Used Cars (Houston, Happy: credit, buying, inspection)

[Be Happy 2]

Hi,

I am looking for an used car lot in the Houston area with decent cars. I am looking for something inexpensive (about $3000). I've been down Shepard but looking for suggestions of other places to look.

I have an SUV now but is using waaaaayyyyy too much gas. Because of my new job my daily commute in total is about 50 miles so I am also looking for something that is pretty good on gas. This would basically be an everyday/run around vehicle.

Any suggestions of any older cars I should look into and where to look in the area? (4 doors and legroom, I am tall so this is important. I don't need a huge amount of legroom but must have enough room to drive without my knee in my chest )

Thanks!

[DJboutit]

Check out

New Cars, Used Cars - Find Cars at AutoTrader.com

houston cars & trucks - all classifieds - craigslist

[Texascrude]

I think DJboutit gave you the best answers. You're best bet, in my opinion, is going to be craigslist. Spend $50 and buy the Carfax reports (I think you can get 5 reports for $50, or something like that) and make sure you run it on any car you're serious about.

Also (and this isn't meant to sound racist, but my wife and I went through this about 2 weeks ago getting our minivan) if the seller is Indian chances are he's reselling a car he bought from someone else. My experience with this group has been that they lie through their teeth about the cars -- I can't tell you how many times Carfax saved me from buying a piece of crap that was advertised as being from the first owner, never in an accident etc etc.

Just my two-cents.

[Pretzelogik]

Originally Posted by Texascrude

I think DJboutit gave you the best answers. You're best bet, in my opinion, is going to be craigslist. Spend $50 and buy the Carfax reports (I think you can get 5 reports for $50, or something like that) and make sure you run it on any car you're serious about.

Also (and this isn't meant to sound racist, but my wife and I went through this about 2 weeks ago getting our minivan) if the seller is Indian chances are he's reselling a car he bought from someone else. My experience with this group has been that they lie through their teeth about the cars -- I can't tell you how many times Carfax saved me from buying a piece of crap that was advertised as being from the first owner, never in an accident etc etc.

Just my two-cents.

CARFAX misses lots of stuff... definitely not a totally reliable source. Get a good independent mechanic to do a pre-purchase inspection. carfax.com | Rip-off Report: 246523

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by Pretzelogik

CARFAX misses lots of stuff... definitely not a totally reliable source. Get a good independent mechanic to do a pre-purchase inspection. carfax.com | Rip-off Report: 246523

That's true -- Carfax isn't completely reliable, but it's definitely $10 well spent. I'd second taking it to a mechanic for a check-out.

[73Tele]

Originally Posted by Texascrude

.....................CUT.......................... ............

Also (and this isn't meant to sound racist, but my wife and I went through this about 2 weeks ago getting our minivan) if the seller is Indian chances are he's reselling a car he bought from someone else. My experience with this group has been that they lie through their teeth about the cars -- I can't tell you how many times Carfax saved me from buying a piece of crap that was advertised as being from the first owner, never in an accident etc etc.

Just my two-cents.

I am second to that, also be aware the Russian sellers too. They buy total salvage vehicles than repair the body parts and trying to re-sell them as one-owner vehicles. Try Carfax first as primary test, then the body shop then the computerized analysis. I am sorry for my English.
Hope it helps,

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Be Happy 2

Hi,

I am looking for an used car lot in the Houston area with decent cars. I am looking for something inexpensive (about $3000). I've been down Shepard but looking for suggestions of other places to look.

I have an SUV now but is using waaaaayyyyy too much gas. Because of my new job my daily commute in total is about 50 miles so I am also looking for something that is pretty good on gas. This would basically be an everyday/run around vehicle.

Any suggestions of any older cars I should look into and where to look in the area? (4 doors and legroom, I am tall so this is important. I don't need a huge amount of legroom but must have enough room to drive without my knee in my chest )

Thanks!

Yeah I'm currently in the process of getting a new car and I'm using craiglist.

[piyf]

Originally Posted by Pretzelogik

CARFAX misses lots of stuff... definitely not a totally reliable source. Get a good independent mechanic to do a pre-purchase inspection. carfax.com | Rip-off Report: 246523

I think you're confusing reliable source to not always being completely accurate. And awesome website. Do you know that in 8yrs there's only 5 reports on Carfax on that site? Sounds like a real problem to me. rollseyes.jpg

[Be Happy 2]

Thanks for the info.

Any other suggestions?????

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by Be Happy 2

Thanks for the info.

Any other suggestions?????

Aside from autotrader / newspaper / craigslist, you'll just have to check all the hundreds of dealers in the city. I'm not aware of one over the other than has a reputation for 'great deals on used cars'. As a general rule, I'd imagine the bigger the dealership, the better the cars / warranty and the higher the price.

For a few thousand bucks you'll probably have to just pull over on the side of the road at one of the "No credit, No problem" type of places and roll the dice.

Remember though, a dealership makes their money selling new cars, so they will probably be pretty receptive to making a good deal on a used car that's been sitting in their lot for a while. From what I've heard, they usually hold a used car for just a month or two before sending it to an auction to get it out. The only reason they typically buy them is to facilitate the purchase of a new car.