can anyone enlighten me on how to go about purchasing a used car without getting thoroughly taken advantage of? i have no friends or family that are auto savy and have just recently purchased my forth absolute lemon in under 2 years. i am aware of the recommended step of getting a pre purchase inspection by a mechanic however i have not yet found myself in a position where i could include this step in my purchase for various reasons and clearly have paid the price each time. in the distant past i have had no problem buying a used vehicle but things seem to have significantly changed or i just have the perfect amount of bad luck and the unfortunate part is there seems to be little to no recourse available once the purchase has been made. i am now out literally out tens of thousands of dollars between purchases and repairs. surely there must be a way to do this without getting the royal shaft?
help with purchasing a used car...
- Thread starter jimidean2011
- Start date
You can hire a mechanic to come with you on a test drive of a used car, if the private owner or used car dealer is resistant to your taking their vehicle to your mechanic for a couple of hours.
Another idea: buy a used car from a new car dealership. They don't want the bad publicity of selling you a lemon. You'll pay a little extra if you go this route.
Third idea: buy a used car from a mechanic you trust and patronize.
Another idea: buy a used car from a new car dealership. They don't want the bad publicity of selling you a lemon. You'll pay a little extra if you go this route.
Third idea: buy a used car from a mechanic you trust and patronize.
unfortunately i have yet to find a mechanic that can or is willing to leave his shop for the amount of time required to come along and inspect the car and i cant imagine what they would charge for such a service. they also wouldnt have access to a hoist which is necessary to do a proper inspection. obviously the price of that would be redundant compared to the amount of money i have lost but i have also been in situations where i have arrived to test drive the car only to find out it has been sold when i got there. im sure a mechanic wouldnt appreciate the wild goose chase and i would still be on the hook for his fee despite never inspecting the car. also i dont have a mechanic that i trust. i dont have anyone that i know and trust that is selling a car and even if i did that doesnt guarantee that it would be a worthwhile purchase either and i definitely can not afford to buy new other wise i wouldnt be making this thread. i have considered and test drove vehicles from dealerships but they are pretty explicit about the fact that the car comes with no promises or guarantees and is being sold as is with no responsibility for the condition of the vehicle once i drive away. also from what i have come to understand after speaking to a mechanic a car can technically be certified even with a seized engine which i found mind blowing so even trying to only purchase vehicles with a valid safety i could still end up getting screwed. which incidentally has happened on the last purchase. the car came certified but also had a blown head gasket.
Budget plays a large factor in this decision. A $2000 is much different from a $10,000 car.
As new and low miles as possible is what I would look for. Check for leaking fluids, rust on body, see if engine or suspension makes any abnormal noises on a test drive. Does it drive straight, brake properly, tires in good shape, winter tires?
Pretty basic. The older the car, the more things should be checked out. In terms of brands honda and toyota have proven reliability. Lexus or Acura if you want the premium segment.
As new and low miles as possible is what I would look for. Check for leaking fluids, rust on body, see if engine or suspension makes any abnormal noises on a test drive. Does it drive straight, brake properly, tires in good shape, winter tires?
Pretty basic. The older the car, the more things should be checked out. In terms of brands honda and toyota have proven reliability. Lexus or Acura if you want the premium segment.
If you’re looking to buy a used car that’s only a few years old, it might be better to buy brand new instead, because the finance rates are a lot lower. Your monthly payment may be very similar.
If you’re set on a used car, do your research and make a short list of reliable vehicles to focus your search. Only check out cars where the owner kept maintenance records. It’s no guarantee, but it shows that the owner cared enough to perform regular maintenance, which is half the battle.
Transmissions are very costly repairs, so check to see if it shifts smoothly. Make sure it doesn’t have rough shifts or make big clunky noises. See if there is a delay when shifting from Park to Reverse. Watch the tachometer for a slipping transmission. Check to see if the tach is climbing without the car accelerating.
If you’re buying from a dealership, most reputable ones will allow you to take it to a mechanic for an inspection.
I still recommend buying new. Yes, you pay more upfront, but if you buy brand new, you can ensure that you maintain it properly, and then drive it to the ground to get your money’s worth.
I’ve got a lot of contacts at dealerships. DM me if you want to buy new and I can hook you up.
If you’re set on a used car, do your research and make a short list of reliable vehicles to focus your search. Only check out cars where the owner kept maintenance records. It’s no guarantee, but it shows that the owner cared enough to perform regular maintenance, which is half the battle.
Transmissions are very costly repairs, so check to see if it shifts smoothly. Make sure it doesn’t have rough shifts or make big clunky noises. See if there is a delay when shifting from Park to Reverse. Watch the tachometer for a slipping transmission. Check to see if the tach is climbing without the car accelerating.
If you’re buying from a dealership, most reputable ones will allow you to take it to a mechanic for an inspection.
I still recommend buying new. Yes, you pay more upfront, but if you buy brand new, you can ensure that you maintain it properly, and then drive it to the ground to get your money’s worth.
