Buying a Used Car -ETCG1
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Visit me at: www.ericthecarg...
Over the years I've bought many used cars. I've also done more used car inspections than I can count. From those experiences I've decided to make this video outlining some of the things I've learned in that time. I've seen a lot of mistakes and also some successes purchasing used cars. Probably the greatest take away here is to have the vehicle checked out BEFORE you make the purchase and be realistic about your budget and expectations. I think the video covers the rest of how I feel about purchasing a used car so stop reading and start watching. :)
Here's some of the useful links I mentioned.
Used car inspection series.
Part1: • Buying A Used Car Part...
Part 2: • Buying A Used Car Part...
Part 3: • Buying A Used Car Part...
Part 4: • Buying A Used Car Part...
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When Personal Problems Become Mechanical Problems: • When Personal Problems...
Discussion about this video: www.ericthecar...
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ETCG1
Man the internet is damn lucky to have blokes like you.
All the used cars I've ever bought had concealed defects that didn't come to light until I had the vehicle for some months. But all were dramatically more economical than a new car.
One issue we have in Canada is the extra 5%+ taxation that buyers pay when they buy a used vehicle from a lot, as compared to a private sale.
Lastly, don't forget to find ALL the VIN's and run a car fax. A friend bought a stolen Lexus from a professional lot, and he eventually lost the car and his cash.
I bought 2002 Daewoo Leganza for $600.00. It was a project between my dad and I, and my first car! we put maybe about 24-40 man hours in to it, but it took almost 90 calendar days (him and I are quite busy). Was a wonderful little car for the three months it lived. We never dropped the oil pan and looked at the oil pick up. The engine was starving for oil, would throw a low oil pressure light but maintained good OP. Ended up blowing a con rod. Learned a lot though.
Eric, This is a great video. I'd like to add some points:
1- Insurance: when looking for a used car, do some quotes and see what's gonna happen with insurance.
2- some issues can't be picked immediately. For example, when starting a car (gas-engine) and having a quick knocking noise similar to diesel engines, this indicates a lube system issue coming soon. watch for it with beaten up nissans with 3.5L V6.
3-the edges of the rims will say a lot about how careful the driver is.
4-pray, just pray
Don't forget the insurance cost. Insurance on something like a BMW SUV vs a 2005 Grand Marquis is $250 a month vs $38 a month. Virtually every used car that I buy come from a death of the owner. I buy Town Cars and Grand Marquis cars and I've had virtually no problems. Great video.
Certified preloved warranties on most cars are extremely generous and mostly go to 100,000 miles. My family got a 2008 Grand Marquis, garage queen, 1 owner, in 2014 with 3,200 miles on it for $6,000 cash when the owner went into a nursing home and the daughter sold it. My 95 Town Car was bought when the owner died. I put 200,000 miles on it with just a few hundred dollars in repairs. Not all used cars are bad, but I'd say a huge difference exist between a 2005 Grand Marquis garage queen, with the name on the title being Ethel, 1 owner, 113,000, traded in at the new Lincoln store, vs a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 auto with 113,000 miles, 4 owners and the last owner named Zane who only owned it for 3 months and it was bought at auction by joe blow car lot. Also on cars with over 100,000 miles, if all 4 tires match, if the owners booklets are still in the glove box, and especially if they have a dealer installed battery in it, then that's always a good sign.
I own an 03 and 06 Grand Marquis as well as an 01 Town Car. Love them. Reliable. All from old people too.
In my opinion, if you are determined to "purchase beyond your means", the best thing you can do is buy a new vehicle. You at least can have the peace of mind of knowing that any major repairs (which is less likely anyways) will be covered by the factory. A used car is that beyond your budget is the worst idea of all.
Driving a 1994 Toyota Corolla, have been for almost 9 years. Excellent car, didn't let me down once so far. About 200 k (KM) on it now because the past years I didn't have to drive that far daily. Only had to replace the usual parts like battery, 2 shock absorbers, brake pads and a front spring and of course tires. It gets the normal maintenance, new oil and filters and stuff like that every once in a while and it just keeps running. It passes each annual inspection without problems. Not bad for an almost 22 y/o car.
This may sound nuts, but anytime I spend more than $1,000 on a used car, it ends up being a disappointment or nothing but problems. 4 years ago I bought an 89 Chevy K1500 for $350 knowing it needed a clutch and a few other things. I made those repairs, and it has turned out to be one of the best trucks I've owned.
As stated in the video I did an entire series on inspecting a used car that I believe answers to your request. There are links in the description of this video.
I paid $300 for my 99 Volvo S70 and it had one owner. Only thing wrong with it was a leaking rack and pinion which cost me $575 to repair. It still runs great to this day! Almost had it for a year.
Here's my tip. If you're in your 20's, don't buy a forty year old muscle car because it looks and sounds awesome. By the time your ownership ceases with that vehicle, you'd have spent the equivalent of a new car.
That's what I did.
Eric something I would recommend when looking for a used vehicle is to search for a "fleet" car. I bought a truck from a fleet that had detailed service records for thousands less than the same truck at nearby dealerships. If you dont care about bells and whistles a fleet vehicle is a great option.
+Chris Rinehart most of my dads cars that he has brought have been ex fleet.
Chris Rinehart I bought a 2009 HHR 7 years ago. It was a rental car. I bought it because it didn't have onstar and all that other useless crap. Starts every day and gets me where I need to go.
