Car buying

[Soft*Silver]

well I am selling my 98 Silverado 350 dually truck. Damn thing is so big. Its overkill for what I want to do. I have someone who wants to trade a totally rebuilt 87 fiero GT turbo with 40,000 on the new engine. I would go from 10MPG to 32 MPG. Its midnite blue and I am in love with the idea...but. BUT. I know nothing about cars. And I know I am not the only person who gets to this point and stands there like a deer in headlights. I cant move and I fear I am going to get murdered but I stand there believing this is going to turn out right. So I thought I would start a thread about car buying. its SCARY. How have you handled it? What would you suggest? Whats your best experience? And of course, your worst?

[Dance-with-me]

I normally suggest consumer reports for their buying guides (and I'd be glad to look something up for you since I have an online subscription - just PM me!) but it wouldn't be relevant for a car that old with a rebuilt engine.

I would very much recommend having the car you're considering looked at by a trusted mechanic. It's worth paying $100 or so to get it really checked out. Buy the carfax report as well.

I DESPISE car buying because I'm so afraid of making a bad decision (which I've done more than once and really paid for it). So i tend to drive my cars for at least 10 years until I really just have to get something else! So you're not alone with your deer in the headlights response.

[ruffryder]

I would suggest going to Kelly Blue Book to see the value of your truck vs the Fiero first. Researching what others are selling/paying for these vehicles. If you are still interested, a test drive! Take someone familiar with cars with you to hear the engine running, feel the drive, and look things over under the hood and under the body including tires and of course how you feel inside the vehicle and with the drive. Afterall it will be your car to drive day in and day out. If it's all good and you feel good after that, go for it! If not, you can still sell your vehicle on your own. Perhaps through craigslist, or locally. Many if not all dealerships will take it as a trade in and a down payment towards another vehicle used or new. Go to a few places, fight for the Blue Book Value and the best price on a vehicle you would like to trade for. Do your research! My experience and opinion is stay away from the dealers that are pushy or that try and force you into something they think will fit you and your budget. Look online before you choose some dealers to go to and get an idea of the cars you would like to look at and let them know when you get there so you are not wasting time.. also let them know you will be trading and have no down payment and what you would like as far as a monthly payment if you are doing that, etc. There are some good deals out there and people always want a good heavy duty pickup. Good luck!

[Tony]

Just throwing in some of my knowledge.
1. The Fiero is really not a daily driver. Or collectible. So if you're buying just cuz you like it, ok. Your dually is worth more than the Fiero. The used vehicle market is very high now.

2. If you go to a dealer, do not tell them you have a trade unt you've negotiated the vehicle you want. Then you tell them
What you want for your truck. Use Kelly Blue Book as a guide. They need you way more than you need them. It's a buyers' market now.

3. Anyone NOT willing to allow you to drive a vehicle to your mechanic for a presale inspection is not someone you want to deal with. I perform this service for my customers free of charge. I know I'm going to be working on it & I also want them in the best vehicle they can buy for their price range.

Just my .02 and how I operate.

[Ginger]

I'm not a "car person," so I had to approach buying my car in February of this year as a kind of research project.

I knew I wanted a small, fun, economic car, so I checked the top winners in that category in the US News and World Report as well as Consumer report ratings.

I saw that the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Scion (I'm not talking about the boxy one), Ford Fiesta and a few others kept showing up at the top of the lists, so I test drove each one.

I also thought I could maybe afford a used Prius or one that's just coming off warranty, so I test drove one of those, as well as others that were out of my price range but I would consider if they were only a couple years old and had the pre-owned warranty.

I made a spreadsheet to compare the basic things that mattered to me: air bags, brakes, drive train, warranty, I forget what else, but you know what I mean.

I also put it out there on my Facebook page and poets from around the country weighed in on what I should get, which was pretty freakin' funny because they say things like, "I just think it looks anemic."

Don't even bother asking poets what kind of car to get.

Anyway, I thought the Fit was loud when you're inside it driving, and driving the Prius I felt like I had been imbedded inside a tank. I liked the interior better on the Toyota but the Hyundai had a better warranty, better brakes, better mileage, and was $1000 cheaper.

So that's what I went with. I still don't know if it was the "best" choice, but it was the best I could do, given what I know.

Good luck!!

[ruffryder]

Great thoughts Tony and Scout! Definitely, if you are getting a car from a dealer check on the warranties and get the best one. I just got a used Focus and I came out with no charge for the warranty. It was included in the sale and just given to me finally after I kept saying no , I dont' want it and I won't pay for it. lol.

Previously I was the new owner of a Kia Sportage and had that for 6 years. 100,000 / 10 year warranty included in that sale. Great cars, Kias. All I ever needed to do with that car was routine oil change and change tires.