Hello.
I am going to see a 2004 Hyundai Elantra with 50,000 miles. I am not really excited about it because I wanted to drive a bigger, safer car, but I am choosing to look at it because it might be good enough for now. The seller wants $3,500 for it. I will see it today.
My mentality is that I need a car right now, so I will get something basic, then plan on selling it later and buying a car that I want to drive.
I think that price is bit high for me for that particular car. It may need a timing belt if it's never been changed, and I feel that things are going to be falling apart on it because of its age.
Happy to hear of your ideas.
If I am serious about it after I see it, I am going to get a mechanic to check it out before I buy it.
Thank you,
Clarification: How many years will you hold onto this vehicle if you got it? Also, how many miles will you put on? (Guess-estimate)
@DayWalker, thank you so much for your reply! I appreciate that you care.
I will keep it for the minimum amount of time that I can. A few months.
I will put about 80 miles a week on it, so 80 miles a week x 12 weeks is 960 miles, so that's about 1000 miles in three months.
The car was not in good condition. I got pressured to buy it. I declined it. The guidance from everyone was very helpful. Thank you.
Never get pressured into buying any used car. Well done & keep looking.
@InThrustWeTrust,
Thank you so much! Your reply means so much to me. I really appreciate that you took the time to support me. I will go back to my other thread, "Which used Toyota should I buy?", to continue the discussion of my car search. Time to put this car in the rear view mirror!
Just to vent, I will say what the experience was like:
I went to a used car dealership to look at a Sequoia that I saw on Craigslist. The cab driver who picked me up offered to help me check out the car, and I accepted. I felt that he took a long route to get there, but I can't say that with confidence because the route is inherently complicated. At the dealership, the owner suggested I look at a 1997 Nissan Sentra. I was impressed by the sound of the engine and the layout under the hood; there was no shuddering of parts. The cab driver scoffed at the car, saying that it was flood-damaged. And he intentionally tried to slam my fingers under the hood, saying he wanted to see if I had gotten any faster (I had crushed my pinky in his cab (a Caravan) holding on to the grab handle when he urged me to look at a Chrysler sports car we drove past). We moved on to the Sequoia. He bemoaned the interior condition, saying that it was disgusting, when it was only dusty. On the way home, he called his buddy and offered me a Sonata with 50K miles. The cab fare was $200, off the books. Two days later, we went to see the car, which was actually an Elantra. He took me to a local business, where we were met by a man in a suit and white tie smoking a cigarette, driving an older Mercedes SL500. After a few minutes the car seller appeared in the white Elantra. Several other men were also there, part of the old boys network. The cab driver took me for a test drive; I asked him to drive. He lauded the vehicle and praised every aspect of it.
The exterior condition was fair. No major dents, but rust was apparent at the base of the hood. Paint was aged. Tires were pretty new. Interior was stained (greasy mats and ground in dirt in the seats). Odor of smoke. AC blew at about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, yet the cab driver said it was cold. He demonstrated braking. Brakes worked but were sluggish. Car pitched with braking. Car veered to left, uphill towards the crown of the road, yet he said it went in a straight line. Shifting of the automatic transmission was sluggish and mushy. Acceleration was sluggish. When I declined the car, he was angry.
I was amazed at the experience. I feel like he was so psychologically committed to promoting the car that he was out of touch with reality.
Afterwards, he said he had done this for me, and was offended that I did not want to pay him for his time. It would have been reasonable to pay him something, but I felt I'd paid him enough the day before. He had pressured me into seeing the car. And had then misrepresented it. I felt I needed to set a boundary.
I needed to get that off my chest.
Thank you,
@etre2244
Test drive that vehicle and confirm that it has 50k original miles.
One of my good friends still has his and it's not fun working on that vehicle.
I know you said you need a car now but please find something else because Hyundai= Bad idea.
thank you, @kesterpaul62! appreciate your experience/knowledge/perspective/opinion.
Yes I feel that way, that the car would be like dying a death by a thousand cuts...
I'm being melodramatic, aren't I? lol.
My buddy bought a 2000 Camry with 143k miles in mint condition last year for less than that. You’re probably better off buying something like that because I’ve seen age alone kill Hyundais and Ford vehicles
music to my ears!! thank you, @Brandon.King101