This week Kristen is hosting a backwards WFMW – where I get advice from you!
I need your help. We’re buying a car. We don’t fit in our current vehicle and the AC is broken.
Our family trips look like this:
So we’re looking for a used van, for cash. And it is totally stressing me out.
Give me your hints and tips. We need all the help we can get!
We signed up for Autocheck, and I have unlimited reports for the next 29 days so I can check the title, mileage, whether it’s been recalled, etc.
But otherwise? I’m clueless. My husband is pretty handy, but he’s no mechanic. How much should it cost to have a mechanic do a once over on a car? We don’t have one we trust, so we’re flying blind there, too.
If we look up the Kelley Blue Book on it, is that the amount we should pay? Should we expect to pay more? Is it possible to pay less or is that a pipe dream?
We’re dealing with individual sellers and small pocket lot dealers, mainly, because our budget is small. I know we’re not going to get something perfect, and I’m okay with that. My main criteria are reliable, radio that gets AM, cold air conditioning, and at least 12 seat belts.
We *might* buy at auction. Have you ever bought a car at an auction? HOW do you do that?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Auctions are a slippery slope unless you are/have a mechanic with you. We bought from a friend and have been so thankful and pleased. I’d put the word out to friends and ask them to share with friends of friends. And, lots of prayer will yield a good situation, I believe, also. Best wishes with it. I hate buying autos, but have been so blessed by our last purchase (which was under KBB).
No auctions, no auctions, no auctions! Unless you can easily identify the trouble spots, I would not recommend any lay person try to buy a car this way.
For a van, I would try the car rental companies to see where they get rid of their former rentals. Also, you could check with dealerships to see if they have cash vehicles. That’s how I bought my wonderful, 14 year old Explorer. (Which we’ve grown out of, also…)
We have bought off craigslist for our last four vehicles and been pleased. We also got a car fro Carmax which was pleasant. I agree put the word out. We sold our old van at a mops meeting:) Someone at my table was looking to buy and we were looking to sell!
I was just looking at a page of good haggling with a dealership tips this morning:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/car5.htm
.-= Peggy´s last blog ..Prediction Twelve =-.