Posted on 07/02/2024 10:48:30 AM PDT by EinNYC
My friend's truck sustained a lot of damage from an exploding tire. She can't afford to fix it. I thought she should look for a hatchback car instead of a truck, as it would be cheaper. What would be some decent hatchbacks which would carry plenty of cargo and give her several years, at least, of service? How should she further research cars?
I was lucky, inheriting all my father's used cars until I finally bought my present car, which I bought new. So I don't have much experience in buying used cars or where to find a good one.
they call um dealers ;)
Although I own a dealership and I am a mechanic..
ain’t nothing cheap except my customers lately.
Carmax is selling used cars for more than you can buy the same one new. I saw it in person when I sold them my six year old truck with 62k miles on it for $3822 less than I paid for it new. I bought that truck brand new with 12 miles on it and there was no trade in to obfuscate the real price.
In the north the dealers have to shovel the snow off the used cars in the lot.
I would think that would motivate them to want to move those cars.
:-)
In the winter of course—I would think traffic is lower then as well.
Look at Carmax on your computer. Type in what you’re looking for and compare millage, price, condition etc. They are very very likely to have what your looking for in your friend’s price range.
It’s a good start to see what’s out there anyway.
I have used AutoTrader a couple of times, dealers and individuals post their used cars on the website - I bought from the authorized dealers, not used auto dealers.
I had very good results buying my current car from Carmax. I can recommend them. It really made it easy to find what I was looking for and make the deal.
My 2000 Silverado just hit 275K miles. Florida
**Everything else is worthless**
I have 2 chevy blazers, 4d, 2wd. One (2001 bought in 09 with 94k miles) with 306k, with no major repairs ever. Quite reliable.
And one (04) with 260k (bought in 2020). The engine has 145k. I was told the previous owners wife drove it with a leaky water pump and baked the original motor. They bought a used 4.3 and sold it to me weeks later. The engine is a freak: 60 psi oil pressure, oil changes at every 5k yet the oil level is barely off the full mark. Replaced the fuel pump two years ago, otherwise reliable.
90 chevy silverado k1500, 182k, 4x4, exd cab. Don’t put 5k a year on it, also reliable.
07 Highlander, 3.3v6, awd, 307k. My wife’s rig. Very reliable until the 4th timing belt snapped at 305k miles, with less than 70k on that belt. Valve interference engine. (I decided to just change the belt that time since I replaced all idlers, seals, and water pump at the previous belt job.) Has a faint valve tap, so my wife just uses it for local nowadays. She doesn’t trust it, lol.
Never buy on from anyone under 35 years old.
Carvana . . . That’s Kurt Car-bain’s company, right?
Marry a mechanic. Let him buy the car.
Seriously, people take my husband to look at cars all time, or test drive it to the shop to have him look it over or pop it onto the scan tool and see what pops up.
I have done very well with Mannheim auto auctions: https://site.manheim.com/en/states/newyork
I used the open consumer side. They have an independent evaluation report free to help you determine if the condition is acceptable.
We’ve bought multiple cars with them, but not from their New York auctions.
Another place to consider is AutoTrader.com. I have family that has been happy with those purchases.
Finally, Ebay Motors worked well for yet another relative, which ultimately was bought from a storefront local dealer, a state away.
We’ve bought our used cars at Carmax and have been 100% Happy so far.
A Scion xB 2009 or later. Go to Car Gurus and search.
Made by Toyota, it’s been a great vehicle, cargo carrier, road warrior.
Haha...sounds like you had a blast.
I love it too. It’s the last year they put a V8 in one, 2013, with 45k miles. Excellent condition, feels new. I’ve never had a dual-clutch transmission before, it changes gear insanely quickly - revs that v8 to 8300rpm.
A 4 seat hardtop convertible race car.
And yes, I’ve heard that about end-of-month/quarter getting better deals.
That tactic will get you thrown off most any property in Florida where I live. With a few choice words added.
Just a guess. If you take your car in for regular maintenance at a dealer or a major repair facility it will be entered into a database.
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