# Used car purchase

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [August 6, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903 "2011-08-06T20:22:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![suzan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@suzan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/suzan)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/1 "2011-08-06T20:22:28Z")

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Does anyone have any clues as to where to buy a reliable used beater in the DC area?

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**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/2 "2011-08-06T20:29:17Z")

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Craigslist. If you are looking for a cheap beater (by the way, what is your definition of a “beater” as some people see things differently. Some people consider a two year old car with 40k miles to be a beater, others consider a \<$500 car to be a beater), be sure to take a nice, long test drive and either take the car to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection or at least bring a friend (someone who won’t get caught up in the excitement of buying a new car and is preferably mechanically inclined) along to prevent you from buying a headache.

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**Author:** ![suzan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@suzan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/suzan)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/3 "2011-08-06T20:40:17Z")

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Should have been more clear-I meant a car around $5-$6K with (hopefully) around 80,000 miles. On AutoTrader and [Cars.com](http://Cars.com) I see a lot of ads from local dealers (usually Sheehy or Manassas Motors), as well as private people and wonder if you have more recourse with a dealer if he sells you a dud-

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/4 "2011-08-06T21:27:18Z")

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Well, there are dealers and there are dealers. I think it is important to check to see how long the dealer (particularly a dealer that handle only used cars) has been in business. Here in my midwestern city, we have a used car dealer that has been a family business since the 1920s. There have been other dealerships that only last 6 months. In your price range, I would suggest setting aside $1000 for any necessary repairs and make certain to pay to have a reliable mechanic check over your potential purchase. Good used cars can come from dealers or private parties. Most cars in your price range are sold “as is”.

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**Author:** ![twotone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@twotone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/twotone)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/5 "2011-08-06T23:42:50Z")

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Look for a Hyundai Sonata on autotrader, [cars.com](http://cars.com) and craigslist. Find used car values on nada, kbb and edmunds. Get a pre-purchase inspection before buying it.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/6 "2011-08-07T01:38:49Z")

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It looks like you are in Northern Virginia. Sheehy has been around as a Ford dealer for a very long time; I’m not sure about Manassas Motors. Since Sheehy is so big (9 brands now), I’m surprised that they sell inexpensive cars. A new car dealer normally sends them to auction. You will probably find a better selection at a dealer that specializes in used cars, like Manassas Motors, Check with people you know to get information about them. We won’t know anything about a local used car dealer.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-purchase/66903/7 "2011-08-07T01:40:16Z")

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As mark9207 noted, meanings can vary but you can do much better than a “beater” for $6-7K / 80K miles. At $6-7K you can end up in a very solid and dependable car.

I would find someone you know who knows at least something about cars.

I would have a trustworthy mechanic on hand to look over potential cars.

Then I would go exclusively with private sellers. I have spent a lot of time on things like Craigslist. Dealers put crazy markups on used cars. I am often astounded by it. If you use a friend to help you “prescreen” candidates and a mechanic to help you check out ones you get serious about, then odds are high that you will do much better just buying from a private seller. What little bit of recourse you might have with a dealer is unlikely to be anywhere near what you have to pay in markup. Individual instances will vary, of course.