Used Car Milage?

[Irin]

So, I recently got a full time job and eventually I'll be searching for my first car because I cannot deal with public transportation during a Chicago winter.

I was wondering what's considered to be a used car with good to decent milage, considering that I'm only going to use the thing to commute back and forth to work and go on weekend errands (shopping, groceries, ect)

Also, is there anything else I should be wary about when buying used cars? I know it's better to buy new but there's no way I can afford a new car atm.

[Everlong]

I was wondering what's considered to be a used car with good to decent milage, considering that I'm only going to use the thing to commute back and forth to work and go on weekend errands (shopping, groceries, ect)

Also, is there anything else I should be wary about when buying used cars? I know it's better to buy new but there's no way I can afford a new car atm.

It really depends on your price range and the type of car that you're looking at. If you are looking for a good reliable sedan like a Honda Civic or Accord or a Hyundai Sonata or a Toyota Corolla or something along those lines, you could probably find a car in decent shape with about 100-120k miles on it for a few grand. Those cars are extremely reliable and have been known to go 250k easily. Keep an eye out on Craigslist for cars like that and feel free to negotiate... just don't give a ridiculous lowball price and people will be likely to at least hear you out.

Things you should check when buying a car:

-To avoid getting boned on the price, look up the value of the car on Kelley's Blue Book (kbb.com). This will give you a good idea of whether they're asking for a fair price, and if you see that the KBB value is lower, point it out to the person selling.

-Tires. Last thing you want is to have to buy new tires right after buying a used car, because tires are expensive as shit. They should have a decent amount of tread still on them and not have any patches.

-Rust on the body. It's ok if a car has a couple scrapes or dents, but you really need to be on the lookout for rust or exposed metal under paint scratches because that could be really bad for the body of the vehicle.

-Get a detailed history of all the maintenance done over the years on the car and be sure to ask if it's ever been in a wreck, and if so, what kind of wreck it was. Definitely avoid buying a car that had any front end damage as you never know what kind of long-term damage that did under the hood. Don't trust anyone who won't give you maintenance/repair records.

-Look for leaks, whether it's coolant, oil or anything else.

-ALWAYS TEST DRIVE. This is extremely important. Don't let anyone be iffy about letting you behind the wheel. Bring a friend with you to sit in the back to see what it feels like on the road and if tehre's enough space. Having a friend also can help you feel more secure when you're meeting up with someone you don't know. Test drive on both city and highway streets if possible to see how the vehicle performs in different areas. Be sure the brakes are responsive.

-When driving, be on the lookout for vibration or feeling like you're drifting to one side or the other. These could indicate suspension or axel issues.

-Be confident. This is going to sound bad, but you may very well have people try to take advantage of you because you're a woman and they'll assume you don't know what you're talking about. It's stupid, but it's reality--I've had this happen to plenty of my female friends. Do your research ahead of time, know what you want and what you're willing to pay and if anything at all seems off, know you can walk away from the deal and it won't hurt you at all.

I'll give you more tips if I can think of them.

EDITED to add: Feel free to profile people who post online ads based on teh kind of ad they put up. The more thorough they are in their listing and the better grammar they use and the better quality pics they post, the more likely they are to be trustworthy. That's stereotyping, but in my experience in buying stuff on Craigslist it's been universally true.

[Everlong]

Oh and I totally forgot to mention mileage. With a car like a Civic or Corolla you'll get 30+ in the city and 38+ on the highway easily. I drive a 2012 Civic and average 32 city, 45ish highway.

[Chewy]

Also check if there is any warranty left on the vehicle.

Do you have anything like car facts in the US? It's basically a report from the motor registry that details if the vehicle has been written off in an collision of if it has any outstanding debt or liens on the vehicle.

Don't get a Hyundai, they are disgusting and made out of baby seals by ISIS members.

If you want cheap mileage you could probably look at a diesel car, but don't expect anything fast.

Check the ncap rating, will tell you how safe the car is in a collision.

Don't get anything really old or unique, stay within five years old. Parts will be more common and cheaper.

[Irin]

Ahh you two are awesome. Thanks so much for the detailed responses.

I know Craigslist is pretty much an one-in-all marketplace for all things used, but it's also a good place to get ripped off pretty easily. Would it be a good idea to check online used car marketplaces like drivechicago.com? They pretty much compile all of the used cars from dealers across the Chicagoland area. I feel like these cars may be a bit more on the reliable side, but I'm also certain the price is jacked up because of it.

Do you have anything like car facts in the US? It's basically a report from the motor registry that details if the vehicle has been written off in an collision of if it has any outstanding debt or liens on the vehicle.

Yep, we have CarFax, which is included in drivechicago.com's web listings. So, that's another reason why I'm leaning towards them.

Also, thanks for reminding me of the warranty bit -- that's a pretty good reason to stay within five years or so. One of my friends bought an old lemon of the car and they're always getting it repaired.

Oh and I totally forgot to mention mileage. With a car like a Civic or Corolla you'll get 30+ in the city and 38+ on the highway easily. I drive a 2012 Civic and average 32 city, 45ish highway.

How do you like your Civic? I noticed quite a few listings on both Craigslist and drivechicago and it seems like a car I would be interested in. Not too big or too small, and it seems like it would be perfect just for commuting or driving around the city.

[Kein]

Ahh you two are awesome. Thanks so much for the detailed responses.

I know Craigslist is pretty much an one-in-all marketplace for all things used, but it's also a good place to get ripped off pretty easily. Would it be a good idea to check online used car marketplaces like drivechicago.com? They pretty much compile all of the used cars from dealers across the Chicagoland area. I feel like these cars may be a bit more on the reliable side, but I'm also certain the price is jacked up because of it.

I prefer working with craigslist than dealers. I have a friend who got a truck from a dealer and it looked great but it turned out the thing is pretty shot beyond repair so now hes looking at a lawsuit. There are a ton of things you can look for in an old car, but only a handful that are really important parts to check into, many others are pretty easy to fix, and given it's used, it will understandably need some maintenance. I actually like to look for cars under 100k but that's just me. over 100k will give you a much lower price.

[Everlong]

Yeah, I agree with Kein. For used cars, unless you want a new-used car (2-3 years old model with a previous owner) you're going to get much better deals going through Craigslist. While the onus is more on you to do your research and stuff like that, you'll probably save thousands of dollars that way, especially when it comes to extra fees you'd have to pay for a dealer.

How do you like your Civic? I noticed quite a few listings on both Craigslist and drivechicago and it seems like a car I would be interested in. Not too big or too small, and it seems like it would be perfect just for commuting or driving around the city.

Love it. Great mileage, for one, which is really important. Perfect size for me, and I'm a bigger dude. Also, Civics are among the most reliable sedans you'll find. I know people who have taken Civics for 300k miles.