You are absolutely right Eric about buying a used cars: don't buy a used car that's beyond your means. Example: if you are on a limited budget, don't buy a used luxury car, especially a European car because of the price of maintenance.
I usually see a lot of Subarus in the ditch in the beginning of winter, apparently they think AWD means they can take that curve at 70MPH all year long... lol
2000 is a pretty magic number I guess... I was given a free car once and it took about $2000 in repairs to get it on the road. Better than no car which is what I had before lol
+Krankie V I just bought a almost perfect 2002 Tahoe 5.3 ltr for $2000, it is magic. (tomorrow it blows up)
In 1992 I bought a 1976 Plymouth Scamp with a slant 6 at a cop auction for $360.
I put new hoses, ball joints and (used) tires on that thing, then drove it for almost 20 years without any problems at all. Not one.
I was rear ended by a pickup, and the only thing damaged was the rubber strip on the bumper. The pickup cost over 4K to repair.
I'd probably still be driving it, if it hadn't been T Boned in my work parking lot.
I used to go to the wrecker to get misc parts for other cars that I was working on for people, and I'd always have a look at other cars with the slant 6. No matter how stripped the car, that old 6 would still be there. I think that the reason that engine stopped getting made was because it never died!
I had one that wouldn't die. You couldn't kill the Torqueflite either. Unfortunately neither the Germans nor the Italians kept the good engineering going. MoPars are crap today.
Lots of good advice. I was a mechanic for 14 year. And i have bought many used cars. But ive looked most over myself so i knew for the most part what i was buying. So i had no major issues. There ar things that will go bad coincidentally after you buy it. A switch or a sensor of some sort, or even a battery, some things you just cant predict .
One thing we mechanics take advantage of is that we learn most vehicals common issues. So if we go to buy a used S-10 pickup/Blazer we know to look at lower ball joints and such. But for the non mechanics, if you have a make and model you are looking to buy. Go to a forum or just look up on the Internet the vehical and if you look you may find common issues you may need to look for on that particular vehicle.
great advice, thank you
I was screwed over by a 2000 S10 Xtreme because I thought it looked awesome and just plain fell in love with it and thus became oblivious to any issues it could possibly have. 6 months later I was replacing the rear end, AC System, every belt, pully, and joint on the truck, and found out there was a bondo'd hole in the rear quarter panel.
Needless to say I sold that and took those lessons and experience to buy my Blazer from an old couple. 25k and a year later and its going strong!
Thanks for you video! A friend told me to buy used vehicles based on your gutt meaning he told me to pay more attention to who is selling than what is being sold. For the last 15 years it his advice has never failed me. All my used vehicles met my expectations. Thanks again for putting out those videos.
I've bought 3 S10's in the last 6 years or so, a '89, '00 and now a '99. All four bangers. I keep the #4 piston and snapped connecting rod of cylinder #4 of the '89 to remind me of how often people have told the S10 Iron Duke is indestructible. The '00 blew a head gasket recently resulting in total engine wipe out. That was a vehicle I thought I had taken extra good care of. Having lost faith in the S10, I don't expect my '99 to last very long (although it is a good example of "pride of ownership") and this time I'll unload it before it bails on me. Two observations I'll make:
First, if you want your vehicle to last, you must (read MUST) repair all leaks of fluid from your engine, cooling system and transmission. An oily engine, transmission or drive train is speaking to you and it is saying, "I'm dying on you!". Problem is, it can be costly to replace gaskets and seals and difficult for the DIY'er. I will not buy a used vehicle again that shows evidence of oil or cooling leaks. If I know a vehicle has over heated or been run low on oil or coolant, it's out. That narrows down the field a lot, unfortunately.
Second, I feel that the price of used vehicles has either gone up or remained constant while the mileage of vehicles in the used market is way up. I was shocked. I know used car prices vary with geographic locations, but this is the overall trend I see.
S10s are awesome trucks
+Lefty Arbuckle , my dad always said that once you overheat an engine, then it is never the same afterwards and is more likely than not to blow a head gasket at some point in the future. Problem is that it can be nearly impossible to determine if an engine has been overheated when looking at used cars. You can look at the oil filler cap and the dipstick and catch subtle signs, but what if the seller is savvy and cleans these items with Gumout? Buyer beware!!!
>Second, I feel that the price of used vehicles has either gone up or remained constant while the mileage of vehicles in the used market is way up. I was shocked. I know used car prices vary with geographic locations, but this is the overall trend I see.
'Cash for Clunkers' screwed up the used car market. So many good used cars were taken off the market that it drove up prices for the remaining used cars that didn't get removed from the market. Supply and demand.
Getting the car inspected is the best advice anyone could give!!!
Excellent point! If you only ask one question, that's the one! Most people know this. This happened to me once when someone came to see a car I had for sale. I am a used car dealer. When they asked why I was getting rid of the vehicle, I responded in the least my least condescending tone "I am selling it because that is how I make a living." The customer was so used to asking that question, they obviously blurted it out of habit. Just didn't want to laugh at the embarrassed look on their face.
Thanks for the suggestion but that would be more work than I can handle right now. Perhaps if I was able to hire someone to edit them for me I might.
