[SouthernSarah]

Originally Posted by airics

in Ohio, your Alero sells for less than a grand..... And they are notorious for problems... Headgaskets especially. In Vegas, your vehicle is 2000-2500. You don't know the values of Vegas. Cars from the east are ALOT cheaper.

Maybe so. I was just going off the cars I am seeing on Craigslist-Las Vegas and Craigslist-Nashville. My car doesn't have any problems and Aleros are very popular right now as used cars. I don't know. Shrug, I still think we just have different ideas about what is acceptable to drive.

[SouthernSarah]

Originally Posted by las vegas drunk

Unfortunately the 1993 Subaru Legacy was a total POS as you said. I paid $720 for it on Ebay. That was all on me though as I bought it sight unseen in which the seller totally lied to me. That is the last time I ever do that again.

I have several friends who plunked down $5,000 or more on used cars and the engines went out within a few months. I think it is a bit of a crap shoot. You do your homework, you take your potential purchase to a mechanic for an opinion, then you close your eyes and leap. If I am going to have a used car go belly up, I would much rather only be out $1,000 than $5,000.

[SouthernSarah]

Originally Posted by airics

a few thousand doesn't buy you a good car..even at a dealer only auction

note to self. Fly back to Tennessee to go to dealer only auction, where a few grand buys plenty of used car. LOL
Seriously, Jonathan is obviously not in the group I speak of, but can you see there are many people out in the world who do buy cars for $1,200 or so and the cars get them around just fine? I have never and will never drive a brand new car or even a car that costs more than $10,000 unless I get lucky and my novel hits the best seller list. That doesn't mean I will be constantly fixing cars either. I have driven used cars since I left my son's dad 23 years ago. (Back then, of course I drove a nice Cadillac) LOL And I have never had any of the troubles you speak of.

[happyhunting]

I think part of the problem was Cash for Clunkers. It took a LOT of good used cars off the road, so it's harder to find one in the 1500-3000 range that is in great shape. Plus I never got how C4C was really "conserving". Sure you get a car off the road that used more gas....but recylcing used items seems to be a key in conservation.

[LV2ndHome]

Originally Posted by Magnoliablossom

my 1991 Camry...has 123,000 miles on it...

I'm toying with selling it (ha ha) so I can cancel my insurance, which runs about $850/year.

$850 sounds like you are carrying full coverage unless you have a very poor driving record. I would suggest immediately dropping your coverage to liability only. A 20 yr old Camry w/ 123k on it, even though I know you have put a lot in recent repairs, is still probably only worth something like $1500-2000 unless it is unusually sharp and overly equipped.

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

price in excellant contidion according to kelly was 10 K.

A vehicle in mint condition won't sell for what Kelly shows for the "excellent" category even after giving them the zip code for location adjustment. Their prices are usually inflated a good bit. IMO you should never pay more than what's quoted for at least one vehicle condition down or one value category down (dealer retail>private party>trade-in). For example, if I'm looking to make a purchase from a private party of a vehicle meeting the "good" description, the most I'd ever consider paying is the "fair" condition price under the "private party sale" section, and unless I really want/need that specific car or a quick deal I'd stick closer to the "trade-in" values. I've never had a problem finding something in fairly short order by using this approach.

I've also listed cars for sale in auto trader and similar outlets (usually because the dealer won't even give me anywhere near the Kelley value for the vehicle as a trade-in) and using the Kelley private party price for the actual condition would seldom even generate a call. I'd then drop the price as outlined above and I always got a few calls, but still not so many as to indicate it's a real bargain. I've bought and sold on eBay as well, and pricing seems to generally follow the above discounts, even on vehicles offered by dealers.

[LV2ndHome]

Originally Posted by happyhunting

I think part of the problem was Cash for Clunkers. It took a LOT of good used cars off the road, so it's harder to find one in the 1500-3000 range that is in great shape. Plus I never got how C4C was really "conserving". Sure you get a car off the road that used more gas....but recylcing used items seems to be a key in conservation.

The primary reason for Cash for Clunkers was to help bail out the auto companies, not conservation. It worked well politically because there was limited voter backlash due to citizens getting some direct benefit and the conservation face they could put on the program, and it benefited the auto companies well because it was money they received indirectly and didn't have to repay, unlike the bailout loans they also received. And it also took a lot of vehicles off the road permanently that would have otherwise competed in the future for some of the new vehicle sales. If conservation was the primary motive for that expenditure, taxpayers had many other options that would have produced a much better bang for their buck.

[airics]

Originally Posted by happyhunting

I think part of the problem was Cash for Clunkers. It took a LOT of good used cars off the road, so it's harder to find one in the 1500-3000 range that is in great shape. Plus I never got how C4C was really "conserving". Sure you get a car off the road that used more gas....but recylcing used items seems to be a key in conservation.

you are 100% correct! Cash for Clunkers tooks vehicles off the road which caused the prices (to this day) to skyrocket! Plus the value of steel has gone up 4-5 times... You used to scrap a clunker for $50, now you get a minimum of $300 + and if you do it right (remove the cat converter etc), you get an extra 200-300. That is why you don't see the $500 car too often anymore and why you see "i'll buy your clunker" signs...

[ScoopLV]

I'm with everyone else -- don't bother buying a car. By the time you get it registered and insured (and factor in your time at DMV), and everything else, it doesn't seem worth it to me.

UNLESS, you can find a deal on a decent pick-up and you see yourself wanting a truck to compliment whatever you're bringing with you from NYC. I find a truck invaluable in Las Vegas. I'm always scoring interesting things (like a slot machine I picked up today). And there's always lumber to buy, etc.

[macgeek]

Yea. I am leaning to agreeing with you all, I need a 'Bigger' car (I drive a Honda Element in NYC)



And I really would like something similar in Vegas... COST: $10,000
cheaper just to rent.

Jonathan

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by Magnoliablossom

I have sort of the opposite problem to yours, Macgeek. I live in NY most of the time now, but in 2009 when I was in LV most of the time, I drove my 1991 Camry to Vegas. Now it has a new alternator, new hoses, new radiator and several other items. It's basically cost me about $3000 over two and a half years, not including insurance and registration. Anyway the car has 123,000 miles on it and with all the new parts, it should go a lot further. I take good care of it and check fluids often, use synth oil etc. I think it will need a new belt for the a/c soon (makes a noise like a flapping sound lol). I'm tempted to sell it but I am wondering if I could get more for it at a chop shop than through a traditional sale. I understand these old Toyotas are often stolen for parts, so that got me thinking of maybe selling the parts myself! Don't know if that is legal--I'd have to look into it. Anyone know?

I'm toying with selling it (ha ha) so I can cancel my insurance, which runs about $850/year. My other choice is to drive it back to NY . I think it's too old though. Plus the weather has been so bad!

Sell it to Macgeek...problem solved for both of you.