help me with buying a car?

Question

Okay well to start off i'm a 17 yr old girl so i dont know much about cars, and neither do my parents really.
anyways, ive had my license for a year and a half and ive worked/accumulated $10 grand. i want to FINALLY buy a reliable car thats somewhere around that price range, maybe up to 12k. i wanted a mustang but i hear the insurance is ridiculous, so im also cosidering getting a volkswagon, scion or volvo. Can anyone help me with where to find a good car? And how to know its not gonna break down or something

Answer 1

save your $$$$$$$$$$$$$, don't buy one, how have you been getting around, they're not worth it, the gas (bu$h's oil mafia), insurance especially @ your age, & the up keep

Answer 2

You can start by going to autotrader.com and find cars you are interested in, sorted by make, model, year, price, location etc. Many cars listed on these site also include the VIN (vehilcle identification number) of the vehicle. Then go to carfax.com and spend the $24.95 to look up vehicles using the VIN number. You will have 30 days of unlimited access to use this resourse. This is a wealth of information by telling the vehicle history, like:
1. How many owners, complete with dates and milage.
2. Where the vehicle has been licensed.
3. If the vehicle has been involved in accidents.
4. Any flood damaged adjustment. etc.

One or two owners of the vehicle is preferrable, any more than that you might want to look for something else.
After you find one that you are seriously considering buying, take it for a test drive and then to a mechanic and have them look it over real good. Have them list everything they find that may need to be fixed or replaced. (if the problems are not major, then you can use it to negotiate a lower price with the owner). Always remember, the owner is "wanting" to sell it. (they have various reasons and ask them why)?
Hope this helps, and good luck in your vehicle purchase!!

P.S. One answer on here said not to buy a Ford Taurus or Mecury Sable. I own two Tauruses: 1. 1988 model with 200,000 miles on it. 2. 1998 model with 118,000 miles. Have owned both since new and the 98 model has needed nothing except routine maintenance. So do some homework and be careful what you hear.

Answer 3

Ok, check the following:

1. Find out from the insurance company what make of car would be the most affordable(Say for instance a vw car is most likely to get stolen statistically, that would not be a better option)

2. Find out from the insurance company what year model and color would be most affordable(I know it sounds wierd, but the color does make a difference, for instance a black car is most likely to get into an accident, because it is much harder to see, or a rare color could get stolen, or black scratches easily. White is the best, as it is the easiest color to get, if you need repainting, etc.)

3. Try to shop around first, don't settle for the first car that interests you. Look out for good deals.

4. When buying a car, check the following: service history, chassis no or VIN no is valid, car is registered, accident free history, outstanding traffic fines, get a mechanic to do a inspection on the engine's condition.

5. Make sure the car is exactly what you need and want.

These are just guidelines to getting a good buy. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

Sure. First of all you have to have a budget. Because you are not just buying a car. You have to think about annual taxes (I don't know your state laws), registration, insurance, maintenance, and fuel expenses. The brands you mentioned are all good. I would personally persude you away from a sports car till you build up a good driving record. Take your car to the dealership for regular maintenace such as oil changes and manufactuer reccomended service to keep it reliable. If you are worried about your car breaking down, you can get membership at an auto club like the AAA. They offer towing assistance, jump start, and key lockout opening. Obviously you should have your cell phone so you can call for help. These are the basics, if you have more questions, let me know. My community college offers a course on basic car maintence for the totally newbie so consider taking a course.....Good Luck

Answer 5

Of those cars you listed, the Scion would be the best choice for reliability, and the Volvo may be second.

Answer 6

I recommend you this site where you can find the best offers and quotes available for you:
insuranceforcheap.info

Answer 7

Don't buy a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable.

Answer 8

u can buy my 99 bmw 323i if u want. im selling it for about 10k. no problems whatsoever. check it out at craigslist.com or autotrader.com. my email is [e-mail] - email me if u want some pics. thanks