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Best new or used vehicle for $30,000

64 messages,  Last post on Dec 10, 2006 at 6:26 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS


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#15 of 64
Re: 05 Accord EX V6 [jbp20] by qbrozen
Jan 05, 2006 (7:25 am)
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Replying to: jbp20 (Jan 05, 2006 5:42 am)

actually, that's TOO cheap. Meaning you better have this thing checked over carefully by a Honda dealer AND get a carfax on it. You sure its a V6? You sure it has leather? That's a $26k car new. Hondas do not typically depreciate 21% in the first year.
 
ah, ok, i knew this was familiar. Someone had something similar over on the Real-World Trade-In values board in the last couple of days. According to Terry, even an '04 is worth $20k.
rroyce10, "Real-World Trade-In Values" #29258, 2 Jan 2006 4:37 am
 
so, like i said, something might be up with this car. Have it checked over real carefully.
#16 of 64
Re: 05 Accord EX V6 [qbrozen] by jbp20
Jan 05, 2006 (7:58 am)
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jan 05, 2006 7:25 am)

Well that makes me feel good and bad at the same time.
But thank you for the response. Really.
I will of course get a Carfax.
I am relatively new to car buying, will having a Honda dealership take a look at it be a problem. Is that common?
#17 of 64
Re: 05 Accord EX V6 [jbp20] by sweep2002
Jan 05, 2006 (9:00 am)
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Replying to: jbp20 (Jan 05, 2006 7:58 am)

Sorry, don't have an answer to your question as I'm also new to car buying. But I have an addition to your question: I've always been told to get a used car looked at by an indep. mechanic and not the dealership - which is better?
#18 of 64
having your car checked out by qbrozen
Jan 06, 2006 (6:34 am)
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good questions.
 
here's the thing ... you need to be objective in the results they give you. What you want them to tell you is whether its been in an accident and if anything major is wrong.
 
If you go to a honda dealer, there is a chance they will nitpick and give you a laundry list of things that aren't necessarily a problem, but they think you should take care of ... then a salesperson may want to show you a nifty Accord they happen to have on the lot that they feel is in better condition. Of course, they are just trying to steal your business from whoever is trying to sell you this other accord.
 
As far as independent mechanics ... they aren't trying to get your purchase business ... but they may still have other motives. First, you are paying them for an inspection, so sometimes they fall under the spell of feeling they NEED to find things wrong to justify you paying them for this inspection. Second, they just may want to find some things wrong so that you'll buy the car and bring it to them to fix.
 
So, again, you are looking for answers to the major questions. Has it ever been hit and repaired? Are there any oil/tranny/brake/coolant leaks? Are the fluids indicative of a car that was taken care of and the maintenance performed properly and on time? What percentage of life is left on those tires and brakes? (and be cautious on this last one. my lincoln dealer is telling me i need new tires, but when pressed to tell me the life left, they say 40% .... yeah, i'll be replacing those ... in like 2 years.)
 
So, you want an inspection, but you want to be objective in how you interpret the results. Don't let them interpret them for you. Get the hard data and decide for yourself, because their "opinion" can be jaded.
 
For the question of dealer vs indy ... well, if you have a relationship with an indy you trust, there is nothing wrong with that. But given 2 unknown entities (1 dealer and 1 indy), I'd personally chose the dealer. Reason being, obviously, they are much more familiar with the cars they sell and service every day. An indy mechanic, in this case, may never have even seen a newest generation accord in his shop, so he/she might not have a frame of reference to answer some questions. "is this steering lose, or do all new accords feel this way?" "is that bend in the frame supposed to be right there? or is that on all new accords?" etc etc.
#19 of 64
Re: having your car checked out [qbrozen] by fredvh
Jan 06, 2006 (6:42 am)
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Replying to: qbrozen (Jan 06, 2006 6:34 am)

Great post gbrozen. It is a very difficult thing to do(buying a good used car). You just do not know how the vehicle was taken care of. It is no doubt true that a used vehicle that is 1-3 years old is a good buy because of the heavy depreciation that a new one takes in the first 3 years but finding one is not so easy.
#20 of 64
Re: having your car checked out [fredvh] by qbrozen
Jan 06, 2006 (7:35 am)
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Replying to: fredvh (Jan 06, 2006 6:42 am)

absolutely true.
 
one thing i should have mentioned. ALWAYS follow your gut. If a deal is too good to be true, then it is. If you drive a car and something doesn't "feel" right, then walk away. There are plenty of cars out there, you just have to be patient and find the right one.
#21 of 64
Re: .....at ... [ezshift5] by kyfdx HOST
Jan 06, 2006 (8:02 pm)
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Replying to: ezshift5 (Jan 02, 2006 3:46 pm)

Hey... shop around for that 330ci.. For $30K, you should be able to get an '03 with low miles and almost every option..
 
fedlawman.. Are you sure you weren't thinking of a 2001 M3 for $30K?
 
A $30K 1991 M3 would have to be the nicest one on the planet.... or do you have a particular one in mind?
 
regards,
kyfdx
Host-Prices Paid Forums
#22 of 64
For me... by kyfdx HOST
Jan 06, 2006 (8:04 pm)
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For $30K new.. I'd take a TSX, or a 2.0T Quattro A3 (oh right, you can't get Quattro in the 2.0T..duh).
 
2-seater? '03 Boxster or new S2000..
#23 of 64
Re: For me... [kyfdx] by jimmy81
Jan 06, 2006 (8:08 pm)
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Replying to: kyfdx (Jan 06, 2006 8:04 pm)

$30 for a TSX? Navi,right?
 
A non - navi 06 TL is selling for the low $31s.....
#24 of 64
Re: For me... [jimmy81] by kyfdx HOST
Jan 06, 2006 (8:11 pm)
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Replying to: jimmy81 (Jan 06, 2006 8:08 pm)

We have taxes where I live...
 
Plus... If I'm going over $30K, then that opens up a whole 'nother list...

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