Used car advice - what's the best next move?

When it comes to used cars DON'T TRUST ANYBODY !!!

And what you are doing is digging a bigger and bigger hole (trading in one car after another - going to dealer - paying high interest loan, etc.)

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MSNBC had a news story on where is the best places to buy used cars. The used car dealers were on the BOTTOM of the list. They are pros at negotiations (and you and I are rank amateurs), they are pros at hiding problems on their cars, etc.

The private sales (newspaper, etc.) were the best places. The seller will not tell you all the problems, but they don't know how to hide them.

And a private seller are at MOST they are equal in negotiation skills to you and me.

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My 94 Civic can get 41 MPG (and I was doing 72 for the mileage test - so I can do even better at 55). The engine + tranny + suspension runs like new. It ain't no beauty but it is rock solid. If I had to sell it, I would not get more than few thousand dollars. This is the kind of car you want to look for.

Just take your time, as good old used cars are cheap but hard to come by.

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Here's some rules you should consider when buying a used car

(1) don't get sold on the paint job = meaning cars having good exterior, fancy CD radio, etc.

(2) look for car with sound ENGINE + TRANNY + SUSPENSION.

(3) test every button, knob, switch, slider, etc.. Ex: even in the summer test out the heater & even in the winter test out the AC (if you can). Slide the AC/heater to fan1, fan2, fan3, etc. then slid the vent to defrost, front, bottom, etc. Test the high beam, low beam, etc. Test (flip) the visor. Test the alarm. Test all 4 doors. Test the rear defogger.

***** TEST EVERYTHING.

(4) BEFORE the first start, open the engine bay and see if the engine is already warmed up. Many engines starts well when already warmed up, but may have problems when cold (or cold start).

(5) test drive with the sound system off and window down. Listen for weird sound coming from the wheels & suspension.

(6) Look inside the engine bay to see if you can see see leaks, etc. It is normal to see some oil and grease. But too much means that the car is leaking oil somewhere. Too clean (really clean) means they just wash the engine bay - possibly hiding some oil leaks.

(7) check the engine oil dip stick. If the oil is BRAND NEW CLEAN, the seller MIGHT be hiding something. If the oil is jet black and /or smells like gasoline (or burnt), you might have engine problem).

(8) once you are satisfied with the above - you can NOW take it to the mechanic for the engine + tranny + suspension inspection. He won't find everything, but he will find the obvious. Take it to a mechanic EVEN if you are buying from a used car dealer. They cars are NO better than cars you buy from ebay and craigslist.com. Just more expensive.

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1) Safety Ratings:

http://www.safercar.gov/

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx

2) Reliability:

http://autos.msn.com/home/reliability_ra...

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/ratings/rati...

3) Fuel Economy:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

Good Luck...

First of all, don't think of just WHICH car to buy. Think ahead a little to what kind of driving you'll be doing. Is it going to be long drives every day or just short hops? How long will it be before you need to replace this vehicle again? The answers to these are going to be very important. Also, what you may want to do, since you have a sizable amount to put down, think about getting something that sells for around double what you have to start building your credit rating. Don't bury yourself, just so that future creditors can see your track record with larger amounts of debt. Now, there are a lot of very well made cars these days, domestic or foreign. Toyota is one of the best out there, but because of their preceived value, they'll be a bit on the pricey side. Nissans are not all some people seem to think they are. They earned their reputation on the back of the Maxima, which is still one to be careful of. Depending on the way it was cared for, it could be a time bomb. To get the most for your money, take advantage of the lower resale value of something in the Chevy or Dodge line. Not the smaller 2.0L Dodge engines, they have head gasket problems. In the Chevys, as worn out as it might sound to you, the Cavaliers are still one of the best preowned values you can buy. I've had 3 in the last 20 years and they run like the dickens even if you neglect taking care of them perfectly. (I once drove one for 30,000 miles between oil changes and it never complained). Good luck in your search.

used cars and milage are two terms, that shouldn't be in the same sentence. just because it has low milage, does not mean it has not been abused. always ask, who owned before, how old were they, ask about the mainatnce that is done on it. Also, you can check the car dealerships in los angeles to be sure about the availability of the collections.