In '99, my aunt bought a '97 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with 24,000 miles on it. Over the years it has worked it's way through the family and ended up being my first car. I got it with 202,000 miles on it, running strong. I've had it for a little over two years and have only done routine maintenance except for the front struts at 232,000 miles, which were original to the car. I love my car. So glad it's a '97, not a '98.
Great tips Eric!
I ALWAYS buy/sell on Craigslist. I only went shopping at the stealership once and after that experience I never want to deal with dealers ever again. Dealers are trained to get the most money out of you that they can. Private owners just want to get rid of their car for whatever reason like Eric mentioned.
There are benefits buying a certified pre-owned car like Eric said for sure, I just don't like dealing with the people.
My experience is that if I buy a car that I really like, go by the "feel" etc. etc. it turns out to be complete junk no matter how well I think I've checked it before purchase. Then if I buy just some car without caring much and I don't even like the color, it works fine. Almost feels like some higher power doesn't want me to enjoy my car, lol.
YoStu
very funny but so true ! 😀
The awesome intro of this show has led me to watch three full episodes this morning. The content is also fantastic, as always. You're the man, Eric!
Bought my first car back in '06, a 1991 corolla for 430 then paid 500 to fix the gas leak, after that the car ran like a champ. If I had to do it over again I would have spent a 1000 bucks on a different car.
Fantastic Video Eric! Keep up the good work!
I love used cars. I paid $950 for a 1997 Lincoln Town Car two years ago. It was in poor shape, but it was a running set of wheels at the time. It needed the front suspension rebuilt, an oil pan, it desperately needed tires and both catalytic converters. By the time I got everything done that it needed I had a total of $2800 invested, but it has served me well over the past 2 years. It starts up every day, gets ok fuel economy despite the 4.6 V8 and does well in the snow.
Bought a 1998 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 with 186,000 miles on it 3 years ago off of Craigslist for $3300. It was clean and rust free and ran beautifully. Still have it today and plan on keeping it forever. Granted, I've spent hundreds performing maintenance, and in fuel (18 mpg average) but that Jeep has never let me down. We also have a 2000 Cherokee with 227,000 miles, and my 1998 now has 208,000.
Used car are better than new because:
1.You not need need bank loan to buy them
2. Don't loose value like new ones
3. You can work on without worry .
4. No fear for scratches on parking lot
5. For same price lot different cars for chose
6. Can buy car that was your fantasy years ago
7. Have more fun ,and dirty hands....
8. Learn about fixing it ,and watch ETCG ;)
Well aside from all those problems, I'll like to thank you for your time and effort for these videos. They are great and very helpful to those who aren't or are in the automotive field. Thank you.
I have 2 used car experiences. first was a 1976 Olds cutlass cruiser with the towing package (big block 455/cooled trans/posi rear end) that had sat in a field for 20 years. guy who I bought it from put new brakes, a fuel pump, and a distributor, and that car was absolutely indestructible, it was powerful, and faster than some entry level performance cars. best $1500 ever.
my second used car was a 1968 olds delta 88 that I payed $2k for. it needed brake work, a carb, and had a few issues that needed to be addressed, but had fresh paint, fresh interior, and was overall a solid car. I put $500 into the motor (cam+roller rockers, intake/carb) and am upgrading the front brakes to discs. other than the gas mileage, its a great DD, has that classic big-car "king of the road" feel with AC, power locks/windows, and a stupid amount of torque.
Bought and still drive a used 97 Malibu for $2200 bucks. I would say the thing was slightly rough. Broken arm rest, dented front fender, steel wheels up front instead of the stock aluminum ones like the back, actually had one aluminum rim, no tire, in the trunk with the arm rest. Speedo wasn't working and a check engine light. Picked up a fender at the bone yard, fixed the armrest, local tire shop had a matching rim, slapped the dash to get the speedo working, fixed the egr clog for the engine light and did a tune up (plugs, wires and etc) Thing runs like a champ. Fearful that it would be a money pit, but hasn't. Did splurge on a full set of tires, but for a medium size sedan on 15" rims it wasn't too much. Only niggle I haven't tried to fix is the in accurate fuel gauge, but I can live with that. Car looks better than some 03 models putting around.
I bought a base model, 1999 Toyota Camry CE with 40,000 miles on it from the local Toyota dealer 15 years ago. Because it has no fancy extras, the up, keep has been nearly non-existent for them. The car had been shipped to Nebraska from its prior home in Arizona. So, there was zero rust. There was only one minor dent on the left rear door. I'm still enjoying this car and very happy with its reliability and very low cost of ownership. I can honestly say this has been the best car I've ever owned.
All good points Eric, most of which I failed to consider when I bought my car two years ago. That being said, despite the initial issues and the surprising maintenance costs, I still love the car.
We also only buy Used. I'd add checking the fluids. I bought my wife a civic that had a bad seals in the power steering rack. The seller had just put in fluid before we got there, I checked over the car, took it for a test drive, and then parked. My Father-in-Law (Himself a mechanic) told me to throw a big piece of cardboard under the car afterwords. Half an hour later (While I was inspecting the Misc stuff inside the car) there was a puddle on the cardboard. Useful tip!
both a used 03 325i with my own money,first car. straight six with a five speed. To keep repair bills down I do the work myself. Had it for almost a year and the only things I had to do was the thermostat and oil change. Both myself, a shop wanted $300 for the thermostat but I did it for $50. Thanks Eric for getting me into working on my car myself if it wasn't for your videos I probably wouldn't have both the car because of maintenance bills.
