I just turned 16 and now I need a car to get me to and from school and my pt job. I've been searching for a car that I could afford because my parents said my grades weren't good enough for them to buy me one. I've searched hard and I think i found it. It's a 1997 Bonneville SSE with 205hp. Everything works excellently, but it has 128,000 miles on it. I'm not much of a car person, so I don't know if I should buy the car. I only plan to keep the car for two years until my parents buy me one and I don't drive far. So should I get the car even though it has so many miles?
2006-08-10 17:25:24 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
That's not too bad at all for that year. If it was maintained well, it's easily got another 128,000 good miles left on it, maybe a lot more if you take good care of it.
But keep in mind that those SSEs do have computer problems that can drive you nucking futs trying to sort out. My brother had one and it took nearly two years for the dealer to finally get it right.
Take the VIN to a Pontiac dealer and ask the service department to pull up a service history on their computer. They might charge you $10.00 or so but it's worth it. Look for any "could not duplicate" problems related to the computer system -- mostly starting, stalling, or driveability complaints. If the service history is relatively clean, it should be OK.
2006-08-10 18:00:29 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
128,000 miles is not bad seeing that is a 1997 and it is only 9-10 years old because that averages out to 12,000 miles a year average, give or take a few. To find out if it has mostly highway miles, if so then that's good, take a look at the brake pedal and if it looks badly worn that most likely those are stop and go traffic miles, that might be bad. For one thing I would also invest in a Carfax report to make sure it wasn't used as a rental car in the past because that might not be good either check the tires for uneven wear to indicate future front end problems being that is a front wheel drive vehicle (costly). Also ask the previous owner about what type of driving was it mainly used for and see if there is a good maintenance record kept. Definitely get the Car fax report it just might save you in the long run. Well anyway good luck and congratulations!
2006-08-10 17:39:20 · answer #2 · answered by ihadnuttin2dowitit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You never said what the price is but if the car has been taken care of don't let the mileage bother you. I work in a plant w/ hundreds of people and drive a car w/ over 200k miles on it. It's still the fastest thing in the parkinglot. I would have a good mech. look it over to be on the safe side. or someone you know that knows cars.
2006-08-10 17:36:33 · answer #3 · answered by wzzrd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my car is going on 210,000 and still works perfect its only a civic so it dousn't have as much horsepower which would affect it but if the car your looking at still runs good then go for it, just have someone look over it who knows what they are looking for, like diff colored paint in the engine compartment, or welds that do not look like they should be there. This could mean that the car has been in an accident. Or you could look up the vin on carfax and check out the history
2006-08-10 17:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by webb51731 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you plan to keep the car for such a short period of time, going with the 97 Bonneville with 120K miles shouldn't be too bad since you just need it to commute to and from school and your part time job. Go for it. It's affordable and it will get you where you need to go cheaply.
Just make sure it hasn't been in an accident because that will affect the resale value when you go to sell the car in two years.
2006-08-10 17:33:01 · answer #5 · answered by hondapilot4me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That car will do you good for two years. My dad put 300,000 miles on a car just change the oil when its due along with other regular maintenance.
2006-08-10 17:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ya dude 128 000 isnt all that much really if you look at some of the other cars and for 2 years it should be fine
2006-08-10 17:30:11 · answer #7 · answered by shanked09 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don,t do it if it were a honda, a toyota or nissan, i,d say go for it don,t waste your money on a used american car. plus its a gas guzzler don,t you want to go out sometime with the ladies.
2006-08-10 17:42:41 · answer #8 · answered by xavier g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
asking for trouble....my camry was just getting broken in at that mileage, not an american car.....it's over..repairs galore
2006-08-10 18:01:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
go for it. if its only for 2 years and youre not driving it alot then yea. have fun
2006-08-10 17:31:28 · answer #10 · answered by S.P. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