Car buying

[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]

[QUOTE=Blade;663133][COLOR="DarkOrange"][SIZE="4"][B]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.

oh my Blade! You made me laugh about my arsephalt! But this was a consideration too! I cant get out of a low chair, let alone a low car very easily!

I thought about the grocery thing too. I think once I would have sat in it, I would have known it wasnt for me. But my mechanic's "NOO!!!!" was all I needed. I wasnt expecting him to be so blunt! I thought he would hedge and not want to say anything (you know how professionals are nowadays) but he held nothing back! LOL

[Soft*Silver]

I hate selling things out of my home. I thought I had the truck sold. They asked me what name I wanted on the Money Order. They agreed on a price. We agreed on a time and day. Then I said I needed to make sure they got there before my bank closed so that I could cash out the MO. And I said if they didnt, I wouldnt turn the truck over.

First they said they had things that prevented them from getting there by then. I held firm.

Then they said they had to come later, about an hour after my bank closed because of...(reason not being shared) I said no.

Now, I gave them a better cash deal because they could get it this weekend. I had another cash offer, $250 more, but she couldnt get it until next weekend. I would lose my PT Cruiser if I didnt get the truck sold this weekend. So I was losing $250 if I took their deal but it was worth it if I could get the car of my dreams.

Then tonight, 16 hours before they are to show up with all that money to buy it, they tell me in a PM that they want to drive the truck up to their town, an hour and a half away, and have their mechanic look at it.

I understand inspections. i get them done. I would have GLADLY driven the truck up there myself, taken time out of my store, paid someone to watch it, (more money out of my pocket) and had it done so they could rest assured the truck would pass. I know it would as I just had it at my mechanics and the oil change place, and pumped over $300 into it to get it ready for sale.

But I saw this as a stalling measure. And, they wanted to take my truck, not me. Far away. On a spare of the moment. NO! No one takes my car that far. Not without me. And, bottom line, the deal was done, and they knew I was under a time limit. I think they didnt want me to cash out the MO. That seemed to be the sticking point. Something fishy was going on.

I dont think I was being treated fairly. Now I have to start all over again to sell this truck because my other cash offer has chosen and put money down on another truck. I am going to lose my PT Cruiser. Bastards!

[Soft*Silver]

and the saga drama continued today. They told me via a series of phone calls on my business phone (that I missed) that they had come to my house today, been to my store, had a cashier's check for the amount of the truck, and still wanted to buy the truck...even if they couldnt get a mechanic to look at it.

So I called them. And told them that

1) my dogs would have gone balistic had anyone pulled into my drive..and they didnt.

2) I had people at my store this AM who opened for me. And they said no one came in looking for me

3) and I had told them NO CHECKS. CASH ONLY.

4) they were to meet me at the bank, which I had provided a map and address for...so why would they have gone anywhere but that , but more importantly

5) I had said the deal was OFF. Why would they drive an hour and a half to come do a deal that had been called off?

6) if they wanted the truck now they had to pay extra, for making me lose the other deal and it had to be cash and they had to meet me at the bank and go in with me so that the bank could check their money for conterfeit bills.

well...they told me I was being unfair and that they werent willing to go to my bank, bring cash and pay extra. So I said, no thanks..dont bother me again...end of deal...

so I have a truck up for sale yet...and I am going to lose my PT Cruiser..:::Pout::::

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Miss_Tia

and the saga drama continued today. They told me via a series of phone calls on my business phone (that I missed) that they had come to my house today, been to my store, had a cashier's check for the amount of the truck, and still wanted to buy the truck...even if they couldnt get a mechanic to look at it.

So I called them. And told them that

1) my dogs would have gone balistic had anyone pulled into my drive..and they didnt.

2) I had people at my store this AM who opened for me. And they said no one came in looking for me

3) and I had told them NO CHECKS. CASH ONLY.

4) they were to meet me at the bank, which I had provided a map and address for...so why would they have gone anywhere but that , but more importantly

5) I had said the deal was OFF. Why would they drive an hour and a half to come do a deal that had been called off?

6) if they wanted the truck now they had to pay extra, for making me lose the other deal and it had to be cash and they had to meet me at the bank and go in with me so that the bank could check their money for conterfeit bills.

well...they told me I was being unfair and that they werent willing to go to my bank, bring cash and pay extra. So I said, no thanks..dont bother me again...end of deal...

so I have a truck up for sale yet...and I am going to lose my PT Cruiser..:::Pout::::

What about the other buyer you mentioned? Are they still willing to buy the truck? And would you still get the Cruiser then?

[Glenn]

... while you are still pouting and stamping your feet...type in ptcruiserproblems.com and click the owner complaints about the rental car dealer who had a fleet of them.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Miss_Tia

and the saga drama continued today. They told me via a series of phone calls on my business phone (that I missed) that they had come to my house today, been to my store, had a cashier's check for the amount of the truck, and still wanted to buy the truck...even if they couldnt get a mechanic to look at it.

So I called them. And told them that

1) my dogs would have gone balistic had anyone pulled into my drive..and they didnt.

2) I had people at my store this AM who opened for me. And they said no one came in looking for me

3) and I had told them NO CHECKS. CASH ONLY.

4) they were to meet me at the bank, which I had provided a map and address for...so why would they have gone anywhere but that , but more importantly

5) I had said the deal was OFF. Why would they drive an hour and a half to come do a deal that had been called off?

