Buying a new(er) car, what should I be looking for?

[Kikki]

As you may have read I have never had to buy a car, Dad has always given them to me, except this time I am buying one all on my own. So after months of deciding what to get and checking out heaps of cars, we seem to keep coming back to the Commodore. So a VY wagon it shall be.

Not going to rush out and buy the first one I like although this one Carsguide - Vehicle details (dealer used) was the second one I looked at lol (and aww look its from Vic like me!)

Hubby says however get one completely stock and white (color fading, looking clean etc) and we can lower it etc later on.

So knowing 0 about VY's a couple of Q's.... Buy a car done up a little or DIY? what should I be looking out for? Where do you think the best place is to buy from, auction, dealer, private etc etc? Anyone have any good experience with the auctions?

TIA

[VYMAD]

Yeh, christie, i buy my cars from the Q-FLEET ex government auctions. I'm in qld mind you but you might have something similar there in W.A. you can't go wrong, my current vy was passed in at $18,000. It had 42,000 k's on her, phone kit (which i took out, hate phones!), bull bar. Still had new car warranty and came with 3 month stat warranty. I service it myself 'cos i aint paying holden 150 bucks to change my oil!!! So i would have voided the new car warranty. A used car dealer would have wanted around $22,000 back then (may '06) If i'd waited for the next auction i could have got it for less than reserve, but i needed a car quick after giving the other one to my ex. check out what she did to it on the general page under "phew fotos..."

[Cobez]

Buying used car, what to look for?

[Kikki]

Thanks, I have been looking at Pickles online auctions, but have not yet ventured towards the Govt ones, will keep my eye open, maybe go see one beforehand. Just not too keen on not being able to drive them before buying.... And I would prefer the other one rather than a plain old white one, but will keep looking around

[Lumps of cheese]

I personally wouldn't buy from auctions, simply because i like to drive what i'm buying. I don't mind paying extra for that considering you're spending a fair bit of money anyway but that's just me.

[dijm8]

if u buy sumthing done up a little bit like exhaust, it saves money for doin it urself, and yeh dnt buy from auctions cause u dnt get to drive them, same as above i like to drive wot im buying

[feistl]

Whats your budget?

There is two sides to the argument to buying a done up car.

Firstly, anyone who does up a car usually drives them a little harder. So it could have been thrashed.

On the other hand, buying a car which someone has already put money into has the advantage of... well money has already been spent on the car.

Rub your hand on the inside of the wheel arches, see if there is little rubber "balls". Its a sign the car has done burnouts (hot rubber flicks off the wheel onto the wheel guard).

Dont go white... Buy the car you want. Otherwise you'll always regret it.

Again, whats your budget. Try to get your hands on a Berlina, as it has more features. I personally wouldn't go through a dealer, but thats just my choice.

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

why not get an xr6T? my choice of opinion:P

[Kikki]

Whats your budget?

There is two sides to the argument to buying a done up car.

Firstly, anyone who does up a car usually drives them a little harder. So it could have been thrashed.

On the other hand, buying a car which someone has already put money into has the advantage of... well money has already been spent on the car.

Rub your hand on the inside of the wheel arches, see if there is little rubber "balls". Its a sign the car has done burnouts (hot rubber flicks off the wheel onto the wheel guard).

Dont go white... Buy the car you want. Otherwise you'll always regret it.

Again, whats your budget. Try to get your hands on a Berlina, as it has more features. I personally wouldn't go through a dealer, but thats just my choice.

Budget is $15,000. I have a white car ATM which I don't mind, but would like to get something a little different (hubby's car is white too lol), the thrashed comment is one of the other reasons hubby says stay away from anything that has been lowered, big rims etc and would prefer buy a blank canvas.

To admit it, I actually have no idea which model has what features wise.

The joys of buying through a dealer, as hubby was in the towing business he actually knows allot of them personally, and as he wasn't a customer and they spoke to him as a mate he kind of knows who is dodgie and who isn't, so hopefully we may be able to use that to our advantage.

why not get an xr6T? my choice of opinion:P

Just got rid of a POS Falcon and after 6 years of hard work finally convinced the Ford loving hubby to go Holden, now why would I want another? lol

[Shounak]

The BA kicks buttocks. Poo's over the equivalent Holden models.

[Flat_White]

Christie, we are in the same boat, i am looking at buying a VY from pickles....

pretty much just waiting for one to come up on LPG