Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with usedcars

How to have a mechanic check out a used car?

whataboutben — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:28:43 -0800

What is the most common protocol for having an independent mechanic check out a used car before buying? Will I have to sign something saying I agree in principle before bringing it to my mechanic?

Will I be able to drive it there myself? Or will the dealer bring it for me?

If I do indeed have to sign something, under what conditions can I "unsign" it? In other words, what would the mechanic have to find/say for me to be able to revoke my agreement?

Thanks.

Is there a way to calculate the relative cost of buying an older used car vs a later-model one?

lunasol — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:45:29 -0800

Is there a way to calculate the relative cost of buying an older used car vs a later-model one? Taking into account depreciation, maintenance costs, etc. I'm looking to buy a small, inexpensive car, most likely a Toyota or Honda (although later-model Kias seem appealing as well). I've had two mid-90s Toyotas with high (140K+) miles and was planning to do the same thing again. But it occurred to me that both of those cars, while fairly reliable for their age, actually had a lot of problems - I ended up spending about $1K/year for repairs on both. And having had each for less than a year, one I ended up selling for parts and one I sold for $1k. Also, finding a decent older used car takes a lot of time, something I have a lot less of now than used to. I started thinking that spending a bit more might actually yield better value in the long run.

So now I'm thinking about taking the $3k I'd budgeted for a rustbucket and using it as a down payment on a later-model used car in the $8K range. Some examples of what I'm thinking about: a 2003 Toyota Corolla with 70K miles, a 2004 Kia Rio with 60K miles, or a 2003 Honda Civic with 90K miles, or a 2005 Hyundai Elantra with 50K miles. These examples are all based on asking prices I saw on kbb.com.

So now I'm trying to figure out how I can accurately crunch the numbers and figure out the true cost/value of buying a newer car vs buying an older one. I know that you can never be certain about whether a car will last for 1 year or 10 years, or whether you'll have to replace the head gasket after a year, but there's got to be some information out there that can help me figure out some expected values.

Is there a website that keeps information about things like average yearly maintenance costs, depreciation, etc? Or has some kind internet soul posted a calculator that helps you figure all this stuff out?

Buying a used car

Jsn7821 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:40:32 -0800

Help me buy a (used) car for the first time! I just moved to the Big Island, Hawaii (near Hilo) and I am looking into buying my first car. I have been Craigslisting for a while and have had mediocre luck with finding stuff that seems like a good deal, but I feel lost with what sorts of questions I should be asking, etc.

I am thinking it would be really cool to get a car/wagon large enough so I can sleep in it (5' 8"), so I can take some trips around the island with my road bike. I mostly want something cheap and reliable. I am also living up the mountain a ways, so all wheel or 4WD is a plus.

I have been looking at Subaru Outbacks and Foresters, and a few Honda and Toyota wagons have come up. What else might work for me? My budget is around $3,000 (but flexible).

Buying Used Without No Clues

Shepherd — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:44:42 -0800

I'm generally freaking out about buying a car (used, my first) and have a short laundry list of very general questions. My wife and I need a car. Before winter definitely, but within 2-3 weeks for some convenience reasons would be good. She's coming back visiting her folks this weekend, and the hunt begins in earnest, after a few forays to a few places, next week.

Here's what we've settled on so far:

99% sure we're getting a used Toyota, Hyunda or Honda. Reliable, get good reviews in the slightly-old copy of Phil Edmonstun's Lemon-Aid guide my dad lent me, more expensive than American brands but we're not so keen on buying American these days.

My wife wants a 2005 or newer. I'm not sure why but I think she's afraid that I, being a skinflint, will insist on a rustbucket if she doesn't set out some parameters. From what I can see, the biggest price drop is from zero to two years old, so that actually plays well into my penny-pinching ways... if a 2-year-old car costs 75% of original retail and a 5-year-old costs 60%, the most "value" is in the 2-year-old.

