Car buying tips

[RPM]

Hi everyone!

I just moved from Europe to PA and already I'm longing for a car. Things like buses that don't follow schedules and not being able to get groceries for more than 3 days at a time are starting to take a toll. Plus, I love driving. It's a sort of stress-relief for me!

Anyway, I started looking around craigslist and eBay for a nice, cheap, small and reliable stick-shift Japanese motor. I am looking for something like an first generation Miata or same vintage Civic or Corolla. I will only be here for a couple of years so it doesn't make much sense to buy an expensive car.

The thing is I'm having a lot of trouble finding a decent car for say, $2500.
The ones I see always have rust, huge dents or awfully faded paint! People claiming *clean car* and I'm like "what"?!?

Actually I do see some of these cars on the street and I can't really understand how people can drive around in such beat up cars and not be completely embarrassed. It was a sort of culture shock for me. Back home people take pride in their cars and they are mostly in good condition, no matter how old they are.

Then to finish things off I take a look at this KBB website and they say that it's admissible for a car in "fair" condition to have rust? I'm like "what"?!?

I would like to ask you 2 things:

1. Maybe I'm not doing things right. Do you have any tips as to how I can find a good condition, well priced car? Or maybe there is no way but to increase my budget?

2. If I end up buying a beat up car, are repairs expensive? Say I have a large dent on the drivers door, another one on the trunk and the paint is faded. Will I be able to give it a new coat of paint and repair the bodywork for say, $2000?

Thank you for your tips and patience for bearing with me!

[lamebums]

Hi RPM--

Here's some listings on KBB:

I'm not sure where in PA you are living but here's Pittsburgh:

http://usedcars.kbb.com/fyc_b/search...sfyc=&systime=




Philly:

http://usedcars.kbb.com/fyc_b/search...sfyc=&systime=



Here's an example of a manual Civic that looks to be in good shape (for $1,995):

http://usedcars.kbb.com/fyc_b/vdp.js...000&cardist=38

[Bucko]

The Prizm is the same car as a Corolla, but since it has chevy badging it usually sells for less, there are other cars with the same 'identity' issue. You may also try and find an auto auction open to the public, or a dealer auto auction if you can find one that will work with you....

[Ophbalance]

Rust is just a fact of life living in the North East part of US. The winter road treatments (and the roads themselves) are hell on a car. The earlier generation of Honda's had issues with rust even when garage kept. Especially the wheel wells. The problem you're running into is that small cars are in high demand right now, even ones that have been beat up. As Bucko suggests, you may want to try looking at other makes of cars to see if they fit in your budget.

[Maxx]

Originally Posted by RPM

1. Maybe I'm not doing things right. Do you have any tips as to how I can find a good condition, well priced car? Or maybe there is no way but to increase my budget?

Check bargainnews.com and autotrader.com. Remember that when buying from a private party, the price is always inflated (unless the ad says FIRM next to the price). Example - My second car back in 1998 was a 1987 VW Scirocco 16v with 159,000 miles on the clock - which was listed for I think $2000, and I ended up walking away with it for $1300. Remember, cash is king, and never be afraid to walk away. And don't forget to point out what's wrong with the car.

If you're looking to spend $2500 at a private party sale, I would start looking in the $3500 range. If $2500 is all you have, you can be honest when you tell the seller that $2500 is all I have, take it or leave it. That being said I bet you could get a late 90's civic, corolla or protege.

Originally Posted by RPM

2. If I end up buying a beat up car, are repairs expensive? Say I have a large dent on the drivers door, another one on the trunk and the paint is faded. Will I be able to give it a new coat of paint and repair the bodywork for say, $2000?

With things like door, trunk, hood, front fender damage - sometimes it's cheapest to just buy used parts from a parts car of the same color because it's cheaper than repair and paint.

[93Hatch]

Originally Posted by Maxx

If you're looking to spend $2500 at a private party sale, I would start looking in the $3500 range. If $2500 is all you have, you can be honest when you tell the seller that $2500 is all I have, take it or leave it. That being said I bet you could get a late 90's civic, corolla or protege.

That's what I did. I was looking to pay < $3k for a Civic or Corolla. So I searched for cars $4500 and less. Also don't pay a premium price for upgrades that you don't really want or need (like cold air intake and exhaust, body kit, etc). Feel free to le them know that you don't care about those things, even if you do! And most of all don't offer to pay waht they are asking. Everyone prices what they are selling high. You can get whay you want. Look what I got for $2500!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15114

[RPM]

Great tips everyone, thank you!

93Hatch, that was the thread I saw just before opening this one. I wish I could find a deal like yours, it looks great!

Maxx, thanks for the tips! It's not that I don't have more than $2500 but I thought I shouldn't spend a lot of money on a car that I will only be able to keep for a couple of years.

lamebums, that green car has my face on it! High miles but nice original condition and no visible dents or rust. Thanks! I wish I already had a PA drivers license so I could snap it right away! I was told I couldn't register a car without one, which for me makes no sense but oh well! Now I only have an International Drivers Permit...

[93Hatch]

Originally Posted by RPM

Great tips everyone, thank you!

93Hatch, that was the thread I saw just before opening this one. I wish I could find a deal like yours, it looks great!

Maxx, thanks for the tips! It's not that I don't have more than $2500 but I thought I shouldn't spend a lot of money on a car that I will only be able to keep for a couple of years.

lamebums, that green car has my face on it! High miles but nice original condition and no visible dents or rust. Thanks! I wish I already had a PA drivers license so I could snap it right away! I was told I couldn't register a car without one, which for me makes no sense but oh well! Now I only have an International Drivers Permit...

RPM,
Where in PA are you? If you find a great deal on a car you like you should get it, transfer the title t your name, and maybe register it later. Not sure what the laws in PA are like concerning that. Also you would need a place to keep the car until it is registeres, possibly get a car cover for it. I saw a car cover for a Civic on CL yesterday. Maybe I should get into the car broker/delivery business!

[Ophbalance]

Well, I think it boils down to this. In order to be insured, you need to be able to register the car. In order to register the car, you need to be able to prove that someone is licensed for that car. I think it's just the states way of protecting insured motorists from those that aren't. I could be completely offbase on that, but that would be my theory.

[RPM]

93Hatch, I'm in Pittsburgh. Will try to call PennDOT to see if my International Drivers License will work.