Car buying

[Glenn]

Well if I were in your moccasins, I would go out and get me a small, old, diesel rabbit, honda, or toyota while parts are still cheap and plentiful because diesel will be easier to store for the coming global showdown with Iran. These cars will still be running if you store diesel and the grid goes down. I refuse to even make a car payment. My mechanic drives a geo tracker. You don't need alot of money to buy a car. They are not good investments. If you want cheap and dependable, go to honda, toyota, or nissan. I've noticed this fiero already has 40ooo on the turbo rebuild. Imo, turbo means engine rebuilt anytime pending, which for a turbo 87 fiero, can cost up to 800.

[DapperButch]

I agree with several people on here, plus have my own thoughts.

*Forget the Fiero (for more than one reason)

*Always get a PPI (pre purchase inspection) prior to buying any used car, ever

*Sell the dually privately, as you will get the most money that way. Sell it kelly blue book or nada values.

*I don't know pick up values, but I believe that chevy and ford are the most reliable. Determine how much you want to spend and then hit consumer reports to find the most reliable truck for the money you want to spend. Then search autotrader, cars.com, etc. for the truck you want. I personally like to find private parties and not dealers. Better deals. Either way, PPI or scram.

*If you go with a dealer for purchase, do not tell them what you want to pay each month, that should have NOTHING to do with the negotiations and you should not let them see your hand. As Tony said, THEN see what price they will take your car for.

*Helping others research/find/buy new/used cars is one of my fav hobbies!

[clay]

Miss_Tia. One thing to seriously consider are these factors.
Given the back/neck/shoulder problems you have had, you will want a vehicle that allows for easy entrance/exit!
The Fiero is a lower to the ground vehicle than getting in a big ole dually! Consider the clearance underneath the steering wheel and ease with which to get into and out of, once again!
Chrissy is tall, so headroom, legroom, and passenger and driver space is important to consider!
I need something along lines of an SUV to get into and out of, where I don't have to force my old joints to fold up to enter/exit, have to squat to get into, and be sitting almost to the pavement.
Clearance under the steering wheel, legroom, and headroom are so important to me!
Just consider your joint issues to help you to decide on what it is you want to get...good luck my friend...

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by claybaby

Miss_Tia. One thing to seriously consider are these factors.
Given the back/neck/shoulder problems you have had, you will want a vehicle that allows for easy entrance/exit!
The Fiero is a lower to the ground vehicle than getting in a big ole dually! Consider the clearance underneath the steering wheel and ease with which to get into and out of, once again!
Chrissy is tall, so headroom, legroom, and passenger and driver space is important to consider!
I need something along lines of an SUV to get into and out of, where I don't have to force my old joints to fold up to enter/exit, have to squat to get into, and be sitting almost to the pavement.
Clearance under the steering wheel, legroom, and headroom are so important to me!
Just consider your joint issues to help you to decide on what it is you want to get...good luck my friend...

Really good points, Clay. A car has to "fit" like clothes do—you want something comfortable because you'll be wearing it EVERY day!

[Rockinonahigh]

When I unloaded my big old suv that got next to O in milage I bought a cadilac,There are a fue things I wish I could change to make it beter even tho I get way better gas milage.One I would get something that sits up high enough to keep the other folks head lights out of my eyes at night..a big problem for me..Then its the cost of fixing my cadi,it uses struts insted of shocks...I priced them all around for $2000.00 no jokeing hear I promiss.Recently I replaced the over flow tank for $101.98 new as I couldnt find anything anywhere used to replace it.I do miss my old ride for just being able to do a lot with it I wont do with this one.I must have easy in and out of whatever I drive and comfort is a definat biggy.

[DapperButch]

Yes, something important to remember when buying a car is you are buying the cost of future parts and future labor, as well. Some cars cost more to maintain, especially the luxury models. It isn't only the initial cost of the vehicle, it is the future costs to maintain it. You need to be able to afford both.

