Need help buying a used car

[Pumpkin]

So I'm planning on buying a car and a new one is well out of my price range. So far I have two people willing to sell me their car (both of whom I know personally, meaning it's not just some random person I found in a newspaper) and I know absolutely nothing about cars so I was hoping for some help.

One is a Ford Taurus and she wants 2000$ for it. The only repair she said it needs is that there is a wierd "airy" sound in the back when the car is running. (I will post more when I know more) She thinks it will be expensive enough to get fixed.

The other is a Honda Civic and he wants 800$. The windshield is severly cracked on the passengers side and it needs a new muffler.

Both are in so-so condition and are older cars. They also both need winter tires.

I'm going to speak more with them both about the cars and since I know nothing about cars I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of things I should ask them or check myself. I don't want to end up making the wrong decision here and I don't want to buy the cheaper car if the repairs are just going to cost me more. I also want to be sure I have as much information as possible before making the decision so any suggestions of things to ask/check will be extremelly useful.

Thank you.

[Hollycat]

show pics plz, That airy sound could be nothing, or it could be a hole in a pipe on the bottom of the car.

[Pumpkin]

She said it definitly needs to be fixed and the longer I wait the worse it will get. My boyfriend told me what the problem was but I forget so I'll update tomorrow.

[fire_of_avalon]

Here are some things I would want to know before making a decision. Year, mileage, accident history if any, major repairs in the past, history of fluid changes, sound of the engine when idling, what the exhaust sounds like when idling, recall information on the car, whether any of the major internal components have been replaced (motor, transmission, etc.), year on the battery, whether the brakes and rotors have been done recently and regularly, whether lines and hoses are in good condition and what color it is (because it has to make me look pretty, dammit.)

But I'm just a girl who thinks cars are neat. What you need is a car guy. Lucky for you, you know one. I believe he refers to you as cupcake.

[Pumpkin]

Here are some things I would want to know before making a decision. Year, mileage, accident history if any, major repairs in the past, history of fluid changes, sound of the engine when idling, what the exhaust sounds like when idling, recall information on the car, whether any of the major internal components have been replaced (motor, transmission, etc.), year on the battery, whether the brakes and rotors have been done recently and regularly, whether lines and hoses are in good condition and what color it is (because it has to make me look pretty, dammit.)

But I'm just a girl who thinks cars are neat. What you need is a car guy. Lucky for you, you know one. I believe he refers to you as cupcake.

Yea I tried to contact sharky but he is selfishly offline.

But those are good questions and I will right them down. As for the sounds, what are they supposed to sound like? (I wasn't kidding when I said I know nothing about cars)

[Pike]

Yeah, I vote we wait for Sharky to show up.

[NorthernChaosGod]

sharky can certainly help you out, but your best bet is to take them both to a trustworthy mechanic so that he can actually have a look at it and listen for any odd noises. There may not be a whole lot sharky can do from his computer.

[rubah]

checking the condition of the paint in obscure/out of the way places such as in the wheel well and generally anywhere there is paint that isn't on the top or sides can give you a good indication of whether it's been a wreck and had large components replaced with parts from other cars, then [sometimes sloppily] repainted. This isn't necessarily a bad sign, but if they don't own up to the wreck, then it throws doubt on their character.

or so my dad said once

[Pumpkin]

I can't afford a mechanic. I make 800 a month and am refusing my boyfriends money so that's why I need some advice on things to look out for. It wont be as good as a mechanic obviously but any advice is better then what I know now, which is just checking if it actually starts and is not visibly flling apart.

[NorthernChaosGod]

I wouldn't recommend getting a car then, unless you have a friend who's good with cars that can actually take a look at it. Or just fly out sharky.

[sharkythesharkdogg]

Initially? With what I imagine your needs are, Honda Civic.

Both are Front wheel drive, which is good for your winter conditions. The Honda should be good on gas. Cheap maintenance costs. Very common, making parts availability good, and parts costs relatively cheap. Cheap insurance. Etc. Etc.

The Taurus isn't a bad option either, depending on the specific model.

That's knowing nothing about the cars however. What years are they? Mileage? How rusty are they? Do they have a good maintenance history? A paper trail to prove it?

Please tell me the year, mileage, and exact model of each car. Make sure to specify what type of engine the Taurus has. Please mention if they're automatics or manuals (although I think I know the answer).

What's the personality of both the drivers? The Civic driver was male. Is he the type to think he's a mad tyte, JDM street racer? Or is he just driving normally?

[Pumpkin]

I will get back to you probably within the week about those questions. The Ford driver is a very safe driver. The Honda driver is....not but apparently he hasn't driven the car. He bought it and then a few days letter got a newer car and as a result is now selling the Honda. The Ford has no initially visible rust but I'll check more on that and I believe the year is 92 but I'll have to confirm. The Honda has visible rust on the bottom.

[Casey]

Have you tried going on Craiglist? They're cars people sell on there or by dealer.

[sharkythesharkdogg]

I can't afford a mechanic. I make 800 a month and am refusing my scallywagfriends money so that's why I need some advice on things to look out for. It wont be as good as a mechanic obviously but any advice is better then what I know now, which is just checking if it actually starts and is not visibly flling apart.

Ask around about a good local mechanic. Once you get a recommendation on a few, call them to see what they'd charge to look over the car. You might be surprised. Tell them you're a working student, and you don't have a lot of money. You just want to take the little money you have and invest it wisely. They might help you out.

We charge 30-50 dollars to inspect the car pretty thoroughly and tell you what's good and bad about it. We inspect for impact damage, soft parts (hoses, belts, seals, etc.) undercarriage, maintenance schedule, and on and on. The extra 20 dollars is if the person chooses to have us work up estimates on what each repair would cost to take with them as a bargaining too.

30-50 bucks to inspect a possible 800-2,000 dollar investment seems prudent to me.

[Old Manus]

Race it in the Sunday Cup and win fifty times, selling the prize Mazda Demio each time until you have enough credits to buy a used MX-5.


...I'll get my coat