2007-10-26 12:16:40 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
1) If you belong to a credit union, ask if they have a car brokerage service. Many credit unions will negotiate a price for you on a particular car.
AAA & Costco also offer car buying services.
2) Use Consumer Reports magazine or consumerreports.org to research cars w/ regards to price, features and reliability.
3) Read "Don't Get Taken Every Time" by Remar Sutton; it gives the ins & outs of how to buy a car without getting ripped off. His website: http://www.dontgettakeneverytime.com/
4) www.cartalk.org has tools to help you choose the right car & calculate your loan payments. Here's the link to these features: http://cartalk.com/menus/info.html
5) Compare the cost of insuring the cars you are considering so you can save money on insurance too.
2007-10-26 13:44:02 · answer #1 · answered by Treadstone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have my share of cheap used cars , and if you are going to get one , the most important things to look for is ... start the car if it smokes at all , when standing still or driving don't get it ... second feel the transmission for holding power , wile runing push the brakes in tight and then accelerate slowly you should feel the power of the transmission if is sliding or reeving up with out moving don't get it , and third make sure the engine is not over heating because of low cooling fluid , check for antifreeze leaks ... the rest because the car is old you can do some investing ... like muffler , tires , brakes , paint job , etc. but dose three are the ones that will give you the most grief and expense
2007-10-26 12:33:43 · answer #2 · answered by young old man 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bring a mechanic or someone who is clued up..
sometimes cheap is ok, sometimes its a money pit..
I would also find out how much the insurance is, if your young and just past your test, if you go for something with a high power engine.. you'll pay thru the nose insuring it.
my first car was a fiesta, 950 cc (feel the power.lol) cost £500. .but the insurance was another £500.
my insurance isn't much cheaper even now although i've been driving 15 years...
just make sure you have enough to be road legal as well as buying the car itself or you'll end up getting a lot of points and more expensive insurance.
2007-10-26 12:22:35 · answer #3 · answered by junglejungle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The car is likely to be a few years old, so I'd get a popular make and model such as a Ford Fiesta. That means you'll have lots of choice, and can be picky. They are also cheap and easy to maintain.
Look at a few cars, to compare them. Ideally, you'll get one with a low mileage, just one owner (ideally an older driver, female), so it will be less likely to have been abused.
Make sure you get an HPI check or similar, to verify it's history. An AA or RAC inspection is also a good idea, money well spent.
2007-10-26 14:19:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
$ 1500 - $ 2000 - range ???
While its buyers beware its possible to get valid value, the Internet or Auto trader is not the places to look for vehicles in this price range.
Shop you local community newspaper along with supermarket billboards you may just get lucky someone just having posted a vehicle in excellent condition that's no longer needed.
Buying from a dealer in this price range the odds are against you, you must have patience and when you find a car that you think fits the bill make sure you navigate to the Test Drive on this website http://www.usedcartips.org/TESTDRI.html
2007-10-26 13:13:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find a car for sale that is cheap and buy it
2007-10-26 21:16:08 · answer #6 · answered by ORC 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
go on gut instinct , if anything... even something small catches your eye WALK AWAY. i have bought many cars in my time and its always the little things that you think "is this right?" that you end up kicking yourself over
just remember your in no hurry to buy ,but if its crap they are in a hurry to get rid of it... so dont beleive anything the seller is telling you
i dont get fooled anymore
2007-10-26 12:24:44 · answer #7 · answered by J-C-T J 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Beware!
Don't forget, a cheap first car could also be a cheap last car.
2007-10-27 07:37:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
it depend on your budget, if you got enough then go for Toyota Yaris, good and cheap insurance and reliable, other wise just buy a corsa for the first year then you can change it, good luck
2007-10-26 12:22:08 · answer #9 · answered by Dan the MAN 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the guy drives a three-wheeler, and has a brother like a long streak of p***, don't buy it.
2007-10-26 12:20:45 · answer #10 · answered by dorothy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