Used Car Recommendations........

[E.intheC]

Thanks a ton for looking out for me guys.

Jaa, I'm sure that car was nice. Too bad it sold quickly.

Tom, I appreciate the offer, but that's a little bit too big for me.:redface:

 

[E.intheC]

Let's say I find a car that I like and am seriously considering.... How does the mechanic's inspection process work? Do I have the car dropped at my local mechanic? What if the dealership is 10-15 miles away? What's the process?

 

[BaaMNYC]

Subaru is my opinion. Awd reliable. Inexpensive.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

Let's say I find a car that I like and am seriously considering.... How does the mechanic's inspection process work? Do I have the car dropped at my local mechanic? What if the dealership is 10-15 miles away? What's the process?

i would check with the dealer first if they would allow you to take the vehicle to your own mechanic for an evaluation. if they don't then i would go else where. don't let them bs you about the lot's insurance wouldn't cover the car if something happened. they can always come with you if they want to.... but no salesperson wants to spend an hour+ and perhaps miss the chance of a full sticker sale if he wasn't in the lot.

speak to your mechanic before hand about the vehicle so he can research the car's common problems if he's not super familiar with the particular model. ask him if he has a list that he marks off as he goes over those components. some mechanics would just tell you verbally what is wrong with the car. i would not use that type of mechanic unless i know him well.

ask if you can be in the garage area while he's inspecting....tell him you don't know anything about cars so you can learn what part is where and how to check and maintain it. make it sound like he's teaching you car 101....but you actually want to see how thorough he is with everything. expect to pay either a flat rate or hourly rate since he's spending time on it. i would not get a free inspection or something really cheap. imagine his hourly rate of like $100+, why would he do it for free?

make an appointment and expect to be there 30 min to an hour minimum since it would be lifted and test driven.

take the list of critical/expensive repairs to negotiate the price......unless the repair is substantial, they will just give you the line of it's a used car, it's not perfect. it also depends on the purchasing price.....don't expect to negotiate new brakes and a set of tires if the price is 5-6 grand. but don't let them convince you "oh it's cheap compare to a new car"......it's still a good amount of money. besides they make much more money on a used car than a new one.

hope this help.

 

[E.intheC]

Tom, definitely helpful. Thanks for taking the time on that!

 

[JarviZ]

wanna buy my frs?

 

[E.intheC]

Is that the hat in your avatar?

 

[JarviZ]

Is that the hat in your avatar?

What? I have a scion frs with 25k miles on it and looking to sell.

 

[BaaMNYC]

What? I have a scion frs with 25k miles on it and looking to sell.

im sure he meant car instead of hat. an auto correct error.

 

[E.intheC]

:lol2: if you are selling the car for $6,000 or less, I'm in.

Before you say I'm lowballing, please read the first post in this thread.

 

[BaaMNYC]

:lol2: if you are selling the car for $6,000 or less, I'm in.

Before you say I'm lowballing, please read the first post in this thread.

if you pass on it. ill take it for $6,000. i would prefer the brz even though its the same car. :biglaugh:

 

[tomtoothdoc]

if you pass on it. ill take it for $6,000. i would prefer the brz even though its the same car. :biglaugh:

i'll give you another dollar more of whatever baam will give you.....lol.

sorry to high jack your thread e.

jarviz please pm details, asking price and pics. if the price is right, i may interested in a summer ride.

 

[Telinskia]

As a mechanic I think the Corolla is a great car, older Camreys as well like 93-00 with the 2.4 are all great cars.... any Honda/Acura with a B, D, F, or K seriers engine also good.. umm and Nissan Altimas either the older 2.4 or a newer one with a 2.5

Now the 6 cylinder camerys, altimas, and maximas are good cars as well but you get less gas mileage but still good cars I would not get a 6 cylinder Honda/Acura though, there auto transmissions just don't hold up, also the motor mounts are also kind of a crappy design and blow out as well and much faster on the manual transmissions cause of the added torque and down shifts and cost around the $700-$900 range to replace all 4 so don't think you safe with buying a manual trans 6 cylinder Honda/Acura...
Just my professional advice, Hopes this helps you decide

-Anthony