Used car shopping.

15 years ago

The time has come to buy Alice a car. If I weren't planning to begin commuting to Napa this month several days a week, I would wait. We can easily share the car when I am working from home. But I will be gone one or two nights per week and she needs to get to school and the barn each day.

She is lusting for something to take her to the snow with friends. Is there any reason the link below is a bad idea? I will ask about the salvage title. I understand that isn't always a really BAD thing but I still don't know what it means entirely. We really need a "car" person to go with us... We have no fellas in our lives!

Here is a link that might be useful: CL listing

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Comments (13)

lindac
15 years ago
I'm not a "car person" but my son sure is....and I have bought a few cars on my own ( with his guidance!) and I would sure steer a long way away from any salvage title.
In some states, that's called "red title" and it means that the car has been wrecked and the damage was more than the value of the car, so the insurance company "totalled it"....meaning they gave the owner the value assuming the carw as worthless.
often someone will find a person to repair said car and it's drivable....but there for sure will be big resale issues and perhaps insurance issues....and maybe driveability issues.
For a "non car person" likely you can't see the telltale signs that a car has been wrecked.
I would avoid that like the plague!
Linda c
partst
15 years ago
My DH is in the car business and Linda is spot on about the salvage title. It means the car was totaled out buy the insurance company and the owner, or someone, bought it back from the insurance company. They may have fixed everything but it still could have a bent frame or something out of wack that is not visible.

We bought back a car that the insurance company totaled but DH knew that it was because the cost of parts to fix it was more than the car was worth. He being in the business had the guys at work check to see if the frame was Ok and with his discount on parts we had it fixed. Save us from buying a new car for a few years the car wasnÂt that old or that hurt. Plus there were insurance issues but I canÂt remember them all it was a long time ago. Check with your agent and see what they say.

Alice is much too precious to you to take a chance on putting her in a car that you are not 100% sure is safe.

Claudia
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loagiehoagie
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Linda and I don't always agree :-) but her advice is sage. Run, don't walk from a salvage title. The fact that the person put that in the listing tells me they are at least being honest about it, but there are too many vehicles (with great deals!) out there to buy a salvage vehicle. Also, Land Rovers are not known to be particularly reliable and parts and repair are expensive, not to mention that insurance would also be expensive. A nice safe 4x4 would be a Ford Explorer and believe me, a couple year old one with low miles is 'cheap-cheap-cheap'. They aren't the greatest on gas but insurance is very low (they are considered a station wagon, but don't tell Alice! The cool factor would be gone). Always make sure the vehicle has a Carfax report and if not pay to get one before putting down any money.

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Gina_W
15 years ago
Absolutely NOT a good car or a good buy in any way, as the previous wise folks said.

Is there a Carmax up there Eileen? I bought 2 cars from them with great results.

If not, get a "car person" to shop the ads for you and go with you to check out the car.

Also, steer clear of a car the shape of the Land Rover for Alice's first car. And no SUVs for teen in my opinion. They are tricky enough for adults, and trickier (more dangerous) for youngsters.

I would recommend a Subaru Outback for all-weather driving.
wizardnm
15 years ago
We are on the 2nd Subaru Outback here and also a Subaru Tribeca....both great here in the north country. So I'll second what Gina said.

I wish GM could make something as good as the Subaru....but I guess that's another subject. :)

Nancy
eandhl
15 years ago
I was just going to say any Subaru, AWD Toyota Matrix or AWD Pontiac Vibe. An AWD Volvo if you have someone that can go with you and service for one, same for VW Passat 4 motion.
teresa_nc7
15 years ago
Absolutely go for a Subaru, Outback or Legacy, I can't recommend them highly enough!
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
I would agree..about the Subaru for a kid.

Not a "cool" factor...but...will be safe and easy to handle.
loagiehoagie
15 years ago
Subaru's are great. Also look at Toyota Rav4 and Honda CRV and Honda Element. All great vehicles and decent gas mileage.

Duane
compumom
15 years ago
DD's first car was a two year old Explorer that she had for 6 years. It was a fantastic vehicle, not 4WD, but that was ok by me. BTW Do you know that 4WD cost more to insure and eat more fuel? At least here in CA the insurance is absolutely more. Check it out.
centralcacyclist
Original Author
15 years ago
The deed is done, almost. I committed to a different Land Rover. I left a deposit check to be replaced with a cashier's check on Monday after I check out the insurance details, etc.

Probably not the wisest purchase I'll ever make but Alice is over the moon. While not a perfect human being she is highly responsible and actually I consider a better, more focused driver than I am. I need to commute and be gone at least one night a week, she needs to get to school and to the barn to ride and potentially to a part time to buy her own gas. There is no bus service to the barn and what exists here is spotty. Her father no longer has a reliable car and isn't in a position to get one right now. Her friends with cars are flaky about rides.

She has driven SUVs belonging to friends. So is no stranger to the handling. The visibility is great. It has been well-maintained. And the tires are brand new.

Being able to keep her dream car, as she knows it is conditional, will motivate her to keep doing the right thing.

I will replace my vintage Volvo, which I love but is quite elderly, with a slightly less vintage Volvo in a few months. There seems to be a lot of them out there to choose from in my price range.

I told if I have a date (not likely!) I get to borrow her car!

Here is a link that might be useful: Da car.
sheshebop
15 years ago
Cool
lindac
15 years ago
Yep, the cool factor is definitly there.

Used car shopping.

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lindac

partst

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Used car shopping.

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