Car buying tips

**Mango_Attack** · 07-07-11, 01:14 AM

Hey TPG,

It's my first time buying a car and I was wondering if you could help me out . First of all I have $6,500 cash that I have saved up/got for graduation. I'm looking to buy a used car in the North Texas area, there's a lot of cars out there so I'm open to suggestions.

A few things I keep in mind when I'm looking:

*I want a sedan, sportscar or coupe
*8,000 is the money cap.
*I'm hoping the 6500 quick cash will be enough to get me a good deal on price
*I like style, control, and power
*I'd like for mileage to be under 100,000
*year 2005+ would be nice so I don't have to deal with it breaking down too much, 2003 is the lowest I'd like to go

A few cars I've looked at so far and liked:
*Nissan Altima (2004-2006)
*Nissan Maxima (the newer model rework is awesome, but probably out of price range)
*Scion tC
*Mitsubishi Eclipse
*Mitsubishi Lancer (really wish I could afford the newer model for this one too)
*Mitsubishi Gallant
*Audi A4 (recommended to me by TPGer, is very nice)

Also I'm curious, how much weight does my $6500 cash carry anyway? I figure it's convenient enough to drop atleast $500 and maybe $1000, but lemme know if it's more.

Recommend me some cars!

Question about engines too..The Altimas advertise a 2.5L 4-cylinder, but I always thought more is better and stronger. v6 engines to me seem attractive, but does that just mean a V6 engine will hog more gas? At the moment a powerful engine seems better than fuel economy, but I don't know. Would a 3.0 V6 even be much more powerful than a 4-cylinder? does it matter?

I'll try to post here as my research goes on..

Thanks,

**bust331** · 07-07-11, 01:46 AM

Most of the time if you find a newish (2000+ car for 6500, something is probably going to be wrong with it.

Depends on the market in your area.

Honestly unless you really need that extra power, go for a 4 cylinder. The small increase in power isn't worth the loss in fuel economy.

Does your town have a lot of stop and go traffic, or are you usually on highways?

Keep in mind when you limit yourself to a certain year you really, really cut your chances of finding a worthy car down.

Sent from my phone, LIKE A BOSS

**xis** · 07-07-11, 01:59 AM

The 2 Nissan's are are good choices in your price range.

The A4 can be a money pit if you don't know someone close that can work on them free. Labor and parts
are going to be more expensive than the other choices.

Best advice I give someone who's buying a used car is to know as much about the history of that car as you can.
Car fax is good but not the end all. Also know if the car is from another state brought to your state and is now being
resold. This is important because what may be considered salvaged in California may not be considered salvaged in Texas, etc.

**Mango_Attack** · 07-07-11, 02:01 AM

Well there's tons of dealers in my area so the market is probably as good as it'll get for used cars, and I haven't really thought about older cars much except this Mitsubishi 3000GT.
1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT, $5,395 - Cars.com

I know Nissan is a good brand and I'm really looking at the Altimas, I'm hoping they're meant to last.

I suppose I don't need a powerful engine that much, it's just a plus really. I'm going to be moving to college in a few months where it's going to be really hilly, and outside the hilly street traffic there will be highways in town.

thx

**ab1tar** · 07-07-11, 06:38 PM

While a pretty sexy car, the 3000GT is not a good buy, hard to find part I believe is what I have heard. As your young and just going into college find something reliable with decent gas mileage that goes from A to B. It may sound boring, but get that degree, and get out into the real world, then it should be easier to get a sexy ride...

**nihilanth311** · 07-07-11, 06:46 PM

i bought a 2005 altima 2.5 sl, 32k miles about a year ago for ~12.5k. in 5 yrs i'll let you know if it was a good choice or not. good luck!

**SmokenScion** · 07-07-11, 06:56 PM

I'd suggest Toyota. All around good cars. good thing Scion is Made by toyota, as most "Toyo Truck" Parts will work in my xB, as well as Yaris, Echo, etc. Easy to Rip apart and put back together. You might be able to Find a tC with After market parts and low mileage for 6500.

**deathgodusmc** · 07-07-11, 07:17 PM

First thing you need to know is buy a car that you like. If you dont really like it you wont take care of it.

2. All cars are the same anymore. You will have those that preach american verses import. Well 90% of them contain the same shit anymore with a different set of decals or badges.

3. Always look at mileage. If it near 100k better make sure its had the timing belt and water pump changed because thats a 1200 dollar repair right off the bat.

4. All manufactors have excellent cars but there are always lemons in the bunch. Test drive the vehicle and not just around the block like they want. Actually drive it for several miles and get it up to normal operating temp and see if she does anything odd.

5. If your looking at a vehicle and you think there might be a chance that it actually has more miles then they are saying check the brake pedal. Sounds stupid but it happens all the time and they never change the rubber pad on the brake pedal. If its worn out odds are the mileage is wrong.

6. Always take a good long look under the hood. Even if you dont know shit about engines remember this tip. If you see white or yellow grease pencil on parts they came from a salvage yard. Which means something major has happened to the vehicle.

7. Follow the body lines and make sure they all go seamlessly. If there is a jog in the middle of the fender then there is bondo under that paint. Along that line check inner door jams, edges below the actual hood inside the engine compartment, bumper alignments, trunk alignment, and door alignments for uneven edges and paint colors. I would tell you to take a magnet with you but it tends to piss them off.

8. Make your offer low to begin with it makes them fell better if they get you up from that a bit.

9. Never be afraid to get up and leave. In fact if its not going your way feel free to reject the offer and leave. My last 3 vehicles i picked up within a week of me leaving the discussion.

10. Take care of it after you've bought it. A well maintained vehcile can be beat to shit and run perfectly well past 250k.

**deathgodusmc** · 07-07-11, 07:27 PM

Oh yeah and to answer your question on the 4 verses 6 issue. They will have almost identical mileage if you drove them in perspect to what they are. Most people get a 4 and have to give more gas to accelerate at the same pace as a 6. Where as the 6 can get it done with less pedal. Where you would feel the difference in your pocket is if you sit in traffic alot or think the only way to accelerate is by pushing the pedal all the way down everytime.

I dont know how old you are but by your op i have to assume your under 25 so the 6 will probably have slightly higher insurance rates.

**Mango_Attack** · 07-08-11, 02:53 AM

o okay thanks for all your tips

you have any idea how much I can expect to work around with the $6500 cash? should I start by saying I have $6000 and see what they say? I know that cash is a lot more attractive than finance plans so I'm hoping I can get a pretty good deal somewhere

n thanks nih & abitar, definitely leaning towards the nissans now.