Anyone an expert ay buying used cars?

[FantWriter]

Within the next month or two, I'm probably going to replace my daily driver. It's been literally decades since I bought a used car, and I suspect the rules of the game have changed significantly.

I've been looking at car-sales sites and found some fairly interesting possibilities.

What bugs me is the listed prices. They're almost uniformly 25-33% higher than the Kelly/NADA/Edmond sites say the cars are worth. And that's before they tack on the $500 'processing fee.'

Is it typical to be able to talk them down that much? Is there a proven strategy?

Also, does the price shown on Kelly/NADA/Edmond include that ridiculous fee?

On another aspect -- I'll probably be buying one from another state. Do I pay sales tax there, where I live, or both (that seems outrageous, but it is the government . . . )?

I'm not worried about getting the car mechanically inspected. I'm a fair shade-tree mechanic, and I can easily research the typical problems for the models I'll be looking at -- as long as I can get the car up on a lift, I can probably spot anything important.

I'm dreading this because I'm not used to dealing with used car salesmen. When/where I grew up, it was easy to get 10% off the advertised price and impossible to get 11% off -- it was on new cars where you could connive your way to a steal.

 

[Elendil]

I was in the car business for a few years. Used cars are a crap shoot as no 2 are exactly the same.

Ignore KBB/NADA/Edmunds. They are primarily used by lenders to determine loan value. Remember, books don't write checks.

However, the one "book" that may be worth looking at is the Black Book. Black Book is updated weekly. The values listed are based upon what similar used cars for are selling for at auction, which is where dealers get a lot of their cars. You can get limited info from Black Book online and if you want to spend a few bucks you can get some more comprehensive info.

Used cars provide a much higher profit margin to dealers than new cars do. There is much more negotiating room on a used car. Dealers like to turn over their inventory. The longer a used car is on their lot the better deal you can negotiate.

As far as taxes, if you buy the car out of state you will pay the taxes in your home state (if applicable) at the time you register the car. The could be several hundred dollars depending on sale price, so be prepared.

 

[k702]

I'm also in the market for a used car. Been looking more at private owners than dealerships.. I've only owned one vehicle in my life, it was a work van, and I got tore such a wide new evacuation hole in doing it that I now have a real hate and distrust for car dealers and salesmen. I'm trying to figure out all the rules of buying from a private owner and doing it correctly but it's all so confusing, and finding the rules for the state I'm in (NV) just seems impossible. I may be doing something wrong or just not being smart enough, but I'm at a loss. I have a very small amount to spend but I can't keep getting around town and get a job worth anything while taking the bus.. Especially here.

 

[FantWriter]

Thanks!

I started sort-of looking a few weeks ago and bookmarked some that seem promising. I've noticed the ones I was most interested in have disappeared. I'm hoping that means that I've been spotting the bargains.

One dealership has a large selection which they claim is cars which they're going to send to auction. The implication is they're low-priced because they haven't gone through the normal inspections and cleaning before they're put on the lot. I suspect it's a scam because the prices are consistent with what everyone else (i.e. full retail price).

I'd be happy to pay sales tax here -- it's 3.5% higher in the state next door.

As I said, it's been a lot of years since I did this. I'll probably pay way too much and wind up with a junker.

 

[k702]

Thanks!

I started sort-of looking a few weeks ago and bookmarked some that seem promising. I've noticed the ones I was most interested in have disappeared. I'm hoping that means that I've been spotting the bargains.

One dealership has a large selection which they claim is cars which they're going to send to auction. The implication is they're low-priced because they haven't gone through the normal inspections and cleaning before they're put on the lot. I suspect it's a scam because the prices are consistent with what everyone else (i.e. full retail price).

I'd be happy to pay sales tax here -- it's 3.5% higher in the state next door.

As I said, it's been a lot of years since I did this. I'll probably pay way too much and wind up with a junker.

Lol that's exactly how I feel!

 

[Elendil]

If you have a specific vehicle in mind I could possibly give you some pricing guidance.

 

[FantWriter]

If you have a specific vehicle in mind I could possibly give you some pricing guidance.

Thanks for the offer.

What I want is a sporty little two-door with high ground clearance and room to haul 4x8 sheets of plywood. For dependability, the engine should be adopted from a truck line. It has to get great gas mileage. The ideal vehicle will be flashy enough to impress, and it should be nearly invisible at night when its lights are off. I'm leaning towards BMW or Jag, and repair parts have to be readily available and cheap.

Got anything to recommend?

Honestly, at this point, I have no idea what I'm going to get. I can see myself in a BMW 5 Series or a Chevy Blazer, a Jaguar X-Type or a Jeep Cherokee. I've even bookmarked an Isuzu, a Mitsubishi, and a Benz so I can see how fast they disappear or if their prices drop.

I'm not going to have the money for a few weeks, so right now I'm looking to see what's generally available for what I can spend. I'd hate to pin my hopes on something and then not be able to talk the salesman down to my price.

What I'd really hate, though, is to settle for one in my price range and later learn I passed on a great car because its advertised price seemed to put it out of reach.

I did find an interesting one that's listed as being on the lot for 187 days. I'm wondering what's so wrong with it that they didn't send it to an auction.