I’ve got a lot of contacts at dealerships. DM me if you want to buy new and I can hook you up.
Still, consider buy a new car. If payment is the issue, lease.
What dealership you go to that say the used car is as is? Many dealers sell used cars with some kind of service and/or guarantee.
Also are you buying some really old used cars? What brand is it? Some brands are known to be problematic after several years. Avoid buying too old of a car. A few years old Toyota should be quite solid.
What dealership you go to that say the used car is as is? Many dealers sell used cars with some kind of service and/or guarantee.
Also are you buying some really old used cars? What brand is it? Some brands are known to be problematic after several years. Avoid buying too old of a car. A few years old Toyota should be quite solid.
Yes, buy a solid brand, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai are ok (though Hyundai had some models with recalls)Still, consider buy a new car. If payment is the issue, lease.
What dealership you go to that say the used car is as is? Many dealers sell used cars with some kind of service and/or guarantee.
Also are you buying some really old used cars? What brand is it? Some brands are known to be problematic after several years. Avoid buying too old of a car. A few years old Toyota should be quite solid.
I've bought through craigslist a couple of times but there the biggest point is whether you can trust your sellers. If what they say seems real and if they have all the paperwork, repair bills.... you stand a better chance.
Its worked really well for me in the past.
Send me a pm, I'll help you out and it wont cost a penny.
Include year, make, model and send me links to the cars you've narrowed down your search to.
You can eliminate 9 out of 10 cars that you dont want to waste your time seeing from the ad.
Include year, make, model and send me links to the cars you've narrowed down your search to.
You can eliminate 9 out of 10 cars that you dont want to waste your time seeing from the ad.
I've purchased 2 used vehicles at 3 and 4 years old, respectively, that had just come off their original leases. One had 50,000KM (Mazda Protege) and the other had 80,000km (VW Rabbit/Golf). The former served me well for many years, and the latter continues to serve me well. I paid about $12,000 for each of them, and they each came with some sort of dealership warranty (a month or something). Affordable cars are out there.
Quite a few manufacturers have certified preowned programs. That sounds like what you're looking for based on your level of knowledge.
The guys who get themselves into the most trouble with cars are usually buying an image, not transportation.
Stick to simple cars like Toyota Corollas or Camrys, or Honda Civics or Accords.
The guys who get themselves into the most trouble with cars are usually buying an image, not transportation.
Stick to simple cars like Toyota Corollas or Camrys, or Honda Civics or Accords.
Honda has 7 year 160,000 km powertrain warranty on honda certified used carsI've purchased 2 used vehicles at 3 and 4 years old, respectively, that had just come off their original leases. One had 50,000KM (Mazda Protege) and the other had 80,000km (VW Rabbit/Golf). The former served me well for many years, and the latter continues to serve me well. I paid about $12,000 for each of them, and they each came with some sort of dealership warranty (a month or something). Affordable cars are out there.
Mitsubishi has 10 years 160,000km on all their cars minus the evolution
You seem to have unrealistic expectations.unfortunately i have yet to find a mechanic that can or is willing to leave his shop for the amount of time required to come along and inspect the car and i cant imagine what they would charge for such a service. they also wouldnt have access to a hoist which is necessary to do a proper inspection. obviously the price of that would be redundant compared to the amount of money i have lost but i have also been in situations where i have arrived to test drive the car only to find out it has been sold when i got there. im sure a mechanic wouldnt appreciate the wild goose chase and i would still be on the hook for his fee despite never inspecting the car. also i dont have a mechanic that i trust. i dont have anyone that i know and trust that is selling a car and even if i did that doesnt guarantee that it would be a worthwhile purchase either and i definitely can not afford to buy new other wise i wouldnt be making this thread. i have considered and test drove vehicles from dealerships but they are pretty explicit about the fact that the car comes with no promises or guarantees and is being sold as is with no responsibility for the condition of the vehicle once i drive away. also from what i have come to understand after speaking to a mechanic a car can technically be certified even with a seized engine which i found mind blowing so even trying to only purchase vehicles with a valid safety i could still end up getting screwed. which incidentally has happened on the last purchase. the car came certified but also had a blown head gasket.
You seem to think that you should be able to buy a used car which is out of warranty (by your description, though you have not explicitly stated it) and have someone take the heat for you if it should turn out there is a problem with the car. Any problem.
Here's the deal with buying a used car.
1. If it is still in the warranty period, you can transfer the warranty to your name.
2. If it is not still in the warranty period, it's not under warranty. End of story. No mechanic, no used car dealer is going to offer you some sort of guarantee that the car won't have problems either at the time of purchase, or down the road. A mechanic can't talk to the car, he an only inspect it and look for obvious problems that he can see or hear or feel if he drives the car. He has no idea what is going on inside the engine, transmission, or electrical components, etc. For all he can tell, the rod bearings could be on death's doorstep due to lack of oil pressure.
