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Trying to boil down my question as much as possible: do you folks see any red flags as far as this Craigslist posting for a 2006 Nissan Sentra? A cursory google seems to say the model/year is known to be pretty reliable and the price is almost exactly the blue book rate. I was considering spending somewhere in the range of $2500 to $4000. I don't have any crazy requirements with cars - the usual "reliable and relatively fuel-efficient" is my goal. I'm comfortable driving a standard. EDIT: quick extra details after reviewing the OP: budget as noted above, used car (obv), just a car I guess? I prefer 4-door. Mostly just commute-type driving, which is short, I don't do a lot of towing and stuff but sometimes take long drives for events every few months. Cost of ownership and reliability are valuable to me. I live (as you can tell from the posting) in the Northeast.
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Dec 21, 2016 23:40
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| # ? Jun 11, 2024 01:54 |
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That Sentra looks pretty clean, no red flags. One original owner should provide you with a maintenance history as well. Look up recommended service, 100k miles is usually when major stuff needs to be fine, like timing belts and such. Either way, be prepared to change coolant, trans and brake fluid if it hasn't been done. Also look up private party pricing on edmunds. This is the buyers market time of year. Good luck
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Dec 22, 2016 00:00
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Nitrox posted:That Sentra looks pretty clean, no red flags. One original owner should provide you with a maintenance history as well. Look up recommended service, 100k miles is usually when major stuff needs to be fine, like timing belts and such. Either way, be prepared to change coolant, trans and brake fluid if it hasn't been done. Also look up private party pricing on edmunds. This is the buyers market time of year. Good luck I've been told it's a good idea to have a mechanic look over the car to give a heads-up on possible issues, too. Am I off-target there? How do I go about managing this? My mechanic's generally too busy for me to just drop in at random and I'm not sure how far in advance or how awkward the whole thing will be. (sorry to be a big babby over here  )
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Dec 22, 2016 00:26
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Ignoranus posted:I've been told it's a good idea to have a mechanic look over the car to give a heads-up on possible issues, too. Am I off-target there? How do I go about managing this? My mechanic's generally too busy for me to just drop in at random and I'm not sure how far in advance or how awkward the whole thing will be. (sorry to be a big babby over here Not awkward at all, it's a common thing called a pre-purchase inspection. Here: https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/inspect-that-used-car-before-buying.html Call your (or any) mechanic and ask for that service.
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Dec 22, 2016 04:46
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emocrat posted:Just got back from checking this out. Its dope. I mean, it's slow, like the reviews said, but I am ok with that. By my standards at least it is extremely comfortable. Lots of nice features, smooth drive, overall I really like it. For slightly cheaper comfort I'd check out high-trim Avalons and the Hyundai Azera and Genesis. High trim Chevrolet Impala is a good buy, too.
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Dec 22, 2016 14:35
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Ignoranus: absolutely get the pre-purchase inspection. Earlier in the thread someone posted a Craigslist ad like yours, with no red flags. The PPI raised lots of red flags that aren't apparent until the car is on a lift, so they walked away. That Sentra could be just fine, or it could be crap, but a mechanic will know far more once they get a look.
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Dec 22, 2016 16:36
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I know you mentioned it being on the higher end of your budget, but I just looked at Carmax and I see dozens of examples with 40k on the clock for 25kish. Completely nuts.
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Dec 22, 2016 19:03
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:For slightly cheaper comfort I'd check out high-trim Avalons and the Hyundai Azera and Genesis. High trim Chevrolet Impala is a good buy, too. Will do, thanks. Phone posted:I know you mentioned it being on the higher end of your budget, but I just looked at Carmax and I see dozens of examples with 40k on the clock for 25kish. Agreed, the value is really good. Our decision is basically going to hing on whether we feel we get more comfort/utlity out of the higher end car, or the 10k or so we would have if we bought something downmarket. In my situation, its an entirely cash purchase, so the leftover money is real and in hand as opposed to theoretical. Would I rather drive a Lexus, or drive an accord and also have 10k to spend on updates to my house. Basically. I am legit not sure which I want.
