Buying a Used Vehicle

[RobbyZ5001]

I am in the market for a used vehicle. This would be my first vehicle in my name. I am looking to buy an SUV and I am leaning toward the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with the 8 cyl. I am looking for some tips on what to look for in a used vehicle, what to watch out for, bargaining tips, and etc.

This is the vehicle on my radar right now.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=273696005&dealer_id=1359953&car_year=2006&rdm=1265038191694&lastStartYear=1981&num_records=25&model=JEEPGRAND&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=2006&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&certified=&body_code=16&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&first_record=151&make=JEEP&color=&keywords_display=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=SUV&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&seller_type=b&position=top&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=mileageASC&address=18071&advanced=y&end_year=2010&pager.offset=150&transmission=&doors=&max_price=&cardist=139&standard=false

[CFFF 1.5]

See if your school library has Consumer Reports and find the yearly vehicle guide and check their ratings for reliability and price.

[RobbyZ5001]

See if your school library has Consumer Reports and find the yearly vehicle guide and check their ratings for reliability and price.

In my opinion consumer reports are not accurate. When I worked for Circuit City people came in with consumer reports and wanted specific computers all the time. Some of the computers that were ranked high were a POS. I used to look at the reports, but after that experience I just don't know. The vehicle reports may also be different and more reliable.

[Boogey Man]

Here's a couple of good sites to research.

http://www.kbb.com/

http://www.edmunds.com/search/?tid=edmunds.g.home.regheader.search.2.*

[firefightn15]

The last 2 cars I bought were after I googled the specific models/years and found absolutely every good and bad review I could.  The one thing I needed to sort through was the minor stuff that people sometimes nit pick on.  When coming to negative reviews, stay open minded to the cosmetic complaints and be more concerned with suspension, engine and electrical issues that reviewers address.  When looking for used it's going to be hard to find exactly what you want, but if you don't expect the world out of a used vehicle and concentrate on it's track record for mileage and durability, you'll do good.  Use search words like problems, likes, dislikes, issues and reviews.  You'll find tons.

Good luck!

[CFFF 1.5]

I have always used consumer reports for certain things and although they aren't always right the rating I believe come from users.

You have to remember that when buying a used car even if you buy one with a great reliability rating you could still get junk. I have had some pretty good success with buying used vehicles in the past. Do your research and take the advice of other in to account but always get a vehicle checked out by a local mechanic.

[firefightn15]

Just looked at your Jeep, wow the mileage isn't bad!

[RobbyZ5001]

I feel like that is an awesome price. Brand new I think they were around 30k. For a 2006 with 27k miles and $16k it seems like a deal. When buying a used with like 30k miles what could possibly be wrong with it? Why would they trade it in at 30k miles?

[zero limit]

I feel like that is an awesome price. Brand new I think they were around 30k. For a 2006 with 27k miles and $16k it seems like a deal. When buying a used with like 30k miles what could possibly be wrong with it? Why would they trade it in at 30k miles?

I had my ford e250s trans go at 35.000miles, ball joints at 60.000, i had bought the extended warranty6/100.00

which covered it.

so look in to extended warranties especially if your buying a 4x4

[bowfish12]

The first two that come to my mind for the low miles are it could have been a lease vehicle and it could have been repossessed and bought at auction.

I would also get the car fax report for the vehicle before buying.

[flyhatch]

I worked for chrysler for the last 13 years as a sales person, up until the dealer that I worked for had his franchise pulled after almost 30 years of service to the area.

anyway those are good buggys, It was probaly a lease or rental. dont let the rental thing bother you. but keep in mind its now 2010.

2011 buggys are out now so its like 5 years old and may be out of bumper to bumper warranty and the year may limit the time you can finance it for. (if needed)

Also, they had a awd transfer case option available which chugs fumes. it was awd all the time. other than that I sold lots of those and drove them as a demo many times. I had lots of happy customers who bought them.

[farmpond1]

When buying a used with like 30k miles what could possibly be wrong with it?

Er...If you don't mind my saying-possibly about everything.  Before you purchase it, have it inspected.

[D4u2s0t]

go to true delta and look up the car.  This is a great site, worth the time to sign up and see the results.  Basically people sign up, list their car, and monthly or weekly they go back to the site, update their mileage, any problems that have occured, and for the problems, what the cost of repair is.  So, you get real data, from real people, not just a compiled list of results that may or may not be accurate.  Most of the cars with the most info are going to be what enthusiasts own, but worth taking a look to find out.

[D4u2s0t]

http://www.truedelta.com/repair_histories.php#8

they also have real world gas mileage, reported by people that own the car,  and some other cool things that other sites don't have.

