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Used car market -- !!!
5/30/2012 10:48:40 AM
My neighbor, a middle aged divorced female school teacher, asked me to help her buy a used car for her daughter, budget $6,000.
So I've been trolling Craigslist and Autotrader, and I am amazed at how little $6,000 will buy these days.
You're looking at 2002 Accords and Camrys with 130,000+ miles on them. 2005 Tauruses with 100,000 miles. 2003 Escapes with 140,000mi.
Every time I see what looks like a good deal, it turns out to be salvage repaired.
So... what can you get that's decent for $6,000?
So I've been trolling Craigslist and Autotrader, and I am amazed at how little $6,000 will buy these days.
You're looking at 2002 Accords and Camrys with 130,000+ miles on them. 2005 Tauruses with 100,000 miles. 2003 Escapes with 140,000mi.
Every time I see what looks like a good deal, it turns out to be salvage repaired.
So... what can you get that's decent for $6,000?
5/30/2012 11:36:42 AM
Yeah, the used market has been nuts for the last two or so years, prices are terribly high.
Combination of factors: (small) was cash for clunkers, the bigger was leases plummeted in 2008 for a year or two thanks to the economy, so there are less used vehicles coming off leases.
Combination of factors: (small) was cash for clunkers, the bigger was leases plummeted in 2008 for a year or two thanks to the economy, so there are less used vehicles coming off leases.
5/30/2012 12:09:51 PM
Encountered this last weekend. Nephew is graduating so his dad and I went car shopping. Thinking that used Honda's would be good the damn dealerships had 5 year old accords on "sale" for $20fuckinggrand. So after looking at a few places we decided that the used car market was total crap.
I'm going to stick with 20 year old cars and keep fixing them.
5/30/2012 12:12:29 PM
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
5/30/2012 12:20:50 PM
I survey used car prices for my part time gig, and I agree, UC prices in general are about half crazy. If you are looking for reliable, you can find 04/05 Civics and Corollas for that price, as well as Chevy Cavaliers and Aveos. Shame you are not in PA, I may have been of some help.
Ops
Ops
5/30/2012 12:22:25 PM
Issuzu -rodeo or trooper.
5/30/2012 12:24:26 PM
feel your pain OP, ive been shopping for a daily driver just to get me to work and back, so the wife has a vehicle for emergencies/appoitments, etc
its been tough to find, way mre than im willing to pay for something that is just a transport
its been tough to find, way mre than im willing to pay for something that is just a transport
5/30/2012 12:29:30 PM
Used Accords, Camry's, and Civics are always priced high.
I'll drive our 03 Accord coupe for work travel and I get offers all the time. Normally it's for their soon-to-be-driving kid.
Fact is, I'm going to drive it until it falls apart underneath me. They're stupid expensive new (wife bought it), but they run forever.
I'll drive our 03 Accord coupe for work travel and I get offers all the time. Normally it's for their soon-to-be-driving kid.
Fact is, I'm going to drive it until it falls apart underneath me. They're stupid expensive new (wife bought it), but they run forever.
5/30/2012 2:17:17 PM
We went thru something similar a little over a year ago trying to find a decent 2-3 yr old used family sedan. The prices were so bad, we wound up buying a brand new leftover from a dealership with a full warranty for less than most folks were asking for 2 yr old models with 30K on them. 
5/30/2012 3:00:41 PM
Originally Posted By Norinco982lover:
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
There's a million of them around here. I've had a salvage titled truck for about 5 years with no issues. Paid about 1/2 of blue book for it.
The key is finding out who repaired them and how thorough they are. There's not much that can't be fixed or repaired any more on a vehicle.
5/30/2012 4:45:42 PM
You can thank Cash for Clunkers.
5/30/2012 4:47:34 PM
Originally Posted By graysonp:
There's a million of them around here. I've had a salvage titled truck for about 5 years with no issues. Paid about 1/2 of blue book for it.
The key is finding out who repaired them and how thorough they are. There's not much that can't be fixed or repaired any more on a vehicle.
Originally Posted By Norinco982lover:
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
There's a million of them around here. I've had a salvage titled truck for about 5 years with no issues. Paid about 1/2 of blue book for it.
The key is finding out who repaired them and how thorough they are. There's not much that can't be fixed or repaired any more on a vehicle.
And you'll never be able to sell it....
5/30/2012 4:52:59 PM
Originally Posted By WS4LIF:
And you'll never be able to sell it....
And you'll never be able to sell it....
I could sell it right now if I wanted to. I had someone make an offer on it last weekend. The market's full of salvaged vehicles and they're bought and sold all the time. The only issue would be trading it into a dealer, but I'm really not concerned with that.
5/30/2012 5:20:09 PM
I feel your pain OP.
I've been shopping for a used small high MPG vehicle. HORY CLAP!
Just yesterday I looked at a 2002 Toyota RAV4 for $12,800!!!!!!!!!
I'm still looking.
I've been shopping for a used small high MPG vehicle. HORY CLAP!
Just yesterday I looked at a 2002 Toyota RAV4 for $12,800!!!!!!!!!
I'm still looking.
5/30/2012 5:25:32 PM
I am starting to think that salvage repair is the way to go... but to do it right, I would need to take the car to a good body shop and ask them to check straightness and alignment, $100 right there probably.
There are some decent values out there, but they are in trucks, things like Ford Explorers and such, where fuel economy isn't great.
There are some decent values out there, but they are in trucks, things like Ford Explorers and such, where fuel economy isn't great.
5/30/2012 5:27:34 PM
Originally Posted By Norinco982lover:
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
I would get a salvage titled car.
Everything is totaled these days so just get em.
It depends on your state. Some states won't allow you to register or insure "salvage" titled vehicles, and they're not allowed to be driven on public roads. They'd have to be "rebuilt" by licensed and bonded auto rebuilders, have receipts for all replaced parts, inspected, and the title converted from "salvage" to "rebuilt" by the state.
The laws regarding this kinda crap vary so much from state to state, though.
5/30/2012 5:34:46 PM
Decent cars are out there. I just bought a new Camry, and Ill be selling my previous one soon. 2005 Camry, base model. 115k. I bought it new.It has a few paint chips, and dings, but it has never been in for a repair other than one dead battery. From what I can see, Im going to ask 7k. I see listings for similar cars for 9500, but thats insane. I was a bank underwriter for car loans for a few years, I know what cars are worth.
When I browse, I just check the sell "by owner" link on CL.
When I browse, I just check the sell "by owner" link on CL.
5/30/2012 6:54:14 PM
No kidding, some guy in EE is trying to sell his 121K mile 03 VW for almost 10K!
