We would all like a brand new car, but buying brand new isn’t always the smartest or most affordable option. Most cars lose a lot of their value as soon as you drive them off the car lot, so buying a newer used car is not all that bad of an idea.
One of the best places online to look for used car is Craigslist. It has been around for about 15 years now and continues to be the premier free classified ad website. You’ve probably have at least come across the site once in your life, but if you have not don’t be put off by the simplicity of its looks. It is always a in the top 50, yes top 50, of all sites visited on the net. That is a lot of visitors and a lot of power. Use it to find your next car or truck.
Here are 5 things to remember when using Craigslist to buy your next car.
#1 Dealership or Private owner
When you check into the cars for sale section, you will find two different listings: by dealer and by owner.
By Dealer – These cars may not be as affordable, but will most likely be in good shape. See, the dealership will bring a used car, fix it up, clean it up and try to sell it for the most money that it can. The more they put into the more they are going to want. This can be good or bad depending on your budget. It is also possible to have a short warranty if you buy from a dealership.
By Owner – This where you are going to deal with just a regular person who is trying to sell their car. Deals are to be had with private owners. Some want to just get a little bit more than what the dealership will give them for a trade in, while others may be leaving town and have to get rid of the car immediately. Don’t feel bad, you are doing them a favor and you are getting a good deal. Everybody wins. Others maybe a little harder to deal with. You never know with private owners, but this is where the best deals are to be had.
#2 Put your own listing in the ‘Cars Wanted’ section
If you don’t want to sift through the countless for sale ads and you are not in to much of a hurry, you can always put your own ad in the ‘cars wanted’ section. This is pretty cool. You place an ad telling people what YOU want and they call you if they have something that fits the description.
Craigslist is still an incredible resource. Jump on and check out what they have to offer.
One more tip: Make sure you research the car you want to make sure you are being offered a good deal.
How many times have you heard someone complain about a car purchase? They knew they were being ripped-off but still went through with the car deal. Or how about they fell in love with the car and just couldn’t say ‘no’.
Unfortunately it happens all too many times and is in fact what used car dealers count on, it is one of their ‘tricks of the trade’. Used car salesmen know that the vast majority of people will not walk away from a car deal especially if a Buyers Order has been signed. Ironically, it is our own society’s love of cars that has become a tactic for a used car salesman to make you feel obligated to buy.
It is a simple fact that most potential used car buyers become used car owners because they were unwilling or unable to say ‘no’. The main focus of a car salesman is to get you to ‘fall in love’ with the vehicle and get a written commitment making you believe you must buy the vehicle. Here are a few guidelines to remember the next time you go shopping for a used car:
1.Don’t ‘fall in love’, no matter what. There will always be another vehicle you like just as much somewhere else; even if it is the rarest of the rare, don’t get attached. If you fall in love with the vehicle, you will lose all perspective and you are now vulnerable to the whims of your salesman. You have to be able to bargain and/or walk away otherwise you will lose money.
2.Tell them you don’t like something, no matter what it is. Remember, you are dealing with a salesman and their manager; these people are not your friends (no matter how nice they seem). Tell them the interest rate is too high or your trade allowance is too low; you will not hurt their feelings. The only person with the potential of getting hurt is you.
3.Just say ‘NO’, you can do it. If you do not like the deal, think the interest rate is wrong, not enough was taken off the price, what ever it is, be prepared and able to say ‘NO’. This is the one thing used car dealers count on is the customers’ inability to walk away from the car or the deal. It doesn’t matter that you signed a Buyer’s Order; you can still stand up and say ‘NO’.
Always adhere to these three rules and you will never get taken by another used car salesman again. Think about it, buying a car, even a used one, is probably the second largest expense you will make. And unfortunately, if you get railroaded into a purchase or stuck with high payments you are the one who has to live with it and be reminded of it every time you drive the car or pay the bills. Don’t fall into the trap of losing your head over a car; remember it is a tool nothing more.
Do some research to begin with, and have a good idea of just what it is you are looking for in a used vehicle. By this I mean the category of vehicle – sedan, utility, wagon, truck, etc, and a few models within your chosen category. A check of the approximate values of used cars, from sites like cheapcarco.com, and or, the local car guide, will give you some idea of what that type of car should sell for.
Looking for a used car should be done in the daytime, on a clear day so that you can see any faults more easily. If you are checking out used cars on an over-cast or rainy day, it’s easy to miss what state the paint-work is in. Similarly, if you are doing this at night, the over-head lights in car yards are of a kind that enhance colours, and so are giving the potential buyer the impression that a vehicle is in better nick than the reality.