Here's the thing: I know bupkis about cars; under pressure I think I'm pretty sure the red ones go faster. I'm exaggerating -- I spent one summer in high school working at a gas station, so I've checked oil before and stuff -- but I'm in no way qualified to gauge the worth of a used car. I've never owned one, and I'm downhill of mid-30s; hers have always been hand-me-downs so she's never been car shopping.

We'll also be doing all of this in my second language, French, which my wife doesn't speak at all. While I speak pretty good business French and decent conversational French, "car French" is not in my comfort zone.

We have a fair-sized down payment, as we've agreed that it makes more sense to dump our savings on the car than to pay interest on the thing, as interest earned on this money would not outpace interest charged on a car loan. Our budget is $8-10K. We can stretch that up a bit if necessary. Assume we can pay 50% or so of a car in the $8-10K price range.

We intend to drive around town for the most part, maybe the 30 km trip to visit friends in neighouring places once every couple of weeks, and a 400 km round trip to Montreal once a month.

So here, at last, are the questions:

Is "dealer used" a better idea than "used-car-dealer used" or "classifieds in the paper" used? I have the vague idea that the Toyota used lot, affiliated with the Toyota new lot, will offer better vehicles that are more expensive than "regular" used-car dealers, which will be slightly cheaper, and the classified-ad cars will be cheapest of all but highly risky. Is that a fair assumption?

Can I trust a used car salesman? I'm aware of the stereotype, but I'm also of the belief that most people are generally good, and it's a reputation-driven industry. Assuming the guy isn't wearing a porkpie hat, chomping a stogie and telling me this was only driven by an old lady on Sundays as he fiddles the odometer with a grimy screwdriver, is flat-out asking a used dealer for advice a good idea, or begging to be taken to the cleaners?

If a car is nearing the end of its warranty (say 90,000 out of 100,000 km), what does that... er... mean? Are warranties super good? Kinda good? Is there a way to gauge how much a remaining warranty adds to the value of the car?

Is it better to buy an old car with low mileage or a new car with high mileage? This thread dances around that same question, but winds up being a series of recommendations to check prior maintenance. Which is excellent, but I still need to know -- maintenance done, is a 2007 car with 120,000 km on it better or worse than a 2005 car with 80,000 km on it, assuming price is similar*?

If buying used, is there a huge advantage in buying local? It would be much, much cheaper to shop around in Montreal than here, but that's a two-hour drive away. How important is it to be able to revisit the dealer you bought the car from, barring some sort of catastrophic failure in the first couple of weeks?

Given that we'll be able to supply a sizable down payment, will that put us in a better position to negotiate the financing rate? Most places around here seem to ballpark at 2.9%, which ain't terrible, but I wouldn't mind knocking that down a bit if I could.

Last and most important: I'm feeling overwhelmed, like I don't have enough knowledge to evaluate or to negotiate. Part of me says "dude, people buy cars all the time but the much larger part of me says "dude, don't be stupid with $10,000." How in God's name do I calm myself down over this?

This, by the way, is the local Toyota dealer.

This is Honda.

And this is Hyundai.

For comparison, this is the used-car section of the most popular (by a wide margin) classifieds site in the province, sorted for my area.

*I pulled those years and mileages out of my butt. I'm looking for more of a general answer.

Best small car.

simplesharps — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:37:43 -0800

Best second hand small car under AUD$20,000? Fuel efficient. Reliable. Low maintenance. 4 doors. No older than 4 years. Automatic. Suit young couple in Australia. My parents have been so kind to lend their EF Ford Fairmont for a couple years to use when I needed something other than my motorbike. The ford chews through the fuel (12 liters per 100kms) and the bike isn't so good for picking up groceries. It's time for something new.

We've (male 25, female 20) been looking at:
# VW Golf - Recommendation from my brother. He's got one and is very impressed with it's fuel efficiency, driveability and engineering.
# Toyota Corolla
# Hyundai Getz
# Ford Focus

We can't decide if we should spend under AUD$10,000 or take the next step and get something more luxurious under $20,000. She's just got her licence so it might be worth getting something cheap.

The commute is through a fun windy rural area into the city. We'll probably keep it for four years.

