# About to purchase a car **URL:** \ **Category:** The Show\ **Created:** [June 22, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576 "2014-06-22T19:51:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UMIADE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/eb8c5e/32.png) [@UMIADE](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UMIADE)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576/1 "2014-06-22T19:51:11Z")
Hi Folks, I am considering buying a manual transmission 2010 Mazda Mazda 3i Touring. The Carfax does not have anything besides the last maintainance done by the dealer. Is that reasonable, should I be worried? I did test-drive the car and it feels fine. Thanks. UMIADE ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576/2 "2014-06-22T22:50:06Z")
Carfax is often missing lots of information, although they try to convince you otherwise. As with any used car purchase, your best bet is taking the car to a good mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. A small amount of money spent now might save you from an expensive mistake. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576/3 "2014-06-23T00:08:38Z")
Yes, pay a recommended local mechanic to inspect it. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576/4 "2014-06-23T00:56:23Z")
In 1993 we purchased a 1979 Lincoln Versailles from our elderly neighbors. It was obviously in excellent condition with low miles. I still had it checked by our excellent independent mechanic shop. They gave it a total thumbs up. I thought at that time a Lincoln Versailles was just a Mercury Monarch with a Lincoln grill. It had a 351 cu in V8, Heavy duty suspension, 15 inch wheels, four wheel disc brakes, and 9 inch rear end. In 2 years we put nothing more than oil/ filter changes into it. We paid $4,000 and traded it in for a new 1985 Crown Victoria. The Ford dealer gave us $3,800. I guess we won on this one. $100 for a reputable independent inspection is well worth it! ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576/5 "2014-06-23T23:59:00Z")
+1 for @lion9car and @jesmed1 . You have to make sure that the mechanic is a good one though. My uncle just bought a 2004 Taurus (supposedly) that had been checked out by a mechanic at the dealership where he works. The Taurus was actually a 2002 model that had the driver’s door replaced which had a VIN # still attached. That’s what they assumed was the correct VIN. It was a private sale and he got a partial refund from the seller. When the title arrived…the mistake was discovered. I showed him the VIN tag below the windshield and they matched the title. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-purchase-a-car/85576/6 "2014-06-24T07:35:16Z")
Good ideas above, especially about taking the car to a mechanic for a professional look-see pre-purchase evaluation. Prior to that you might also look up what it says in the “Consumer Reports Guide to Used Cars”. Big-chain bookstores and most public libraries usually have it. You can see what other owners of this make/model/year have had problems with. Then you can ask the mechanic to pay special attention to those areas during the inspection. Best of luck.