Almost felt like you were talking to me directly in this video. My first car was a Honda civic(excellent car), then I moved up to a truck then SUV... boy was that a mistake, the amount I spent on repairs as well as fuel was huge. I am now back to driving a Honda. At least I know I can depend on the Honda vs my SUV and get much better fuel mileage. Keep up the great work, and thanks for all the videos.
I agree about certified used. bought a 2004 Civic with 100,000 miles on it, as-is for only $2500 Canadian. I've spent another $2000 to get it fixed up
In October of 2011 my Dad bought my first car, a 2002 Civic LX 5 Speed for 4500 with about 122k miles on it. Right now it has about 135k with almost no issues, and no other maintenance besides oil and the rear brake drums. I drive it every day, and round trip to college 50 miles and it's never given me an issue. Definitely a good experience!
Here is a scrary story regarding my experience buying a certified used vehicle. I actually to begin with was looking for a leftover 2012 VW Golf TDI, but with the initial cost I couldnt swing the investment. So my wife had actually come with and saw a certified used 2008 VW Passat. The car was loaded to the gills, had the upgraded 18 inch performance wheel package on it, leather, sat nav, sunroof ,etc. Well to begin with I have never been a big fan of VW in general based in part to what Eric had mentioned in his vehicle about the cost of repair and also cost of parts as well. The only reason why I was even considering VW at the time was because of the interest in having a diesel vehicle for gas mileage and longevity. Well needless to say we drive the vehicle, things seem great with it. Car had roughly 32,000 miles on it I believe and it was a lease vehicle that had come back. Dealership gave us a carfax on the vehicle and found out the vehicle had been in a passenger side front end accident. Supposedly there was no frame damage, just body and that it had all been repaired at a VW dealership with a body shop and had been cleared by VW. At this point I should have walked out of the dealership and just looked at other options but I didnt. Needless to say we bought the vehicle, I believe 16,000 out the door if I remember correctly. Mind you the vehicle was 3 or 4 years old at the time of us purchasing the vehicle so the miles on the car were low all things considered. Oh anything I forgot to mention was the fact that I had asked both the sales and service department on the certification inspection paperwork and also a list of all services and replacement parts done to the vehicle by the dealership. Never received any paperwork. Well start driving the vehicle. Things are great for awhile. About 6 months into owning the vehicle I find out the rear brakes need to be replaced. Go back to the dealership and find out they never replaced the rear brakes and rotors because they barely were within the tolerances specified by VW for certified used and figured they would just dump that off onto the customer... It wasnt all that big of a deal for me, having changed brakes before I figured I would just do it myself.... Wrong again, come to find out you need to plug a scan tool into the vehicle just to release the brakes just to do the job. So was quoted I think like 350-400 just to do rear brakes... On top of all of that the low profile high performance tires on the Passat had started scaling and were making a ton of road noise at any speed above 30mph. Come to find out again as Eric had pointed out, the dealership had put on brand new Non brand name tires onto the vehicle ( Goodride tire brand, chinese tires) that were cheap unreliable replacements just to reduce the money invested into the car. Now I realized like everyone has pointed out on here about Dealerships, I realize that they are in business to make money, to pay their employees, and to stay in business, but its amazing how0 some dealerships out there actually operate. So anyways 10 months into ownership and I was looking at having to drop over 2000 to replace tires and rear brakes, none of which the dealership was willing to step up to the plate and help with... Ended up getting rid of the vehicle a year into ownership. I did take the vehicle back to the same dealership we bought it from. In a years time, we bought the vehicle for roughly 16,000 and 32,000 miles on it. When we got a trade in quote we were offered less than 10,000 for the same exact vehicle with just over 50,000 on it and at the time 4 years old. We eventually got a realistic trade in from a different dealership, but since then I have never been a believer in Certified Used and honestly think its just another way for dealerships to claim a vehicle is worth more money that it truly is. I have stuck to the idea of only buying used cars now for 10,000 or less. My wife just bought a used 2008 Suzuki Forenza with 57,000 miles on it last year. Vehicle still today has a powertrain warranty on it until May of next year and has already been in the dealership for warranty work which would have cost of a big chunk of money had it not been for the manufacturers warranty. As Eric had mentioned people need to get back to the idea of what is the real purpose of a vehicle and not get something outside of their means. I have learned my lesson and will never make those mistakes again. Great video Eric.
The clerk at the courthouse bought a "certified" used Toyota. After the purchase, she took it to her mechanic and found a laundry list of things that were wrong with it. She took it back but they refused to give her money back. The DA at the courthouse sent a letter to the dealership who then gave her her money back. Now I noticed the dealership has a notice posted stating that anyone has the right to take a "certified" use car off the lot to be inspected.
I bought a 1978 Subaru DL Wagon FWD for $400.00 in 1985. One engine, A couple front axles, an alternator and and a voltage regulator replaced by myself. Finally died 2003 I delivered endless newspapers and pizzas in it..
Replace the fuel pump or something, you can bring it back to life
Shuffle3956, it does if it rusts away.
Great Vid. Yeah Ive bought many a used car. Got some real good ones and some stinkers.
