Buying a new car or used car?

[Me S]

I am trying to buy a car. I've been to few dealerships new and old and there are just so many options everywhere.  

This is my first car so I'm curious of how do you know that you are making a smart decision when all you have is your gut?

Do you trust your gut....What kind of satisfaction or do you get when your gut was right or maybe wrong.
Ok... so I got really good advise from everyone already.

How do you feel about CarMax? they have a totally new approach when it comes to buying the car with the whole no hassle/ no haggle promise. They have a set price and stuff. Should I trust all that or do you get more reward for haggling over the price with the dealer.

[badboykevin]

a new car!

[Kev]

idk but please help me with mine

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Avj3fgiZz2yXDGRYhm_aWz_sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20081117130152AAKuvol

[JM]

research the car! get the consumer car reports to check out safety and reliability. see if anyone you know has that car and get their opinion. check into resale value of each vehicle.

[Aidan]

whatever suits you best

[shawn c]

Just use a resource such as Kelley Blue Book to see what the actual price of the car is. It lists several prices of the same car including new and used.

Here's the site: http://www.kbb.com/

[tokidoki_lover0521]

A new car, since a new car has still its new car scent. Old cars? You don't know who originally owns it, which could even lead you to trouble.

[uber_hound]

In the last 3 years, we have bought two Hondas that are Certified Used Vehicles (certified by the manufacturer, not the dealer)

We have been really happy with these - a Civic Coupe and an Element (yes, I know it looks sorta like a toaster)

These are reasonable priced, have a GREAT warranty (100k miles) and have been completely trouble free.  They also have special financing for these if you have okay credit (got ours at about 5.5 percent)

In short, buy a car with an "H" on it

[mike j]

don't get anything fancy if its your first car just get something that is decent and still has time to run so try to get something with low miles or something that will run a long time like a honda

[SMILEY SON OF BRAINS]

It;s bargain time at the moment because car sales are at an all time low so I would go or buying new and that way you have a warranty to fall back on if you have any major problems with the car, something you don't normally get with second hand cars.

[k_herlache]

There is one thing I always do when buying a new/used car.  I check out the prices everywhere first.  I usually try to have someone at home that is waiting by the internet to do research for me if I am at a dealership and find something I like.  

New cars depreciate immediately when they are driven off the lot.  However, if the incentives/discounts are large enough it may work out in your favor.  

Try carsdirect.com they usually have the best prices when it comes to new cars and I have used them to purchase a new car before and loved it.  Edmunds.com is also very resourceful.  Have the person by the PC while you are out shopping look up blue book value for you when you are trying to purchase the car so you don't over pay.  Go with your gut instinct on everything, if it looks too good to be true it will be.

Carsdirect.com will price out the car for you giving you every option you want and they really can get it at the price they say they can.

[Jeff W]

I suggest a used car for your first one.  Take a look at "Consumer Reports" for best buys in your price range.  A used Honda or Toyota is often a good first car.  Limit your gut feeling to choosing among several cars that have good reliability ratings.  Good luck.

[Andrei S]

Find out what car you like and what will you do with it. It's not about what car you have it's about the driver and how how drives the car. Safety is the #1 issue with a car. Check out youtube videos for car crash test and try to imagine what's the worst thing that could happen to you in a car. Yes do trust your gut when it comes to safety.

[lisyhawk]

Have you heard of Car Checkers of America? When you have the "gut" feeling strong enough to buy, you might want to give the car checkers of America a call and they will come out and look over the perspective purchases for 50 bucks and tell you the truth about the car. This is mostly just an idea for people buying privet party. They will tell the truth so if you really want the car and don't care how much work it will take to keep it running don't bother to call. good luck at the car lots. I really don't go there anymore, instead I look on craigslist for local deals.

[Paul]

WHATEVER you decide to buy, don't fall for that "factory certified" CRAP.
The factory never looks at used cars. JOSE (or his cousin, hose B) out on the back of the lot goes over the car and checks off "OK" everything on a checklist, and they call it "certified" (BS) if those cars are better than the REGULAR used cars, why don't they give you a free warranty with it?

That "certified" BS is just a gimmick to get you to pay MORE for the car.

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/used.htm

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/

[insomniac]

Are you kidding?  I would never buy a new car.  To do so is to pay a fortune in tax, and lose thousands with the first mile driven off the forecourt.  
   I have been driving for twenty-five years, and can tell you that a good Mercedes-Benz will tick every box you need it to.  I buy old ones for two weeks wages.  The most they can ever owe me is... two weeks' wages, yet they do at least three years sterling service for me, before I find myself buying another and passing them on - for one weeks' wages - to friends eager to have them.  I service them myself, and save masses of money compared to having a new car serviced.
    Put your money into property.  If you must have a new car, get a company to buy one for you.

[mahendrix]

read the contract...there might be some string attached...like a high interest