Hey there,
I'm looking to purchase my first car. I don't have much first hand experience inspecting cars. I want to get the best value for my money which I hear I can get buying from a private seller but I don't want to get stuck with a junker. I'm not sure what protection I have when buying privately. I've heard lemon laws protect you with dealerships.
Thank you for any advice you have! Also if you have any tips for where to look or what to ask, I would greatly appreciate them!
@novafoi
I also just got my first car and if your price range is around $10k i’d go to a dealership but anything less i’d use marketplace or craigslist.
@novafoi
Sometimes you get a good deal from a dealership, but buying private and having the car checked by the AA is normally best. However, it is as important to check out the seller as it is t
he car. My ideal seller is an aircraft engineer, either retired or with a wife and kids, living in a respectable neighbourhood, with tidy and tasteful garden and house. The garage must be neat, its driveway without weeds. If he looks after everything well, and has spare cash available, then he will be unable NOT to look after the car too.
@novafoi
Good advice, but I love buying from Gramma or Grampa for low mileage and normal pricing.
Dealerships will steal you blind. Most would rip off their own grandmothers to make a buck. Best protection if buying from a private seller is, as Scotty has said many times, have it checked out by a good mechanic BEFORE buying, not after.
First of all, you need to set realistic expectations with your budget. If you just have 3000 or 4000 to buy from a private person, then you need to check which options you can get.
Honestly by buying a Toyota or Honda you are actually diminishing the risk of buying a junker. However, realize that a 4000 dollar Honda or Toyota is not going to look pretty. Again, gotta be realistic.
Also, don't by car that is too new for really cheap (you will find lots of cruzes and avengers in that bracket).
And like always, get it checked by a real mechanic when buying it
Per Scotty
1. Buy private
2. Buy Toyota
3. Have a mechanic inspect it before you buy.
Find a good mechanic -first-... ask around, get opinions ... Once you know who's going to be working on your car if/when the need arises, then ask -them- to help you find a good first car. Part of that opinion will be your tech's level of knowledge and experience on something in particular, but that's what you want. As a pro, I would not steer you toward anything needing any more than tires, brakes and regular maintenance...
