Sunday Auto Market

6 Responses to “What should I consider when buying a used car?”

1. By Christop on Dec 10, 2008

   well you made up your mind. you have your budget. now consider the history of the car when you find it, was it maintained well, was it wreaked at any time. You should go on websites that show you the repair history of Mini’s and see what you are getting into or if the one you find has already dealt with these problems. Keep in mind that Mini’s are sold thru BMW dealers and any repairs or maintenance done there will not be cheap. Good Luck.

2. By jesparza39 on Dec 12, 2008

   Look for the Vin number and have someone you know who is savvy about autos

3. By flydog_38 on Dec 13, 2008

   First, demand a CarFax on the vehicle. That will tell you if it’s been in an accident or had any major mechanical repairs by a dealer. Next, either get or borrow a NADA book. That will give you the loan and retail values of the particular car. Start negotiating with the loan value because that’s what the dealer paid for it.

4. By Lydia on Dec 16, 2008

   Get yourself educated first. Check for recalls -

   Check the vehicle accident history through the VIN number -
   Use this to help you figure out what the used price ‘should be’ -
   Check reviews -
   – general info -
   Check info from Phil Edmonston’s guides – and consumer reports, too -

5. By Josh on Dec 17, 2008

   I agree with all of the above but wanted to add that you can look up the nada and blue book values online at kbb.com and nada.com Find the car or cars that you may be interested in and take note of their mileage, engine size and options such as cd player, spoiler, wheels and so on. When you go to these websites it will ask you for this information to be able to give you the best estimate of value. Good luck!

6. By Slick Willy on Dec 17, 2008

   Flydog,

   Dealers pay trade in value, that is same as wholesale value. Where do you get your info on loan value? I guess my 24 years in the business out ways your NO experiance.