If you are getting close to a big service interval on the mileage, you might as well get a smart with much lower milage and pay a couple of thousand more. If you can pay $12,000 you are going to be in the "under 20,000" club.
Wow, donsgal - you've only been at this a little while, and that was an excellent insight to give young Neon. I totally agree - Neon, you need a car in excellent condition, the lower the miles, the better. In the grand scheme of things, a $12,000 loan on a car in great condition is a much better idea than a -$10,000 one with high miles in unknown condition. More cars are coming off lease all the time, and that should mean lots of 2009's and 2010's (soon) in your price range. Those who lease are usually pretty faithful at bringing the car in for factory maintenance, to avoid penalties when they turn the car in. At least, that's my experience. Good luck with your search!
FWIW and to dovetail on the above posts, have you considered a pure? Less accessories, but maybe a little cheaper for a lower mileage car. I got my '09 in Feb 2011 with 9k miles for $9,000.
Pures are too much work (which means more money)...I'd have to rid of that steering wheel and locate accessories...I'd rather get a low end passion and build from there.
As for mileage, all of the ones I found on sm's classifieds are under 30k mi, but yes, lower equals better.
The reason I'm going $10k and lower is because any higher I'd need a cosigner, and anyone I know who could has the worst credit on planet earth.
Don't forget Neonspinnazz, you are going to have to pay taxes, pay for license plates, additional insurance, (unless it is a replacement car), so make sure you have the money for that too.
Already planned for that. As of now I have a trade in (like said before, my CU doesn't require a down payment unless I'm going after something above $10k) and if I wait until January I'll also have $2000.
My little Kia is pissing me off though, if it isn't my new belt breaking, it's overheating, or blowing out smoke, leaking out fluids, not going into gear, and maybe even grenading...Sounds like a freaking DIESEL!!!
You will get a better deal from a private party, if you can find one, and since most dealers aren't [apparently] giving top dollar for smarts, I think you should be able to get something decent for $10K. Good luck on your search. Also, I've seen quite a few 450s for that [and less] -- some with very low miles; so, it just depends on what you're looking for.
No go on that one. Check out the photos. The Tridion has a deep scrape and crinkle on one side and a few dents on the other. The left headlamp case is shattered and pushed in and the front left fender is cracked through. Plus she's missing the lower front valence as well as fog light fills and a side mirror. Repairing the damaged panels, mirror, headlamp, and the tridion may be cost ineffective...And there may be underlying damage on that front end.
As for my CU, they were concerned mainly because my credit is newly established. To get the best rate I'd have to get a cosigner or choose a cheaper vehicle.
No go on that one. Check out the photos. The Tridion has a deep scrape and crinkle on one side and a few dents on the other. The left headlamp case is shattered and pushed in and the front left fender is cracked through. Plus she's missing the lower front valence as well as fog light fills and a side mirror. Repairing the damaged panels, mirror, headlamp, and the tridion may be cost ineffective...And there may be underlying damage on that front end.
As for my CU, they were concerned mainly because my credit is newly established. To get the best rate I'd have to get a cosigner or choose a cheaper vehicle.
Heh, as far as a first car goes, I have nothing to complain about, many teens are worse off (missing windows, major rust, major damage, major mechanical issue, etc.) than me. But I never planned to keep the thing and I might as well get rid of it before it eats another belt and starts to permanently belch out blue smoke.
Oh, and it's full of 4 stroke motorcycle oil
I'd love a 450...But with limited income and extremely expensive service on Euro imports in my area, it'll be safer to shoot for a 451.
years ago I order a set of 4 mounted on new wheels and they come aired up and ready to go. Of course, when you order just the tires they come with 14.7 psi absolute (i.e. 0 psi gage)
Actually, it's a real question related to your topic. It was in relation to the brabus tires because they're customized.
I would honestly get the yellow cabrio, I mean how you gonna beat a convertible for THAT price?! It will be in your budget and paying it off will be nothing to your budget. Plus that color is REALLY rare. Something about yellow just stands out, especially at nighttime!
Neon, if you go for that Brabus put in your budget the money for basic rims and snow tires. You do not want to go into a Chicago winter with Brabus rim and those tires.
So first my lame credit union denies me this morning (meh, more than 1 bank in the world), then I call ahead to Chicago Toyota only to hear they're making a deal on that BRABUS as I spoke to the salesman!
Well, there's still that one from CarMax...48k mi is a tad on the high side though...
Neon, I know this is a disappointment, but not only is there more than one bank, there are also a lot more used smarts out there, more all the time - and when the time is right, you'll get the right one. (To make this sound completely like something my father would say, insert "hold your horses!" in front of the above statement)
So, they called back and the car was still there! I rushed to chicago to go ahead on with the deal.
I had 20% down
I had perfect income
I had 12 references
What I didn't have was credit. Have my credit been none like the dealer had believed, this post would be a lot brighter. Instead upon running my credit, my parent's past again haunts me. They say I was born in 1985, had a bankruptcy in 2005, and owe every utility company in the area at least $1k.
So in the end, my credit...ISN'T my credit...
In order for me to get a smart I have to get to work on clearing this phony credit.
I know you don't want to here it [again] but I still think you need to focus on getting through school etc. then worry about a car.:wink:
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