Always take the vehicle for a road test and then take it to your local mechanic and have them check the vehicle out. They will advise you of their professional opinion of the overall state of the car. Your mechanic will check the fluids, lights, belts, charging system, and air conditioning system, also get them put it on a lift and check the underneath of the vehicle for any frame damage, or damage repair. If there is a list of problems pass on it.
Make safety a primary concern. Purchase a pre-loved vehicle that is new enough to include airbags and if possible, anti-lock brakes as well. Always give a close inspection of the seat belts, pull them all the way out in case there is evidence of mildew or fraying.
Although you may have to make some compromises when buying a used car, it is dangerous to compromise on safety and don’t be overcome merely by the look of the vehicle. Just because it looks flash, doesn’t mean it actually runs well.
Do your homework – It is important that you know exactly what you want and the price you can afford before setting foot in a dealership. Come prepared. Entering a dealership without a concrete idea of what you want and what you are willing to pay is never a good idea. The groundwork of successful negotiation is information. Once you have your price and your method of payment, you are ready to negotiate. Do not lose sight of your price, while negotiating. The key is to follow your plan and leave a deal alone if it is not in your best interest. Once you and the salesperson have reached an agreement get everything in writing. Price, terms, repairs, and/or trade-ins should be clearly written in the sales agreement.
Be sure of your needs – It is important to measure your needs against your wants when shopping for a vehicle. Before beginning your hunt for a used car or truck, ask yourself some fundamental questions. How many people will I be transporting? How much do I drive? How important is it to get good gas mileage? What safety features mean the most to me? Is it necessary to have a car or truck with four-wheel drive? Keep your options open when considering what to buy. It never hurts to look at other vehicles in the same class. Remember choosing the eye-catching vehicle, instead of the sensible one could result in a hole in your budget, a return visit to the dealership sooner than you planned, or both. Your main focus should be to find a car or truck that meets both your needs and your personality. Are the prices of fuel and the effects of climate change important to you? Depending on the engine and vehicle type, how much you drive and whether its town or highway driving effects how much fuel you’ll consume and the footprint you leave on the environment.Know what you are buying – Ask to see what mechanical reconditioning has been done by the seller. A well detailed vehicle that looks clean and shiny doesn’t mean it is mechanically sound. Most reputable dealerships ensure that your pre-owned vehicle was thoroughly reconditioned and its history is safe. Make sure your used vehicle has been inspected, complete outstanding recalls, and ensure required maintenance is up to date. They can also verify cross Canada accident claims, liens, registrations, complete US history and the odometer record.
Financing – It is smart to consider how to finance the vehicle when you begin the shopping process, this will allow you to make an objective decision that fits your budget and prevents unpleasant surprises from surfacing later. Calculate a realistic monthly payment that will fit into your budget based on purchase price, down payment, length of loan, and interest rate. Keep in mind that your total monthly payments should not exceed 20 per cent of your monthly take-home income. Dealerships generally offer a better finance rate than consumers can obtain through their own bank. Are you trying to establish or rebuild your credit? Having credit issues shouldn’t prevent you from owning a reliable vehicle.
Buying a used car can save your money especially during financially tight and other problems. you can buy a used car from a dealership like person that is selling his or her used car or from the repossessed cars. The significant is to know what scams to watch out for in order to maximize your hard earned money.
Whatever sources that you may be considering for the next used car. There are always a few considerations and planning to make the buying experience more satisfying. Do the research on the website, newspapers or magazines to find out a few retail price, models and brands of cars. If you are buying from a car dealer, also research to find the trustworthy and dependable dealers.
The first cash wasting scam deal with etching the vehicle’s VIN# on the car. In some situations a salesman will try to make you spend for this added feature. Please don’t fall for this trick. No lender will require you to spend for any other options that you don’t need. To be moral all they really care about is whether or not your payments are on time. You should also find a reliable mechanic to inspect the used car of interest and then ask the dealer if you can inspect it. Try to stay with the dealers that will co-operate. Create a check list of vehicle parts that the mechanic can inspect on the car.
Also attempt to ask for the guarantee and contract from the dealer. You should make sure you test drive the used car before you buy. Drive it on different type of roads.
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Buying a used car can be an easy task. However, you need to buy it rightly. One needs to make wise decisions for buying a used car. No one needs a used car which will bring future losses in the form of car breakdowns. If this happens, it will not only burn your pocket but it will put you under stress. Hence, in order to prevent yourself from being in this situation, you need to follow certain tips for buying a used car. They are as follows:
1) Review your financial position :
Based on your financial position, you should arrive at a maximum price that you are willing to spend. Once you are clear with your financial budget, you can then go ahead to buy the particular used car of your choice.