6) if they wanted the truck now they had to pay extra, for making me lose the other deal and it had to be cash and they had to meet me at the bank and go in with me so that the bank could check their money for conterfeit bills.

well...they told me I was being unfair and that they werent willing to go to my bank, bring cash and pay extra. So I said, no thanks..dont bother me again...end of deal...

so I have a truck up for sale yet...and I am going to lose my PT Cruiser..:::Pout::::

I'm sorry to hear both your deals fell through Miss Tia. But from a mechanic's point of view (and I'm damn good at what I do) you can consider yourself lucky. The PT may be cute (or I've heard people say) but they are mechanically problematic & costly to repair. I believe everything happens for a reason so I feel there's a much better deal coming right around the corner for you that you are going to be very happy about. Good luck with that. Feel free to contact me if I can answer any questions for you or be of any help.

[WolfyOne]

I haven't read previous posts and not even all of yours because the moment I saw Fiero, I had to start typing.

When I first started out selling parts at a Pontiac dealer years ago, the Fiero got a lot of laughs from mechanics there. So many problems and so much extra money for mechanics to make with repairing them. There were many reasons they stopped making the car and none of them were good ones.

And now I'll go and read what others are saying about this crappy, yet cool looking car of days gone by.
Experience tells me that cars like people can be deceiving when we only look at an outward appearance.
When looking at used vehicles, check out all recalls online first and see what others who own(ed) them say.

[WolfyOne]

Just wondering if you did your homework on the PT Cruiser before you decided to purchase it?

You do know the PTC is built on a Neon chasis and it is not the best one to have a PTC on.

Once again, I'll tell you to look at recalls on the PTC and ask yourself why they no longer make it or the Neon.

My days of selling auto parts will always be a big influence on the type of used car I or my family will purchase in the future.

[Mel C.]

Note to self: check with Wolfy before next car purchase

[clay]

I agree Wolfy! Everyone I know who bought a PTC had so much mechanical issues, and they do not allow for very much protection by way of body.
I just didn't want to dissuade Miss Tia...she had her heart set on that Cruiser.
Same with Neons..when something isn't made anymore, you have to ask "why"?
Personally I think Jeep Cherokees are the best, motor wise. Esp. the V6. IF I could, I would sell my Ford Explorer and get myself a Jeep Cherokee!!! But that is me, and this is about miss Tia!!!...

[DapperButch]

Just make it simple and get a Honda or Toyota. Any year. Any model (ok except the del Sol), and you are good to go. Easy peasy.

[ruffryder]

great advice here and great thread for anyone!

If you' like the look of the PTC , why not look at a small SUV type vehicle.. how about say the Kia Soul or Sportage or Ford Edge or something of sort.

[Gemme]

I feel I have to stand up for Ella Blue here.

I like my Neon.

There. I said it. She's pretty and has only given me a real scare once and that's because of something that I didn't do that I should have. She's also gotten me from FL to WA and down to TX. I ♥ my car.

Carry on!

P.S.~An ex of mine got a PTC and I hated it, for a variety of reasons.

[Electrocell]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Just make it simple and get a Honda or Toyota. Any year. Any model (ok except the del Sol), and you are good to go. Easy peasy.

Del sol is what I have hard to find parts for because they quit making them in '96 or '97 great little car though. Found a few places that carry aftermarket parts. Is there something else I should know lol?

[Glenn]

www.fueleconomy.gov
You can check out the mpg for whatever car your looking at to see if it gets good miles per gallon. I feel safer in my Ford full size pick-up. I've seen aftermath pictures of head on collisions between a Porsche and a full-size Chevy pick-up. The truck had a large dent in the bumper and the Porsche was unrecognizable as something that was once a car.

[sierragirrl]

i have an 06 PT and no its not the most comfortable car in the world but i love to zip around in it. it has 70 thou on it and i am truthfully unsure if its ever had a tune up. it will this month i had an 08 that i traded the 06 back to che for as the 08 was given to me for xmas but it was not paid off and i needed a car in my name.my 06 does not have the bells and whistles but its enough for me to get around and it ges me down to So Cal when needed

[sierragirrl]

i just googled my yr of PT and there are no recalls.my only down fall is, i do not think the PT's are fat friendly that is the one thing i tell people when they tell me they are looking into one.like i said mine is a plain one no indoor light unless the door is open no key fob it does have a decent radio and AC.oh and it does pretty decent in the snow unlike the HHR.i don't live where we get alot of snow but when it does i have yet to toss chains on.i actually like to see how far i can go with out getting stuck i love snow! lol

[Glenn]

If you live where you usually get alot of snow, than I would definiately buy an AWD(all wheel drive). A couple of years ago, our whole town was shut down for nearly a week, and even the plows were getting stuck. But my neighbor's little AWD Subaru hatchback plowed through nearly two feet of snow all the way to town and back, and helped alot of people. It was awesome!

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Electrocell

Del sol is what I have hard to find parts for because they quit making them in '96 or '97 great little car though. Found a few places that carry aftermarket parts. Is there something else I should know lol?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the del Sol and have always wanted one. It was actually my dream car back in the day.

I have read in the past that it is not reliable. That is the first and only time I have heard that about a Honda. Have you found yours to be as reliable as most other Hondas?

--------------

I know that 10 years after the last model year of a car BMW no longer has to make parts for it. I don't know if this is true of all makes, though. Perhaps that is why you have a hard time finding parts? How many miles do you have on it?