If you had a choice, would you rather buy from a personal seller or from a small dealership (nothing well-known)?
Obviously, it would be better to buy from a better-known dealership, but my budget can't go that way.
Thanks for any help.
2006-06-26 03:46:25 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
Personal. They tend to be more honest.
2006-06-26 03:48:44 · answer #1 · answered by ju_ty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume you are talking about a used car, so my preference would be a private seller, or maybe a repair shop. Many mechanics work on cars and then sell them. I bought an older VW Jetta from one and it ran like a dream. (Until it ran like a nightmare into the back of a bog truck, but then that was my fault, not the car's.)
Check classifieds and cars.com, call people and see if they work on cars. Also, look for any for sale at local sevice stations.
If you are buying a new car, the bigger dealerships often offer cheaper prices due to volume buying power and more financing options. If you go to a dealership, wait until the end of the month...like this week! If you can't find one at a dealership by Friday, don't get one there.
2006-06-26 10:57:19 · answer #2 · answered by But why is the rum always gone? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you talking about used cars in both situations? I have bought used cars from both and I alway's felt more comfortable with a private seller. I alway's felt that the dealer was hiding something about the car or the deal was not always the best. Before I would buy a car from anyone, have a mechanic check it out and give you their opinion. is the dealer offering you any type of warrany? that can mean something. don't pay extra for a warranty, if the car is good that a dealer should stand behind it. buying from a private seller often means no warranty beyond what may be left on the vehicle and that is not always tranferable
2006-06-26 10:56:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Given the choice, I'd still go with the dealership -- typically, you can count on them more for being ethical since they have reputation and legal aspects that a private party wouldn't consider.
I don't want to be a pessimist, but private parties have no reason to worry about your satisfaction once you receive the car.
But, be careful that you don't end up assuming that a small dealership can always do better than a large one. Use your internet with www.kb.com and www.edmunds.com to get a good idea of blue book values.
2006-06-26 11:01:47 · answer #4 · answered by Gary R T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hands down, I would choose the personal seller. The only car I ever bought from a dealer was due to a mechanic shopping with me. We only had a few hours to shop for my car together.
Although you say you can't afford to buy from a better dealership, I encourage you to consider whether this is a false economy. The money you might save on the initial purchase might be spent on future repairs.
Almost every car I have owned was one that I could afford to replace for cash. And every car was also bought for cash. This enabled me to save the expense of collision insurance, and financing. Although I did have higher repair costs, I was still ahead money in the long run.
I encourage you to buy the very cheapest, well running car you feel you can get by with, and take pride in you fatter wallet, not your spiffy wheels.
(Right now, I am transitioning to a bicycle.)
2006-06-26 12:10:39 · answer #5 · answered by Triple M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have bought from both individuals and from small car dealers, and also from large dealers. There really is not too much difference in price, when you consider the, very real, possibility that from the first two you are more likely to spend money on repairs in the first year. Also, it is worth paying for, or getting the seller to at the very least split the cost of a Car-Fax report. Any actual car dealer should have this report available, if they don't run away and find another dealer.
2006-06-26 11:14:46 · answer #6 · answered by math_prof 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you know the person, reasonably well, and trust them then buying from a personal seller can be a very good deal. You'll save money, but have to accept any consequences.
If you don't know the person at all, then at least have the car checked out by your mechanic or some other very knowledgible person.
2006-06-26 11:02:57 · answer #7 · answered by benton 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If by small dealership you mean small used car lot...no, try personal. I'd check with both sellers and see if you can borrow the car to get a diagnostic check on it by YOUR mechanic or AAA. If they balk, maybe they aren't the right one for you. Also, ask to see the maintenance records for the cars.
Good luck!
2006-06-26 11:48:20 · answer #8 · answered by cali_mum 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I probably would buy from a small dealership because they would have a warrenty on the car and would be able to help you get it fixed down the road if something where to break on it.
2006-06-26 10:54:58 · answer #9 · answered by photoluver 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smaller dealership
2006-06-26 11:04:49 · answer #10 · answered by Shay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually a lot of the better known dealerships have more financing options.
I don't trust individuals. Too many lemons out there.
2006-06-26 11:01:02 · answer #11 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