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;saddr=38.893171,-77.124023&amp;daddr=Waynesboro,+VA&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;mra=dme&amp;mrcr=0&amp;mrsp=0&amp;sz=9&amp;sll=38.511639,-78.035889&amp;sspn=1.177727,2.471924&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;z=9&quot;&gt;It&apos;s a long trip.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I put $750+ in new Michelins on the car a month before it died.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The mechanic made an offer to buy it as is for $500.&lt;/blockquote&gt;I want to be rid of it quickly but I also need to make sound money decisions, so what should I do?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.106185</guid>
	<pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:14:12 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>auto</category>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>carrepair</category>
	<category>cars</category>
	<category>sales</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>NortonDC</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Get thee to a Prius!</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/105446/Get%2Dthee%2Dto%2Da%2DPrius</link>	
	<description>Help us sell our two old junker-ish cars and buy a nice, new-ish, shiny cary. I&apos;ve got a few questions about how to buy and sell two cars.  Here are the requisite details.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Car 1:&lt;br&gt;
98 Ford Escort SE&lt;br&gt;
150k miles&lt;br&gt;
non working A/C&lt;br&gt;
some body blemishes&lt;br&gt;
currently doesn&apos;t run, but likely needs a new battery or alternator&lt;br&gt;
needs brakes&lt;br&gt;
registered in Michigan&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Car 2:&lt;br&gt;
99 Jetta Wolfsburg (98 boxy body style)&lt;br&gt;
140k miles&lt;br&gt;
several electrical system issues (stalls out, wipers don&apos;t work, sometimes headlights &amp;amp; fans for heat/AC don&apos;t work, etc.)&lt;br&gt;
rear windows fall down&lt;br&gt;
has some rust, but no major body damage&lt;br&gt;
non-working cruise control&lt;br&gt;
registered in Michigan&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Also:&lt;br&gt;
1.  We want to sell our cars for cash, even though we could possibly get more in tax deductions.  We&apos;re in a position where we need to free up some cash to help with a down payment.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
2.  We don&apos;t really care how we sell the cars, but we want to be ethical about it.  We don&apos;t want to mislead anyone into thinking they&apos;re getting a great car, when in fact they&apos;re getting our crap Jetta or crap Escort which will need some work to get running.  &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
So, here are my questions:&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Where should I sell the cars?  &lt;br&gt;
How should I word an ad so as not to mislead buyers?&lt;br&gt;
What exactly is involved in selling a car registered in Michigan to an Illinois buyer (we&apos;re in Chicago)?&lt;br&gt;
What else do I need to know?</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.105446</guid>
	<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:41:49 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>cars</category>
	<category>carsales</category>
	<category>sellingcar</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>santojulieta</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>WTB Wheels, Not Enough $$$ On Hand</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/104520/WTB%2DWheels%2DNot%2DEnough%2DOn%2DHand</link>	
	<description>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&apos;t have a lot of money saved up. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
For instance, there&apos;s a nice-looking used car for sale on my ride home from work. The writing on the window says $2700. I don&apos;t have $2700 right now. I could put $1000 in the seller&apos;s hand right now, but it&apos;d probably take me 6 weeks to earn up the rest. I could pay the rest out over say, a couple months.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
FWIW, this is the 3rd used car for sale I&apos;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?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Of course everyone&apos;s different, and some sellers would be willing to work with me and some would not. I&apos;m just wondering what the general expectation is when people sell their cars to other people, and whether I shouldn&apos;t bother looking for cars until I have more money saved up.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.104520</guid>
	<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:06:11 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>buying</category>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>payment</category>
	<category>paymentplan</category>
	<category>purchasing</category>
	<category>used</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>BeerFilter</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>long distance car buying  --  slightly paranoid and overeager buyer</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/103438/long%2Ddistance%2Dcar%2Dbuying%2Dslightly%2Dparanoid%2Dand%2Dovereager%2Dbuyer</link>	
	<description>After months and months of looking, I&apos;ve finally found my dream car.  The problem is, it&apos;s a few hundred miles away from me... and my trusted mechanic.  Help me make this happen! I&apos;m in Orange County.  My dream car is in San Francisco.  I really don&apos;t mind having an excuse to fly up there; in fact, I&apos;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&apos;t end up buying a lemon.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&apos;ve talked to the seller (a private seller, not a dealer) and received satisfying answers to all my concerns.  I&apos;ve checked the carfax report, and it&apos;s clean.  It&apos;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&apos;t, is it ridiculous to imagine I&apos;ll be able to find a trustworthy mechanic in San Francisco who&apos;ll be able to check it out on a weekend on short notice?  (Unfortunately, the weekend is the only time I&apos;d be able to get away from work.)  Is it better to try to inspect it myself?  I&apos;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&apos;s fundamentally sound?  If it is, I&apos;d appreciate any books or websites you could recommend.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
