Advice on buying a new to me used car??

[Frank211]

So whoever read the story about the Honda that i got for free a few years back,took a dump last year.

Been using dos feet to get everywhere, and have had help using family members cars to get around,and to the thanks of my wifes step pops-in-law,he's letting us use his car,up until now!

My wife's mom wanted to talk to us, we were like,all DAMN what now?

Long story short,she wants go buy us a car!!!!! I started ballin!

So now i need advice on what to look for. I mean i know what to look for and ask,like , is it a salvaged title, is probably the main one. Just guessing.

Miles of course,oh and i like to say is that,drum roll please.......... I have an honest to good mechanic! 20 years,yes sir!

So all the help will HELP!

THANKS AGAIN GUYS!

[DrIsotope]

LAPD alone auctions off like 300+ cars a week. You can get some REAL cheap stuff. Beauty is like 95% of repo'd/seized cars still run, lots of 'em still in good shape. I had a buddy who almost exclusively drove auction cars.

[Zukiiholic]

Look for Toyota/Scion with low miles.
Best Reliable cars right now.
Look under it, if it's too clean, it's hard to find leaks.
If it's painted all Black, shocks an all, (dealer Detailed they say) it's hiding leaks.
If it looks like the interior and engine was sprayed or wiped down with an oily rag to look all new and glossy, Move on.
I've been looking for a good used truck and the Red flags are abundance.
I'd love to buy a new truck but they cost more then my house. WTH?!!
Good luck.
Travel to Portland and I'd make a good deal on a Super low miles Scion.
Got a Company car right after I bought it.
2012 Scion xD w/only 32k miles. I compare all new cars to this.
Aint found one better.

[Mike Flea]

https://www.govdeals.com/, most used website by municipalities nationwide. Buying a used government vehicle usually gets you all the maintenance records for that vehicle.

[xtreme4x2]

Don't rush into anything. Was looking for another truck or Xterra last year. Saw a ford F150 looked good, price right. Trans started slipping with in 1 block! Found an xterra, but the bank said it seemed fishy when they looked up the vin. both at "dealerships" Took me about 3 months and idk how many calls and test drives. Then I found a 2005 Titan crew cab 2wd with 131k miles for 6k.

Take your time, don't rush it. You'll find what you want for a good price.

[meatmonkey]

If you want economical reliable transportation your talking Toyota or Honda. I'm pretty partial to Camrys, Accords, civics, Yaris' , Corrollas. The simpler the car, the less can go wrong, the cheaper and easier it is to maintain.

Biggest thing is paying an independent shop to perform a pre-purchase inspection. This may give you a few bargaining points, or outright save you from buying a lemon.

Just don't, and I mean don't, buy anything Korean or Chrysler/FCA unless you like making never ending repair bills. Like seriously, friends don't let friends drive Chrysler products.

I'm an auto tech in the rust belt, and up here rust eventually kills the good cars, and the Korean and Chrysler cars suffer drivetrain failures and electrical gremlins before the rust even takes hold.

[CM9000]

kia's are not that bad. but dodge.. ford.. chevy... yeah.. no. just get a yota or another honda. or.. instead of scrapping the last honda (if it wasnt in an accident or totalled) id just swap the driveline in it or rebuild. cheaper than buying another used car. plus, its recycling.

ill drive my fiesta st till the roof rots.

[Steve g]

Nice of them to do this for you. To add on to the reliable cars that have been mentioned, mazdas are pretty good too. Thier crossover suvs are good (cx5, cx7, etc). I would recommend having your mechanic check out the car with you if possible.
Good luck

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[Frank211]

So i ended up with a used NEW to me Toyota Camry 2007 86 thousand miles on it. Very please with it

[durok]

There's a reason that the Camry repeatedly broke sales records for sedans in its size classification...

My brother just took his old Camry back from his college age daughter (she wanted to move on to something more exciting) - it has 120,000+ miles and runs like a top!

[Ots]

Best thing you can do is buy from someone you know and trust.