Hot dry state, cold dry state, temperate state, etc. I’m guessing hot is worst, salty east coast also bad. Where are the lowest prices? Any thoughts?

There are all kinds of problems with all kind of cars, sure a Michigan car could be rusty, but it does not mean a CA car with no rust and a bad engine is a better deal. Get an independent review of any car you might buy and know the problems before you buy.

The state where you live. Twotone

Just for the sake of discussion. If buying used; I’m going to suggest states that get the least sun, are flat with moderate temperature swings. Within that state, the car that’s maintained well, driven the most considerately and always kept under cover (not heated) when not in use. Of course you nee…

I’ve seen some very high mileage cars in Washington (state) and Oregon. In West Texas they rust less but the very hot climate does the car in just the same. Same for Arizona. California cars accumulate too many miles.

Where you buy it doesn’t matter. Where it spent its life matters, and cars are moved around the country all the time. The used car for sale at your local dealer may have come from thousands of miles away. Ever been to one of the giant dealer-only auto auctions?

Doesn’t matter much, but I put salt-using states at the bottom of my list. Hot and dry is fine.

Hot dry state. The cold states almost all use salt, even if they’re not very wet. (Though the wetter ones use more.) The exceptions are, AFAIK, Alaska and Colorado. However, you don’t want an Alaska car (seriously, if Carfax says that a car has spent more than 1 or 2 years in AK, cross that car …

You want to buy a used car (or even a new one) in a totally sober state. Sober enough not to just fall in love, but have it checked out by YOUR mechanic. Generally that means buying it in the state where you live.

Maybe not the best state to buy from, but the state to NOT buy from is Louisiana. Too many Katrina and other flood cars have come from there and are even issued a clean title using various states that have no “salvage” title, finally winding up on the dealer’s lot with none suspecting a thing.

Where is the best state to buy a used car?

General Discussion

GreasyJack February 24, 2010, 7:26am 4

Unless you’re looking for a classic car, it doesn’t really matter that much any more. Even in salt country, cars don’t get the really nasty structurally-threatening rust they used to (or at least it takes a lot longer). You might be able to get a car that looks nicer in a non-salt area, but it’s really not going to be worth the hassle and shipping costs.

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Where is the best state to buy a used car?

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