how do you purchase a good vehicle?

[puppypal]

Well I hate to post Considering the opinions about PT s But I will under my story. I searched every budgeted priced car truck van that was in my range......The discounts vs real cost. Warranties vs my on road driving time on 7 differant cars. I found that the PT fits my family. (2) sports minded boys both 15 and over 6 ft tall. I searched the warranties and the miles I would be driving in comparision. The ford focus was a great deal it was my #2 choice. But the room in the back wasn't compatable with my kids long legs! LOL
I choose the PT
Did my homework.......
Got 6 differant car dealers to quote a bottom line #
And I bought a 2004 stripped I reckon' PT for 12,101.00
Oh, it comes with CD player air conditiner and several other extras that the others didn't
Even tinted windows and rear defrosted. Which Impressed me.
Now! They list for like 18,800
But After I got every discount I searched for and waited til they offered to pay the taxes
I came out pretty well in my book. I was very nervous about safety too. Really i was. But all small cars tend to crunch under pressure and I am a good driver defensively that is! So since I do very little time on the road I went for the PT

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

I have very little experience with car-buying. In fact, I even picked up a discounted Idiot's Guide, just to help me out. All-in-all, when the time comes, I'm tempted to just go to a CarMax, trade in my old car and buy a new (used) one there. I realize there are better ways, but I don't know if it's worth the hassle?

Oy, I sure agree. I bought 2 cars in my life, first one was though friend of a friend for a cheapie $1200. For the second, I wanted a "good" car. Everytime I went on a lot I felt totally attacked, they swoop in. You say "just looking" and they say "looking for what?" The put their hand out so you have to shake or look like a fool. I absolutely hated it. No prices on the d___ cars either. Grrrr.

I gavce my business to a little local guy. Left me alone browsing, when I narrowed down to three he printed out all the specs (mileage, features, price, etc.) and let me walk away. I CarFaxed one (history was as he said) and haggled just a little bit and got the car. It may have been more than I could have gotten somewhere else, but I felt so much better with this guy, I'd rather the non-jerk got the sale. I'll go to hom again, for sure. I just hated every other experieice, every other one. I mean, one day I almost cried in frustration: I WANTED to buy but I could not hand over any money to these people who absolutely did not respect me or my desire for space, or my need for specifics.

[beans6]

Hi well my husbands hobby is fixing salvaged cars. Most he has inspected & they have good titles ( this is not to hide anything ) its best for resale our own cars we just leave the salvage title. cars are much cheaper.He does look for the best price on parts but he cant put a part thats defective because the car wouldnt run & wouldnt pass inspection.My husbands policey for us is when a car gets 90,000 - 120,000 miles on it its time to sell.
that doesnt mean anything is wrong with a car at that mileage its just experience has taught him that at that point you generally start spending
more money & more time repairing them.We did get ds1 a car & immediately my husband started looking for a wrecked car of same make & model to keep. As things needed repairing he just pulled from the second car..I think thats the best way to do it if you can do repairs yourself.
I read the millionaire next door when it first came out & it told how self made millionaires bought cars.They always buy second hand, search a large area & call to make sure people are selling for the right reasons.
Like of course you know longer need your sports car if your having triplets.
They always test drive the cars & have them checked.Milleage & one owner cars were important.Make sure your only the second owner.
I can tell you if I ever had to take a car in to a shop for repairs, I would research what they told me was wrong & get prices then I would talk to the mechanic like I knew about cars- i would probably lie & say my father was a mechanic but hes gone on vacation or something.I will never go in a garage blind again those guys really take advantage of people who dont know about cars.Hubby doesnt fix other people cars. (exception family)
He is having my neices transmition fixed. His choices were buy a refurbished
transmition guarranted for 3months, are rebuild hers & get a 12 month guarantee. So these are all things you have to ask.

[Keen]

The PT has fine crash test results...it has tested well for all models after 2001 (the first year)...Sounds like someone fell a little to hard the the KIA salespersons line about safety. The Kia has gone from the WORST ratings since 2001 to a "good" rating. I would not choose it on saftey alone. Also the PT has one of the lowest ratings factors for Insurance costs of any car out there. So you will have low ins costs with a new or used PT. I really don't think they the car for me but they are far from a "deathtrap"

[Keen]

Also, regardless of the car you buy I would never buy new...look for a good deal on a couple year old car with low miles from a private seller. That way you save an still get warrenty coverage if that is important to you. Better yet buy a car with good reliability ratings from consumer reports (like a PT for example) and don't worry about the warrenty because you wont need it.

[puppypal]

I agree about the major low insurance rate. It was amazing. I think Farm Bureau was way over-board on coverage 1200.00 or so. So I ditched that provider all together! I have full coverage on my 2004 PT. Being that I am an Ol' Lady Teehhee 41...Great credit and no tickets or wreaks that may have been a factor. But I also required 100.00 glass breakage added to it. In Arkansas there are more Pine Log trucks and gravel trucks that do nothing to cover the stuff up that the 32.00 a year extra it costs will save me soon....
I pay.........338.00 twice a year. Yes! That was also a factor when it came to picking the pt. The little features that are on it is amazing. The back seats can be completely lifted out or at least flipped down and buckled. Which turns it into a tiny mini van kind of. It has a shelf in the hatch area that can double the space in the trucnk area. Or you can fit the shelf on the floor brackets and put plants and taller idems in it!. It looks like a fat VW Bug to the naked eye. I thought that too. But the triuck in the back is the seats. The area your bottom fits on it nearly twice as deep as the avg. back seat deepth. That was the seller point for me. I even took a tape measure with me! LOL Boy! The icky salespeople go so PO'ed at me because the 1st sentance out of my mouth was
OK Since your were the 1st to me you will recieve the % What is your name? Now GO AWAY and LEAVE ME ALONE or I will give the % to #2. MAD But lets face it, they are taught to be that way!

[markio26]

please do tell.. awesome replies.. thanks so much...

[sakigt]

I love the PT Cruiser love going on here

Your best bet for buying a good car is to take someone with experience.

I went with my older coworker to help her buy a car since she had no clue. I went to the dealerships on an empty stomach so I was good and cranky. Ended up getting her a barely used (<5,000 miles) 2004 Accord coupe with all the bells and whistles (v6, navi) for 21,000 OTD (incl taxes, tag, title). And this was in the summer of 2004!