# How many kilometers should be the max?
# Should we buy something expensive that holds it's value, or get something cheap that depreciates quickly?
# Should we buy privately or through a dealer?

We're in no rush at the moment so we have plenty of time to research. Any thoughts appreciated!

I've got the money what do I get?

Rubbstone — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:53:32 -0800

How long do you think a ~$8000 car will last? So I have about ~8000 to spend on a car including tax and title. How long do you think a car like that will last will it out live the length of my 24-36 month loan on it . If you had that amount of money were looking for a reliable vehicle, Automatic(I don't know how to drive stick), with ABS. Additionally how much milage is too much as a general rule ? How old is too old for a car? Also Should I go out of state if the prices in my state are high?

Card trade in advice?

malphigian — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:30:38 -0800

Newbie car trade in advice sought. Looking to swap my newish Honda Civic for an older minivan (yay!) of roughly equivalent value. Dealer trade in? Sell separately? I'm way more confused by the process than I should be.

So I've got a 2008 Honda Civic with only 8,000 miles on it, in generally good condition other than a few paint scratches.

Looking at a site like Edmunds, a dealer would sell this car for ~$16,000. Or I could trade in to a dealer for ~$13,000.

I'm looking to get a minivan of some sort, probably a Honda Odyssey since that seems to be the one everyone drives. I could kick in a couple thousand extra on top of what I get for the civic, but no more. From what I can see so far, I'd be looking at something from 2005 or so, depending on other factors.

Questions:
1. Should I get the paint scratches and such fixed before trying to trade in/sell?
2. Should I do a dealer trade in, or try to sell the Civic separately and buy the van with cash?
3. If I do a dealer trade in, is there any advantage to going to a Honda dealer who does used cars?

I live in New Jersey, if it's relevant.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Auto Illiterate Seeks Cheap Used Car

richrad — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:18:35 -0800

I'm in the market for a used car and I'd like one that won't disintegrate on me before I'm done paying for it. I have a total budget of $6k and want to buy from a dealer. What should I be looking for in terms of models, makes, and mileage? My top priorities are price, reliability, and MPG (in that order.) Assume I know nothing about cars. Because I don't.

Please buy my car, but do it rationally, for pete's sake.

scratch — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:03:12 -0800

I've sold three used cars and one motorcycle. At least three times I've had people call me and offer to pay me X dollars (a reasonable, though lowish, sum) sight unseen! They don't even want to hear it run! What's going on here? Are they just nutjobs? Aside from the obvious--that it's some kind of a scam--why do people call me up and offer to buy my used vehicle without knowing anything more about it than the scanty information and 3 photos I put on Craigslist? (These aren't obvious "Nigerian" scammers.) What is it with these people? I'm not selling junkers, so they can't be scrap metal dealers either. I don't get it.

It's my first time at a used car dealership.

tdismukes — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:28:31 -0800

Urgently need advice on used car shopping. So, I was babying my old car along, planning on buying a replacement after the holidays. Unfortunately, it gave up the ghost earlier than expected and now it's time to go car shopping. Fortunately, there is a long line of used car dealerships just a mile from my house that I can walk to.

The thing is, I've always just bought cheap older used cars from private sellers and paid cash. This will be my first time going to a dealer, using credit, and getting the newest car we can afford.

Considerations/Limitations:

Both my wife and I have terrible credit. (Hers is slightly better, but I make most of the income). I know that I see dealership ads saying "Bad credit? No credit? No Problem!", but I'm sure this will affect our available choices.

I've worked out our budget and determined that we can afford monthly payments of up to $200/month and a down payment of up to about $1000.

Our prime concern is getting the most reliable vehicle, with the lowest mileage, that we can afford.

We live in Lexington, Kentucky, if that's relevant.

My Questions:

Given our credit and the budget I've listed above, how much car are we likely to get in the current market? (Should I be looking at the $6,000 cars, the $10,000 cars, or what?)

Given our poor credit, do we need to just go to certain dealers (the ones with those ads) or will most used car dealers be willing to work with us?

