Used Cars Purchase Tips

[AutoRacer100]

Hi All,

I have not had to buy an used car since early 2000. I recall the the process of buying a used car was pretty simple and straight forward back then.

Where should I go search for an used car if I would like to buy an used car now? Some people recommend Facebook marketplace, Auto Trader, Carvana, Autotempest etc.). And what is the preferred payment method when purchasing an used car from an individual party? Scammers are everywhere today. How would I ensure that I don't get scammed, ripped off or even worse robbed?

[AndewBear]

A solid tip is to always get a pre-purchase inspection, even if the car looks perfect. Some hidden issues won’t show up until a mechanic takes a closer look. I’ve also had good experiences checking out listings on bestdealsautofla.com—prices seemed fair, and the selection was decent. Also, don’t skip researching common problems for the specific make and model you're considering.

[STXA7]

No lie, I used Autotempest after seeing a bunch of YouTubers like vinwiki and tavarish sponsored by them. Heads up there are some too good to be true scam listings mixed in there, but just be savvy and you won’t fall for them. Got myself what was the cheapest clean title 2015 A7 at the time. It caused a 3 month price dip on recorded sales after buying it :) carfax reports do provide some info. You won’t be able to get dealers to disclose service history on vehicles you don’t own (contrary to what many people ). I recommend you research the F out of the model you’re interested in and be aware of available options you’d like. For the C7 models you can retrofit new RSnav to replace aging MMI etc.


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Edit: one tip is to sort by amount of time listed. The longer a vehicle has sat at the same lot , the more wiggle room there is for negotiation. Be sure to deny any addons , in my case the car was listed with photos featuring 22” chromes that they wanted me to pay 4,000 to keep. Lmao