To those who&apos;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&apos;t rare, but the particular combination of options the SF car has is.  &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
This is my first time buying a car without a parent&apos;s help, so I apologize for being so naive / overeager / particular / paranoid, etc.  Thank you, Ask MeFi.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.103438</guid>
	<pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:47:09 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>buying</category>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>inspection</category>
	<category>longdistance</category>
	<category>mechanic</category>
	<category>sanfrancisco</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<dc:creator>TayBridge</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>Used Volvo on Spec from Dealer?</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/96419/Used%2DVolvo%2Don%2DSpec%2Dfrom%2DDealer</link>	
	<description>Advice and experiences for buying a used car through a dealer on spec? My beloved Balthazar (&apos;87 Volvo 240) has been on the road for 22 years and is headed out to pasture. As attached as I am, I&apos;m having to face the inevitable task of replacing him. It&apos;s not a crisis; he&apos;s actually inspected for another year, so I have some time.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
And I&apos;ve thought about it, opened up to checking out other makes and models (but he is the fourth 240 I&apos;ve had!), and have come to three probably ridiculous seeming conclusions:&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The next car will be a Volvo. Yes, I have brand loyalty, but it&apos;s also that the Volvo-only garage I go to is just too damn good to leave.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
It will be a manual transmission, as scarce as those may be getting.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
It will be an S60 or S80, somewhere between 2002 and 2005. For no  other reasons than the build quality seems good on these, my shop likes working on them, and the styling speaks to my inner cougar who secretly wants to drive a &apos;69 Jaguar.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
So, sorry for the long intro, but thanks for staying with this so far. Right now, I have the options of a) buying a particular S60 my shop has checked out, but is selling well above book (I know... I said I liked them... and I do) or b) there&apos;s a not-just-Volvos dealer here who goes regularly to the Volvo of America auctions in New England, and will buy me a car on spec (from the little I know, I tell them price guidelines and the critical things I&apos;m looking for, and they bring home the best car that they can). To the dealer, I&apos;m only committed as far as a $500 deposit that I forfeit if the car (which I won&apos;t have seen) isn&apos;t suitable. Oh, c) private sellers and other dealers really aren&apos;t panning out within 250 miles.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
I&apos;m leaning toward the local non-Volvo dealer. I talked to them, and they don&apos;t seem like others, and came highly recommended to me by multiple acquaintances, some with repeat purchases.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Questions:&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The biggie: Do I have any negotiating room with the dealer in this case? They have already said that they make/charge less for a car bought on spec because it&apos;s pretty much a guaranteed sale. Do I ask to see the bill of sale? How do I go from there?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
What do I specify as features that are critical (manual transmission) and those that are desired but not critical (leather seats) to make sure I get the best car possible from this process?&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
FWIW, my commute at present is about five miles a day. I like quality, but don&apos;t care much about sunroofs/GPS/toys.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Well, this is long because I&apos;m nervous. It will be a cash purchase -- unless someone can give me a good reason to go loan at 3.9%.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.96419</guid>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:38:51 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>carauction</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<category>usedcardealer</category>
	<category>volvodealer</category>
	<dc:creator>vers</dc:creator>
	</item>
	<item>
	<title>First-time car seller looking for best way to sell a car in NYC</title>
	<link>http://ask.metafilter.com/94207/Firsttime%2Dcar%2Dseller%2Dlooking%2Dfor%2Dbest%2Dway%2Dto%2Dsell%2Da%2Dcar%2Din%2DNYC</link>	
	<description>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&apos;m thinking that it might be time to get rid of it, however, I&apos;ve never sold a car before. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
  What&apos;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&apos;d like to be safe, as I&apos;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.</description>
	<guid isPermaLink="false">tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.94207</guid>
	<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:55:45 -0800</pubDate>
	<category>car</category>
	<category>craigslist</category>
	<category>nyc</category>
	<category>sale</category>
	<category>sell</category>
	<category>selling</category>
	<category>usedcar</category>
	<category>vehicle</category>
	<dc:creator>dcjd</dc:creator>
	</item>
	
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