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Selecting and Buying My First Car

764 messages,  Last post on Aug 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM

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#235 of 764 kyfdx by millspd Mar 10, 2005 (9:11 pm)
good point about the monthly payment -- forgot that part.   We bought a 2004 for my wife and she is very happy with it. I don't quite fit comfortably in it, but that's ok since I rarely drive it.
#236 of 764 Re: Civic EX [kyfdx] by qbrozen Mar 11, 2005 (6:36 am)
Replying to: kyfdx (Mar 10, 2005 8:27 pm) actually, if $17K is the real OTD price (i haven't checked), then $300 a month should be easy with the $2K down that the poster has saved. Financing $15K over 60 mos. would fall right around that number (rule of thumb is $20/$1K financed over 5 years, right?). Obviously it depends on the purchaser's credit and achievable rate. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Mar 11, 2005 7:25 am)
#237 of 764 Re: Civic EX [qbrozen] by kyfdx HOST Mar 11, 2005 (7:25 am)
Replying to: qbrozen (Mar 11, 2005 6:36 am) True.. I wasn't taking into account a downpayment... I'm thinking $18K is closer to the out the door price..   When someone tells me they have $2K to put down on a car, I tend to want them to keep that money in the bank for other things... If you have $10K, different story..   I'd lease, if I were getting a new Civic, though.. Probably $220/mo. including tax.. with nothing down.   regards, kyfdx
#238 of 764 Re: My choice.. [cti] by kirstie_h HOST Mar 11, 2005 (7:48 am)
Replying to: cti (Mar 10, 2005 1:51 pm) I'll add a third shout to the Protege suggestion, especially if you plan to keep it for awhile. I found mine to be extremely reliable, and easy and relatively cheap to repair.
#239 of 764 P5 by ateixeira Mar 11, 2005 (8:11 am)
P5s are nice, and should be very affordable used. Mazda also had a longer warranty, 4/50 IIRC, so a 2 year old Mazda will have twice the remaining warranty of a Civic, and it'll cost less.   -juice
#240 of 764 Suggestion by jchan2 Mar 11, 2005 (8:43 am)
I guess you could try the Chevrolet Cobalt. It's safe (it passed the IIHS's side impact test a few days ago) and it seems to be reasonably priced. You could also try a Corolla, or a used Protege. The Elantra sounds good... You get a long warranty, a decent car and all the features you want.   If you're willing to go up a notch in size you could try a Ford Taurus.. Reliable and fairly inexpensive, although it is highly boring and finding one with a sunroof might be tough.
#241 of 764 Cobalt by cti Mar 11, 2005 (8:21 pm)
If I was interested in a compact sedan, I would have seriously considered a Cobalt (oddly not available IN cobalt blue).   I figured I should give GM a shot now that they finally have made a (apparently) high quality compact. The recent top scores in side crash test scores makes me hope even more that the Cobalt succeeds.   Of course, the Cobalt isn't available used - but (checking...) an LS with auto and side air bags as options has an MSRP of 16730.   The fact that it is even worth CONSIDERING alongside any other compact car is amazing and worthy of attention.   Jason
#242 of 764 Cobalt by jchan2 Mar 11, 2005 (8:52 pm)
I sat in one at the Nashville Auto Show a few weeks back and the fit and finish seemed to be pretty good for a GM car. Although today's review of the Cobalt in the Wall Street Journal said that it was an average sedan at best- not the best car but not necessarily the worst. I haven't driven a Cobalt yet and probably won't (I bought a new car recently) but it seems like a safe and dependable ride that has a price that isn't outrageously high. Not to mention its a GM car, which means GM may start piling on the incentives and make the Cobalt a real bargain...
#243 of 764 ahh.. that first car smell by jezebel Mar 26, 2005 (10:15 pm)
So, after long years of waiting and wanting, and rarely even having *access* to a car, I'm FINALLY buying my very first car at the age of 23. Since I'm graduating from a professional graduate program at university, I will (cross my fingers) be starting a decently-paying job, and will likely buy into the glitz and glamour of purchasing a brand new car.   Problem is: walking into a new car dealer, I can't help but feel like I'll instantly be labelled "sucker". I look younger than I am, I'm shy, and I'm female. I don't have a boyfriend to bring with me, and my parents don't normally negotiate when they buy a car (and when I'm with them, I defer to them, and act even less assertively than I do alone).   As a first-time buyer, are there specific things I can do to let the salesperson know I'm not naive, and can't be suckered into paying more? Should I make initial contact with salespeople over email (or even phone, though my voice may give me away), so that they're less likely to prejudge me? Should I come armed with a printed copy of the dealer price, to show I've done my research (or will that just make me look "book smart" but naive to the real world?)?f   Any advice is greatly appreciated. Replies to this message: bolivar (Mar 26, 2005 11:32 pm) kirstie_h (Mar 28, 2005 5:40 am) jlawrence01 (Mar 27, 2005 3:18 pm) bolivar (Mar 27, 2005 3:28 pm)
#244 of 764 Re: ahh.. that first car smell [jezebel] by bolivar Mar 26, 2005 (11:32 pm)
Replying to: jezebel (Mar 26, 2005 10:15 pm) HOST are you there? You should be able to give directions to specifics here at Edmunds for new buyers!!!!!!   You're on the right site. Look around on the home page, there should be some link to buyers info.   There is information on Edmunds True Market Value (TMV) amounts.   Look at cars on Sundays, if the lots are closed, with no salemen around to 'attack' you. Pick something that interests you, write all the info including options down, then research the 'invoice' valve, TMV, etc here on Edmunds. You then should have at least basic information to start speaking with human salesmen at the dealer. (Most people who think they are 'assertive' feel they can bargin and get even a better 'deal' than EDmunds TMV amounts.)   Read the Consumer Reports 'Annual' digest. (Any public library will definitely have this book.)Look at the car sections. It's tables of cars 'problems' is very usefull. It has sections on "Best Cars" and "Worse Cars". For general, overall guidance, Consumers is good. (In general, you can't go wrong buying a Honda or Toyota for reliability!!! Now these dealers can 'take you to the cleaners' the same as the oilest lot in town.)   When you buy, just buy the car. Most of the 'add-ons' the Finance Manager will attempt to sell you are useless and very overpriced. Sealers, undercoating, VIN etching, etc are to be avoided. You appear to be single, don't buy any credit life or other type insurance. (If you die, let the mortgage company take the car, what will you care?) Pre-shop a credit union and bank for the loan, finding out the interest rate you can obtain on a loan. If the dealership can beat this rate, then consider them for the loan.   Read the papers you will be signing carefully. CArefully check the amounts on the documents, especially if they are providing the loan. They might just be some 'extras' added into the deal that you didn't agree to. Never be a 'monthly payment' shopper, or you may get a small monthly payment, but for 84 months, at a high interest rate.   If you have no credit, you might need parents to cosign a loan. If they are horrible at 'dealing' as you said, do not include them in this part of the purchase. Only bring them in when they need to sign finance papers..... Replies to this message: kirstie_h (Mar 28, 2005 5:40 am)

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