2) Do your own research :
Get into the habit of researching other vehicles that are similar to your type of used car that you are interested in. For example, ensure that you research about eight to ten cars of a particular make, model and its year. By this way, you will get a good idea of the prices for that particular group of cars.
3) Check the overall condition of the used car :
With the help of a mechanic, you can look into the condition of the engine and the overall condition of the vehicle. Check the parts and the engine well. Do a proper checkup of the parts and the engine of the used car that you are going to purchase. This will increase your chances of picking up used car that has zero minimal defects and issues.
4) Check for availability of parts :
After having identified the model and make of the car, check whether the parts of the particular used car are easily available or not. Based on this , you need to take your decision towards buying a used car.
5) Find out what exactly are you needs :
You need to land up buying a used car which is not only having a good negotiable price but also have good well maintained machinery. The true worth of a used car that is purchased, depends upon the good working condition life span. Hence, I would advise you to follow the above mentioned tips for buying a used car.
Most people are trying to save money when they buy a used car. Used cars are cheaper to buy, insure, register and pay tax on. A key reason for many people is the first year depreciation of a new car. A new car can depreciate as much as 30% in the first year.
Used cars are popular choices for parents buying a car for their kid. They want something safe and reliable but aren’t as particular about how it looks so that dings and dents aren’t that important. They mainly want to avoid buying a used car that will need major repairs.
A good place to start is to come up with a list of cars you are most interested in. Cars like the Toyota Camry which are considered very reliable and have a long history of lasting for years can be a good choice. This list will naturally depend on what type of car you need. If you live in a snow belt you may want to get a 4 wheel drive vehicle or at least a front wheel drive vehicle which handles well in the snow. You may need a pickup to haul things around. Once you know what type of vehicle you need make a list of the models you want to look for.
The internet has lots of resources you can use to build your list and to check on the fair market value and technical specifications of the cars you are interested in. Review the lists of the most reliable cars over time. Car and Driver has an annual list of the top five cars in each category. See which cars they have recommended in past years and review them. Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and Edmunds.com provide information on the fair market value, technical specifications and reviews of used cars, trucks and SUV’s.
Once you start looking at used cars make sure you find out if the car has ever been in an accident and it’s great if the seller has repair records and the maintenance history. If you are buying from a used car dealer ask if there is a warranty.
Do a good inspection of the car, the exterior, interior and the engine. Is the engine clean? Are the fluid levels good? Do you see signs of any leaks underneath the vehicle? Make sure you test drive the car, the longer the better. Leave the radio off so you can hear any strange noises. Notice how the car takes bumps, how many rattles you hear and engine noises. Check underneath particularly the exhaust system.
When you find the used car you want and have agreed on a price with a used car dealer make sure you read the fine print of anything you sign. Once you sign it is a done deal. A lot of people dread dealing with used car dealers but if you do your homework, inspect and test drive the car you will avoid most of the pitfalls. Also, dealing with a reputable used car dealer you can trust can make the process enjoyable.
With the economy changing as much as it is, one has to wonder if a new car is really worth it. Is it worth spending that extra money when you could get a used car that is in good shape? When people buy a used car, the sticker price is not the only thing they save on. There are many ways you can save when you buy a used car.First, you can save on gas. Many people think the new cars offer all the gas savings, but that is actually not true. You could get a new hybrid and save on gas, but studies have shown it can take you between five and ten years of owning a hybrid to actually get ahead in the cost department. That is because of the sticker price of a hybrid.There are many cars that were made in 1990s to the early 2000s that get excellent gas mileage. Consider a Corolla, or a Mazda Tribute. They are both affordable and will save you a great deal of money on gas. When you are able to get an affordable vehicle that also offers a great savings on gas, you will save quite a bit of money in the long run.Also, you will save money on insurance. When you buy a new car, your insurance company is going to give you an expensive policy. The cheaper the car, the less you pay for the insurance. That means people who are driving around in used cars are going to get some great deals.Many used cars are also cheaper to maintain. The parts in cars are getting more and more expensive. If you buy a used car, you have a greater chance of getting a car that has replacement parts for a much better price.In addition, many people pay off a used car faster than they pay off a new car. Because of that, they are able to get rid of their car payment and then really feel the difference in their bank accounts. Most people take out a five year loan with a new car, but when it comes to a used car, many people only finance for three years. That means less interest and less time paying on the loan. You can save quite a bit of money this way, and you are likely to really benefit from this savings.Used cars offer a great deal of saving. Of course, you are going to save money on the cost of the vehicle, but then the savings will continue. If you are looking for a long term savings, consider a used car.Add up how much your savings can be with a used car and you will probably be shocked. Think about gas, insurance, parts, and repayment. When you look at all of those factors, it only makes sense to buy a used car. With the way that the economy is, it is in your best interest to purchase something that will cost you less money instead of more money.