Best tip Id say is never look to buy a used car if youre in a hurry. I bought one in a hurry and it ended up being the worst, mainly because of the lieing people that sold it to me (I knew it needed work but ohh not that much!). Take your time looking, narrow your search down to a few vehicle models and years. Research those years and see if theres a specific year of the model that is better than others, then WAIT and look for that perfect one. Find that one that the Original owner is selling because they bought a new car that has all the paper work from service. Theyre are great deals with no surprises all the time, but you must be patient. And definitely have a mechanic go over it even if you think its perfect. Mechanics eyes see more.
He makes some very good points when buying a used car and you definitely want to have it check out before purchase. One of my coworkers bought a used car a couple of years ago and shortly after replacing brakes, tires, spark plugs, and fluids, it broke down on the highway and just about every indicator light on the dash lit up like a christmas tree.
Can't agree more, I always wanted a truck and it caused more headaches than a car. I've since moved back to a car and I'm glad I did.
I agree ,if on a budget, buy one of the most practical cars,and one that you see everywhere you go. If the model you buy is popular in your area then used parts will be too.
I bought my first car this year used for a grand total of about 5 thousand dollars. And have found that it has been pretty good. Of course nothing is perfect but i am very happy with my purchase and i have to thank ETCG because i was able to find a few of the issues that were originally wrong with the car before i put any money towards owning it. I had the valve cover gasket replaced and other work done before i purchased it and that probably saved me a TON of money.
I've had good and bad experiences with used cars. One 16 year old car that is still here 7 years later and now 23 years old. Another one that had a few hidden problems (leaky radiator, transmission output seal bad, bad wheel bearings) but likewise still here and one that was dodgy from that start with a crappy LPG system, overheating, 4x4 not working, and long since sold. I was happy to get rid of that one.
I bought a 2000 jeep cherokee with 151k on it for 1600. The seller had every service record since she owned it, proof of oil changes, and a diagnostic that was done 2 weeks before I contacted her about it. She just got a new car and was moving out of state so she had to get rid of it. She had taken care of 50% of the issues, and when I bought it there was unknown stuff that still came up. Luckily the price I bought it at allows me to get it into great shape, but it just goes to show even when you take all the right steps issues will still probably pop up.
I thought 95 was the last year for a Cherokee.
Jeeps break down so damn much. I only drive Toyotas now.
in my experience buying used cars, someone has always tried screw me over because many people really dont tell you all there is to know about those cars but as an enthusiast i have not cared, all of the cars that i've bought (that i have personally wanted to buy) have been crappy in some way like, a leaky trunk, no service history, seemingly no service done in a long time, timing belt change overdue, electrical problems, badly worn pieces here and there. but im a technician and have always been able to fix everything on my own, and i havent been left on the side of the road, not even once. the most important thing in a car to me is that it is completely rust free and i have been so ''lucky'' to find these faulty (hondas btw) cars that have absolutely 0 rust on them and i really dont care about anything else cause rust is the only thing i really cant completely fix myself without putting in absolutely HUGE amounts of work. like the last car that i bought and have now, a 97 honda prelude it had really bad axles and no service history, no working heated seats, no working ignition switch, no working stereo of any kind, leaky trunk, malfunctioning fog light, and i have never ever seen so much random shit and dog hair and human slime (and i think also some leftover drugs) in any interior of a car in my life and so on, but these are also the reasons why i paid less than 2000 dollars for a completely rust free car with like 70k miles on the meter.. and now it is i would say almost in mint condition and the total amount of money spent on that car by me including the price i bought it with is less than 3000 dollars, which is considerably less than any other prelude with the same mileage and exterior condition (atleast here in the arctic cirlce). i dont really have a point here but i quess it could be that if you can fix a car on your own, buying a faulty car is not necessarily bad at all :)
Honda, Toyota, are the best used cars to buy. I've had a couple of Hondas including my current: 2003 Honda Accord Lx 4cyl 5speed. I bought this accord with 95xxx miles on it and man this car has been babied and literally is in brand new condition. Not a thing wrong with it. I had a 97' civic and that car was so damn reliable it was crazy. If you are shopping around for a used car go for a Honda because the maintenance is so low and they are so reliable and efficient. I've had fords and chevys and I was always having to work on them every other month.
I've always gone for used cars - my last one had bad wheel bearings, worn out brakes, leaking camchaft seal, (barely) leaking radiator and a few scratches over the paintwork - other than that it turned out to be in great shape and has been serving me well for the last 2 years. My take is - other than tech inspection, try and learn more about the weaknesses of this particular model/engine. Each model has weak spots so make sure you know & address those before you learn the hard way.
Owned several cars, many French, Japanese and a few German ones too. Each make and model has its own pros and cons and at the moment, the two Renaults we have owned for many years and put many miles on have been just as reliable as the Nissans we had before them (touch wood). All were bought privately or from auction! I will say though, once bought a Daewoo... engine lost compression - scrapped, went back to Renault :)
Bought 2 used vehicles last year. Probe and Sport Trac. Love them both.
Had to do some work on both but nothing serious yet. Great deals and both off private sales. I've seen some terrible things though so I guess my efforts were spared.
Awesome Channel!
I bought an old used car - 1985 4WD Toyota Hilux (LN65 model) (to americans, that is a ute, or pick-up), and I spent a little to get it past strict Australian road laws, but since then - it has been great. To those interested, its either a 2.2 or 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder diesel, with no power steering or air con :P
I agree with you . It wasn't until I got my hands on my now wife's VW, that changed my mind. I was a Chevy Fan boy until I end up with a Toyota. I have may company owned cars, ( 4 of them ford focus) and my wife's VW , it was 4 years old when she got , she put 183,000mi on it in the last 8 years, I have had to change the coil pack, the belt, 2 sets of plug wires, and some dents from a parking lots. 2 sets of breaks, very easy to work on. needs metric tools and torx but other than easy.
