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Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Nowheels ()
Date: October 21, 2017 02:07PM

My car died and I need a cheap, reliable ride for less than $5,000. Any recommended used car lots in FFX? Seems like prices are lower in Manassas and Fredericksburg. Worth the trip down there?

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Bill.N. ()
Date: October 21, 2017 03:28PM

You are not going to get a $10,000 car in Fairfax for $5,000 by travelling to Manassas or Fredricksburg. You may find more inventory in the $5,000 or less range, but whether it is reliable for more than a year is questionable. Best inexpensive used cars are from drivers over 50 who have had their 10 year old cars professionally maintained. If you have friends whose parents are still in the area then ask them to let you know if their parents are going to be trading in their old cars any time soon.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: The Fees are Crazy ()
Date: October 21, 2017 03:43PM

Use car lots are going to tag you with additional fees. For example, when I was looking about 3 months ago, Coles Nissan in Woodbridge wanted to tack on a $689 processing fee and a $1,695 vehicle "reconditioning" fee. I realize one can negotiate, but be prepared for the sticker shock on such stupid charges.

The result? I ended up getting a 1.5 year old vehicle from a used dealer for a good price (after some good negotiating) and only paid their $499 processing fee, taxes and tags. At first, they said they couldn't accept my offer, but then came back to me about 45 minutes later and ready to have me sign the paperwork.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Cheapest way ()
Date: October 21, 2017 03:49PM

Look on Craigslist, used by owner. If you're not car savvy, get the vehicle inspected prior to purchasing. You can negotiate down usually at least 10% off the listed price and you don't have to pay any bullshit fees.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: thkvg ()
Date: October 21, 2017 03:57PM

The Fees are Crazy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Use car lots are going to tag you with additional
> fees. For example, when I was looking about 3
> months ago, Coles Nissan in Woodbridge wanted to
> tack on a $689 processing fee and a $1,695 vehicle
> "reconditioning" fee. I realize one can
> negotiate, but be prepared for the sticker shock
> on such stupid charges.
>
> The result? I ended up getting a 1.5 year old
> vehicle from a used dealer for a good price (after
> some good negotiating) and only paid their $499
> processing fee, taxes and tags. At first, they
> said they couldn't accept my offer, but then came
> back to me about 45 minutes later and ready to
> have me sign the paperwork.


You don't play the dumb back-end fee game when buying a car. Where you always should end up is negotiating the all-in out-the-door price. You can start there to get them talking and let them think that they'll be able to add fees and other crap at the end when getting to the car price, but by the end all of that should be included before you head to sign. Makes no difference how they want to get there for their own accounting/sales purposes. All that you care about is the bottom-line number with nothing else added on top.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: The Fees are Crazy ()
Date: October 21, 2017 04:02PM

thkvg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> You don't play the dumb back-end fee game when
> buying a car. Where you always should end up is
> negotiating the all-in out-the-door price. You
> can start there to get them talking and let them
> think that they'll be able to add fees and other
> crap at the end when getting to the car price, but
> by the end all of that should be included before
> you head to sign. Makes no difference how they
> want to get there for their own accounting/sales
> purposes. All that you care about is the
> bottom-line number with nothing else added on top.


That's what I did. The price I said I would pay was the "out the door" price. It took them the 45 minutes to ponder and then they came back to me and accepted. I didn't negotiate a price only to have the crap added on at the end.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Freq ()
Date: October 21, 2017 04:13PM

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are not going to get a $10,000 car in Fairfax
> for $5,000 by travelling to Manassas or
> Fredricksburg. You may find more inventory in the
> $5,000 or less range, but whether it is reliable
> for more than a year is questionable. Best
> inexpensive used cars are from drivers over 50 who
> have had their 10 year old cars professionally
> maintained. If you have friends whose parents are
> still in the area then ask them to let you know if
> their parents are going to be trading in their old
> cars any time soon.