[Grey Wolf]

I feel like that is an awesome price. Brand new I think they were around 30k. For a 2006 with 27k miles and $16k it seems like a deal. When buying a used with like 30k miles what could possibly be wrong with it? Why would they trade it in at 30k miles?

V8= POOR GAS MILEAGE + THIN WALLET.

[Fishing Doug]

I feel like that is an awesome price. Brand new I think they were around 30k. For a 2006 with 27k miles and $16k it seems like a deal. When buying a used with like 30k miles what could possibly be wrong with it? Why would they trade it in at 30k miles?

Just about anything. We had one for a while and it was the biggest POS ever...and it was brand new.

[skunked_again]

The first two that come to my mind for the low miles are it could have been a lease vehicle and it could have been repossessed and bought at auction.

I would also get the car fax report for the vehicle before buying.

car fax reports have never helped me. most of the time i thought they were a waste.

[Grey Wolf]

The first two that come to my mind for the low miles are it could have been a lease vehicle and it could have been repossessed and bought at auction.

I would also get the car fax report for the vehicle before buying.

car fax reports have never helped me. most of the time i thought they were a waste.

Why do you think a car-fax is a waste ?

[D4u2s0t]

The first two that come to my mind for the low miles are it could have been a lease vehicle and it could have been repossessed and bought at auction.

I would also get the car fax report for the vehicle before buying.

car fax reports have never helped me. most of the time i thought they were a waste.

Why do you think a car-fax is a waste ?

car fax is only good if someone take their car in for regular servicing and/or reports all their accidents... suppose I crash my car, and I own a repair shop.  (not the case, just making an example)  I fix the car.  It could have substantial damage as a result of that accident, even though it's fixed.  The car has not been reported as in an accident.  I've bought cars with a clean carfax that needed work the day I brought them home.  People that know how a carfax report works know the ways aroun it, which they'll do if they're shady people.  Personally, I don't trust anyone else to be honest enough, I would have the car checked out myself.

[shootermcbob]

Learn about the "game". Car salesmen typically want to sequester you to a room and break you down mentally with back and forth, number exchanges, etc. I have known people who have spent 11 hours buying a vehicle. Find the kelly blue book price, the Nada price, and go in and make them an offer that YOU can live with. If they don't accept it, keep looking until you find the deal you want. I regularly buy vehicles for 4 or 5 thousand dollars below dealer asking price. It has been  as much as 7 thousand.

That is usually 2 to 3 thousand below NADA as well. It is your money, spend it wisely.

Good Luck.

[SirSnookalot]

I wouldn't buy a used car, but if did it not be from a private owner, unless it had 10k miles or less and was the deal of a lifetime.  That's definitely buyer beware with no recourse at all.

[Sam]

Robby, go to your local public library and look at Consumers Reports information on used cars.

Very helpful when deciding on a used car and it may save you lots of money in repairs. 

[dave]

I feel like that is an awesome price. Brand new I think they were around 30k. For a 2006 with 27k miles and $16k it seems like a deal. When buying a used with like 30k miles what could possibly be wrong with it? Why would they trade it in at 30k miles?

V8= POOR GAS MILEAGE + THIN WALLET.

I shopped for a used truck last fall. Ended up with a 2007 F150 4.6L V8. I was shocked after doing A LOT of research, at how little difference the fuel mileage between V6 and V8 models of various truck was. V6 Ranger for example had a combined EPA estimate of around 20 MPG. The V8 in the F150, 17 MPG. One truck I barely fit with one other person, to one that I can fit my family of six in better than our Crown Vic. I chose the size over a couple of MPG.

[done]

Another thing I tend to do is hit the forums at edmunds.com. Specifically the forums for that vehicle. I look for issues folks are posting. Basically for repeated patterns.

For example you hit the boards on Trailblazers, you would see a TON of issues with the left brake light a chunk of folks with tranny problems, rusted rotors up north, etc.

I will look for those and miles, and if available geographic areas folks report them on just to gauge what I am likely to have to deal with.

But i do not *** you. I loathe car salesmen. a good, honest one is worth his weight in gold but I have run into too many sleazy, backstabbing, no good ones who try every trick in the book to get you to buy from them.

[GTrombly]

check the place your buying at and see if they have on line specials. i went and looked at an expedition and he told me it was 14k. went home and showed it to my wife online and they had it listed at 11. called them up and they dropped it to 9. i was going to get an explorer but i saw that they get the same mileage as the expedition. it will be much easier towing the boat with the 5.4L v8