any suggestions before I buy my first new car?

semyaza · #1 08-24-2003, 05:26 AM

Yep - my last running vehicle is now dead (the cost of repairing the engine is more than the cost of the car...) and I have been putting off getting a new car anyhow, secretely hoping I could hang out until Dec. so the Mini dealership would open up and I could have one of those... (yeah, I'm weird) but alas, my sable didn't make it.

I am going to be buying a 03 civic ex. I don't like the black seats in the silver I want but I can't have everything. Is there anything I should know before I sign my life away as I finance about 10k of the car?

Sorry, I am young still (19) and I have never bought a new car. So any advice or heads up would be kind.

Thanks.

Silencer_Nate · #2 08-24-2003, 01:02 PM

Watch out for the APR. I'm a year older and bought my GT at 4.6% (but my credit rating is 6.5 or so (good for age)). Be sure not to fall into the trap a lot of people do, buying a car with a loan that after a year, gets negative equity (when the loan is worth more than the car, usually due to paying high interest). In the worse case scenario, assuming you don't have the best credit, or no credit, try and get someone with good credit to co-sign, which will drop the APR like a brick. :-)

semyaza · #3 08-25-2003, 02:37 AM

Thanks for the response,

I understand the apr well and am watching it. I need to go to the bank and see what they will approve me for and then see if the dealership will go below it (and yes, I will be sure to get it fixed so that it doesnt jump from 1.9% to 15% or some crap like that.)

BigDanTheMan · #4 08-25-2003, 02:51 AM

here is my advice - ride a bike until that mini dealership comes out. My mom has a 63 and an 03 works and they are the shit. The vehicles just makes so much sence at any trim level. infintly better than a civic no matter how you cut it. please, for the good of the nation wait for that mini dealership, or go out to the nearest one and do your bussiness there! I can not insist enough on you that you should purchase one of them - they are so new and reliable you could prob snag a deal on ebay and have it shipped out for as much or less then a new one!

semyaza · #5 08-25-2003, 04:38 PM

wow, I wasn't expecting much support on the mini idea. The bike thing would work except I have to drive 50 miles a day to school and back. The closest dealership is about 187 miles away. I might see about trying to talk to the internet manager there and see if they have any 03's they would discount and could ship here... the only problem is I can't really trade-in my car that is pretty much worthless (bent rods and whatnot...)

Bah, I would love to have one but it would be difficult.

BigDanTheMan · #6 08-25-2003, 05:30 PM

hey man, you're first car might as well have a good story behind it. I know for a while this year the dealerships had a waiting list. look into ebay though - i've had a few friends who had succesful purchases on it.

semyaza · #7 08-27-2003, 01:37 AM

hah e-bay is kinda scarey. But all the same I will check it out. I just got insurance quotes on some cars and I think that they are trying to tell me that they don't want to insure me at all. (one of the cars was 5900 dollars for 6 months... of course that was the mustang GT

)

But alas, the civic is cheap, efficient, and better on insurance. I am also looking at the ford ranger edge (yes, I hate fords, rangers, and all domestics ... but they are discounting the crap out of it. so why not?)

bah! my advice for anyone looking to get a new car... don't bother trying to find one you like. Just flip a coin and choose one. I don't think the car matters as much as what you do in it to enjoy it. Hell, if I can enjoy a 74 superbeetle that spends the better part of the year in the garage because it won't start... I can enjoy any car.

Silencer_Nate · #8 08-27-2003, 01:51 AM

Eek! Were you in an accident or something? I'm in California (high rates :-( ), and only a year older and pay under half what you were quoted for a Mustang GT! Maybe you should look around on insurance. I use Progressive, formerly Geico. As far as your car, buy the car you want. Otherwise you'll be stuck making payments for 2-6 years, wishing you'd have bought the mini/car you wanted. Believe me...I wish I'd have bought a Camaro SS instead of my GT...fortunately I sold it and am looking for the Camaro SS now. Seriously, I cannot stress enough that you should buy what makes you happy. I've a few buddies here that bought the "2nd best" car and they don't care about it as long as it runs. It hasn't been washed in months...*shudders*...look like crap. But that's just my humble (cough cough) opinion. ;-)

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