Used car advice?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I'm looking between $8 and $10k. I found within 100 miles of my place on Autotrader couple of the cheaper ones.

2008 PT Cruiser 78k, $6990

2008 Dodge Caliber 94k, $7995
2008 Chevy Uplander 83k, $8307
2008 PT cruise 53k, $8444
2008 Dodge Caliber 60k, $8944
2008 Chevy Cobalt 80k, $8977
2008 Chevy Aveo 99k miles, $8977
2008 Kia Rondo 88k, $8988
2008 Hyundai Elanta 89k, $8988

Thoughts? Do you think I should look older? Newer? If newer is high miles okay? I am not really seeing toyotas or honda in this price range.

[kv968]

Thoughts? Do you think I should look older? Newer? If newer is high miles okay? I am not really seeing toyotas or honda in this price range.

I just did a quick search in my area for that price range using Autotrader and if you're looking for a Toyota or Honda you'll be looking at anything from about 2002-2006.

I saw a couple of Corolla's, 2003 and 2005 with about 75k miles on them listed around $8500. Granted they're older than the cars you listed, but with comparable miles and prices I think I'd rather have a slightly older Toyota than a newer PT Cruiser.

Of course the prices could be different in other areas of the country, but I'd take a look at your price range using Honda and Toyota as a filter without any specific year and see what pops up.

[maat55]

I personally, shop more by miles than age. Sometimes wanting a specific model is important, but I focus heavily on miles and mechanical soundness. Many times, you can find a car that needs some cleaning up and make low bid offers.

I am a couple of years a way from looking(have reached my savings time limit, but may or may not buy then) for a replacement truck. I plan to be very methodical and patient, if necessary, so to find a bargain.

I will say that we had a PT Cruiser for years and was very happy with it.

Things I consider when buying:

I look for all possible leaks(motor, transmission, power stearing, breaks, radiator)
I listen for any unusuall sounds while in idle and driving.
I check the fluids(if they are dirty or low, could mean the car is not properly cared for, but not a deal breaker)
I look at tire tread(this can change the price of the car instantly).
I look at miles(I have to keep one 6 years, so I want low miles for decent resale).

Good luck with your purchase.

[disneysteve]

I personally, shop more by miles than age.

I agree. You may be able to find a 2007 or 2006 with fewer miles than a 2008 but the price will be better because of the age.

As for your list, there is only one car there I would consider - the Elantra - but I wouldn't buy a car with 89K miles on it. That's extremely high mileage for a 4-year-old car. Average would be about 48K (12K/year).

[AccountantSalary]

What are you looking for in a car though? Power, reliability, high gas mileage? Those can lead to different choices.

[snafu]

I suggest checking both 'Lemon Aid'[Phil Edmundston] likely on-line @ library for any recalls or weak points of your list and Kelly Blue Book pricing. I'd ask sellers for the maintenance records as regular maintenance prolongs the life of cars. Is there any warranty left on the Hyundai?

[jpg7n16]

What are you looking for in a car though? Power, reliability, high gas mileage? Those can lead to different choices.

Agreed - this is where you need to start.

Also - How did you narrow down the list? What criteria are you using?



I also agree with Maat that, in general, mileage is more important than age. As mentioned above, even just a 1-2 year older car can save a lot of mileage for the same price.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Reliability
Safety
4 doors - absolute necessity
space to fit 2 kids in carseats
Non-Smoking absolute must, I've seen multiple cars the moment i open the door i can smell smoke even if it was owned by a "non-smoker" if people smoked in it I can't take it. I sat in my BIL car recently and he doesn't smoke, but the girls he dates do. And I told him your car stinks of smoke and he couldn't deny that people have smoked in it, just not him. This is after a cleaning no less. I have a very sensitive nose to smoke.

I had my heart set on a mazda 5 but haven't found any that I like that weren't rentals.

I chose those cars solely based on price and years on filter on autotrader. I will try to post what I find in my area tomorrow honda/toyota but I have a feeling it'll be very old, not 2007 or even 2006.

I will take it to a mechanic to check out. And I won't buy a totaled car rebuilt.

[jIM_Ohio]

I'm looking between $8 and $10k. I found within 100 miles of my place on Autotrader couple of the cheaper ones.

2008 PT Cruiser 78k, $6990

2008 Dodge Caliber 94k, $7995
2008 Chevy Uplander 83k, $8307
2008 PT cruise 53k, $8444
2008 Dodge Caliber 60k, $8944
2008 Chevy Cobalt 80k, $8977
2008 Chevy Aveo 99k miles, $8977
2008 Kia Rondo 88k, $8988
2008 Hyundai Elanta 89k, $8988

Thoughts? Do you think I should look older? Newer? If newer is high miles okay? I am not really seeing toyotas or honda in this price range.

I would ask 2 different questions
1) how many miles do you put on a car each year now?
2) How big does the car need to be?

and why these makes/models- no honda or toyota?

[disneysteve]

why these makes/models- no honda or toyota?

I'm guessing that the answer is that to get a Honda or Toyota, he has to go older an higher mileage to stay in that price range.

