# Buying a used car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 8, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861 "2008-08-08T21:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vrbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/cab0a1/32.png) [@vrbell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vrbell)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/1 "2008-08-08T21:37:24Z")
Have a budget of $4000.00 and just found a used 2000 Volvo S40 with 130,000 miles. Going to look at tonight but what do people thnk? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/2 "2008-08-08T21:58:28Z")
Stay away if it’s a turbo. Also consider a Mazda Protege, the same basic car, more reliable, cheaper to maintain. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_G](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dave_g/32/768_2.png) [@Dave\_G](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dave_G)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/3 "2008-08-08T22:25:48Z")
I think you should put $2,000 down on a newer more reliable car and pocket the other $2,000 for surprise expenses. Unless of course you want a project car to sink lots of money into. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/4 "2008-08-08T23:17:32Z")
It doesn’t make much sense to have to pay interest on an extra $2000 bucks that you may or may not need for repairs. If they’re going to finance a car, they should put as much down as possible. Unless potential future repairs wouldn’t strain your budget, I’d say buy a 2-3000 dollar car with cash and keep the rest in reserve for repairs. Realistically, the chances of a catastrophic drivetrain failure on a 2000 dollar car are not that much more than on a 4000 car. And I agree from a strictly practical financial point of view the Volvo probably isn’t the best choice, but it’s not a terrible car by any means. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/5 "2008-08-08T23:36:35Z")
I’d find something a bit more common and easier to service; say a plain old Buick Century or whatever. With a used car and short budget the object should be to lessen expenses as much as possible and get yourself from Point A to Point B with as little aggravation as possible. The Buicks are not as “exciting” and don’t have the “feel” that the Volvo would have but I think the Volvo is not a good choice unless you have the ability to take care of problems yourself and the ability to track down those obscure parts that may be needed to repair certain things; and those problems will occur to some degree. JMHO ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/6 "2008-08-09T15:34:13Z")
If you only have $4000 in your budget, you cannot afford to maaitain a Volvo. As mentioned by others, buy a good econobox, like a Hyundai Accent, Mazda Protege, which are more affordable to own. Happy shopping. ---
**Author:** ![javasailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@javasailor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/javasailor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-car/17861/7 "2008-08-09T16:37:02Z")
I love Volvos. Have owned three. Folks here are right about the expense of HAVING it maintained. I like to do the brakes, serpentine belt and minor tuneups myself (saving over 80%). Newer Volvos require a certified Volvo mechanic to reset the service engine light. I spent $4200 for my 2000 V70 but I also looked for WEEKS to find just what I was looking for-one with a 5 speed manual. (Living in the SF Bay Area where Volvos are like weeds makes it easy). If you dont feel comfortable as a DYI then definitely have it looked at. I spent $110 for a survey and it revealed the car had been in an accident, and th e alignment was jacked up.