what are the key things to look for when buying a car? things that when checked out, youll know the car is in pretty good condition, etc.
i need to buy a car quick, before my birthday.

 

Take a look at this site. Has a lot of good suggestions. Covers a lot of questions. More than I could address in a forum like this.

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/

Hope it helps...

 

thanks

 

Rule #1 -Don't be in a hurry. You need to do your homework. You need to decide which make, model and year car you want and decide which options are important to you.

If you are going to buy a used car, you also need to decide which colors, trim levels and how much mileage you can live with. You need to find a mechanic who specializes in used car inspections.

I suggest that you make a promise to yourself not to buy a used car until you have closely examined at least three of the same make, model and year; and owned by three different owners.

 

#1 Take it to a mechanic you trust
#2 CarFax it
#3 Haggle, haggle, haggle.

 

i dont have the time to do all that. sounds like a good idea but its my first car and im not really going to travel far. i just need a simple dependable car to get me to work and school on time.

 

Well then I hope you can find the time to bring it back and forth to the repair shop.

 

Well, being in a rush or not doing your homework will simply translate into you spending more money. If you can afford that, fine.

The advice NoHalo gave you above about the web site was really good. If you'd take the time to study it -- especially at a young age -- it will pay you back many times over for the investment of your time.

One other possibility for a new car: try something like carsdirect.com The research info is helpful, and the prices I've seen, while not the best, may be better than what an average consumer would get when walking into a typical car deal. You'd also have a reference price when talking to a dealer. Others might have something to say about that and I would be interested in those comments.

 

why dont u just go out and buy the cheapest honda you can find like a crx,civic,accord and save up your money for a real car someday! especially if you are just looking for a point a to point b type of car.