If I could turn back time...

[edible_hat]

But wouldn't they also be required to inform you that a new engine's been put in as well?

This is why I'm a little reluctant about buying my first car...I have no clue who's a shady dealer or not or what a good price is for a first car. My cousins got theirs for under $2000 and they work fine.

I bought my car from my brother in law. I kept borrowing it and it got to the point where I was driving it a lot more than he was, and keeping it at my place most of the time, so we decided I might as well buy it.

And wouldn't you know it, it broke down the day I handed over the cheque! But because he's a nice guy he paid for the repairs.

[otakuneko]

This is why I'm a little reluctant about buying my first car...I have no clue who's a shady dealer or not or what a good price is for a first car. My cousins got theirs for under $2000 and they work fine.

Don't spend more than a few grand on a first car. Practically everyone wrecks their first car, and that'd hurt all the more if it was an expensive one. That doesn't mean get a total junker, just one that is fairly basic and if something happened to it, you'd see it as an opportunity to upgrade, rather than as a loss.

If you go to dealers, go with the one who treats you right. If you feel uncomfortable with a dealer, walk out on them. If they sit you down and try to force you to put money down right f'in now, walk out.

The salesman I bought my Impala from was an awesome guy, totally understanding and accomodating of what I wanted, no pressure, he pretty much let me sell myself on the car. He was like the complete opposite of your average car salesman.

[LewisLegion]

I spent ten grand on my first car. It was used, two years old at the time. It is now about to turn 13 and I still have it...and will continue to drive it until it falls apart or something so big goes out it would be cheaper simply to get a new car.

Not to say everyone should go out and spend that much on a first car...I was in my twenties, had a lot of driving experience already, and am a stickler for the speed limit and traffic laws...still have not had a single ticket or accident (rather, accident in which I wasn't stationary and someone else hit ME, or parked and not even in the car and someone else hit me). My insurance company loves me.

[Geek King]

Oh, and extended warranty =
Mom talked me into getting that ... it cost a little over a grand, but... when the transmission went, it covered about $200 more than what I'd paid for it.

Just a quick caution: Only if the extended warranty is from the manufacturer, or another source with reliable history. Some places will sell extended warranties backed by fly-by-night companies that might have folded up and dissappeared by the time you need them. It was a bigger issue five years ago, or so, but still something to watch out for.

[Darkwolf]

and there's also websites that estimate what a car is worth, entering in the model, make, milage, etc... i just don't remember what it was.

edmunds.com and kelley blue book (kbb.org) just off the top of my head

[hopie144]

If I could find a way...

Wait wait, this isn't a Cher concert, or anything to do with Cher!

Dammit, look what you've done. Now I've got a song with actual english lyrics stuck in my head. 'scuse me while I go put on some Megumi!

I did the same thing!


I'd take back those words that hurt you and you'd stay....

[protege]

...and now my mind is in pain

Seriously though, good used cars are out there. First one I bought, was a '91 Tercel...waaaay back in 1994. Even for a 3-year-old, the dealer wanted about six grand. Didn't look too bad, but on closer inspection, it wasn't worth that. Car was a base model (no A/C, no radio , 4-speed) that had some cosmetic damage. At most, it was worth about $4500. Dealer insisted on $6k, dad said "well, it's got this leak in the trunk, it's a manual, no A/C, either take the 4500 or we walk. Of course the first thing we did was put a radio in it, and fix the trunk leak (with some scrap rubber seals from the then-dead MG). I ran that car for 6 years, until it started having electrical problems. And yes, I still miss it

I got lucky with that car. The one it replaced (that damn Tempo), really was a piece of shit. It was an ex-state car, that was bought at auction. Unless you like fixing someone else's problem...NEVER buy a car at an auction. Sure, you might get a deal, but you might also be in for a world of hurt. At those auctions, you simply don't get the opportunity to take a good look at the car. You can't look under the hood, nor can you hear the thing run, or drive it.

[Kyree]

I did the same thing!


I'd take back those words that hurt you and you'd stay....

[ATTACH]1063[/ATTACH]

If I could reach the stars....I'd give them all to you....

Damnit ._.

[otakuneko]

Dammit, not again!

*queues up the OP to Lucky Star*

[edible_hat]

*queues up the OP to Lucky Star*

Ah my sunsets,
Paris to Bogota by... air!

[Crow The Robot]

Glad I'm not the only one who got that song stuck in their head. In the U.S. carfax.com, can help you avoid lemons, the are also "lemon laws" in some states and some dealers have carfax certified cars, just ask for the carfax number, and enter it into the carfax.com website and you'll have a history of the car.