Given that my wife has better credit and I have most of our income, would we likely both be signing for the loan? (I'd kind of prefer that - most of my poor credit rating comes from the fact that I've never ever bought anything on credit, so this would help me establish my credit.)

How much haggling is expected over price? I have no experience with this and would obviously prefer not to grossly overpay.

Thanks in advance for all your answers. If you think of any additional info which I should know but which isn't covered by the above questions, feel free to offer it as well.

Kinder Fee Per Finder, Keeper

AngerBoy — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:09:57 -0800

What's a fair finder's fee for someone who sent me a buyer for my used car? The mechanic who services our family's cars is a super nice guy, and does a terrific job as well. Recently we mentioned to him that we were selling one of our cars (a 1998 Camry, if it matters), and he mentioned it to a number of his other clients until he found someone who was interested in buying it. The deal went down today, and I'd love to toss a few bills his way to thank him for his help. What's an appropriate sum and/or percentage? I was thinking $300, which is about 5% of the sale price of the car. What do you guys think? Oh, and I'd also like to say that I'm REALLY proud of the title I came up with for this AskMe. Thankyouverymuch.

Older Foreign or Newer Domestic?

King Bee — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:48:18 -0800

I need help buying a used car, and I'm on a budget. My old car ('91 Buick Century) is ready to be put out to stud. As such, I've been looking at buying a new (used) car. I would prefer reliability over anything else.

I've found that in my price range (essentially less than $10,000), I have two options. I can either buy a used older foreign car with a lot of miles on it, or a newer domestic car with fewer miles on it. While I understand that Toyotas and Hondas are more reliable than Dodges and Chevys, is an '01 Toyota with 111K miles on it going to last me longer than a '05 Dodge with 50K miles on it?

I would prefer something compact or subcompact, due to rising gas prices.

I obviously have to make some kind of trade-off, so which direction do you suggest I go?

A slightly larger, small used car for $15k or less

codger — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:57:23 -0800

Buying a slightly larger, small used car for $15k or less, big enough for a growing family. We live in suburban Ohio, driving a 1998 Mitsubishi Galant that just turned 100k miles. This is also the year that the air conditioning decided to crap out.

While the lack of A/C is annoying, that's not the reason we're looking for another car. We've got an 18-month-old, and hauling her around (or even just having her car seat in the back) seems to have shrunk the backseat significantly.

We're not thinking SUV or mini-van yet, nor are we intending to add any other children to the family at the moment. However that said, we'll likely still be driving any car we buy now when we do have additional children (well, maybe one, I say) in the next 2-5 years.

Safety considerations may figure into this, but we haven't specifically discussed those yet.

So here's what I want: a 4-door sedan or wagon (though I won't rule out the Fit and its ilk until I've actually driven one) that's bigger, mainly in the backseat, than what I've got, for around $15,000. I've even gone as far as starting a spreadsheet with all of the specified numbers for the cars we're looking at, which unfortunately would rule out the Honda Civic which is smaller in every dimension but front head room. I realize that actually sitting in the cars will likely give me more feel for the size than just numbers alone, but it's a start.

I would also love to get better mileage - I've been hovering around the very low 20s in the city and know I can do better. To do so I think I need to stick with a 4-cylinder engine, but that's not set in stone. For me and my wife to both drive it, we're looking at an automatic transmission.

I prefer to drive cars until they die, and moreover would like cars that die later, so this does tend to rule out most American makes. If I'm wrong, please, let me know! I'm thinking that I'm going to look around 2-4 years old, with 20-40k miles on it.

Back to size, though, since not that many people have probably sat in a Galant, that Civic is probably a fine baseline.

If it matters, I'm 6' and broad-shouldered, and my wife is average height and build. Right now our (3' tall) daughter can kick the back of the passenger seat sitting in her car seat.

So, what can I find that's bigger than a Honda Civic with comfortable room for a child seat + assorted stuff reachable from the front seats, with good mileage, reliability and longevity, for under $15,000?