[DapperButch]

<Theo's post>

When I bought new, I had a list of all dealers in a 150 mile radius and called each one asking them for their best price with the options I wanted. The best price was about two hours away in a town I had never heard of. Had to come that day for that price, but that was no problem for me!

[Blade]

Miss Tia, where would you put your groceries in a Fiero? Not to mention a Fiero is so low to the ground you'll have asphalt burns on ya arsephalt.

The life of a motor is maintenance.....oil change. Toyota, Honda and Nissan make great long lasting motors, even though some are not well maintained they take a lickin and keep on tickin. However, most of them require a timing chain/belt replacement every 80-100 thousand miles. Should you get something high mileage check to see what has been done to it and what is due.

Don't ever tell a car dealer you have cash to put down or a trade until you've settled on a price for their car. Also if buying used pay for the ext. warranty. I never did this before and I bought a used 95 F150 in 98. It had 18,000 miles on it. The finance man encouraged me to get the warranty. He told me he had bought a used truck and didn't get it and six months later the tranny fell out. I thought he was just trying to get his commission. Then I decided well Ive never bought used before and Daddy always said when you buy used you are buying someone else troubles (i don't agree with this) so I bought the warranty. By March it was using a quart of oil about every 900 miles. I had to fight to prove my case but Ford had to put a new motor in the truck. So now I have a 95 model truck with only 40,000 miles on the motor. But had I not had the warranty I'd had to pay big bucks for a new motor and to have it installed.

Do your homework. You have the world at your fingertips. Research research research.

[Soft*Silver]

thank you all so very very much! I just had the chance to read all your posts and felt my actions today were right on your suggestions!

I called my family mechanic and picked his brain. As soon as he found out what I wanted to trade my truck for and he said (lol) "ARE YOU CRAZY? NO!!!" So the fiero was ruled out immediately. He then schooled me with almost all of your suggestions. So I went to about 7 car lots. Bleck. I hate car shopping. They all look the same to me! But I knew a few things

1) I am not financing a dime. I paid my truck in full and wasnt going to pay anything for the next vehicle. I dont do car payments. And I never buy new.

2) like Clay said, I have physical limits and needs and have to take them into consideration. And chrissy is a bigger person and I was worried about him in the fiero

3) My truck is in perfect working order and is well maintained and has held its value. I did my research on the fiero and based on both car and truck, there was a little loss on my end. I wasnt happy with that.

4) While talking with the fiero owner, I tested his level of desperation to unload the car. I put up several demands and he met all of them without any countering. None. This worried me above all else. I know my truck is a premium piece of vehicle and for what he needs, its the best bet. But, anyone who is dealing for a trade, I expected some resistance to some things I said.

5) What I have wanted, ever since they came out, is a PT Cruiser. I have NEVER wanted a fiero. SO I went looking for a PTC. And after 7 lots, I found one. LOVE IT! Its my fav color, black. I drove it. It fits me and my limits well. chrissy will fit well in it too. And like Sachita said, I have a newf. He needs to go to the groomer, the vet, to the park, etc. He would have had to sit in the front bucket seat in the fiero. LOL. But now he has the whole back area. The hatch in the back lifts up and is low to the ground so he can climb in easily. he is older as well and this is an important factor. So, I called my mechanic again and he asked me a few questions then gave me a thumbs up for the type of vehicle. he also said that all cars in this price range (under $5000) will need some work done. Expect it. He had me check brakes, trans, tires, and muffler.I had to check all lights, windows, doors. All passed. So thumbs up again. I haggled, got $500 off, new tires and a door repair done ontop of everything else.

6) I had a cash offer from a private owner. It was $500 lower than I wanted but I just saved $500 on the PTC and felt it was an even steven. They are picking the truck up Saturday and I am getting the PTC Monday.

thank you everyone for helping! Not just me, as I know others will need this thread too and these ideas and suggestions were spot on!