Car Shopping: Help!

by Karoli on October 4, 2006

Let me start with this: I refuse to buy a new car because it is devalued the moment it’s driven off the lot, and I really, really want to pay cash and not have car payments.

I’ve been looking at used Honda Accords, Civics, and Toyota Corollas. The prices and/or mileage seem high on all of them. Here’s what I want: Something that is relatively nice, doesn’t have to be an automatic, can be a 2-door (but 4-doors are nice), is reliable, and gets fairly decent gas mileage.

So tell me, blog friends… What tips do you have for buying a car? Suggestions on make, model, places to look and any other car-buying secrets are most welcome. I am seriously flummoxed.

[comments are now closed due to excessive spamming efforts]

Technorati Tags: honda, toyota, car purchase

drumsnwhistles

Hey Maryam, welcome! I like BMW's too. I'm just too cheap to think it's okay to get a new car and have it be worth substantially less the day after I drive it off the lot. Plus, with one kid off to college next year and another one off to college in four years, it's time to tighten the belt. Bigdog loves his old Mercedes so much that it's taken me over a year to convince him it's time to upgrade. :)

Kmilyun and Lee, I'm looking hard at Saturns. Really hard. There's not many wagons available here though -- I live in the land of SUV, sadly.

DnW

maryam scoble

Ok so we are totally different here. I always always buy new cars. I know, I know: not very smart you might say. But then I don't have to bother about maintenance for a long time, especially if I get the extended warranty. I've had a couple of toyotas and a mitsubishi mirage so far. The Toyotas would last forever and were the best for the buck. The Mitsubishi was a nightmare. Robert has been very happy with his Ford Focus. We bought it new and got the extended warranty but it has been such a reliable car for the last few years. If you are buying a used car, make sure and get the extended warranty so you are not left with hefty maintenance charges.

All that said, I love my BMW. I love the way it hugs the curves, the way it feels safe and secure in rain and shine and all the cute little gadgets it has inside. If I was in the market for cars, and didn't want to spend as much as the BMW, I would conside a used Volvo or a Toyota.

Good luck!

kmilyun

Ok,
The best car I have ever owned as far as dependability, comfort, and usefulness is and still is my 1994 Toyota Camry Wagon. Unfortunate that they have quit importing them to the US. It has over 140,000 on it and the only work ever done on it other than the usual oil changes etc was some gasket to do with the fuel injection.

It has been fishing, camping, and then cleaned up and shuttled VIP's around LOL.

My four door 2002 PreRunner does the job but gag - I have the evil payments to show for it!

I am with Lee - if I had one car - it would be another wagon.

Lee

you know we love our Saturn...and it's a wagon (I bet drums would fit great in there) and gets great mileage...we looked at the Hondas and Toyotas too and had the same reaction you are - too much mileage for too much money...Saturns and Kias were our alternatives with Saturn as #1...Subaru's are a good bet but we never found one in our price range...good luck, car shopping is a drag

drumsnwhistles

Yes, it is amazing. For me, it has to do with paying such a chunk of money for something that is basically a way for me to get from one place to the next. Unlike many here in the great state of California, I am not in love with driving or cars. So it's a necessary evil that I need but don't want to sell my soul for.

On the other hand, I do want to be at least smart about what I plunk down a bunch of cash on...and that's what is making me crazy.

DnW

kmilyun

Is it not amazing how the purchase of transportation can perplex the highest to the lowest of intellectual types and be anything but straightforward?

I am afraid that generalized statements of desiderata on my part will not help. I usually end up purchasing the vehicle that meets my needs of the moment.