question help: alright, used car shopping help. - Help.com

less than 20,000
anything more than 40,000 is a bad idea

don’t forget to go to carfax.com

Depends a bit on the make. Foreign cars (I’m assuming you are in USA) tend to last longer. Try to get them under 80K aspecially if you drive much. Over 150K is too much. Also depends what you can afford. “Paid for” is better than paying until it is junk and you still don’t own it.

That’s my take at it anyway……..

ok …so 158,000 is too much then?

How much are you being asked to pay? If it’s got a full service history, a new cambelt, a recent oil change and they only want £150 for it then it’s not too bad. If they’re asking £3000 for it and promising you it will last for another ten years then it probably is too much.

they want $5000 for it. it has really good safry ratings, and four doors (those were my parents requirments)

http://usedcars.kbb.com/fyc_b/vdp.jsp…

i know nothing about cars…at all. so if this means something to some one then awesome.

keep in mind this is going to be my first car, so its not like it has to last an eternity or anything, it really just has to get me to and from school everyday (like 10 miles round trip)

I say no to that car. Find a nice 4-door sedan, it will be safer than an SUV and much better on gas mileage, and keep it under 150K, especially if it’s five grand. Check on Craigslist for vehicles for sale in your area too. Carfax.com, of course, when you do find one.

OH and one thing that caught my eye “salvage title”. Which means…

A salvage title is an automobile title with a notation that the vehicle has been damaged in excess of approximately 70% of its previous market value. (Wikipedia)

All I can say is that I wouldn’t pay that in the UK. I’m not too well versed with the US market though.