Looking for a reliable, high-mpg car that's NOT a Civic/Accord

schroedinger — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:10:23 -0800

I need to buy a low-mpg, reliable, manual transmission, four-door used car for under $3500. What models should I look at besides Civics and Accords? And do you know of any other major car classified websites besides Cars.com, Carmax, Autotrader, Edmunds, and Craigslist? Note: My previous car was a Saturn. It was reliable, but the mileage wasn't as high as I wanted. I've been checking out Consumer Reports and FuelEconomy.gov, but am having trouble sifting through the bajillion different options. I have nothing against Civics or Accords--they're my first choice--but I'm having a devil of a time finding good options in my area and would like alternatives.

Getting an auto dealer license just to access dealer only auctions- worth it?

upc_head — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:35:23 -0800

Are there significant savings at dealer-only options for used cars? Enough to make the effort and cost of getting a dealer licence worth it? I drive past ADESA often, a HUGE car auction setup with super high turnover. I've learned they take fleet, trade in cars, and lease returns off people's hands and sell them off to used car dealers.

In order to bid, I need to have a BC dealer license. It looks to be several nights of work, 2 days of courses, and $500. Kind of interesting stuff, especially if it pays for ittself and more.

Is the BC auto dealer license much trouble to get?
Are the bid values at these dealer-only auctions obscenely low compaired to the open market/buysell?
Are there tax/regulatory restrictions to getting a license and buying a car for yourself?

Is it worth the trouble?

I just found out the car (2006 model) I looked at the dealership's used to be a rental car. Help me understand/decide.

icarus — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:44:15 -0800

I just found out the car (2006 model) I looked at the dealership's used to be a rental car. Help me understand/decide. They dropped the price by about $1000 from the KB suggested price. But I just ran the VIN number through google and found a report that lists two things that bother me:

1. It was previously a rental car. 2. It was purchased/used in a different state than the one I'm in and looking at it right now.

What does this mean for me as far as negotiating the price down? The salesperson told me that they had the car on their lot for about a month and that it was a "trade in".

Help!

Need a Car, High MPG, low cost

DetonatedManiac — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:10:34 -0800

What is the best low maintenance, high gas mileage, low cost car I can buy (new or used) on a limited budget. I just wrecked my old car, it was 11 years old and I didn't have comp or collision. My work is driving intensive so I MUST get a new car quick, but I am on a very limited budget. MUST BE AUTOMATIC, can't drive manual.

My paycheck is not reliable yet (new sales job) so I would like to buy the new car outright or at least finance to get a very small monthly payment.

I can basically afford $5,000-7,000 now and perhaps $200 a month.

I don't know if it matters but I live near Raleigh NC.

Are there any unforseen consequences with using eBay Motors to buy cheap cars to sell in Canada?

tempest in a teapot — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:37:33 -0800

I'd like to supplement my income by selling a few used cars from the Southern US to Canadians— at a fair price. What are the drawbacks? Recently, my husband's nephew bought a used Volvo from Texas through eBay Motors for considerably less than the same car could be had for in Canada. In fact, he's thinking about selling it now, and buying another because it worked out so well. This transaction was completed when the Canadian dollar was hovering around 87¢ US.

And to tell the truth, it makes even more sense now, as the US dollar is dropping like a sack of potatoes, and the Canadian dollar now buys $1.08 American. The price of goods doesn't reflect the (better-than) parity, though, and everything from books to cars routinely sell for 15-20% more here than in the States. Even used cars prices hold the trend.

I'm thinking of doing this as a way of supplementing our income. My husband has just returned to the working world after a long illness thatﾕs left us on the brink of bankruptcy. If we could make a couple of extra thousand dollars every month, we could pay down some bills and start looking to the future.

One benefit we do have is that while eBay Motors dealers won't ship outside the US, I am a US citizen, and we could have the cars shipped to my parents' home in Maine. I could then catch a bus, train, or ferry, and just drive the cars home from there.