A person who cannot afford to buy a new car can always move ahead and buy a used car. Buying a car no doubts requires a lot of money but that does not mean that only rich can buy it. Always remember the success of buying a used car is to do your research before you buy it. You will have to prepare yourself for all the stress if you are looking for a perfect deal. Make sure that you are with the best used car dealer who will ensure you the best deal. You need to go through the following information before buying a used car.
1) Always decide the budget you can afford to buy the car. Since you are buying the used car always include price of the Car, repairs and maintenance cost of the car, Car insurance and so on.
2) Decide the Car you would like to buy. The best option would be to go for a mid-sized car as these cars are available at great bargains.
3) Used cars may be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty or a separately purchased service contract. However note that they may not be transferable. Always make sure to go through the warranty or service contract before you buy any used cars.
4) You can also take a test drive of the car and check its efficiency and comfort. It would be more preferable if you take a test drive on different types of roads. Have a drive for at least 10 to 15 miles to ensure the smoothness of the car.
5) Find out how old is the car you are going to buy. Try to buy a car which is two or three years older. Buying a two or three years older car would probably be a great deal as this will give you an opportunity to drive the latest model. It would be asking for trouble if you decide to go for a much older car.
6) If you are not 100% satisfied by the car avoid buying it. Don’t just buy a car since it is cheap as this might turn into a big expense in the long term.
7) It would be advisable to get the car inspected by the mechanic you hire. If you neglect it, you will have to pay everything for the maintenance once you buy the car. A mechanic can put the car on the lift and can immediately identify any previous damages, corrosions and so on.
If you are buying a 4 to 5 year old car it would be advisable to get the warranty period extended. Else you will have to bear the brunt of heavy losses.
9) Every dealer has a price in mind below which they will not sell you the car. The dealer is ready to reduce the price of the car till this price point and yet manages a decent profit. However if they find a particular buyer inexperienced they take advantage of such buyers and gladly make a very good profit. Hence it is very important to educate yourself thoroughly before going to a car dealer.
Isabella Rodrigues writes for newyorkcarinsurance.info,
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Whenever you buy a used car, regardless of whether it is from a dealership or private seller, then there are a couple of things that you need to consider so that you don’t end up buying a car that you might not get to own.
Firstly any used car runs the risk of being stolen and should you buy it then you still won’t be the proper owner. This means that if it is later discovered that the car is stolen then you will lose it and the money you have spent on it.
Secondly, when buying a used car you need to ensure that the car does not have any outstanding finance relating to it. This simply means that the previous, or original owner, paid it off properly and fully when it was first purchased. Failure to do so may mean that the finance company may have a legal claim to the car again leaving you without a car and without the money you spent on it.
When buying a used car there are a few simple precautions that you can take to ensure that you get a legitimate car that is safe for you and your family. When you buy a car from a dealership, choose one that has a good reputation. Ask around to see what other people think of them. If buying off a private seller then use your judgement about the seller to decide whether they are trustworthy or not. If something does not seem right or the deal seems too good to be true then it probably isn’t – don’t buy the car and consider contacting the police.
When buying a used car always ask for proof of identity and the address of the seller, such as a driving licence. This means that if you have any problems with the car or you are asked about the seller you will be able to have their full and proper details.
Also, only buy a used car that comes with its vehicle registration document (V5), and make sure that it is an authentic document with the DVLA watermark and that it has not been tampered with. On the V5 will be the vehicle identification number (VIN) which is a unique 17-character number issued to every vehicle by the car maker, and was previously known as the chassis number. You should check the VIN on the V5 matches matches the VIN which can be found in various places on or in the car.
The VIN can be found on a manufacturer’s VIN plate under the bonnet or fixed to the post between the front and rear doors; stamped on the body chassis or frame; or on an additional plate fixed securely to the top corner of the dashboard where it can easily be seen through the windscreen, known as a visible VIN. If you can’t find the VIN or suspect it has been tampered with then don’t buy the car and inform the police.
Finally to avoid buying a stolen or written off car, or one with outstanding finance, you can take advantage of a service offered by the RAC and AA that checks the legal status of the car. This will cost around thirty pounds but this may turn out to be a small amount compared to what you might lose if you buy a car that may later taken away from you.