| Author |
Message |
    
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 154
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:46 pm: | 
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Hey,
This may be a silly question, but I'm finding in my searches, that anywhere I look for a used car is hooked up to autotrader or something like it. Not that there's anything wrong with autotrader, but it seems to be all dealers...what if I just wanted to buy a car from a regular guy/gal? Where are those ads anymore? Even nj.com took me to autotrader (or something like it) -- carsdirect, too... thanks |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 161
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 7:58 am: |
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Look in the local newspapers, the Star Ledger, there's a booklet at some of the diners, there's also a small used car dealer in Union on Vauxhall Road just past Burnett. I know several people who have bought cars from him and been very satisified. It's a house on the right side driving towards Lincoln Tech. |
kriss
Citizen
Username: Kriss
Post Number: 301
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 8:24 am: |
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I found my used Subaru on craigslist.com. Bought it directly from its one and only owner in Bergen county. Note: some of the car listings on craigslist look like they are posted by a "regular guy/gal" but are actually a dealer. However, you can pretty quickly discern who's who. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 901
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:13 am: |
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I sold my own car twice. Both times I advertised in the Star Ledger. The first (Volvo wagon) was sold b/c of that ad. The second (Honda Odyssey) was actually sold to a local family that saw the signs I had posted in the playgrounds on trees. I also posted on message boards in grocery stores and the board in DT Maplewood. I got a lot of responses from those places. I also put a free ad on MOL, but I dont' think I had any response from that.
Keep your eyes open. I'd think it would be more appealing to buy from someone who is local b/c you'll "know where to find them" if something lemon-ish occurs.
Good luck! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14049
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:35 am: |
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autotrader lists cars sold by private sellers, though they are in the minority.
Same deal for ebay.
I've bought two used cars from dealers, and they were both good experiences. In fact, they were bettter than two of the four used cars I bought from individuals. I gather the buying experience from dealers has improved, because they often buy a warranty from a warranty company and bundle that in with the car.
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MittenReckitt
Citizen
Username: Mittenreckitt
Post Number: 8
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 9:28 pm: |
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Check out www.cars.com and then sort and look for "individual seller"
I recently purchased both of my cars that way. Took a little patience, but worked out nicely |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 713
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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I want to know something. What's the deal with driving and repairing an older car?
I bought an old, high mileage Saab and I thought I got a good deal (1999 Saab in 2004 for $4000). Now It's blown a gasket and the mechanics are asking me if I want to spend $2000 to keep a car running that may only be worth $3000 at the best auction.
Do we really make our decisions that way? I see a lot of older cars around. We're all spending money to keep them running. Is the value of the car's resale a part of the equation?
Do smarter people lease?
J.B.
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Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3050
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:45 pm: |
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JB, Tom Reingold and I will tell you to go to Warren Auto for a better estimate on the cost, the two brothers there are Saab gods, I couldn't believe how much they didn't charge for some of the work they have done on my '93 Saab 9000 CSE.
What sucked is when the DI Cartridge went when my wife was on vacation this past summer with it, blew the catalytic too. It ended up in a dealership garage and I still feel the pinch, the car is in great shape, but after spending as much money on it as we had to, It doesn't make since to sell it.
Anyway, here is the info for the garage I mentioned.
Address, 82 Morning Glory Rd., Warren NJ 07059
Directions, http://tinyurl.com/phxs4
Phone, (732) 356-3535
Let me know if ye' be needin' a ride |
Terrie Brodie
Citizen
Username: Texasgal
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 8:11 am: |
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We're selling our "99 VW Jetta. It's a stick shift with a fuel efficient diesel engine. Anyone interested let me know.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14072
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 9:37 am: |
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Monster, your avatars keep getting more annoying. I guess you'll take that as encouragement. My God.
Jersey Boy, yes. I've been going to Warren Auto for longer than I can remember. I had three used Saabs. I don't even have a Saab any more, and I still go there. It's kind of on the way to work for me, so I can drive you if you need. When I drop my car off there, I ride my bike the rest of the way to work.