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Dec 22, 2016 20:16
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Are there any sites that are useful for keeping track of/getting updates on sales/lease deals from particular manufacturers or dealerships, besides the manufacturer/dealership sites themselves (which would just get me spammed to high hell, natch)? Background: lease on my '14 Mazda3 GT is due to be turned in at the end of May, about $2000 left in payments on it. I'm still pretty dead set on leasing either a Chevrolet Volt or Bolt next--Nissan Leaf is a somewhat distant 3rd--so I want to see if there's any incentives that would make it financially worth it to bail on the Mazda early. I imagine this actually won't happen and I'll be driving the Mazda right to the last day, but might as well keep an eye out, I figure. Just realized that my odometer, after 2.5 years, only reads 13k. I drive even less than I realized, holy poo poo. 
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Dec 22, 2016 22:12
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Wrongo threado
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Dec 23, 2016 00:40
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Ignoranus posted:I've been told it's a good idea to have a mechanic look over the car to give a heads-up on possible issues, too. Am I off-target there? How do I go about managing this? My mechanic's generally too busy for me to just drop in at random and I'm not sure how far in advance or how awkward the whole thing will be. (sorry to be a big babby over here Your mechanic will absolutely work with you to inspect new cars on appointment basis. You'll just have to make sure everyone's schedules align. Nobody likes when you drop in at random, don't ever do that
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Dec 23, 2016 02:19
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I'm currently looking into buying my first car, intended for once-and-again city and highway driving. I'm not a car person. I've limited my must-haves to the following: - Decent fuel economy - Crossover-sized (or maybe SUV) - A comfortable drive (for someone who is 6'2 and has a bad back) - Safe - Decent BT connectivity - Not too expensive (I'm looking at 2013-2014 models in Europe with sub 60k miles on them at at around €18-20k) - Reliable I've so far mainly been eyeing a Jeep Renegade (although I saw those scary braking videos), a Mazda CX-5 or maybe a Volvo XC60. I love the look of the Audi Q3 but it seems that the options on it are really lackluster as compared to the CX-5. Help a first time buyer out! Looking to keep it for a decade with light use.
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Dec 26, 2016 14:55
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Volvo XC60 D3
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Dec 26, 2016 15:40
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Volvos have the best seats. Dunno about reliability though.
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Dec 26, 2016 20:15
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IM RETARDED IDIOT 'DARE' FROM TRIBALWARS
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Dec 26, 2016 20:20
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What
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Dec 26, 2016 20:28
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Shoulda got a prius
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Dec 26, 2016 20:41
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I guess I'll just use the good ol' template. Proposed Budget: 10000-12000 USD New or Used: Used Body Style: Truck How will you be using the car?: I have owned a 98 Civic since 05, it still runs but I am sick of not being able to haul anything bigger than a breadbox without cramming it in there comically or go over anything bigger than a speed bump. I want a regular truck to haul stuff around in. Some kind of 4 wheel drive is preferable because I have wished for it a million times with the Civic which can go a surprising number of places, not in love with the idea of RWD only, though I know my budget might preclude this. This will be my daily driver, I only drive 2000-4000 miles/year though this does include a few 3-5 hour trips to other cities. What aspects are most important to you?: All I really care about is having something with a good size bed that won't be some kind of notorious dog of a vehicle, I work with industrial diesels and other equipment for a living and am pretty handy mechanically, though I don't have a huge home shop where I can completely dissect a truck by any means and don't have a ton of experience with smaller vehicles other than keeping the Civic running past its natural life. Also my girlfriend says I can't buy any kind of molester van.
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Dec 28, 2016 21:59
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Ford or Chevy half ton pickup pretty much.
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Dec 28, 2016 23:54
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I've owned a WRX premium wagon since I bought it in cash in 2011. I've managed to burn out the clutch at 30k miles. My friends say I shoulld probably trade it in for an automatic as I'm apparently a horrible stick driver. What do you think? KBB says its worth about 20k, and I'm seeing some cars from 2011 with the same milleage, like a BMW 335 I at Carmax for the same price. I'm currently unemployed so im looking for reliability. Maybe just trade it in for a honda accord or something and gain some money? Thoughts? Wendigee fucked around with this message at 01:26 on Dec 29, 2016 |
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Dec 29, 2016 01:21
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Pretty sure just replacing the clutch is your cheapest option. Then figure out if it was just a bad defective part, or what about your driving is burning out a clutch in only 30k miles and stop it. Guinness fucked around with this message at 03:54 on Dec 29, 2016 |
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Dec 29, 2016 03:51
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Sell your rapidly-depreciating fast and furious money burning wagon and get something old and cheap, unless your employment situation is about to change. I'm talking '99 Civic for 2-3 grand or similar. And yes, get automatic if you burning clutches every 30k. Unemployment is the time to buckle the gently caress down and budget your poo poo down to a penny. The BMW will cost even more money to run, plus you're eating all sorts of fees and taxes by moving from one car to another. This is the worst time to be stupid with money.
