Download - How to Buy a Car for $1,000 - Gnomedex 2008
How to buy a car for under $1,000
By:@KevinFox
Now you can spend $1k on...
... for today's purposes
“People often overlook some of the best features that a vehicle has to offer merely because it looks different than the most popular cars on
the road,” - Mark Simmons, purchasing manager for
CarMax.
You may be thinking....
No way can I get something decent....
But you are wrong!
Of course decent is relative, we are talking $1,000 or less here...
A word on New Vs. Used
● Depreciation
● Costs
● Warranty
● Condition
● Insurance
● History
● Reliability
● At the end of the day...
Let's get to it● Getting Started
– Craigslist.org (go local!)● www.craigshelper.com (useful CL search site)● portland.craigslist.org/car● search by price (aim high, you can bargain!)
– Ebay is less helpful for cheaper cars but worth a look sometimes
Sorting through it all● What to look for
– Minivans (not just for soccer moms... for realz)
– Compacts (with gas prices these just make sense)
– Boxy Cars (cars do not have to look like jelly beans)
● What not to Look For– Exotic Foreign Cars (especially with high mileage)
– Anything Broke down (the car has to run, no rollers)
– Stay away from dealerships (umm ya....)
Look for keywords...● easy project car = completely disassembled,
bring many boxes● minor rust = major rust you can't see.● only 59,000 miles = actually 359,000 miles● rare model = one of 500,000 made● must sell = before law finds seller● only driven Sundays = Sunday is race day● trans. rebuilt = fine sawdust used to make it
quiet● family owned = driven by 6 teenagers
Apply the Rules
● Search local, by price– Check Mailing lists / Forums
● Do not ever pay over $1,000– Good tags for a while a plus!
– Do not leave a deposit
● Car must run w/o need for maintenance● Stay away from dealerships● Always arrange a test drive and buy during day
– Loud knock from the engine is bad thing
I Did...
● 1989 Plymouth Voyager SE– $700
– Good tags
– Runs Great
– 218k Miles
It has been great
● Road trip to Reno AND back– Now has 232k
● Good gas mileage– 25mpg on 4 cylinder Turbo
● Cheap Insurance● 12 second quarter mile?● People love a family man...
What is out there now
● Always lots to choose from on Portland Craigslist– 1991 Chevrolet Blazer S-10, 4.3L V-6, 4x4 - $550
– 1989 Chevy Astro Van - reduced price - $800
– 1988 LeBaron Coupe - $900
– 1991 VW Jetta - $850
● I even found a few gems when I visited Bend...– 1984 BMW 733i – good reputation on forums - $900
– 1987 Chevy Astro Van AWD – good tags - $600
Example #1
● An example of a good boxy car
● The 4.3L V6 is a good, reliable motor (same as Astro Van)
● Some actual maintenance records are posted
● Easy to contact
● http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/715692649.html
Example #2
● The Vans...– Voyager/Caravan
– Astro Van/Safari (AWD)
– Windstar
– Conversion Vans
Example #3
● True American luxury people● $900 w/ new tires and turbo motor!!● http://polybushings.com/pages/LeBaron1.html● Found this on a list.... definite plus
Example #4
● $850 Jetta● Tags good till 09● Decent tires● 35mpg+● Would also suggest
– Volvo 240/740/850
– Early Mercedes Diesels
– Porsche 944 (do homework)
– BMW 733i (new purchase for me - $900)
What I like...● The hunt● Good People / Stories
– I look for people more than cars
● 4x4 or AWD for the mountain● Lots of leg room● Something different, no jelly bean cars● Affordable Luxury● A/C for the summer... or convertible● Cop Car● Possible Veggie Oil conversion
Resources out there...● Mailing Lists
– NW-SDAC● For enthusiasts of Dodge vehicles inspired by Carol
Shelby
– Check Google for your favorite brand/car● Lots of on-line communities out there to help
● Web Sites– www.carsurvey.org
● Forums– Volvo
● IPD Website● VolvoSpeed.com
The End...