We wouldn't try to cheat the Canadian government. We'll become a Used Car Dealer, pay the import fees, do all the paperwork, and file our taxes as any business would. We're not looking to get rich, just to earn enough to pay down debt.

Judging by the prices my husband researched today, this would work, and everybody wins. We make a better living, Canadians get solid cars at a fair price, and the government gets the taxes.

Am I missing something? Does this idea make sense?

Okay I give up. Metafilter YOU buy my car for me.

rileyray3000 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:32:08 -0800

New Car? Used Car? Status car? Reliable Car? Is it possible there is just ONE car to rule them all? It's time for me to buy SOMETHING to replace my beloved 1970 Dodge Swinger. The question is WHAT? So I should state for the record that I live in Los Angeles. That's going to be helpful later in recognizing where all this car agita is coming from.

I recently sold my 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger for 5500 dollars. This was AFTER I put over 28,000 into it. Heartbreaking but it was time. I couldn't use it as a daily driver anymore with a 40 mile commute, the lack of AC was killing me and I had nowhere to keep it should I want to use it as a weekend car.

Plus it's primary role was to score hot rockabilly girls. And I'm not doing that anymore. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

So now it's time for a NEW car. And having been beaten into submission by the demands of my previous high maintenance car, pretty much ALL newer cars than 1970 seem like Jetsons vehicles to me. But I've tried to break it down into elements. If you can figure out how to put them together into the car I should buy, I WILL buy it. These are NOT in any order and I will sacrifice some for others if need be.

1) Automatic: I can't drive a stick. I don't want to learn. This is non-negotiable.

2) Credit Rating and finance: I have a great one. Just found out. And it surprised the hell out of me. Salarywise I have a piece of paper from work that says I make six figures. Even if my agent takes a bunch of it. I'm not part of a credit union but I can be. Though if there are any dealer finance programs with specials going on, I'm one of those "qualified buyers" they're always talking about really fast at the end of the commerical.

3) Status and Cache: I am technically now a TV executive. The Dodge Swinger in it's restored glory, looked like a CHOICE. Like this was what I wanted. Not what I had to drive. I'd like some element of that in the new car.

4) Money: I have up to 8 Grand to put down as a down payment. And I know that many new cars devalue a ton when you drive them off the lot. So I'm open to used cars. Though I'd like one with a warranty.

5) Monthly payments: In theory, I'd like to cap my monthly payment between 350-400 bucks a month and not go over 4 years on a lease. If possible.

6) Imported Car: Unless there is a FANTASTIC american car out there with crazy deals right now, I'd like to stay far away from US brands.

7) A Car, Not A Truck: For the last 4 years I've gotten 8 miles to the gallon. I want a car with good mileage. Not an SUV. Not a truck. Not a CRV. A car.

8) Gay Cars: My boss is gay. His assistant is gay. Many of the people I work with and meet with are gay. I am NOT gay. I have been given a list of cars by them that, if I am straight, I should not drive: The Mini Cooper. The Mazda Miata. The Jetta. The jeep that's a convertible. Apparently those are all code for West Hollywood Boy in Los Angeles.

9) Style: There are some newer cars I think look nice. If there's something in this pocket, I'm open to it. The audi S4, The scion TC, Most BMWs, no mercedes (they all look like Old Man cars to me), the new honda civic coupe, The Infiniti G35, the nissan altima coupe, the nissan 350Z, all the overpriced sports cars that are out of my price range.

10) Other: Two doors over four doors (but still open), would love a convertible (but would understand if not), leather seats are SO much better and, if possible, I'd like to have a good stereo system that takes Sirius. If not, I can always get one installed.

So those are the basics. The truth is if a car handles okay, feels nice and still holds up my end of looking like I'm supposed to in it, I'll be fine with it really. I've just been looking at car sites for the last five days and I have no idea what to do.

All I know is I can't rent another Chevy Aveo. I'd rather walk onto a lot with a fistful of cash and pass out on a car randomly than do that again. So go get em metafilter. YOU buy my car for me.

mileage vs. age in used cars

needs more cowbell — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:22:58 -0800

All other things being equal, do I pick the older car with lower mileage or the later model with high mileage? I've seen the other thread, but I'm looking for advice that's a little more specific to my situation.

