New Commuter Car - looking for advice/experience

[toypaseo]

Look for Civic hatches. The ones that I notice, their price is usually cheaper than the coupes or sedans.

 

[toypaseo]

If nobody has mentioned it, Geo Prism is just a rebadged Corolla, with some cosmetic differences, so those might be something to keep an eye out for also.

 

[Paraphoe]

I'm having a hellova time finding anything for $3500. Looks like I'm $1500 to $1000 off the going price for an 01 Civic with decent miles.

Do you guys think this one below is a bad idea? I think it probably is. Hood looks like it won't close proerly, and I'd need to get a front passenger door. Don't care about the rear pass. door.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...ion=&max_price=4600&cardist=10&standard=false




For the one below, the guy will only come down to $4200. I could probably get him slightly lower, but not by much. He bought it from an auction and fixed it up. Comes with a 3 month warantee. Again, bad idea?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national


I'm worried about buying someones headache...

 

[Maniak]

As hard as that first one was hit, I'd be afraid of the rear suspension having issues. You may not care about the door, but if its not sealing its a pain and noisy.

I couldn't get the 2nd link to work.

Around here, $4k is very good price for a 2000 civic and we don't have rust. In other words, if a 2000 civic is listed for $4k, its gone before the end of the day (we bought ours by noon on the day it was listed).

~Mark

 

[Paraphoe]

Mark, try this as the link for the second one:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national


And going by what you said, I guess my $3500 was too low. I really don't want to go over $4k, though. Especially because the cars listed around $4500 all over over 130,000 on 'em...

 

[techieman33]

Mark, try this as the link for the second one:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national


And going by what you said, I guess my $3500 was too low. I really don't want to go over $4k, though. Especially because the cars listed around $4500 all over over 130,000 on 'em...

link still doesn't work

 

[Maniak]

Clicking on this link worked for me (its what I got in the post notification).
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national

The red 2002 civic has a cheap, thrown on paint job. At least thats what it looks like with how the front emblem was painted over. Also, who is giving the 3 month waranty, and is it in writing by someone that will still be around? IF its a dealer then your probably going to be paying tax on it too. If its not a dealer, 3 month warranty from a person might as well not be a warranty.

~Mark

 

[Paraphoe]

Warranty is supposedly from this "dealer" who seems to be basically a guy who buys auction wrecks and repairs them...And yea, the paint on the emblem was a red flag....

 

[Maniak]

Ahh.. thats what my neighbor does, but he's not a "dealer". I'm a little leary of cars like that, but it all depends on why it went to the auction in the first place.

If he puts it in writing what is covered, and it covers pretty much everything then it might be worth it. The important things would be the expensive stuf to fix (engine/trans) and the expensive stuff to diagnose (electrical).

~Mark

 

[Paraphoe]

Any opinions on this one? Going to test drive it today. Sold by a dealer, 2 owners, no accidents (would have to confirm this with a Carfax), he will offer a warranty (not sure how long, couldnt understand half of what he was saying). Got him down to $3,700 on the phone.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national

edit by Maniak: may need to copy/paste [thisurl]http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=36035689&listingRecNum=7&criteria=prMx%3D5000%26sf1Dir%3DDESC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20017%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D20823%26rd%3D30%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoPrice-yrId%26zc%3D19090%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26yrId%3D20141%26yrId%3D20196%26yrId%3D20140%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national
[/thisurl]

 

[briwayjones]

I found it, here's your new car. http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4217016.html

 

[Maniak]

Any opinions on this one? Going to test drive it today. Sold by a dealer, 2 owners, no accidents (would have to confirm this with a Carfax), he will offer a warranty (not sure how long, couldnt understand half of what he was saying). Got him down to $3,700 on the phone.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national

edit by Maniak: may need to copy/paste [thisurl]http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=36035689&listingRecNum=7&criteria=prMx%3D5000%26sf1Dir%3DDESC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20017%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D20823%26rd%3D30%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoPrice-yrId%26zc%3D19090%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26yrId%3D20141%26yrId%3D20196%26yrId%3D20140%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national
[/thisurl]

That looks like a good deal. Look through it completely though. Including looking under the carpet in the trunk. Your looking for flood damage etc. The price seems low for that year and model. Look for signs of mud/water up under the dash (on the firewall) etc. There are still katrina cars showing up.


~Mark

 

[toypaseo]

I can't get any of the cars.com links to lead to anything but an opening page :scratch:

Are you looking this...?
http://philadelphiaautosales.us/view.php?vars=69ec63a4-2f14-40a8-8769-e65eb87d3a47

 

[Maniak]

Wierd, now I can't get the link to work (or the one I edited into his post)...

When I did see it, it was a dealer and was $4000 (< $4100). and was a 2000 civic ex.

Edit: I take that back.. that is the car.. same description (and mispelling of brakes). but I thought I saw it for $4000 and not $4495

~Mark

 

[Maniak]

OK, on cars.com they list that car for $4095, on their own site its $4495.

Hopefully this link from cars.com will work.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/emailToFriendRedirect.jsp?paId=336065130

~Mark

 

[toypaseo]

Linky no worky for me.

Here is the car on Craigslist...
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ctd/1616202414.html

 

[toypaseo]

You should look at this Corolla...
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1612299188.html

99 corolla with only 55,000 miles - auto transmission w over drive
dont ask me if it is still available - if you can see this posting - it is still for sale
no low ballers - will not sell it for half of the price
car runs and drives very good - no problems

 

[Paraphoe]

I bought the 2000. Got the guy down to $3400. Haven't seen any in this condition for that price. So I beat my original budget of $3500 by $100 and only went down 1 year (was originally looking at 01s) while still being in the basic mileage range I wanted. Car is in great condition, I test drove it twice, seems perfect. Full PA inspection, emissions, etc. The only catch is I need to write up a 30 day warranty for him to sign. He said he promised to fix anything if i had any issues and I told him I couldn't take his word and needed it in writing, so he told me to write it up and he would sign to it. 30 days, full coverage. I pick it up Tuesday after work.

 

[IZwack]

Hey nice car!!

 

[Paraphoe]

Thanks dude. I'm currently in the buyer's remorse/"Did I just get the wool pulled over my eyes?" phase, but hopefully it all works out. I'd say I'll post pics when I get it home, but I think there are enough in that craigslist ad to satisfy even the most picture hungry forumer.