Ok, so what do you guys think of this (car buying)

ETA: In this post I'm asking for advice on this one experience at the dealership where it took some time and BS but we found a car that we feel is exactly what we want at a budget we feel we can afford. I am not asking for advice about whether or not I should be buying a car , or dumping $5K into Fh's junker, whehter or not it makes sense to have a birthday party for FH or not, or any other opinions. if you have another opinion, you can FM me, but I'm really just asking for advice on this car. Thanks

I dropped my car off at the dealership for some service and while we were waiting to be picke dup we looked at some used cars. We saw a few that we really liked. Only a few years old, fairly low mileage, decent price.

There were two identical cars. One had 47,000 miles, one had 37,000. We were first told the 37000 mile one was about X thousand dollars, and the 47000 was X-1 Thousand dollars. This was just the salesman's estimate on the lot.

When we got inside to get actual prices, te prices were only $50 apart (both were in the X thousand dollar range). So I was baffled, I asked them shouldn't the high mileage car be cheaper? (we actually liked the color better on that one) But they said, no, they paid more for it at auction, blah blah blah, so we took that one out of the running, because, for the same price, I'd take the lower mileage, of course. So we went for the black one with lower mileage, and I was annoyed with the dealer's BS so finally I told him i used to work there and blah blah, and I know so and so and so and so, and I don't want any BS I just want the car. So he came down $1000 and said that was the lowest he was allowed to go. We said ok, put down a small deposit to let them run our credit so we could get an idea of payments. We came home and I checked Kelley blue book. The KBB value of the car was about $600 LESS than what we were quoted. So FH called back all irate demanding his deposit back. Then they took $500 off the car and claimed to be losing money, blah blah. We really like the car, and I've looked around, it really suits us and our budget and we like the car. Do you think we should buy the car, since the price is now about blue book and it has a pristine carfax record, or do you think we should just keep looking and maybe get a car we like less?

I'm going to see my old boss tomorrow to look at new elantras and see what he has used (he didn't have that car used...excpt with double the mileage)..so my options are open at least until after that meeting, but would you buy it anyway, since it's what we want at the price we want, or do you think we not buy it there b/c they weren't up front?

TIA

I know Im gonna sound like a beotch!!! But im gonna go for it anyway......


Ive seen you post over and OVER and OVER again about how you have NO MONEY and you need to borrow money from so and so you are postponing the wedding until 2008 so you can afford it.

Then you are going to A.C. Or Miami or buying a LV bag. Buying a new car.

First whats wrong with your car? Is this car for you or your FH?

To answer your question 'should you buy the car' IMO NO buy a cheaper car maybe a junker in the 2000-3000 range until you get some money.

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Posted by june262004

I know Im gonna sound like a beotch!!! But im gonna go for it anyway......


Ive seen you post over and OVER and OVER again about how you have NO MONEY and you need to borrow money from so and so you are postponing the wedding until 2008 so you can afford it.

Then you are going to A.C. Or Miami or buying a LV bag. Buying a new car.

First whats wrong with your car? Is this car for you or your FH?

To answer your question 'should you buy the car' IMO NO buy a cheaper car maybe a junker in the 2000-3000 range until you get some money.

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i totally second this. if you can just fix your car - do that. it is saving you $$ in the long run. i thought fh needed a new car - and since you used to work for a car dealership you should know its all bs about losing $$ and all that. don't buy a new car - get your car repaired and leave it at that

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Posted by corinne7477

wow glad someone said it. having a b-day party for dh? If you dont have money tighten your belt and suck it up. Thinks cant be that bad if you can spend the way you keep telling us.

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Well said!

It's not a new car. My car is fine. FH's car is dead. He needs a car. They're both used cars. I didn't ask for opinions about the trips that never happenned and did not get planned b/c of having no money, or because of the small BBQ I'm planning for FH for $150. All I asked was, would you buy this car from these people based on info ABOUT the car.

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Posted by jandt2006

i replied.

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I'm in Queens, FH is in Nassau, dealership is in Queens.

I mean, of course they are playing games. I don't know if it means I can't trust them at all, or if they're just doing their jobs. It just REALLY annoyed me. But I mean now that the price is down to a fair price and it has a clean carfax record, it seems like, what have you go to lose.

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Posted by june262004

To answer your question 'should you buy the car' IMO NO buy a cheaper car maybe a junker in the 2000-3000 range until you get some money.