This is strange. 15 years ago I was buying 8-year-old American cars on Ebay which were perfectly reliable for $3,000. No deal like that exists anymore and there aren't very many cars for sale on Ebay either.

Did cash-for-clunkers wreck the used car market?

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: goooodluck ()
Date: October 21, 2017 04:13PM

Craigslist. Used to be you could get a decent car for 5k - now you have to be very careful. Buy 'one owner' locally kept vehicles only and pay to get the Carfax. I would only buy a make and model I knew well in this price range and my choices would be Merc e320 1999-2003; Volvo v70 AWD 2004-2005. That is because I know exactly what goes on those and I also know they have rock solid engines and transmissions. Other good choices are Camry, Accord, Avalon,Civic.

The lots in manassas sell lots of vehicles but they dont do anything to repair or service those vehicles. You might go out to test drive and the battery is dead or a check engine light is on.

Avoid buying from 'curbstoners' - car dealers that sell off the street. When you look on Craigslist pay attention to the pictures, length of time on craigslist, Grammar, syntax, diction. You want to buy from someone that can write in English very well. Lookout for ALL CAPS or BS stories. Look for photos taken in driveways and residential neighborhoods not warehouses and mechanics bays. Look for a picture that includes a current license plate (that shows the car is currently being driven).

Finally, I like to buy in a decent neighborhood nearby and in good neighborhoods like Burke, Fairfax, McLean, Great Falls, Fairfax Station. By owner only.

PS you will be driving an older high mileage vehicle so plan to spend some money each year in repairs.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: I Had Read ()
Date: October 21, 2017 04:16PM

Freq Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Did cash-for-clunkers wreck the used car market?

I had read at one time that the "cash for clunkers" program affected used car prices by about 10%.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: biibib ()
Date: October 21, 2017 04:20PM

Freq Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill.N. Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You are not going to get a $10,000 car in
> Fairfax
> > for $5,000 by travelling to Manassas or
> > Fredricksburg. You may find more inventory in
> the
> > $5,000 or less range, but whether it is
> reliable
> > for more than a year is questionable. Best
> > inexpensive used cars are from drivers over 50
> who
> > have had their 10 year old cars professionally
> > maintained. If you have friends whose parents
> are
> > still in the area then ask them to let you know
> if
> > their parents are going to be trading in their
> old
> > cars any time soon.
>
> This is strange. 15 years ago I was buying
> 8-year-old American cars on Ebay which were
> perfectly reliable for $3,000. No deal like that
> exists anymore and there aren't very many cars for
> sale on Ebay either.
>
> Did cash-for-clunkers wreck the used car market?

Yes, Obama's Cash For Clunkers killed used car market for bargain hunters and it has never recovered. I bought a 93 Town Car w 80k mi dealer maintained for 800 bucks in 2006 and loved that vehicle. Very reliable and I learned to fix stuff as it broke. Today you cannot touch a car like that for under $6,000

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Just sayn ()
Date: October 21, 2017 07:02PM

biibib Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Freq Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bill.N. Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > You are not going to get a $10,000 car in
> > Fairfax
> > > for $5,000 by travelling to Manassas or
> > > Fredricksburg. You may find more inventory
> in
> > the
> > > $5,000 or less range, but whether it is
> > reliable
> > > for more than a year is questionable. Best
> > > inexpensive used cars are from drivers over
> 50
> > who
> > > have had their 10 year old cars
> professionally
> > > maintained. If you have friends whose
> parents
> > are
> > > still in the area then ask them to let you
> know
> > if
> > > their parents are going to be trading in
> their
> > old
> > > cars any time soon.
> >
> > This is strange. 15 years ago I was buying
> > 8-year-old American cars on Ebay which were
> > perfectly reliable for $3,000. No deal like
> that
> > exists anymore and there aren't very many cars
> for
> > sale on Ebay either.
> >
> > Did cash-for-clunkers wreck the used car
> market?
>
> Yes, Obama's Cash For Clunkers killed used car
> market for bargain hunters and it has never
> recovered. I bought a 93 Town Car w 80k mi dealer
> maintained for 800 bucks in 2006 and loved that
> vehicle. Very reliable and I learned to fix stuff
> as it broke. Today you cannot touch a car like
> that for under $6,000


