I'll being buying a used car soon, but I don't have much of a budget ($3k). It's been a while since I've bought a used card, so I'm trying to think of things to check. Here's my list thus far.

check tires & belts for wear
check lights & signals
check body for Bondo & the like
check brakes
when was last oil change/tune up

I'm certain this list is perversely short. What else should I look for/at?

Uhmmmmm... I know a much about cars as about the NF (Hell, I don't even follow rugby, and dare call myself South African?!), but here goes:

• Are the cupholders nice and functional...
• Are the seats comfy...
• Make sure there is no fur on the dashboard. In case it is cunningly disguised. Check again.
• Is there space enough in the boot for all your groceries...
• Will you be able to change the tyres yourself in an emergency, being COMPLETELY technically challenged.
• If fluffy dice were EVER used in the car, just walk away. The car is tainted beyond redemption.

Probably not such a helpful list, but those are the things I'd check for first, if I were buying. 

Good point about the dice ... I hadn't thought of that.

I'm sure that there is some sort of guide about the reliability of the different models.  That might be nice to know.  Carfax (sp?) or some such service can give a history of any VIN number, which also might be worth the time and cost. 

I've never been so happy as the last five years without a car.  That's for sure.  And I have to work a month plus less every year.  Which is very, very nice.

Quote from: tekla on March 21, 2008, 04:10:45 PM
I've never been so happy as the last five years without a car.  That's for sure.  And I have to work a month plus less every year.  Which is very, very nice.

I do suppose it depends on where you are though. Here in London a car is just a liability, frankly, but in South Africa I will need one, petrol price notwithstanding.

The few times a year I really need one I can rent it.  Other than that, no gas, no oil, no maintenance, no parking (which in the City can run $26 a day), no tickets for illeagal parking, no insurance, no taxes, no tag fees = more time in Tahoe.

Yeah. They hit vehicles with congestion charges here in London in addition to all the bits you mention, and they're introducing a pollution tax as well. As expensive as public transport is here, it beats putting all your grocery money into your car. Luckily, if you pick your location well, you can pretty-much cycle or walk to most places in the city itself, so it's not THAT bad, really.

Parking in SF is nearly as rare as it is expensive.

When I venture into SF, I usually take BART, or CalTrain and my bike.

You must be coming from the south, I'm on GGT, which has nice buses, I can carry my bike when I want, and to me, the best part.  Zero stress.  Driving in the City and on the freeways is nerve racking, and the costs were driving me nuts.  When people sit down and calculate the total cost of that metal beast in the driveway it is pretty amazing.

Yep, I'm on the peninsula.

My second car ever had this terrible smell when the heat was on.  I bought it in the summer, so I never knew until I went to use the heat in winter   It was pretty nauseating...

Quote from: tekla on March 21, 2008, 04:15:33 PMmore time in Tahoe.

That's my dilemma re cars: How do you get to Tahoe? Rent? Bum?

Amtrack, you'll find me in the club car.

I know quite a large amount about cars, so if you have any questions just ask.

Most importantly, know what you want to buy before you go. Make, model, options. Search online for your car, find the best deal. Do a carfax on the car. If the price is great and the carfax clean, then move on to knowing what to look for.

And honestly, if you know you don't know what to look for, take it to a shop that you can trust. They'll do a pre-purchase inspection for 50-100$ and let you know if you should buy the car. Doing so can save you thousands later.