[bjl584]

I'm looking between $8 and $10k. I found within 100 miles of my place on Autotrader couple of the cheaper ones.

2008 PT Cruiser 78k, $6990

2008 Dodge Caliber 94k, $7995
2008 Chevy Uplander 83k, $8307
2008 PT cruise 53k, $8444
2008 Dodge Caliber 60k, $8944
2008 Chevy Cobalt 80k, $8977
2008 Chevy Aveo 99k miles, $8977
2008 Kia Rondo 88k, $8988
2008 Hyundai Elanta 89k, $8988

Thoughts? Do you think I should look older? Newer? If newer is high miles okay? I am not really seeing toyotas or honda in this price range.

If this was the only cars that I'd pick from, I'd take the Hyundai. I'm biased becasue I owned one, but it was a great car.

I would expand my search to go older and farther away.

[woodie96]

To go along with what Maat said about maintenance and tire depth. Also look at the tire manufacturer and tire sizes. Often times a car with old and mismatched brands of tires would indicate that people couldnt afford to do maintenance correctly and took short cuts.
My stepson bought an older car a few years ago...Was definitely one of those under 1K cars. When he bought it, it was nothing but one problem after another.
It had 4 different tire sizes and manufacturers.
Of course something may happen where you run over something and have to replace a tire occasionally. But if they don't at least match up the two front tires together, and the two rear tires together, I get very suspicious.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Not much maybe 5-7k miles a year. I plan on reselling the car in 2-3 years and getting a minivan. Just right now the minivan is looking unaffordable and I'm really hesitant to leap into a minivan. I'm not ready to transition from super tiny car to minivan. I plan on kid #3 in 2014, I will need a minivan at that point as my oldest will be 4.

DS hit the nail on the head. I'm trying to stay on the cheap for this car and as long as it runs cleanly. I may bit the bullet and get something much older and not much newer than my car.

Bjl, I can't drive further than one hour and even then it's pushing it. I am not going to spend that much time putting my kid in the car to see a car and then not have a mechanic around I trust to look it over. I'll compromise on the age of the car if need be.

woodie, thanks for the story. I made notes on what maat said. I probably will take any car I'm serious about to a mechanic I trust.

2005 Toyota Corolla 51k miles, $8k
2005 Honda Civic 67k miles, $8900
2000 Toyota Camry 67k miles, $6600
2002 Honda Odyssey 70.5k miles, $7000
2002 Honda Accord 57k miles, $7200
2001 Toyota Camry 41k miles, $7500
2001 Honda Accord 74k miles, $7500
2004 Honda Civic 52k miles, $7900
2003 Toyota Avalon 55k miles, $9500
2007 Honda Fit 70k miles $9750
2006 Toyota Corolla 70k miles, $9999
2006 Honda Civic 70k miles $9999

Okay going with the criteria of miles and price without an age limit. Thoughts?

[maat55]

Not much maybe 5-7k miles a year. I plan on reselling the car in 2-3 years and getting a minivan. Just right now the minivan is looking unaffordable and I'm really hesitant to leap into a minivan. I'm not ready to transition from super tiny car to minivan. I plan on kid #3 in 2014, I will need a minivan at that point as my oldest will be 4.

DS hit the nail on the head. I'm trying to stay on the cheap for this car and as long as it runs cleanly. I may bit the bullet and get something much older and not much newer than my car.

Bjl, I can't drive further than one hour and even then it's pushing it. I am not going to spend that much time putting my kid in the car to see a car and then not have a mechanic around I trust to look it over. I'll compromise on the age of the car if need be.

woodie, thanks for the story. I made notes on what maat said. I probably will take any car I'm serious about to a mechanic I trust.

2005 Toyota Corolla 51k miles, $8k
2005 Honda Civic 67k miles, $8900
2000 Toyota Camry 67k miles, $6600
2002 Honda Odyssey 70.5k miles, $7000
2002 Honda Accord 57k miles, $7200
2001 Toyota Camry 41k miles, $7500
2001 Honda Accord 74k miles, $7500
2004 Honda Civic 52k miles, $7900
2003 Toyota Avalon 55k miles, $9500
2007 Honda Fit 70k miles $9750
2006 Toyota Corolla 70k miles, $9999
2006 Honda Civic 70k miles $9999

Okay going with the criteria of miles and price without an age limit. Thoughts?

I would give serious consideration to the 02 Honda Accord or the 04 Honda Civic.

[MonkeyMama]

I'll compromise on the age of the car if need be.

Then that is what you need to do. *Especially* if you are going to only keep the car a few years?? I mean, not that it really matters. If you buy a 7-year-old car with 20k miles, it will probably last 20 years anyway. But, if you drive it just for years 7-10, don't see what it really matters how old the car is. Not like it is going to be out-of-date at all when it comes to your expected time line.

By far the best car deals out there are older models in pristine condition (low miles, mostly garaged - I call them granny cars - though often they are more sporty cars - toys that were barely driven. Don't just assume old and ugly and big).