When buying a used car in the USA...

[Caliga]

First a Jeep Liberty, then a PT Cruiser?   It's like Meri is trying to get the worst car imaginable.

[LaCroix]

as someone who knows nothing about cars, what's wrong with a PT cruiser?

[Caliga]

They're made by Chrysler, for one.  Also, they look stupid and, like the Liberty, have a bad reliability rep.  Also, IIRC they have low safety ratings.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Thought they were bought by ricers who couldn't afford a Honda.  Or the gangsta subtype.

[CountDeMoney]

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.

This is true;  the days of American planned obsolescence, low quality steel and other substandard practices are pretty much gone.  Unfortunately, nothing lends itself to generational brand loyalty than cars.  Granddad was a General Motors man, and that made Dad a General Motors man, etc.

With the exception of poor design (such as underpowered engines) I'm a firm believer that, if you take care of a car properly it will take care of you, regardless of make or price point.

[Ed Anger]

I like the Pontiac Aztek.

That is all.

[Scipio]

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.

That last problem's not a risk here.  UCC and MVTA FTW.

[lustindarkness]

2009 PT Cruiser

hope it was well taken care of.

[Barrister]

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.

That last problem's not a risk here.  UCC and MVTA FTW.

How is that not a risk?

You can do the responsible thing and get a search of the VIN, but because the VIN has been cloned the search comes back as clean.

[merithyn]

They're made by Chrysler, for one.  Also, they look stupid and, like the Liberty, have a bad reliability rep.  Also, IIRC they have low safety ratings.

hope it was well taken care of.

Edmunds Review - Reliability
Edmunds Review - Safety



Seem you guys have out-dated information. The 2009 is reliable and safe. I also have no problem with how they look.

[Grey Fox]

Please report on how fast it's falling apart/holding up.

Your the first person I know to buy a PT Cruiser.

[Admiral Yi]

2nd.  Brazen has one.

Meri, are you turning into Brazen's internet stalker fangirl?

[merithyn]

She does? Didn't know.

We bought it because it fit our criteria, not because we set out to buy one. It works, it's the right price, and it has the right amount of room. *shrugs* It's a car, for heaven's sake, not a child.

[Admiral Yi]

Are you thinking about dying your hair red? 

[Grey Fox]

2nd.  Brazen has one.

Meri, are you turning into Brazen's internet stalker fangirl?

Oh that's right! But often can she drive it in London? Plus you know, no real winter.