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We went this road, then put $3000 into a car that isn't worth that much, and now we need to put in anohter $2000, and that $5000 could have gone toward a new car, or a decent used car. Having been down that road, getting a jumker is NOT worth it, because the amount of money you have to put into it either far exceeds the value, or when you finally decide the repair costs are too great, you have to go looking for a new car again. FH's car has cost us $3000 in repairs in one year, at that rate, we could afford a NEW car, which we're not buying. We figured the most financially sound thing to do is buy a newer used car, so we don't pay for a new car, and pay depreciation cost, and also so it will go several years without needing a major overhaul.

And scrimping and saving and giving up this and that to throw someone a birthday party on a $150 budget or using birthday gifts to buy ONE nice thing, are a lot different than having the money to pay for an entire wedding.

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Posted by jandt2006

if i was tight on money i'm not sure i would go through a delarship i would ask around or try to get one off the street.

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I've been looking since April. I haven't found anything that isn't expensive or really really dubious. You just never know. Plus the biggest problem is we have no cash now. My car is done being paid next month, so the money from that payment can go to the 'new' car, which would be less than half of the current payment on my car, which is ending, thank god.

I didn't ask for input on my financial situation, I asked what you could advise about the situation at this dealership. I've never bought a used car before so I'm not sure if this is standard procedure or what. I mean I guess it probably is.

When I say I'm thrrowing Fh a birthday party, I don't mention that to do so I'm still wearing WINTER tops to my unairocnditioned job, so I can use the money I would have spent on clothes to throw the party, or that I'd have to give up god knows what to take FH to miami, primarily to see his dying grandfather, and also because the poor kid is one year out of college and has his responsibilities all of those that my dad left behind and is about to crack up from all of the stress. And it's not easy to make a lifestyle change in 2 seconds, where one minute we're planning a wedding and a vacation, and the next minute all hell is breaking loose. Ironically to find a job flexible enough for me to take wiht my unpredictable back after being out of work adn school for 6 months disabled, I had to take a job that involves being on my feet all day so I can help my mom buy groceries. Pardon me if I feel that I can afford $150 for a party, or that FH needs a reliable car. People are SO quick to make comments, but it's easy being on the other side and not being in it. It's like I should stop living too while I'm at it. Please

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Posted by jandt2006

are u able to go to any car auctions where u live, that's the only reason i asked, because out near my FI his dad goes to car auctions and scores some pretty decent cars for good prices.

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There are a few around here. I'm just really scared about that. I'd need to go with someone who really knows about cars, and I don't have anyone like that. That's why i feel like the dealership is the safest option.

check some further pricing info @ aol cars or Yahoo-
Sometimes the blue book value is a bit more then what you should pay. ( i think)
I would research it a little further

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Posted by marymoon

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Posted by jandt2006

are u able to go to any car auctions where u live, that's the only reason i asked, because out near my FI his dad goes to car auctions and scores some pretty decent cars for good prices.

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There are a few around here. I'm just really scared about that. I'd need to go with someone who really knows about cars, and I don't have anyone like that. That's why i feel like the dealership is the safest option.

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i know that's the only drawback if you don't have someone in your family that understands cars. do you mind me asking what kind of car it is?

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Posted by jandt2006

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Posted by marymoon

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Posted by jandt2006

are u able to go to any car auctions where u live, that's the only reason i asked, because out near my FI his dad goes to car auctions and scores some pretty decent cars for good prices.

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There are a few around here. I'm just really scared about that. I'd need to go with someone who really knows about cars, and I don't have anyone like that. That's why i feel like the dealership is the safest option.

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i know that's the only drawback if you don't have someone in your family that understands cars. do you mind me asking what kind of car it is?

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Thanks so much for all of this help. We were looking at VW Jettas today. I feel really secure with VW because they last forever, and I drive a bug, or a year close to the ones we were looking at and all of the problems they've had have been the same in both models, so I know what the kinks are.., and so I sort of know what to anticipate as far as what is likely to go wrong, what kind of service I will need, etc etc. Plus I feel like it may cost 3x a much as a random car I could buy off the street, but it will probably last 5x as long. After having such a bad experience with the 'junker' we have now (which fortunately we got for free)....I just want a car we won't have to put a dime into until AFTER the wedding.