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Thread: Need to get a new used car

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    Featured Member Hatshepsut's Avatar
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    Default Need to get a new used car

    I've given up on my 96 Ford Crown Victoria LX. The gas tank gets sapped at a frightening rate even though I had the spark plugs replaced, ran an oxygen sensor that produced no codes, cleaned out the fuel injector, and replaced the fuel and air filters. The mechanics can't figure it out either. She used to get over 450 miles to the 20-gallon tank, and now I'm lucky if she gets 300 to the tank. I can't afford her, and I fear that she's going to break down suddenly. It has a function that calculates fuel efficiency, which looks fine, but I've done the math from the odometer vs. gas consumed, and it's not adding up. I drive mostly highway too, so it shouldn't even be that low if I sat in traffic a lot.

    I'm looking for a Honda Civic or a Toyota, something much more efficient and reliable. If I get a job with the hospital (I have an interview on Tuesday), I'll have access to their credit union and I'll be able to get a car loan. Yeah, I'm not graduating until May, but a car is an absolute necessity in Houston. Hopefully I won't spend more than $4K.

    My mechanic is a wonderful man. I used to care for his mom when I worked in a nursing home, so he's looked after me ever since. He taught me what I needed to know about auto maintenance, which I never learned because I haven't lived with my parents since I was 16. Anyway, he's helping me look. He said to eschew autotrader.com, as he scopes dealerships regularly. He also said that he'd help trade my car in to at least pay the down payment.

    Any advice? I've only ever taken out a student loan.

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    Banned i.breathe.in's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    i love buying from enterprise. they sell their slightly used cars from rentals at great flat rate prices. no haggling needed.
    check them out i will buy from them again for sure.

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    Veteran Member LadySoft's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    make sure its a car you can afford, especially if you will be taking out a loan. and good thing you have a mechanic who's willing to help you. also make sure you take him with you whenever you are ready to check out and purchase the car. sometimes people think women don't know anything about cars, and they end up getting cheated on a car deals. if you bring a mechanic who knows what he's doing, you are less likely to get ripped off.

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    Featured Member Hatshepsut's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    ^I'm looking at 5k max, and he told me to look in the newspaper classifieds and maybe craigslist.

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    God/dess LuckyOne's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    If your mechanic is so great, buy it private party and have him check it out before you buy it. The seller shouldn't have any problem with you taking it to your mechanic to ensure that its in good running condition.

    A lot of people don't want to trade in older cars because the dealership won't give them a fair trade value. For example, who cares if there are a couple dings in the paint as long as it is in good running condition? But the dealership has to make the car pretty to sell it. And of course make a profit.

    BTW, my honda civic was the BEST CAR. I drove the sh* out of it and never had any problems.

  6. #6
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    Quote Originally Posted by LuckyOne View Post
    If your mechanic is so great, buy it private party and have him check it out before you buy it. The seller shouldn't have any problem with you taking it to your mechanic to ensure that its in good running condition.
    This mechanic is worth his weight in gold. & Do what LuckyOne said. I have to buy a used truck this winter (I live in the mountains) and I'm really worried about getting something decent. At least in Houston you don't have to worry about snow, LOL!
    I'd steer you towards Toyotas if you can't get a Honda. We also had a Nissan sedan that was unkillable but the 1998-2000 models you better watch out on.

  7. #7
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    DEf. have your mechanic check out anything before you buy it and thank him repeatedly for doing so!

    That said...Hondas run forever,get decent gas miliage and have excellent re-sale values.

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    Featured Member maximvsv's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    If you don't have a timing problem on the Crown Vic, or a fuel leak, then your problems probably father back in the system, like a catalytic converter losing its core or a transmission losing its shift timing. Also, check your tire pressure.

    Anyway.

    You can pre-price things on ebay and get general numbers from Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com), so that you'll know how things sit when you see any ads.

    Civics and Corrolas are the primary fuel efficient cars for Honda and Toyota.

    Stop by some place that has a recent Consumer Reports auto issue. They aren't always accurate, but they're usually pretty good.
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    Def. bring your mechanic or at least somebody that knows about cars with you. I will never buy a car on my own after the clutch went 2 months after having one...and my bf or my brother would have been able to tell it was on its way out....but I didn't have a clue.


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    God/dess LAChloe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need to get a new used car

    Hondas are the greatest cars!!!!!! You will love it. They are so reliable!

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