How to Buy a Car for $1,000 - Gnomedex 2008

How to buy a car for under $1,000 By: @KevinFox

Now you can spend $1k on...

... for today's purposes “People often overlook some of the best features that a vehicle has to offer merely because it looks different than the most popular cars on the road,” - Mark Simmons, purchasing manager for CarMax.

You may be thinking.... No way can I get something decent....

But you are wrong! Of course decent is relative, we are talking $1,000 or less here...

A word on New Vs. Used ● Depreciation ● Costs ● Warranty ● Condition ● Insurance ● History ● Reliability ● At the end of the day...

Let's get to it ● Getting Started – Craigslist.org (go local!) ● www.craigshelper.com (useful CL search site) ● portland.craigslist.org/car ● search by price (aim high, you can bargain!) – Ebay is less helpful for cheaper cars but worth a look sometimes

Sorting through it all ● What to look for – Minivans (not just for soccer moms... for realz) – Compacts (with gas prices these just make sense) – Boxy Cars (cars do not have to look like jelly beans) ● What not to Look For – Exotic Foreign Cars (especially with high mileage) – Anything Broke down (the car has to run, no rollers) – Stay away from dealerships (umm ya....)

Look for keywords... ● easy project car = completely disassembled, bring many boxes ● minor rust = major rust you can't see. ● only 59,000 miles = actually 359,000 miles ● rare model = one of 500,000 made ● must sell = before law finds seller ● only driven Sundays = Sunday is race day ● trans. rebuilt = fine sawdust used to make it quiet ● family owned = driven by 6 teenagers

Apply the Rules ● Search local, by price – Check Mailing lists / Forums ● Do not ever pay over $1,000 – Good tags for a while a plus! – Do not leave a deposit ● Car must run w/o need for maintenance ● Stay away from dealerships ● Always arrange a test drive and buy during day – Loud knock from the engine is bad thing

I Did... ● 1989 Plymouth Voyager SE – $700 – Good tags – Runs Great – 218k Miles

It has been great ● Road trip to Reno AND back – Now has 232k ● Good gas mileage – 25mpg on 4 cylinder Turbo ● Cheap Insurance ● 12 second quarter mile? ● People love a family man...

What is out there now ● Always lots to choose from on Portland Craigslist – 1991 Chevrolet Blazer S-10, 4.3L V-6, 4x4 - $550 – 1989 Chevy Astro Van - reduced price - $800 – 1988 LeBaron Coupe - $900 – 1991 VW Jetta - $850 ● I even found a few gems when I visited Bend... – 1984 BMW 733i – good reputation on forums - $900 – 1987 Chevy Astro Van AWD – good tags - $600

Example #1 ● An example of a good boxy car ● The 4.3L V6 is a good, reliable motor (same as Astro Van) ● Some actual maintenance records are posted ● Easy to contact ● http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/715692649.html

Example #2 ● The Vans... – Voyager/Caravan – Astro Van/Safari (AWD) – Windstar – Conversion Vans

Example #3 ● True American luxury people ● $900 w/ new tires and turbo motor!! ● http://polybushings.com/pages/LeBaron1.html ● Found this on a list.... definite plus

Example #4 ● $850 Jetta ● Tags good till 09 ● Decent tires ● 35mpg+ ● Would also suggest – Volvo 240/740/850 – Early Mercedes Diesels – Porsche 944 (do homework) – BMW 733i (new purchase for me - $900)

What I like... ● The hunt ● Good People / Stories – I look for people more than cars ● 4x4 or AWD for the mountain ● Lots of leg room ● Something different, no jelly bean cars ● Affordable Luxury ● A/C for the summer... or convertible ● Cop Car ● Possible Veggie Oil conversion

Resources out there... ● Mailing Lists – NW-SDAC ● For enthusiasts of Dodge vehicles inspired by Carol Shelby – Check Google for your favorite brand/car ● Lots of on-line communities out there to help ● Web Sites – www.carsurvey.org ● Forums – Volvo ● IPD Website ● VolvoSpeed.com

The End...

How to Buy a Car for $1,000 - Gnomedex 2008

by Kevin Fox on Nov 01, 2008

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How to Buy a Car for $1,000 - Gnomedex 2008 — Presentation Transcript

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