I need a car but I will get a car which I can afford with cash.
We have been looking for some time now as our other car is about to die and yet the price of cars is outrageous.
10 grand I have and I can’t even get a decent car today
You get plenty for your money.
The most overcomplicated and inefficient pollution control known to man.
An underpowered CAFE engine.
A host of safety features that won't help you inside your overly light tin foil passenger compartment.
Proprietary secrecy in parts specifications to prevent competition for OEM scalping.
An on board computer to rat you out to the cops.
Full pay and benefits for labor banked UAW slackers.
Free lifetime full medical for UAW retirees.
So see, you get a lot, but you may not get it started.
Well with 10 grand you've got the down payment.......
On a more serious note, I've had good luck buying older very low mileage estate cars. Now you won't find many Corvettes or mini vans, but a lot of Buicks, Caddys, and Lincolns.
Last year I got a 6 yr old Caddy with 16k miles for 15 grand that was in essentially new condition and I love it. It's a double bonus in my state (Indiana) because the yearly registration fees are reduced as the vehicle ages and are trivial when you hit 9 years old.
IIRC a 2 year old car is the optimum purchase.
Look for that “sweet spot” an you can probably hit your $10K budget,
In late 2005 I bought a 2003 Kia Spectra for $6,500 from a dealer, with about 30,000 miles on it. It’s currently got 108,000 miles on it, and it’s never broken down on me once. No power windows or remote door locks. Not as sexy as a Mustang, but it does the job.
You’re paying cash so you can get the price you want (as long it’s a reasonable offer). Tell the salesman you are paying cash. If the salesman won’t accept your offer at the moment, walk away and say, “someone is going to get this money—the one who agrees to my price.” It’s a buyer’s market these days.
I need a work truck. something like this only half as many miles.
http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/find/listing/2005-FORD-F350-96091595
Had less than 40K miles on it.