I agree Eric many people not just with cars confuse their wants with their needs. In addition to the things you mentioned I suggest reviewing consumer reports on a vehicle band and model that you are considering buying.
Dead on with that 2 grand figure. Bought a 92 Integra with 145k miles last April for $1200. Bought it knowing it needed a water pump, thought that was all, and figured I'd put a timing belt on it and have a reliable engine. That was only 400 all together, but it needed another 400 in a distributor, radiator, fuel pump, and battery. 2000 into the car, and here it is, just about a year later. Hasn't failed on me once since I did the work. Quite a reliable 21 year old car..
I bought a '00 accord coupe v6 for 2500 couple weeks ago...great car. but now im diy ocd just about all the maintenance work, which is why i subscribed to eric the car guy haha. thanks.
Last car I bought I really took a long time trying to find the perfect example of it. Favorite car has always been the 3rd gen Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT(Previously owned a 2g Eclipse, and a Toyota Celica GTS after that). Anyways I think that who you're buying from is important, bought my 2003 Spyder GT from an older man who owned a car dealership but it was his personal vehicle. Absolutely mint, and has been perfect. Things to remember: Clean title, never a rebuilt, and never from a young guy
Back in 2001 my dad purchased a 1994 Toyota Camry v6 wagon with 94k miles from a private sale for $7,300. 12 years later I am still driving it with almost 330k miles still with original power train. The repairs that I can think of are starter, brakes, battery, oil just the usual stuff. Best money spent I'm shoot for 400k miles now!
Hey Eric. I just came back to watch this (in the process of looking for a new car) and it struck me HOW much weight you have lost since this was filmed! You look so great now (much younger too! (-; ) .. keep up the great work.
LOL The first car I brought as a silly young man. It was in a panel beater's workshop being used as a combination bench table. $900 NZD. The battery was dead and someone had been hard shifting it on a binding clutch for awhile. I had to drive it home without stopping. I replaced the clutch and battery. Then everything else failed or broke...still I enjoyed learning to replace every major (and not so major) component of an '87 Ford Falcon. From the radiator to the rear axle assembly.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO ME WITH MY 2002 BMW X5 IT WAS JUT ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN.. I SPENT $1550 IN PARTS SO FAR..
A LOT OF SURPRISES UNDERNEATH THE SKIN
Just sold my old vehicle due to me going off to college and needing somethings smaller as well as better gas mileage. It was a 1990 Chevrolet suburban in great condition (pretty sure I cleaned it every other week haha) and I always replaced parts that had failed or were failing. That car had roughly 192,000 miles on it when I sold it but due to my picky maintenance (some of which I did at home) it was a good first car. My major problem was with any old vehicle things will break and by the time I sold it, I had replaced a most of the parts. the other problem was the crappy 8 miles to the gallon. What I do know is that the person I sold it to doesn't have to worry about being stranded because I replaced anything that needed it as well as disclosed anything that was still problematic. The point to this is that yes certified vehicles which I agree with Eric are a great way to go but as long as the owner of the vehicle is truthful (which you won't know until later) about the vehicle you may be better in up front costs and sometimes even in the long run.
I bought a 1998 Honda Civic from my neighbor of 15 years for $500. Car is perfect in every way! It's been well maintained, I have all the service records, and it was relatively clean when I bought it. I ran into a few small minor problems that were typical of an older car later on but they were cheap fixes. Guess I just got kinda lucky!
Been buying used ever since. I've experienced both certified used as well as private owner purchase. Although I've had the private purchase vehicle (94 Acura Legend LX) for almost 7 years with little issues, certified used is the way to go, IF can afford he payments.
Bought an 03 VW golf TDI about a year ago. I did my homework and I knew what I was getting into and I've done well so far.
Maintenance records are a must! I learned the hard way to walk away no matter how bad I want the car, or how rare I think it is. People loose things. I don't expect 100% documentation. If they don't have at least 75% of the records it's unlikely even half of the maintenance has been done. I bought a 10 year old Jeep TJ with a real clean frame and drive train from the Rust Belt. I figured if the frame was in good shape they must have taken care of oil changes and brake fluid changes. No oil leaks. I must be in good shape. WRONG! At 125K on the venerable 4.0 straight six I have major gouges in the main journal bearings, a sticky valve lifter, and have dealt with a seized caliper.
I bought a 1999 Honda Civic coupe with a 5 speed. Civic had 76k original miles. Reason for selling the car was because the original owner was forced to stop driving due to his age. Bought the car for a pretty expensive price but it was justified since the little Civic gives me great MPG. Highest I've gotten from an EX is 38MPG. Spent $600 for 4 new tires and it still gives me great MPG. Have little to no maintenance. I do my oil changes religiously at my Honda dealership and my car runs strong. Has some issues that add over $1000 BUT I know work at the Honda dealership so I can fix those issues with massive savings. Overall, my 99 Civic was a great purchase, I get offers for it and I maintain it. Runs like a champ. No mods, it's all stock. No plans for modding this car. I like it the way it is.