If you think making those big repairs will leave you with a mostly dependable car, then yes, it's worth the money. Resale value shouldn't be a big part of the decision, but a lot of people feel differently. I've bought cars cheap and put many more times the purchase cost into repairs, and I don't feel I've wasted my money.
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Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3071
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 4:42 pm: |
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Looks like I need to take my Saab out there too. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2866
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 5:26 pm: |
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Try www.nj.com. |
Spare_o
Supporter
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 406
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 7:44 pm: |
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Eire--In addition to the suggestions from other posters, keep your eyes peeled for cars with for sale signs on them. I sold my 1990 Acura Integra about 1.5 years ago with about 186K miles on it. I had maintained the car well and put some money into it over the years but it was a pretty reliable car so I never shelled out a whole bunch at once. We decided to buy a new car since we felt reliability may become an issue and would be a problem since we have only one car. I sold the car by putting a for sale sign on it and parked it in front of our house one weekend day in October and at the end of our driveway on a week day after work. It would make a great station car. It sold days later and I got asking price (although I did price it well). The guy who bought it got all the original keys, newish tires and battery, original owner's manuals, the shop book, repair record, etc.
Good luck in your search.
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Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 717
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 8:39 pm: |
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Tom and Monster,
Thanks for the offer to give me a ride. So nice from people I hardly know, but the mechanic I use has a loaner volvo wagon I've been driving while they repair my checking account, oops, I mean car.
I got it back today $1900-ish for what sounds like a pretty complete engine rebuild. But I am reassured that he said he'd be "surprised" if it has any engine problems for the next 100K miles.
I guess I also got my answer to the question about people fixing cars that have sh*t the bed, in terms of their re-sale value. A lot of people do it.
SOOOO, I hope to have another 100k miles before this issue comes up again.
J.B.
Does your garage have "loaner" cars? |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3075
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 10:02 pm: |
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Cool, good price.
Loaner cars, never asked.
who is your mechanic? |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 731
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 1:26 pm: |
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Foreign Aid on Bellevue Ave, in Upper Montclair.
J.B. |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3079
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 1:58 pm: |
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thanks |
knak
Citizen
Username: Knak
Post Number: 156
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 8:57 pm: |
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I recently test drove a 2002 Honda Accord at the dealer mentioned above:
Andy's Auto Sales
http://www.andysautosales.com
2486 Vauxhall Road (just S. of Burnet, across from fire station, before you pass Costa del Sol restaurant)
The owner seemed very honest and lowkey, no pressure. He said his father opened the business in 1945. They still just have 40-45 cars at a time, parked around/ behind the house. He let us test drive w/out even leaving anything there or coming along, also printed out the car's history from a website similar to carfax. They do mechanical work on site.
I found a better deal but would have been comfortable with this business. |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3117
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 9:20 pm: |
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had to have AAA tow the Saab to Warren Auto today, my wife...
well my wife,
how should I put this,
drove the car to the train station this morning,
knowing full well she shouldn't have, I would have stopped her had I been downstairs at the time.
Called in the afternoon saying that the car wouldn't go into gear, clutch no workie
I made her handle it herself since she drove it there, though I did give her the number to Warren Auto, and mention that if she would call AAA they would tow it there for free.
It's not like the gearbox was leaking and leaving a stain on the driveway, or the clutch stayed depressed when she drove it last, ohhhh noooo...
oh well, it's just another thing.... |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14147
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:15 am: |
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Monster, it might just be a broken linkage. That happens, and it's not expensive.
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4703
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:30 am: |
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THere's a listing of cars right here on MOL.
http://www.maplewoodonline.com/classifiedads/category.php?qs1=14 |
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 158
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 11:00 am: |
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I tried nj.com - seriously - everything in there is from a dealer -- is it different when you buy the paper? It didn't used to be like this... is it me?? thanks, everyone, for your suggestions... |
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