Used car advice?

[bjl584]

So many conflicting idea about higher mileage/newer cars or lower miles in older cars. So I am mostly trying to consider craigslist so I don't have to go far and I can have it looked at by a mechanic. Wish I could filter more

2003 Toyota Camry LE 77k miles asking $8600
2003 Nissan Altima S 80k miles asking $7500
2005 Sentra 38k miles asking $8900
2007 Sentra 58k miles asking $9500
2006 Altima 63k miles asking $9600
2004 Hyundai Sonata 72k miles asking $6500
2006 Corolla 75k miles asking $8995

Any of these work? How high a mileage should I look at?

You are only keeping this car for a couple years, so I'd go with the Sonata. $6500 isn't a bad price (but I would offer them $5800) and 72K miles isn't a lot for any car.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Thanks mom for the advice. My daughter is 2 and short and honestly could still face rear in her convertible, but she fought us so much we flipped her finally. She just is on a smaller curve than most kids, she used the bucket for a year easily and still hadn't outgrown it really when we moved her to the convertible. My kids will be exactly 2.5 years apart and the third either end of 2013 or 2014 early probably. So in theory all three will likely be in a convertible for a long time.

Why offer $5800 Brian? I hate negotiating but I am coming here for advice on how to approach stuff. How much below asking do people typically offer? Obviously this is contingent on an inspection by a mechanic.

If buying private party what should I do to get the person to allow me to drive it to my mechanic? Tell them to meet me there? During the week? Expect to pay around $100?

[seen]

If price is really your only concern, I would still keep Steve's first suggestion of the Honda Odyssey in the running. The price is still well within your budget @only $500 more than the Sonata with the same mileage, and you said you don't want to spend the extra money on gas yes? Well take a look at the following link:

Sonata vs Odyssey

Depending on which engine the Sonata you've listed there has, your gas expense will only be about $150 /yr difference and that's based on a 15k miles /yr estimate, where you said you'll only be driving a fraction of that so it'll be even less. Plus, you'll have the added benefit of not having to exchange vehicles in 2 years if you decide to be further frugal, or anything in your financial situation goes sideways since you'll already have the minivan.

If buying private party what should I do to get the person to allow me to drive it to my mechanic? Tell them to meet me there? During the week? Expect to pay around $100?

Ask them to meet you there. My experience has been that shops will do the inspection for free or at a minimal cost since it's quick and they want your future business, so I usually just give them a generous tip.

[JBlock]

If you have a chance to get a car loan, much better to avail a brand new car so you won't take time of headaches with used cars.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Guess I'll post a quick update. we are refinancing our condo so our car search is on hold until next month in theory.

But last friday the muffler bracket broke on my car and the muffler and bracket had to be replaced for $400. I did not have it towed near my house because we were 40 miles away. Fortunately I was with my mom, grandma so not solo with my kid, and typically I never worry but I was dead tired and am now 7 months pregnant. Getting on the ground and doing car repairs are a lot harder than it used to be.

AAA took over 1 hour to get there and by then my DH arrived and bungeed the muffler and drove it to a meineke to replace 0.5 miles from the station I pulled into it. It was 6 pm at night.

I think this is the beginning of the end. Perhaps this repair will buy me years of use on my car maybe not. I'm not sure what I really believe. I don't think that I should dump a lot of money into the car though.

I might go back and check out the odyssey. But now driving to go see it?