I don't think you are correct on this

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Thanks . ()
Date: October 21, 2017 07:04PM

goooodluck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Craigslist. Used to be you could get a decent car
> for 5k - now you have to be very careful. Buy
> 'one owner' locally kept vehicles only and pay to
> get the Carfax. I would only buy a make and model
> I knew well in this price range and my choices
> would be Merc e320 1999-2003; Volvo v70 AWD
> 2004-2005. That is because I know exactly what
> goes on those and I also know they have rock solid
> engines and transmissions. Other good choices are
> Camry, Accord, Avalon,Civic.
>
> The lots in manassas sell lots of vehicles but
> they dont do anything to repair or service those
> vehicles. You might go out to test drive and the
> battery is dead or a check engine light is on.
>
> Avoid buying from 'curbstoners' - car dealers that
> sell off the street. When you look on Craigslist
> pay attention to the pictures, length of time on
> craigslist, Grammar, syntax, diction. You want to
> buy from someone that can write in English very
> well. Lookout for ALL CAPS or BS stories. Look
> for photos taken in driveways and residential
> neighborhoods not warehouses and mechanics bays.
> Look for a picture that includes a current license
> plate (that shows the car is currently being
> driven).
>
> Finally, I like to buy in a decent neighborhood
> nearby and in good neighborhoods like Burke,
> Fairfax, McLean, Great Falls, Fairfax Station. By
> owner only.
>
> PS you will be driving an older high mileage
> vehicle so plan to spend some money each year in
> repairs.

Great advice- thank you

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Shirlie Slack ()
Date: October 21, 2017 07:29PM

goooodluck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> The lots in manassas sell lots of vehicles but
> they dont do anything to repair or service those
> vehicles. You might go out to test drive and the
> battery is dead or a check engine light is on.
>

All of the smaller lots whether in Manassas or wherever get most all of their cars at auction. For the most part they're the higher mileage and other cast-offs from dealer trades, charitable donations, wreck repairs, and other 2nd- and 3rd tier sources. You're right, generally they do as little as possible to get them into shape to resell. Not that you necessarily can't find a decent car sometimes but the odds are better with well-maintained cars from private sellers and the price usually also will be better since you're not having to cover business costs and margin.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: 2018bumps ()
Date: January 14, 2018 11:12AM

2018 bump, tax time is coming and I will need a ~$6,000 car soon.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Online sort by NOVA ()
Date: January 14, 2018 11:15AM

You can sort the online car website by location. I would try that first. https://www.cars.com/?knc=aybsemhp&aff=aybsemhp&gclid=CIi7x93s19gCFW-zswodswcPuw&gclsrc=ds

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: even better ()
Date: January 14, 2018 04:37PM

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are not going to get a $10,000 car in Fairfax
> for $5,000 by travelling to Manassas or
> Fredricksburg. You may find more inventory in the
> $5,000 or less range, but whether it is reliable
> for more than a year is questionable. Best
> inexpensive used cars are from drivers over 50 who
> have had their 10 year old cars professionally
> maintained. If you have friends whose parents are
> still in the area then ask them to let you know if
> their parents are going to be trading in their old
> cars any time soon.

To follow that logic to its natural conclusion, just kill your friends' parents and then ask to buy the car. Do it yourself because hiring a hit man would cost money thus reducing your car purchasing funds. You might even get a better price due to their grief and the stress of dealing with the estate.

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Re: Best Place in NOVA to Buy Cheap Used Car
Posted by: Dr. Memory ()
Date: January 14, 2018 06:45PM

Carmax and Enterprise.

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