Tips on getting a car?

Question

So the situation is.. I'm just in college and my parents are not getting me a car, and I NEED one, so I'm on a budget.

So I'm thinking about getting a motorcycle, (or a used car).

What do I do? I'm confused with all these terms and about watching out for lemons and scammers.

I'm really interested in motorcycles since they seem to get really good mileage (I'm looking at the Kawasaki Ninja) for these insane gas prices.

What should I do? How should I go about getting the right prices, the right car? And what's the process?

I've heard a lot about transferring titles, VIN, buying used, buying new, can someone explain these?

Thanks

Answer 1

im tellin you,

GO TO CRAIGS LIST.

i got a car on there for only $800.

and the only thing i had to fix was the sterio and the starter.

its easy because you can click on the state, and city,

and find cars right in your area!

Answer 2

Motorcycles are only good during warm and / or dry season.

For general all year use, get a car.  Here's some rules you should consider when buying a used car

(1) don't get sold on the paint job = meaning cars having good exterior, fancy CD radio, etc.

(2) look for car with sound ENGINE + TRANNY + SUSPENSION.

(3) test every button, k**b, switch, slider, etc.. Ex: even in the summer test out the heater & even in the winter test out the AC (if you can).  Slide the AC/heater to fan1, fan2, fan3, etc.  then slid the vent to defrost, front, bottom, etc.  Test the high beam, low beam, etc.  Test (flip) the visor.  Test the alarm.  Test all 4 doors.  Test the rear defogger.

TEST EVERYTHING.

(4) BEFORE the first start, open the engine bay and see if the engine is already warmed up.  Many engines starts well when already warmed up, but may have problems when cold (or cold start).

(5) test drive with the sound system off and window down. Listen for weird sound coming from the wheels & suspension.

(6) Look inside the engine bay to see if you can see see leaks, etc.  It is normal to see some oil and grease.  But too much means that the car is leaking oil somewhere.

(7) check the engine oil dip stick. If the oil is BRAND NEW CLEAN, the seller MIGHT be hiding something.  If the oil is jet black and /or smells like gasoline (or burnt), you might have engine problem).

(8) once you are satisfied with the above - you can NOW take it to the mechanic for the engine + tranny + suspension inspection.  He won't find everything, but he will find the obvious.

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MSNBC had a news story on where is the best places to buy used cars. The used car dealers were on the BOTTOM of the list. They are pros at negotiations (and you and I are rank amateurs), they are pros at hiding problems on their cars, etc.

The private sales (newspaper, etc.) were the best places. The seller will not tell you all the problems, but they don't know how to hide them.

And a private seller are at MOST they are equal in negotiation skills to you and me.

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My 94 Civic can get 41 MPG (and I was doing 72 for the mileage test). The engine + tranny + suspension runs like new. It ain't no beauty but it is rock solid. If I had to sell it, I would not get more than few thousand dollars. This is the kind of car you want to look for.

Just take your time, as good old used cars are cheap but hard to come by.

good Luck...

Answer 3

A motorcycle might work, but they're awful in extreme weather. Protective clothing can get real hot in the summer (you're an idiot if you don't wear it, regardless of the time of year), and rain is not friendly to motorcyclists. Forget snow. If you have a motorcycle license, live in Southern California or someplace with a similar climate, and don't need to carry a lot of stuff around, a motorcycle might work. If you can't say yes to all those, you're better off with a car.

A "lemon," as per California's definition, is a car that has been in the shop for over 30 days and the technician has been unable to fix it. At that point, the manufacturer is legally obligated to buy it back. "Lemon" is a euphimism for "piece of ****."

A "scammer" is someone who advertises a car for sale, usually with some stupid condition attached, and will take your money and not ship your car. Avoid scams by dealing locally.

I'm guessing that, from the tone of this question, you've never owned a car. The process begins with you being realistic about your needs--and budget, and don't forget to factor the cost of fuel, repairs, parts, insurance, etc. into your budget!--and doing research to determine what vehicle best fits them. Then you look for that vehicle; try Craigslist or Autotrader. Once you've found a car, go look at it and drive it--I highly suggest you bring along a knowledgable and impartial third party (such as myself) to help out with this. If everything seems okay, run the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through Carfax or similar such. If the Carfax report comes back okay, then work out a deal and buy the car.

From there, the seller will fill out the paperwork, and you'll fill out your end of it and take the paperwork to the DMV. They'll collect the fees from you and give you a registration card and maybe new plates, depending on your state. After a brief wait, a new title will arrive in the mail. Some states don't issue titles for vehicles that are past a certain age, though.

Lover not a Fighter gave you good advice, too.

Hope I've helped!