Buying a Used Car

It's been years since I have had the displeasure of shopping for a used car.
Been looking for my college aged daughter.
Adds all over for 'Clean' used vehicles. Most of them priced right below high book.
Found one, very clean, I figure worst case I have to pay asking price plus tax and lic.
But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, plus FEES..........
Example, Advertised price. $12,840.00, I'm figuring around 14k with tax and lic.
The first clown can't explain the cost at all. The issue with them is, I am writing a check for it. No financing.
So now the second guy comes over, he must be the Hammer, or "Finance' guy. This is a "used' car, not new.
After chatting awhile, I asked, what do I need to write a check for? With a straight face he says, $16,100.00
I was DONE, got up and walked out.
I thought this was unique to this dealer.

Have followed up on several since, call ahead and get the full price first.
They want to schedule a test drive. No, I want the write a check price first.
They have to get back to me. No follow ups.

Now I am just calling to see if I can get numbers.
A shady lot does give me some.
10,099.00 ....... costs $12,854.00
8,990.00......... costs 11,141.00
Understand that sales tax in my town is 7.75%.

Unbelievable, the cost is not the cost. I know this has been happening with new for ever, but used??????????

Just another rant from a cranky old guy......

Go private sale and low ball. Figure you're going to have to spend to get the quirks worked out anyway, might as well save some upfront and spend the balance at a reputable indy garage

Put the word out among your friends that you are looking for a decent used car for your daughter. Sometimes people are on the verge of trading up and would let their well loved vehicle go to a friend, a friend of a friend, or relative for a good price. You might get lucky.

I just gave away my old S10 blazer 4x4 to my friend. I really didn't want to sell it and deal with the buyer/seller hassles. It was old and needed a few things, but was a strong runner. He needed a 4x4 "beater" to come and go from his property on a steep hill when it's snowing and not risk crashing his truck. A perfect fit! I got rid of a car I don't need and he got one that he needed.

I have a friend who had a beautiful lexus SUV. The transmission began to "buck". She was told the tranny alone was $5,000. for that vehicle, so she sold it through craigslist for $1,200. That car was beautiful and only had about 100,000 miles on it. The guys who bought it picked it up with a "chase car" and drove it home on backstreets on a Sunday evening. I think they rebuilt the trans themselves or knew someone who could do it for a great price, and so they had a great vehicle.... for peanuts.

The other thing I would say is pick a car that has a reputation for reliability and search specifically for that car. Subarus all need a head gasket at about 100,000 miles... but they can be found for cheap and are very reliable... A lot of people sell them once the head gasket begins to go and they overheat once or twice...

I'm with acadian. I'm a buy for cheap and fix it up type too. The big ticket car is a gamble. Once something breaks you are already in deep financially.

o0norton0o said:

Subarus all need a head gasket at about 100,000 miles... but they can be found for cheap and are very reliable... A lot of people sell them once the head gasket begins to go and they overheat once or twice...

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Seen this one far too often including 2 of my own. I'll never understand why the 2.2 liter motor was so trouble free but the 2.5s would warp a head at the drop of a hat.

Used car sales reps are usually mouth breathers whose job is getting customers in to see a closer. They have absolutely no authority
and usually are incapable to doing math. It is the sales manager or finance manager that calls the shots. In the case of the:
10,099.00 ....... costs $12,854.00 , the sales tax would be $783. Being VERY liberal, say license and registration costs $1000 (sounds
quite high to me). That leaves $1000 of the "cost" unexplained. It is easy enough to demand a rendering in writing. They will hide
bogus things such as insurance to drive it off the lot, or detailing, or an extended warranty. These things are all fluff and are the profit
in addition to that made on the original asking price. When you begin walking out the door they quickly block you and ask what you
are willing to pay. It is a process designed to wear you down. I have found that using the free purchasing services such as offered
by AAA and my local credit union can alleviate much of pain out of buying a car. Now is a good time to buy vehicles from car rental
companies. These cars are usually well maintained. Research a car value using Kelly Blue Book et al. Knowledge is power.
I would always have a used car checked out by my personal mechanic before departing with money.

I have heard god things about CarMax used cars.
Set pricing and limited warranty.
There is supposed to be a large amount of rental fleet (Hertz) cars entering the used market now.

Early 90s Volvo 740. Classic, reliable, cheap, TANK.

o0norton0o said:

Subarus all need a head gasket at about 100,000 miles...

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specific models? my 1999 Mk1 Forester, (2L normally aspirated), got well past that and was driving perfectly when I traded it in (read; gave it away to the dealer) for my current (2016, 2L, petrol, normally aspirated) Forester. Worst thing about early Foresters was sagging rear suspension.

The Dreaded Subaru Head Gasket Issue. Non turbo 4 cylinder applications all have head gasket issues, you've heard this before, most of you know this, and yes its a result of a bad/faulty design with the gasket. The factory gaskets have a coating that deteriorates over time (typically between 80-120k miles.

I just found that on the internet. subarus are known for this quote, but if you are interested google it... and you can read on further.

Who would buy a car? Ford eco boost 1.0 turbo 3 cylinder thingy will have radiator and cooling problems. C-max and B-Max? Note, not may have, will have. The consequence of this is a failed head gasket naturally. However the engine is not rebuildable as the cylinder block will warp. Sorry sir, your overheating car needs a new engine. As told to me by a Ford mechanic friend. New technology is not worth considering. Bring back pushrods, carburettors and a decoke every 30,000 miles

Interesting glimpse into how the 'market' actually performs. One would have thought that buying and selling a car in the USA would be completely straightforward text book economics .