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Dec 29, 2016 03:51
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Nitrox posted:Sell your rapidly-depreciating fast and furious money burning wagon and get something old and chea WRX manual wagons hold their value stupidly well.
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Dec 29, 2016 03:57
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Nitrox posted:Sell your rapidly-depreciating fast and furious money burning wagon and get something old and cheap, unless your employment situation is about to change. I'm talking '99 Civic for 2-3 grand or similar. And yes, get automatic if you burning clutches every 30k. Unemployment is the time to buckle the gently caress down and budget your poo poo down to a penny. The BMW will cost even more money to run, plus you're eating all sorts of fees and taxes by moving from one car to another. This is the worst time to be stupid with money. Were you unemployed during the financial crisis, too? Everything they say about people who grew up in the Depression now applies to me. Seriously, though, Wendigee, even if you think you're gonna have a job quickly, things could go bad, and you may end up needing the 10,000 dollars or so you could get out of that car after buying another.
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Dec 29, 2016 09:10
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Wendigee posted:I've owned a WRX premium wagon since I bought it in cash in 2011. I've managed to burn out the clutch at 30k miles. Get an old civic or accord with a 4cylinder engine. WRX's have some of the highest insurance rates as well as I recall due to all of the  kids who like to crash them into things. Then when you're back employed keep the civic and drive something you can fix yourself. Also 30k on a clutch is like 100k too few for even the most aggressive driver. I had a friend who killed his clutch in a little less than that in his new Hyundai, turned out he was slipping the clutch through basically all of 1st and 2nd, plus holding the car at a stop using the clutch instead of the brakes.
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Dec 29, 2016 16:02
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Guinness posted:WRX manual wagons hold their value stupidly well. VideoTapir posted:Were you unemployed during the financial crisis, too? Everything they say about people who grew up in the Depression now applies to me. Nitrox fucked around with this message at 16:34 on Dec 29, 2016 |
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Dec 29, 2016 16:30
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Just want to point out that right now is the best time to buy a car. Dealers are scrambling to clear out inventories and make their 2016 numbers go up. Private sellers are desperate for cash after holiday binge spending. Many corporate employees are forced to burn though unused vacation days and are flying all over the place for vacations, overspending like crazy. Nobody is buying, and everyone needs money. Happy shopping.
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Dec 29, 2016 16:37
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Nitrox posted:Just want to point out that right now is the best time to buy a car. Dealers are scrambling to clear out inventories and make their 2016 numbers go up. Private sellers are desperate for cash after holiday binge spending. Many corporate employees are forced to burn though unused vacation days and are flying all over the place for vacations, overspending like crazy. Nobody is buying, and everyone needs money. Happy shopping. Does this idea apply to leasing? I'm still (very distantly) wondering if there'd be any benefits out there large enough to warrant bailing out on my current lease four months early.
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Dec 29, 2016 18:55
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Ciaphas posted:Does this idea apply to leasing? I'm still (very distantly) wondering if there'd be any benefits out there large enough to warrant bailing out on my current lease four months early. While there are exceptions to everything, I can nearly guarantee that you aren't one in regards to leasing a vehicle. It's generally the worst way to go, and is used by people who can't actually afford what they are trying to buy. To answer your question: dealerships don't care how something goes off their lot as far as sales numbers go. Bonus if you are financing or leasing thorough them so they get more money on the back end.
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Dec 29, 2016 19:03
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Motronic posted:While there are exceptions to everything, I can nearly guarantee that you aren't one in regards to leasing a vehicle. It's generally the worst way to go, and is used by people who can't actually afford what they are trying to buy. I know leasing is garbage financially, been through that wringer. I've accepted that my desire for new and shiny outweighs good sense.  That being said, I'm still thinking about my next car being an electric (be it a Chevy Bolt, Chevy Volt [who names these things, honestly] or a Nissan Leaf) and my understanding is the usual logic of lease vs finance is a bit inverted with those because of the pace of tech improvements. That about right?
