My BIL is getting rid of his leased (company) car today. It’s a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica w/about 90k miles. It’s been well maintained while he’s had it (since it was new). He insists it’s a great deal, and when I look this year car up on craigslist, most are much more expensive, but of course, less miles (I think I saw a 2006 w/56k miles for $12k). We’re located in Colorado and he’s in Maine, so one of us either flies back and drives it back or we pay about $1000 to have it shipped here. Price (w/o shipping) is $7100.
Our other vehicles are a 2002 Chevy Venture w/110k and 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT w/110k, too. We might or might not get rid of the 2000 Pontiac and if we keep it, only carry liability insurance on it and use it as a work commute car. We’d also continue to use the Venture most of the time and save the Pacifica for long day trips or cross country trips (trying to keep the mileage down on this).
Is this 2007 Chrysler Pacifica w/90k miles for $8100 a good deal, or are we out of our minds?
Check Edmunds.com to see if the price is a good deal. Usually these leased company cars are sold to the driver’s or their families at wholesale prices so they can be a good deal.
I’m not especially impressed with Chrysler Pacific as a model so you can expect some repair bills. If the company driver did the proper maintenance you have the advantage of a “known” car as far as its service history is concerned.
Go to edmunds.com, kbb.com and nadaguides.com and see what they show for some pricing info. I checked nadaguides.com and a clean trade value for basic Pacifica is around $8100.
Keep in mind that your BIL got the best 90K out of this vehicle, and you will probably have an increasing amount of repairs over time. Also note that Consumer Reports judges the 2007 model as one of the worst Pacifica years, reliability-wise. That may impact on what you want to pay.
I guess I also have to ask how this transaction will play out. Is your brother buying it from the lessor and then passing it on to you, at the lease selling/ retention price, or are you buying direct from the lessor/dealer? May make a difference in who and how many times ysomeone pays sales tax.
Depends what “well maintained” means. A lot of people do nothing more than change the oil and claim that their car is well maintained. Here’s some other items worth considering:
Timing Belt & Water pump (if it has one, might not be due just yet)
Coolant / Brake Fluid
Transmission fluid (should have been changed a few times)
Status of brakes
Spark Plugs
Air Filter
Whatever else is in the maintenance section of the owner’s manual
You might want to ask about these things to be sure that it wasn’t well maintained in only one area. Invest time before $.
My first question is: Does the Chrysler Pacifica fit your needs?" If so, it may be a good deal. However, I don’t think you would buy the Empire State building even if it was offered to you at a great price.
You do know the history of this car. The car has traveled 90,000 miles in three years which probably indicates that the car was used for a lot of highway travel. This is a plus, as highway miles are easier on a car. On the other hand, if your BIL was a taxi driver and this was his vehicle, then it has had pretty hard miles.
Back in 1955, my dad was offered a 1954 Buick that had gone 24,000 miles, which was considered high mileage for a one year old car in those days. He knew the couple that owned the car. They had purchased the car for their retirement and had traveled from the midwest to California and back, and then made a couple trips to Florida. They were selling the car because the man’s company called him out of retirement to manage a plant in Australia for two years. He was given a new car in Australia and another new car when he returned to the states. The car fit our needs–it was a sedan and had a manual transmission that my dad prefered. He bought the car, reasoning that road miles were easy on a car and it turned out to be a wonderful car. I bought it from him nine years later, and when I finally sold the car, it had gone 160,000 miles and never had major engine work. It was still on the streets a couple years later.
I don’t know anything about used car prices, but if you have checked it out and the price seems good, and the Pacifica meets your needs, I think I would buy the car.
My first question is: Does the Chrysler Pacifica fit your needs?" If so, it may be a good deal. However, I don’t think you would buy the Empire State building even if it was offered to you at a great price.
You do know the history of this car. The car has traveled 90,000 miles in three years which probably indicates that the car was used for a lot of highway travel. This is a plus, as highway miles are easier on a car. On the other hand, if your BIL was a taxi driver and this was his vehicle, then it has had pretty hard miles.
Back in 1955, my dad was offered a 1954 Buick that had gone 24,000 miles, which was considered high mileage for a one year old car in those days. He knew the couple that owned the car. They had purchased the car for their retirement and had traveled from the midwest to California and back, and then made a couple trips to Florida. They were selling the car because the man’s company called him out of retirement to manage a plant in Australia for two years. He was given a new car in Australia and another new car when he returned to the states. The car fit our needs–it was a sedan and had a manual transmission that my dad prefered. He bought the car, reasoning that road miles were easy on a car and it turned out to be a wonderful car. I bought it from him nine years later, and when I finally sold the car, it had gone 160,000 miles and never had major engine work. It was still on the streets a couple years later.
I don’t know anything about used car prices, but if you have checked it out and the price seems good, and the Pacifica meets your needs, I think I would buy the car.
Sorry, I don’t know why this posted twice.
There is no timing belt on this car. Timing chain.
It is a bit smaller than our minivan, which seats 8. I like a vehicle that seats 2/3/2 or 2/3/3, but there aren’t a lot of minivans out there that seat 8 anymore.
We’re probably not going to buy this vehicle due to the mileage.
It is an excellent price at $8100 if it meets your needs.
I would not worry much on miles if he was driving it distances(eg not in town taxi or delivery service). 90k beyond easy for vehicle if highway miles.
If is likely due for a little maintenance like spark plugs, transmission fluid change, and possibly brakes still a great deal. Just leave maybe $500-$1000 around for mainenance work.