I am in your shoes, and a family member is using my zj right now because their '06 is crapping out. I love my Jeep, and so does everyone else who can't crank their car every morning like I can :)
Also the right front shock tower was splitting and the coil spring was bowing out slightly which I didn't catch till I got it home and made a closer inspection. It's amazing I even made it home. As I was removing the shock tower, the only retainer holding in the top of the coil spring in pull right out of the shock tower bracket taking part of the shock tower with it. So now I'm looking at rebuilding the front end of the truck because the radiator supports are also rotted out.... continued
Holy moley Eric I really hope you are making a video on that Mercury behind you. I will be forever grateful.
Couldn't agree more with you at 8:31, I was looking to buy a used Forester from a reputable Acura dealer. They did there one hundred point inspection and everything turned out fine. To be safe we drove it to a Subaru dealer and had them do an inspection. We later found out that the car at one point had been run with mismatched tires, DESTROYING the AWD system. Best $100 I have ever spent. Repairs would be 6-8K. Especially if a car has unique features like Subies AWD take it to a specialist
Carfax is ur friend!! Ask for service history too. if the owner says he/she can't supply it. walk away. I looked a 2 scion tc's this last month. both cars were very nice but one had a very good service history and the other didnt really have any. we bought the one with the awesome service history and have been very happy with it.
hey thanks so much for doing these videos. im a farmgal and engines are just part of our life. dad n i got his old 67 fairlane working for my first car. loved it! made the mistake of marrying a guy who wouldnt have his gal working on vehicles and now 30 yrs later-done wih the relationship- i inherited my grandads ol 83 marquis. garaged 20 yrs. im loving tinkering with him but hes killin me on gas. so i found you when researching honda elements. gotta thank you for your advice. gonna try to keep Merquee for showing off. cant part with my ol buddy. :o)
I bought a 1988 4 cyl 5 speed Ford ranger in Nov 2009. By Dec the clutch went out. Spring time in 2010 discovered it had low compression on 1 or 2 cylinders. Paid $300 for the truck. Scraped it and got $297. Bought a 1991 Dodge Dakota V6 Automatic in July 2010. Since then I have changed a fuel pump and timing cover gasket on it. I only Paid $800. I really like the Dakota and still drive it a handful of times a month.
My father showed me how to pick out a good used car and I've had good luck with my purchases however when you buy a 10 year old car you have to expect some trouble from time to time , there's always something that gives out. The best car I ever got was 1000 bucks for a mint 87 Mazda 323 back in 2000, drove it for a good 8 years, worst car was a Cavalier which after a year fell to pieces.
From my experience some cars are better created than others. Your favorite make? Go for it! But the model and series of some vehicles? Beware... Some cars just don't cut it.
Here, there is often documentation about all the maintenance work a car has been through, like if it attended every annual inspection and so on. If this sort of documentation exists, then this is also a good indicator of "pride of ownership".
Worst experience purchasing my first car was a Chevy Blazer 2001. The owner was lecturing me about this car for months and the price wasn't bad at the time. 1 Month after driving the car, my problems became appearing one after another. The battery and alternator started to fail. This was one of the reasons why I was stranded on the highway; another was because of the failure of the fuel pump. Prior to having bad fuel injectors, it gave me hard starting which eventually cooked my starter.
I had a 2000 Saturn SL1 with 110k mi given to me by a cousin. Body was nice, but the engine, likely run out of oil by the original owner, had very little compression on all 4 cylinders, struggled at idle, and passed emissions testing by 5 NOx ppm. Sold it to a family member for cheap, and bought a '98 Accord with 160k mi on it. Aside from minor coolant issues and a couple of suspension parts, I haven't had many problems with it. It came with all paperwork, including the original bill of sale.
I bought a 92' Mercedes-Benz about 2 years ago for $2,600 thinking it was a great deal for that car. Weeks later the reverse gear goes out and the ICM fries, which set me back another $1,800 for both, apart from some other minor issues. So that is $4,400 total for the car and actually I did a little researching and $4,400 for that car is still a great deal and the short while I have owned that car I have fallen in love with it and it has been extremely reliable, for me being the 7th! owner.
2001 Ford Focus CDTi bought in 2009. 65k on the clock, ex Highway Agency vehicle it had been well cared for. It never let me down a single time, most reliable car I ever drove. I scrapped it 2 mobths ago when suddenly a bunch of problems happened (suspension, radiator, needed all new rotors and clutch failing). Just my experience I'd recommend that car and they are dirt cheap too.
When I was looking for a car, I found a 350Z with a little bit of paint issues and 50k on the odometer. I found out through carfax nissan had swapped the engine at 45k due to oil consumption issues with the VQ35de. I was so happy :D
This is the very reason I always buy old vehicles. Excellent video man.
I have a 08 accord with 75k and with a clean car fax that also showed it regularly serviced at the Honda dealer. Bought it at a large Toyota dealer (they did not offer a warranty) and one year and 15,000 miles later I have put about $2,200 worth of repairs in it. The biggest hit was the timing chain and vtc actuator witch only acted up when the car was cold started and the car was already warmed up when we saw it both times. lots of small stuff to like wheel barrings stuck brake calipers tie rod
Bought a 20 year old red BMW convertible for $2k, it ran great, smooth engine, trans was fine, beautiful car, paint was flawless. But everything else was bad. Needed a new radiator, water pump, overflow tank, convertible top was completely screwed, power steering lines needed replaced, needed new tires, brakes, rotors, literally everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I've been teaching myself to work on it from UA-cam videos and internet blogs, so I've changed the spark plugs and ignition coils, fuel injectors, CCV, and fixed a vacuum leak. Still have to do a lot of work on the suspension and many other components.