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Dec 29, 2016 19:08
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Any tips on a beginner's weekend warrior adventure car? My work commute is pretty short and I would like something that can handle roads your average city car can't, but not necessarily true off roading (at least not yet I'm green as hell). Hopefully something that requires minimal aftermarket work to get out there. How are the cheaper Jeep models like Patriot, Renegade and Cherokee Sport for this? Trying to stay under 20k.
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Dec 30, 2016 00:55
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Kung Food posted:Any tips on a beginner's weekend warrior adventure car? My work commute is pretty short and I would like something that can handle roads your average city car can't, but not necessarily true off roading (at least not yet I'm green as hell). Hopefully something that requires minimal aftermarket work to get out there. How are the cheaper Jeep models like Patriot, Renegade and Cherokee Sport for this? Trying to stay under 20k. You don't need to spend 20k on a light offroader. This is way more than most of the vehicles you mentioned ever see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFwPXEeJ3aI So define what you are actually trying to do. If it's something like dirt roads literally anything that's not a lowered sports car is going to work with the right tires. If you have other requirements like "I want to sleep in it overnight or have enough room for camping gear" you should mention that as well.
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Dec 30, 2016 01:24
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In all fairness you can't show me a crazy modded crown vic and act like it's an off the lot camery. I am no where near as handy as the guy in the vid. The roads I'm thinking of are rocky enough to shred the undercarriage of your average road car. So I guess to be more specific I want a mid offroader that can accommodate camping gear for 3 people for a week in a remote location or overnight sleeping with a 30 lb dog. Sorry for being vague but to be honest I'm just getting into this and am not sure exactly what I want. Mostly something that leaves a lot of options open.
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Dec 30, 2016 04:44
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Kung Food posted:In all fairness you can't show me a crazy modded crown vic and act like it's an off the lot camery. I am no where near as handy as the guy in the vid. The roads I'm thinking of are rocky enough to shred the undercarriage of your average road car. So I guess to be more specific I want a mid offroader that can accommodate camping gear for 3 people for a week in a remote location or overnight sleeping with a 30 lb dog. Sorry for being vague but to be honest I'm just getting into this and am not sure exactly what I want. Mostly something that leaves a lot of options open. How are '08 Toyota FJ's? (I ask the thread.) They're a bunker on wheels with lovely visibility but they seem to check all the boxes. (Looking at http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=toyota+fj&excats=69-27-26-38-3-4-36-1&sort=rel&max_price=20000 )
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Dec 30, 2016 05:19
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Buy an extended cab domestic pickup truck with AWD, put a cap on the back, go have fun in the mountains for days. FJ's are kinda like iPhones, more hype/price than necessary. I'm not advocating this specific truck, but you get the idea http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/5937659125.html
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Dec 30, 2016 05:33
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To add to that, the three vehicles mentioned - Patriot, Renegade, and Cherokee - are all very much just mildly lifted car platforms. The Patriot is much the same as a Mitsu Lancer or a Chrysler Sebring, the Renegade is a Fiat 500X, and the Cherokee is a Dort/200. Unless the only thing needed to get where you want to be is ground clearance, they will get you no further than pretty much any other car. That Crown Vic is not heavily modded, and is far more of a truck than you want to give it credit for. If you just need to get over nasty forest service roads, the cheapest way to do that is: Nitrox posted:Buy an extended cab domestic pickup truck with AWD, put a cap on the back, go have fun in the mountains for days. Or maybe a Toyota Land Cruiser (the big behemoth ones, not the retro-styled FJC) if you find one that still has some off-road options on it. The only reason Jeeps and FJ Cruisers come into the picture is if you want to take trails that might be too technical for a fullsize truck, or (for Jeeps in particular) you want solid axles front and rear for more articulation. Any stock Wrangler will get you further than you want to go. Just about any stock Cherokee and maybe even a Grand Cherokee would be more than enough for what you're saying.
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Dec 30, 2016 05:44
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IOwnCalculus posted:To add to that, the three vehicles mentioned - Patriot, Renegade, and Cherokee - are all very much just mildly lifted car platforms... the Renegade is a Fiat 500X. Unless the only thing needed to get where you want to be is ground clearance, they will get you no further than pretty much any other car. This is true for almost all CUVs with lovely front-biased AWD, but the Renegade is a very capable 4x4. The Renegade Trailhawk has a low crawl ratio and I think I remember it having lockable differentials--maybe just the center diff? It may share a platform with the 500x, but it's a very different car. I had one as a rental while my car was in the body shop. It handled deeply rutted and muddy trails and steep slippery hills with ease. This is also an example of why you probably shouldn't buy a former rental.