3. All used cars must receive a safety certification by a mechanic in order for you to transfer the ownership to your name. Your mechanic is correct. He can certify a vehicle with a seized engine. I don't know why you find that mind blowing. He's certifying that the car is safe. Not that it is good on all fronts. A car with a seized engine is completely safe. In fact, it's the safest car because all it can do is sit in a parking lot. A safety certification means that the brakes are all good, the parking brake works, the seat belts work, the suspension is in fair condition, the exhaust system is intact, the windshield wipers work, the lights work, air bags work, etc. etc. etc. All safety systems on the car must be operational and in correct order. It has NOTHING to do with the car having no issues. That's your problem. You're buying a used car. You have 30 days from the time he signs that safety certificate that the car remains "safe" to drive. If in the 30 day period the brakes fail, he's supposed to fix the brakes. (Back in the day when I used to be broke-assed, I had fellow gear heads who I would go to to safety a load and I would get a certificate dated 3 days before the current date. But I would take that load and fix all the bullshit problems up myself.)
You have received the best advice from Yomero above. Buy a new car.
I'm not so sure that a $10,000 Lexus isn't going to have issues. Unless it's just really old with low kilometres and even then.Budget plays a large factor in this decision. A $2000 is much different from a $10,000 car.
As new and low miles as possible is what I would look for. Check for leaking fluids, rust on body, see if engine or suspension makes any abnormal noises on a test drive. Does it drive straight, brake properly, tires in good shape, winter tires?
Pretty basic. The older the car, the more things should be checked out. In terms of brands honda and toyota have proven reliability. Lexus or Acura if you want the premium segment.
I would never buy a new car ever again. The depreciation on the first couple years is huge.
I'd recommend buying a few year old car.
I've had good experience buying a certified pre-owned car from a dealership.
You pay more than you would if you bought it from a friend/family/kijiji, but there's peace of mind in the fact that it's somewhat certified by the dealership.
I agree with poorboy. Stick with Toyota Corolla or Camry, Honda Civic or Accord. This has served me well.
Use the money that you save on buying a used car to supplement your hobby.
I'd recommend buying a few year old car.
I've had good experience buying a certified pre-owned car from a dealership.
You pay more than you would if you bought it from a friend/family/kijiji, but there's peace of mind in the fact that it's somewhat certified by the dealership.
I agree with poorboy. Stick with Toyota Corolla or Camry, Honda Civic or Accord. This has served me well.
Use the money that you save on buying a used car to supplement your hobby.
http://apa.ca/ will guide you
I have never got a used lemon these are my steps
1 decide what cars you want. Choose a few models you like and cars that have a good reputation
2 never buy a car that was out of the province. That is how right offs get dumped
3 look inside owner manual etc for receipts with the previous owner's name and contact them
4 learn how to do a proper test drive
5 beware of curbsiders or those who pretend to be selling their own car
6 I prefer a new car dealer to a used car dealer
If everything looks good a mechanical check is secondary
If possible do not own a car. You can rent when neccessary , taxi, TTC , walk etc and save $$$$$$$ while eliminating one of lifes risks
I have never got a used lemon these are my steps
1 decide what cars you want. Choose a few models you like and cars that have a good reputation
2 never buy a car that was out of the province. That is how right offs get dumped
3 look inside owner manual etc for receipts with the previous owner's name and contact them
4 learn how to do a proper test drive
5 beware of curbsiders or those who pretend to be selling their own car
6 I prefer a new car dealer to a used car dealer
If everything looks good a mechanical check is secondary
If possible do not own a car. You can rent when neccessary , taxi, TTC , walk etc and save $$$$$$$ while eliminating one of lifes risks
thanks for all the comments and feedback. im not nor have i ever been in the financial position to purchase new and even if i were, as mentioned the initial depreciation on the purchase makes it a bad investment. even certified pre owned cars are for the most part are at least 10-15,000. generally speaking my budget for a used car is $5000. i am well aware that for that price i am not going to find an amazing vehicle that is going to last 10 years problem free. i get that and i try and be realistic. what i do expect from a vehicle at that price point is to be able to at least get a years worth of driving out of it without needing to make any major repairs($500 and up). in the past, before this current streak of bad vehicles and major repairs i had no problems buying winter beater type vehicles for $1000-2000 with lots of life left in them. with inflation, over time i have increased my budget accordingly up to $5000. am i really that out of touch with reality?
Best bet is dealership. They’ll give you a certain mile warranty and the car will less likely fail. You have more legal options to pursue if things go wrong so they’re more willing to help. Private buyers will take advantage if you don’t know everything about cars. Save up a bit and go to a dealership.
One thing to remember is automobile manufacturers are only interested in getting the vehicle though warranty without issues. After that then cost of repairs become the factor in ownership. I find the few years after the 5 year mark usually pretty good but some wear items are going to need replaced. By the time 10 years or more has happened the repairs will be more than the vehicle is worth. Time to start the cycle all over again.