I'm buying my first car. It will be used, probably purchased privately, and it will cost less than $5000. It will probably be a Honda, Toyota, or Subaru (for their known reliability, etc). I also need an automatic transmission & four doors, which limits things a little when I'm looking for cheap cars. I live in Maryland, in case climate matters.

Should I go for lower mileage (under 100K, but probably over 80K from what I've seen) or for something that's newer but with high mileage? What about "really new" cars (say, 2001) that have 150K (or even more) on them? Let's say all the cars have been used for the same kind of driving (highway vs. city) and have been maintained equally well.

One thought I've heard is that ultimately it's rust, not usage, that kills cars, and cars rust regardless of how much they've been driven...hence newer is better, even with high mileage. I'm not sure if that makes sense, though. I had set 100K as an arbitrary limit, but I'm starting to wonder if that's silly.

Fishy van?

davidriley — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:43:03 -0800

Last spring I purchased a van through craigslist to use in a set for an independent movie. Now I want to sell it again. However, I suspect that the circumstances of the original sale make this impossible or illegal. I never transferred the title, registered or insured the vehicle. The man who sold me the van also neglected to do these things and when he wrote up the bill of sale he signed using the name of the titleholder, who had apparently given him the van as part of some bulk auction sale but was neither present nor aware of the sale to me under his name.

The thing runs fine, so I was going to try to sell it to someone else for a few hundred dollars, but its dubious ownership status makes me feel like this is a risk. Is there some way I can legally sell it or does it look like I'm sitting on a stolen vehicle? If so, can I junk or donate it without getting into any trouble?

Advice for buying an old VW?

cholly — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:16:35 -0800

I'm looking for tips and/or advice on buying a ~~used~~ pre-loved 1960's Volkswagen Beetle. I am in love with VW Beetles and am in a postion to buy one.
The one I am currently looking at is a 1966 model, 2 door, 4 speed manual. It has a four-year-old 1600cc engine with 30,000kms and is newly serviced with a brand new fuel pump. It also has new tyres and registration until August next year. It also has a fairly new interior and has a rather anal owner (who has had it for 12 years), so the car is more or less immaculate, with very little rust.

My questions are:
- How 'reliable' are these cars?
- Will it send me broke in repairs?
- The owner is asking $6,000 for this car. There is an element of emotional attachment to the vehicle. What would be a fair price, given the specs above? I was thinking somewhere in the range of $3,000-$4,000.

Any other advice would be dearly appreciated.

If you need any other info, let me know, email is in profile.

Drive-away special: $1999

Dr. Wu — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:46:48 -0800

Can you help me come up with a jokey slogan for a notional used car dealership? After considering dressing for Halloween as Kim Jong-Il, Rasputin, and Homer (the poet, not the Simpson), I have determined that I would actually like to dress as a used car salesman for a Halloween party this Friday night. Tomorrow I'll hit the local Goodwills for the loudest sport coat I can find, some white shoes, etc. I'd also like to pass out little business cards with the name of my "business" on them.

The archetype of the kind of slogan I'm looking for comes from the old joke about the fictitious film studio, Miracle Pictures:

If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!

You know: a slogan which was clearly intended to mean one thing but actually reads like the opposite thing. I just can't come up with a clever one. Can you help me?

(Of course, the name of my company will be something like "Honest Sam's."

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?

Plaid Jacket Optional

eurasian — Fri, 12 May 2006 10:55:33 -0800

Buying a used car in Vancouver, BC, dealers you'd recommend, or conversely, those to absolutely avoid? I'm fairly sure we are going to go with a 2002-2004ish Civic, Corolla, or Protege5 (now called the Mazda 3, IIRC). Would ideally like to buy from a dealer, as that's what the majority of the books told me to do.

We live downtown and don't have a car. Could any Vancouver MeFites point to import car dealers close by they'd absolutely recommend? Or help us steer clear of the nightmares?