Okay, exbf needs a vehicle. So, I am pre-shopping and doing the internet research. There have been a few floods around here and elsewhere, so we want to avoid a vehicle from a flood, wrecked car, totaled car, and other things.
He is not a haggler and just pays the price the vehicle first comes down to. He will not push for a better deal, EVER. You know he can do better than that. I will have to be the badass and may have to hurt him, too. I am willing to do so to get him a good price. I am the haggler and really stubborn to get a good price. He just caves. I have seen this and want to cry. I fear he will beam when he finds the car he wants....ack.
So, what sites are there to find out about the history of a car? How about recalls? What else should I know? Is CarFax worth the cost? We will find the cars, come home and investigate them on the internet and go back out to buy one or maybe do so the next week. I am doing this because I have more time than he does and a better internet connection.
Amazingly, in 30 years I have never bought a used car that fooled me. I never have bought a car that tore up immediately with some problem I had not detected. Call me lucky or whatever. He just buys the cheapest thing he can that is 18-years-old and keeps buying expensive junkers. This time will be different.
Right now, the transmission is slipping, ac needs to be replaced, brakes going, motor has blown head gasket or something, coolant must be refilled daily, oil has bad leak, front seat on passenger side is broke and leans back, and it roars down the road. He cannot get into and out of a car easily because of his hips needing replacing. So, he had a Chevy S10 (I think that is right) that was the right height seat. He wants a small SUV or something comparable to the S10 he had. Any ideas of what to get or avoid in that type?
He is coming to town with a down payment and information on loan from his credit union and loan obtained, I think. So, we won't be popular with the finance department of car lots.
Give me your best sites and ideas, please. I may not reply to all comments or suggestions. I will just be implementing your suggestions. I do know how to buy a vehicle, but I have never used any of the sites that available, whatever and wherever they are. Thanks a bunch.
He does not mind sites that he must pay to get information.
Good luck. And I am a firm believer in haggling. The ball is in the seller's court. They don't have to sell it to you - and won't if they think you are being unfair.
ReplyDeleteI can't help with suggestions (I'm in UK) but just want to say 'good for you' it's a good job us women are strong !!
ReplyDeleteWean,
DeleteSome days we have to be strong and then are called a bitch. Thanks for the comment.
You are lucky. I would never buy a used car. The closest I will come to it will be to buy a demonstrator that the boss drove around. I will dicker with the salesman, but I hate to do it. I believe that the new car should have one price, but it or don't. Good luck.
ReplyDeletePriced like a can of beans. My ex-husband and I bought new cars or the demonstrator with 1000 miles on it. Then, we kept it for seven or more years.
DeleteNow, when we first married and bought a car, he insisted on selling it at 30K miles because it was going to tear up soon with so many miles on it. From then on, I was so stubborn about cars and repairing and keeping them. My 7-yr-old car had 70K miles on it and very little repairs.
Damn, should have been buy it or don't. I just washed my hands and I cannot do a thing with my fingers.
ReplyDeleteLOL...I am stealing that excuse.
DeleteAlways have YOUR mechanic look at a used car before buying. I am partial to Nissans, but a few bad Nissans are out there. No matter what you choose, it's a risk. It sounds as if it's a good thing that you're taking charge. I would go to a Nissan dealer. I've never had trouble with them lying to me. I drive a '99 Nissan Sentra.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
My car, a pontiac bonniville has 210,000 miles on it! 70,000 is nothing.
ReplyDelete( side question cuz I have wondered, but is exbf mean ex boyfriend? ) It seems he is around alot for an ex lol.
I love s10's we had one that lasted to almost 300,000 miles!
good luck1
My Malibu has 190,000 on it.
ReplyDeleteYes, the car lot accused me of lying about the mileage, saying that it was really 170K. That was a 73 Pontiac that we traded in 1980.
I dated him from 2006 until 2008. He suddenly broke it off and said he would help me because he knew I needed help. He has come here for six years every week, driving 130 miles round trip. I feed him well and send home wonderful baked chicken or whatever and home-cooked vegetables that are not harmful to his health--low fat, low sodium, etc. He only stays home if I tell him the roads are too icy or the weekend is too dangerous. He does take off to attend to his taxes once a year. Yes, he is around lots and I know it sounds crazy. He has never associated with one of his exes after it is over, never really dated much, and has never been married, so some days he is a trial. However, there are many things that I need help with around here that he does or helps me do.
Actually, I don't associate with my exbfs either, except for the time one called Easter morning with car broken down two miles from my house. I did take him and his present gf to get a car part.
My husband deals with used cars as a side business. He uses CarFax a LOT. It will report flood, accidents, maintenance records and number of owners.
ReplyDeleteAlso if you are considering one make and model, google that along with the year and include "trouble". If you find a whole bunch of issues with that particular make, model and years don't even consider it.
He has found some cars are notorious for transmission problems that way. He won't buy one to resell unless the CarFax shows up that it's been replaced. He has been burned too many times if he doesn't check.
And don't be fooled by just a test drive. There are additives that can be used to temporarily hide issues.
Research research research.
And yes, CarFax.
If you see a one owner car that has been matriculiously maintained, you can usually be assured it's a good deal.
Well that "r" snuck in on me on that last sentence. ;$
ReplyDeleteRita,
DeleteWe will have no matriculating cars! He is coming tomorrow, but I don't think he has gotten the financing worked out. I am still ill, so it's okay with me. Thanks.
After my son's car was badly damaged in an accident, not his fault, and he traded it in I decided to check CarFax. It reported the car had NOT been in an accident. Will never trust them.
ReplyDeleteTom,
DeleteThanks for that information. Now, I worry.
I've been working in an industrial facility that's brutal on trucks. Out of all they've used, the Tacoma has lasted longer, with the least amount of problems. I don't know anything about the fuel mileage, but I'm guessing it's somewhere around, or just north of 25 miles per gallon.
ReplyDeleteHaggle where you can, but don't forego any warranty available and get the maximum amount of time and mileage.
Jess,
DeleteThanks for the Tacoma recommendation. I will haggle but exbf will undo anything I might get.