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Dec 30, 2016 06:01
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Kung Food posted:In all fairness you can't show me a crazy modded crown vic and act like it's an off the lot camery. I am no where near as handy as the guy in the vid. The roads I'm thinking of are rocky enough to shred the undercarriage of your average road car. So I guess to be more specific I want a mid offroader that can accommodate camping gear for 3 people for a week in a remote location or overnight sleeping with a 30 lb dog. Sorry for being vague but to be honest I'm just getting into this and am not sure exactly what I want. Mostly something that leaves a lot of options open. It isn't crazy modded. I've done worse than that in a stock Accord and a stock Miata. It does take skill. But almost any car can go almost anywhere; and most people saying "I gotta have a 4x4" vastly overestimate how rough the roads they're driving on are. Are you driving up hills? Are these roads regularly covered in snow, ice, or mud? (Depending on the type of pavement, rain might also qualify) If the answer to both of these questions is yes, you need four wheel drive. Otherwise, you almost certainly don't. Do you regularly drive roads with loose rocks on them that are almost as large as your car's ground clearance, and are there too many of them to avoid? If the answer is yes, you could in fact use more ground clearance (though you can probably get away without it) Odds are a Subaru would be more than enough for you. Photos of the roads you're talking about would settle this.
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Dec 30, 2016 06:53
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Nitrox posted:Buy an extended cab domestic pickup truck with AWD, put a cap on the back, go have fun in the mountains for days. I feel like this is probably the best answer. It gives a very capable vehicle that is fine around town and fine off road.
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Dec 30, 2016 15:38
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| # ? Jun 11, 2024 01:54 |
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widunder posted:I'm currently looking into buying my first car, intended for once-and-again city and highway driving. I'm not a car person. I've limited my must-haves to the following: I'm not really a car person either, but I am a similarly sized person who owns a 2014 Mazda CX-5 so I can address some of your requests. I am 6'4" and bought a new 2014 CX-5 almost 3 years ago. One of the main reasons I singled the Mazda out, is much of my height is in my torso and leg room isn't often a problem for me, but head room is. I fit in the CX-5 comfortably while many of the other cars I looked at caused my head to be squished against the ceiling. I wanted a smallish SUV not a giant monster and I spent around the top of my budget. Fuel economy: The fuel economy has been great. I don't often take long trips, but the times I have I have done better than the estimated highway MPG. I don't really track it day to day but when I first got the thing, it was doing about what the sticker said. I don't drive a huge amount, but I put on about 10k miles per year. Size: I can fit a lot in this thing. My parents own a Vibe and my sister owns a Hyundai Elantra Touring and it dwarfs both of them. It's not full on giant SUV size though. Warning, the back window does not open up so really long things can be an issue. Comfortable drive: I have off back issues and I find it way easier to get in and out of my CX-5, though it's a bit misleading since my old car was a sedan that was much lower to the ground. The drive has always been smooth and comfortable. Safety: No accidents yet thankfully but I have the Grand Touring with both tech packages and it came with some added safety features. This is my first car with backup camera and the side mirror warnings and I don't think I could live without either anymore. It has some front sensors for helping you brake when you are about to hit something and a few other features I have not noticed in use. BT Connectivity: It has it. I have never used it, sorry. Price: I'm in the US but I paid about $32000 after tax for mine new so it might be in your ballpark used. Reliability: I haven't had any major issues yet other than the stupid windshield keeps breaking. I have replaced the thing twice now due to giant cracks from small hits (Not including Safelite errors, see below). On my previous car when I drove in a high speed truck heavy area daily I took much harder hits and suffered way less severe cracks (Fixable with a windshield repair kit most of the time). Replacing that thing is EXPENSIVE too. I had to use my insurance because the windshield was about $1000 to replace and they'd cover it if I used Safelite for my $500 deductible. It is some kind of special windshield because of the extra front sensors and I suspect it is thinner and more fragile as a result. Fun fact, the first time I had it replaced they used the wrong windshield and it stress cracked within a day. They had to replace that one for free. No mechanical issues at all so far. The GPS software became corrupted once and caused hilarious errors but the card is removeable so I was able to redownload the software on my home PC and fix it without a dealer trip.
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Jan 4, 2017 16:58
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