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I’m 17 and need to get a used car. I’m not looking for anything fancy. I need something cheep(anything under 2,000) because I have to pay for it myself and I need something that won’t stop in the middle of nowhere. I know nothing of cars so some good tips about how to recognize a bad or good car are helpful! Help make this car searching a little easier for me! Thank you!

3 Comments »

1. 

   Below is some car buying advise that was given to the women in a Automotive for Women course I taught a few years ago.

   1. Determine the year, make, and model of car that you are interested in.
   2. Ask friends, parents, work associates for advice on the types of cars they like and why they like them.
   3. Think about your needs, Are you driving long or short distances? Do you have to haul large loads? How many passengers do you typically transport? What are your hobbies and will the car you choose support that hobby?
   4. Research, Research, Research. The information you can get on cars you are interested in will help you make good educated decisions in buying a vehicle. Here are some sites to look at:

   http://www.kbb.com – Kelly Blue Book, find out retail, private party, and trade in pricing.
   http://www.carsoup.com – New and used car information
   http://www.autotrader.com – New and used car information
   http://www.usedcars.com – from the previous answerer.
   http://www.craigslist.com – car listings for your area

   Whenever you are looking for a used vehicle there are a couple of different ways of finding the actual car you are looking for. First you can go to a dealership used car lot. Here the dealer will have a selection of vehicles typically of various makes and models. If it is a larger dealership they will have a service department that will have looked over the vehicle and made sure that it is road worthy. If it is a smaller dealership this may not be the case so beware!

   Another way to purchase a vehicle is to go through a private seller. This would be a person that you have found online or one who has put a For Sale sign in their car and you saw it as you were driving. Usually buying from a private party will allow you to pay less for the vehicle because they don’t have the overhead costs to make that the dealerships do.

   One thing that you always, always, always want to do is have your trusted mechanic look over the vehicle before you purchase it. This will cost you typically $30 – $60. It is well worth the money and they will do a complete diagnostic of all the systems of the vehicle. If you are looking at a vehicle and the owner is resistant to letting you take the vehicle to your mechanic, WALK AWAY from that car. The owner is trying to pull something over on you. Also having your mechanic to the diagnostic will give you some leverage in making a deal. If something is found wrong with the car, ask the owner to fix the problem or reduce the cost of the vehicle since you will need to get the problem fixed.

   Another site that is a good source of information for general automotive knowledge is http://auto.howstuffworks.com/, I recommend that you educate yourself on how car systems work since owning a car is one of the biggest investments you will make. Also knowing how your car works and what can go wrong with it will help you make good choices when your car breaks down or is being repaired.

   Buying a car (especially your first one) can be an exciting and fun experience. Best advise? Learn as much as you can about the vehicle you are interested in. It will reduce your frustration and you will have more success in purchasing a vehicle.

   Good Luck and Happy Car Buying!!

   Comment by Steve — August 17, 2011 @ 9:04 am

2. 

   Dealerships, ebay, etc

   Comment by Caine Lawson — August 17, 2011 @ 9:04 am

3. 

   The Best place is probably a reputtable car dealership…however chances of finding something 2k and under is not gonna happen.. try Craigs List look under Cars for sale By Owner.. they usually post a pretty good descprition.. some pics… and a phone # you can call and ask questions… go see and test drive the car.. and then make a informed decision! Hope that helps!

   Comment by 454guy — August 17, 2011 @ 9:04 am

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