need used car advice on where to buy asap low note or cash (San Antonio: sale, buying)

[nikip]

Hello,

We really need a suv, crossover car but have a bankrupcty we have tried some lots and feel we are being ripped off. Please give me your advice on a good cash lot or places where we can pay down with a low note with good cars. I tried buying from a private buyer that sold me a lemon. Please give your advice we really need a good used suv,crossover or nice size car. Thanks

[SabresFanInSA]

That bankruptcy means you are looking at an interest rate in excess of 20%. There are places all over the city that will finance (Carmax from what I hear), but you should count on getting killed with the interest.

[mamatotex97]

drivetime also. with a bankruptcy you are gonna get a high interest as long as you finance. only way to avoid that is to pay it all in cash.

[TexasRedneck]

It'd help to know what kind of budget you have to work with...

[Craig Harmann]

I'm along the same lines as the OP. Looking for a mini van, want to pay cash, and no financing. Looking to walk off the lot for $5,000 or less. Last dealer I was at was a disaster. Car looked great on the outside, but after driving it for about 2 seconds, I realized it needed new tires and an alignment. After taking it to my mechanic, and him looking at it for 10 minutes, he told me no. The driver's side brake light was out. I'm looking for a dealer who will be honest with me, if there is such a creature.

[SabresFanInSA]

Might try here and see if you can find anything

Find San Antonio, Texas Used Cars On Yahoo! Autos

[LovingSAT]

My thoughts are
1.Do not give in, do not submit yourself to high interest
2.Understand that you will need to research and do not rush yourself
3. I was in the same place - find reputable places that will work with you (not those known for helping everyone)
4. I went all over the place and explained to the finance agent my situation.
5. We needed 2 cars and had bad history
6. We had to change our mindset and changed the car we were looking for but...
7. Ancira Winton helped us get a 6% interest- No Down!
8. A couple of months after that World Car helped us get our 2nd car - 4% interest
9. We struggle but we make every payment 20.00 over and alway on time.

It is doable - do not rush yourself, regardless of the situation. Good Luck

[majormadmax]

Given the likely high interest rate you are going to get, I would recommend a private sale with outside financing despite your previous experience in buying a lemon. Purchasing a used car in a private sale is not that complicated, if necessary have an experienced mechanic look it over if you don't have the expertise to recognize any obvious issues. As for anything that may not be readily apparent, you really won't has much recourse if you buy from a dealer as most offer no warranties with their used vehicles, especially older ones. You will get a much better deal through a private sale, and with Craigslist and other online classified sites you have a much wider choice and the ability to look at more cars than driving from dealership to dealership.

By the way, is there any particular reason why you need a "suv, crossover?" If you need versatility, how about a used minivan? We have one and it serves any need much better than any SUV/crossover we've ever driven. Your focus on that particular genre of vehicle leads me to believe you haven't considered other vehicles, as that class of car are usually characterized by poor gas mileage and much less practicality than other vehicles.

Loving SAT's recommendations that you lower or expand your expectations for a vehicle is also very good advice. Too often people are trying to define themselves by their cars, and end up spending more than they can afford on them; but in reality what you are looking for is reliable transportation and not something exuberant. Folks tend to shy away from small cars here, but I have an entry-level Toyota that not only gets great mileage (35+ MPG) but also is very reliable and practical.

If finances are a constraint, then be more practical in the kind of car you that will fit your needs and you will have a much better time finding one.

And good luck!

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Too often people are trying to define themselves by their cars, and end up spending more than they can afford on them; but in reality what you are looking for is reliable transportation and not something exuberant.

Funny thing is; this is an area where you can have it both ways (car that defines them and they can afford). People just have to understand that you can't step on a lot and the car magically appears. Sometimes it takes a lot of research.

[Craig Harmann]

Originally Posted by SabresFanInSA

Sometimes it takes a lot of research.

No doubt about it! I didn't expect that the first vehicle we looked at would be the one we'd purchase. However, I didn't expect the "dealer" to be trying to sell a vehicle that has one functional brake light, really bad tires that need alignment, and a few other things wrong with it!