Yeah, it was a bad financial decision, but before this car I only knew how to check the oil level and tire pressure. Now I'm learning how to do my own car maintenance and that will continue to save me money for decades to come, so it ended up working out in the end. But of course I wouldn't have been able to do that without how to guides online from awesome mechanics like you! Thanks ETCG1!
I bought a Crown Vic P71 off of ebay to hurry up and get a vehicle. After $1100 in steering and brake components fixed, rebuilding the trans at $1100, $1170 in a tune-up and rear main oil seal, and $300 in used tires, I wish I paid the damn $150 or so to get it inspected. All this was in 9000 miles driven in 8 months and I can't wait to get rid of it. It still needs a new steering rack, shocks, rear window regulator, and front seats.
One of the best thing I have found about driving a used car is to go to the Honda Dealer, buy a two or three year vehicle with a factory warranty. Buy an extended warranty with a hundred dollar deductible for around $300 a month. I find it is much cheaper than buying a 10 to 15 year old car and being nickeled and dimed to death.
I bought a 2008 Dodge Caliber. Had 3 miles on it when it left the dealership. Except for basic. Maintenance It's been a good car. It now has 135k. I had to replace exhaust manifold on it and a few other thing. but nothing really major. Am sure that will change with age and miles.
Bought my 2001 cavalier about two years ago and the only thing I've ever had o get replaced was a speed sensor. I love it honestly.
Another thing about a certified used car is that the safety rules that apply to them are much stricter than they are on a normal on-the-lot car. For example, if it needs new brakes, in many situations certified status requires brand name (from the maker) parts. A set of tires that might be just enough to pass a regular safety won't pass a certified safety. The dealer has to be much pickier to certify a car, and the end product on the lot for sale is a better condition car.
The best cars I've ever owned were 1st generation Acura Integras. I believe that was the best all around vehicle ever produced. Perfect balance between power and fuel economy.
Size and carrying capacity. It was sporty without being flashy. Comfort, driveability and utility. I think that was the perfect car. Now you won't find one anywhere, theyv'e all been driven into the ground[like I did mine] or removed from the marketplace.
im from ohio too etcg. i bought a 02 durango for 2000 (magic number lol) and that was my limit i wanted to spend on a car. after purchasing i put aside 500 to sink in repairs. ive done shocks brake pads 02 censor upper ball joints and sparkies in my home garage. and ive spent just a little over 300 on parts (oriely speacial)cheap parts but hey cheap car rite? now it runs like a top! aside from a rusty spot on the rocker pannel few cracks in the clear coat and an exahyst leak(which i will bandage up here this weekend, easy fix). My point is i feel like most people could chip away at these problems as i have with help of you and chris fix and my dad. when looking for a used car i look at the big 3 transmission, engine, and the frame. mostly anything else i could fix at home for fairly cheap i could find someone to do and alignment or mount and balance tires, or simply live with the problem until i save the money to fix it. my point is youve provided a way to be able to purchase the costly suv my growing family really needed. (im 24 with 2 kids) So thanks to you and other guys and gals that will share all this useful info.
I live in Maine, a hilly snowy state. The people on the side of the road in the winter are 90% SUV/4x4 owners. People just don't understand the concept of 4wd cards. If you drive carefully in bad weather, the SUV or 4x4 will give you a better chance. It doesn't mean you can drive 90 on the freeway in a snowstorm.
got an 2000 Altima 5 years ago with 120k miles on it. still running good with 237k miles. Only had a few repairs. Been well worth it. Inspired me to get my '12 Altima
I bought a 96 Volvo estate (wagon) for £800 ($1400) because I got a new job and didn't want to put the miles on my other car, and I was also doing some home renovations. I bought a cheap car expecting it to last a year.
3 years and 40,000 miles later it's still going. And I've been horrible to it. I haven't even changed the oil!! So there's one cheap car purchase story that turned out good.
And I am going to service it now. It's earned it
The number 1 thing I look for when looking for a used car is PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP. Its huge to me. Sales pitches will all bounce right off and make me suspicous. If it sounds like I'm just a dollar amount to you, I don't like you. Take pride in your ride, be honest with the maintenance and problems its had, sincere about your ownership, and offer a fair price. You can expect 0 low balling out of me even if its a little over average. I will pay the price if I have the money because its rare to find an older car that has been well cared for, and I think you deserve the money for your time, honesty, integrity, etc...
I have noticed when it comes to owning a used car , sentiment matters more than the car itself . If you connect emotionally with a car you will overlook flaws the car might have . Certainly for me two of the most mechanically sound cars I ever owned are probably my least favorite cars that I owned . I had long road trips in each of them and loved the trips . I might like to take either one of those trips again but don't long to get those vehicles back . While I advocate that you shop wisely and be prepared for unexpected repairs but also try to buy something that speaks to you is whatever your second kind of cool is .
Ive been carless and pretty broke (college) for 5 year now.
I'm really only considering 4 cars to get me back on the road:
Honda civic, Honda accord, Toyota camry, and Toyota corolla.
opinions/advice?