When buying a used car in the USA...

[Ideologue]

Blue Book is just a guide and is going to vary a lot regionally.

If you think they're asking too much, shop around and look for comparables.  That'll be more helpful to you than pointing to blue book.



And hey, something to watch out for.  I have a file recently where people were stealing vehicles, getting a VIN number for a valid vehicle, then re-VINning the stolen vehicle with a new, cloned VIN.  I have a couple of innocent buyers who took out loans for their trucks, only to have the vehicle seized from them as stolen property and still be stuck paying the loan.

Their title is void, but seems like they should have some remedy in contract, though, right?  Like recission due to failure of consideration or mutual mistake as to the subject matter of the contract.  I don't see how they can still be on the hook for the loan.

[MadImmortalMan]

There's no option in the poll for "I expect to pay less than kbb". So I didn't vote. 

[mongers]

What's the mpg on these things ?

Crap on the Liberty (23 highway/15 city), but 28/23 on the Hyundai.

Funny historically I used to average about 35mpg (imperial) across a range of crap British and European cars.

[Caliga]

Jeep Liberty?

I've heard nothing but bad things about those.

[mongers]

Jeep Liberty?

I've heard nothing but bad things about those.

Yeah, reading some of the online reviews is hilarious; I've had my windows repaired 14 times and they still fall out.

[merithyn]

Good to know.

[Tonitrus]

Oh god, don't buy an old American car. Unless its like 1970's old or a pickup.

What are the details meri?

2006 Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4 w/ 50,500 miles

Asking $14,995; offering it for $13,165

Found a 2007 Hyundai Tuscon that I like better, anyway.

Just looking at the Carmax closest to you (Tinly Park, IL, if I am correct) has comparable Jeep Libertys for under $12k (with a bit more mileage though).  And that's at a no-haggle Carmax.


But I'd take their older Honda CR-V over Jeep/Chrysler junk.

[Grey Fox]

Oh god, don't buy an old American car. Unless its like 1970's old or a pickup.

What are the details meri?

Everything I've read about car quality states that in the last 15 years or so American makers have closed the quality gap and buyers are in effect paying an unwarranted premium for non-American brands.

15 years? for Ford maybe. GM is 6 to 8 years & Chrysler still isn't there.

I have a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, it has fabulous mpg. 28 in winter, around 40 in summer.

[merithyn]

Just looking at the Carmax closest to you (Tinly Park, IL, if I am correct) has comparable Jeep Libertys for under $12k (with a bit more mileage though).  And that's at a no-haggle Carmax.


But I'd take their older Honda CR-V over Jeep/Chrysler junk.

Tinley Park is about 2.5 hours north of us. It may be the closest Carmax, though.

We told them no on the Jeep. Going to look at the Hyundai on Wednesday.

[merithyn]

We haz new-ish car.

We ended up going with a 2009 PT Cruiser with 53,500 miles for ~$9500. That's below KBB and Edmond's value, and it's a nice, clean car. We also went to a different dealer, and I'm so glad we did. The sleaze factor was noticeably lower where we bought the car than the other place. Plus, the salesman gave me a dozen red roses for buying the car.

[Habbaku]

2009 PT Cruiser

[merithyn]

2009 PT Cruiser

Meh. It has enough room for the family, gets decent gas mileage, and was relatively cheap. You don't have to drive it, so I say meh to you.

[CountDeMoney]

2009 PT Cruiser

Meh. It has enough room for the family, gets decent gas mileage, and was relatively cheap. You don't have to drive it, so I say meh to you.

Then your image as a middle aged lesbian will be secure.

[PRC]

Hard to believe you bought a PT Loser.  Fail.

[LaCroix]

The sleaze factor was noticeably lower where we bought the car than the other place.

Plus, the salesman gave me a dozen red roses for buying the car.