kandie_kitten
06-22-2007, 10:49 AM
I'm with the other girls...a 97 with that much mileage is a bad idea.
For a car with a lot of miles, the first thing you should look at is the body. If it isn't in perfect shape, then you can bet that the inside parts aren't in good shape either (most people spend money on cosmetic changes/upkeep first...if they didnt even do that, you beter believe they didnt take car of the rest of it).
Just keep shopping around. I got a 94 Pontiac Grand Am, in perfect condition (it had one tiny paint chip on the bumper) with 30,000 miles, for $4,000. It ran perfectly, with absolutely no maintenence costs (not even a headlight change) until it got smashed in a parking lot (it was parked...a big ol HUmmer backed into it, crushing it against the cart corral).
American cars, especially in recent years, are notoriously unreliable, especially Ford.
I'd also recommend buying a car through a reliable dealership (No, not "honest Bob's Cars"...but any of the company dealerships...they usually will have other cars outside of their brand due to trade ins and such), rather than a private seller. In order to sell the car, they have to make sure it can pass an inspection, and most offer a warranty.
For instance, I just bought a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon in December, in terrific shape, low miles, and it is the love of my life. Three weeks after buying it, however, the engine wouldn't start. I called the dealership, and they sent (and paid) a tow truck to come get it to the nearest Hyundai dealership, paid for the repairs completely, and also paid for it to be detailed as an apology. THey had it brought back to me two days later, and it has been perfect ever since. A private dealer would have had no responsibility, and could have just said "sucks to be you, not my car anymore"...and I would have had to pay repairs for a car I had had onlyf or 3 weeks.
For a car with a lot of miles, the first thing you should look at is the body. If it isn't in perfect shape, then you can bet that the inside parts aren't in good shape either (most people spend money on cosmetic changes/upkeep first...if they didnt even do that, you beter believe they didnt take car of the rest of it).
Just keep shopping around. I got a 94 Pontiac Grand Am, in perfect condition (it had one tiny paint chip on the bumper) with 30,000 miles, for $4,000. It ran perfectly, with absolutely no maintenence costs (not even a headlight change) until it got smashed in a parking lot (it was parked...a big ol HUmmer backed into it, crushing it against the cart corral).
American cars, especially in recent years, are notoriously unreliable, especially Ford.
I'd also recommend buying a car through a reliable dealership (No, not "honest Bob's Cars"...but any of the company dealerships...they usually will have other cars outside of their brand due to trade ins and such), rather than a private seller. In order to sell the car, they have to make sure it can pass an inspection, and most offer a warranty.
For instance, I just bought a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon in December, in terrific shape, low miles, and it is the love of my life. Three weeks after buying it, however, the engine wouldn't start. I called the dealership, and they sent (and paid) a tow truck to come get it to the nearest Hyundai dealership, paid for the repairs completely, and also paid for it to be detailed as an apology. THey had it brought back to me two days later, and it has been perfect ever since. A private dealer would have had no responsibility, and could have just said "sucks to be you, not my car anymore"...and I would have had to pay repairs for a car I had had onlyf or 3 weeks.