Why are used car so pricey? (Riverside, Newburg: buy, island, offer)

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Riverside4ever

for $3 k you can pick up a good used Subaru ... AWD and safe ..

True... but you have to keep an eye on the head gasket problem. Then there's the expense of tire replacement.

[Huckleberry3911948]

good question deserves an answer. the junk car buy up program paid for by taxpayers jacked the price of used cars up.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

It's the same most places. The "cash for clunkers" program started it, by taking many good late model used cars off the market, many of them would be in your price range but they got more from the government. Then leasing (as opposed to buying) has become more difficult with a greater credit worthiness required, so there are not so many lease returns on the market. I just got a letter from a local dealer I have never been to offering me 15% over bluebook for my 2007, because they need good used cars for the lot. Shortage of cars means higher prices. Around here, $3,000 will get you something like a 1996 Ford Escort 5 speed with 160,000 miles, or a Toyota/Honda/Subaru with 200,000+ miles. Talk to friends and relatives, maybe someone is planning to trade in something and will sell it to you to avoid the hassle.

Also, there were (a lot) fewer new cars sold in the late 2000s. Many people who thought that they were going to trade in or trade up in 2008, 2009, 2010 couldn't afford to do it, so, they kept what they had.

Bloom, my recently totaled 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon, two accidents, was valued at $4,400 by the insurance adjuster. I would have happily driven it for another ten years because I knew that it had been meticulously maintained. Still, I was looking for something newer. You never know when you're going to find a cream puff.

I'm not sure what you'll find in your price range but, do a lot of online research. Even cars with a solid reputation like Honda, Toyota have had bad years with certain models.

[Riverside4ever]

Originally Posted by Gerania

True... but you have to keep an eye on the head gasket problem. Then there's the expense of tire replacement.

That all depends on what engine you have .. We have a 2003 Outback with a 3.0 H-6 engine .. Not ever a problem...

I can help the OP ... My buddy buys at the Newburg ,NY Auction.. there are a bunch of nice cars coming up for next month ... If your interested we can go together , Your My cousin ... Most of the time the cars need a fender a few tires .. bla bla bla .. you can get a great deal.. Just buy me lunch .. ( An Italian hero and a yoo hoo .. ) PM me if your good with the terms .. I'll get ya a list as soon as its posted ..

[dravogadro]

You really have to watch craigslist like a hawk. If you have the time and the patience, try holding out for a grandma car (usually meticulous maintenance records and low mileage).

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by dravogadro

try holding out for a grandma car (usually meticulous maintenance records and low mileage).

I bought a 92 Buick Regal fully loaded for $2800 a few years back with 32K miles on it. LOL

[Gerania]

I think that she should look for a black Crown Vic. Isn't that the car that every young man would like to own?

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Riverside4ever

That all depends on what engine you have .. We have a 2003 Outback with a 3.0 H-6 engine .. Not ever a problem...

I can help the OP ... My buddy buys at the Newburg ,NY Auction.. there are a bunch of nice cars coming up for next month ... If your interested we can go together , Your My cousin ... Most of the time the cars need a fender a few tires .. bla bla bla .. you can get a great deal.. Just buy me lunch .. ( An Italian hero and a yoo hoo .. ) PM me if your good with the terms .. I'll get ya a list as soon as its posted ..

What? I thought that you were my cousin. Maybe mom lied to me. I'll buy you an Italian and a yoohoo. I feel like baking. What kind of pie do you like?

[DelawareLiz]

The price of used cars is jacked up sky high here in southern Delaware too--so much that I have bought my past three cars/trucks from southeastern PA and one from Bel Air, MD. Older pick-ups--4x4 Fords in particular--go for crazy prices here. I wanted one, finally found one on Craigslist by private owner that looked decent, rode up to PA and bought it after a test drive. Bought a 1993 Ford F150 XLT 4x4, 93,000 miles, fully loaded two years ago for $2600 which was awesome. I needed to dump $1000 into it (had four bald tires, a leaking tranny pan and destroyed front wheel bearings), but that's still a lot cheaper than what I'd pay for one here. I kid you not, I could sell this truck for an easy $4000 right now where I live.

Needless to say, I hang on to my used cars now because I'm sick of having to leave the state to go buy another one.

[Mr Yuk]

I have noticed that Moletsky's on Main Ave in West Side seems to have a lot of used cars in the 2-4K range. A lot of late 90s-early 2000s Saturns and Hyundais. I'd avoid the Hyundais, but those model years for Saturn were pretty decent reliable cars.