1st Used car...thanks

[husky99]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

 

[fatlucy]

Get her a Toyota Tacoma. Totally worth it. Can’t advise on a dealership other than Toyota. Good luck to her. I’m in Construction and we need skilled people.

 

[CCSUblue]

I've heard good things about Canton Auto Exchange. A decent small pickup might be tough to get at that price point, maybe look at Subies, Outbacks and foresters have a good amount of room, especially with the rear seats down.

 

[Samoo]

Don't get a Lexus, I hear they go into reverse too easily ..

 

[Lafayette]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

Try Schaller? I went to HS with him and he's pretty good on deals and reliable.

 

[storrsroars]

Can't help you with a dealership, but I will say last year I bought a 2003 Acura MDX for $2500. As it happens, my wife is controller for one of the larger limo companies around here and this was a car originally owned by the CEO, who gave it to one of his kids. However, it was serviced regularly by the limo company. Has dings, 160K miles, and the onboard computer doesn't work (don't need GPS anyway and audio is fine), but it might be the most comfortable vehicle I've ever owned.

If you have any contacts with a fleet operator, that would be a source to consider.

 

[RJScootin]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

You're in a tough spot with that budget. Bump up to $10-15K and you can find a nice Honda CRV or Toyota Rav4 (Mazda is a sleeper for reliability). You should go on Car Gurus to search for used car, you can filter pretty good on what you like.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

My only recommendation is to exclusively buy Honda/Acura or Toyota. They’re both so bullet proof that it isn’t even worth bragging about taking one to 300k miles

 

[husky99]

I've heard good things about Canton Auto Exchange. A decent small pickup might be tough to get at that price point, maybe look at Subies, Outbacks and foresters have a good amount of room, especially with the rear seats down.

1000% what i was thinking.
All wheel drive also

 

[JMick]

Can't help you with a dealership, but I will say last year I bought a 2003 Acura MDX for $2500. As it happens, my wife is controller for one of the larger limo companies around here and this was a car originally owned by the CEO, who gave it to one of his kids. However, it was serviced regularly by the limo company. Has dings, 160K miles, and the onboard computer doesn't work (don't need GPS anyway and audio is fine), but it might be the most comfortable vehicle I've ever owned.

If you have any contacts with a fleet operator, that would be a source to consider.

You do have to watch out for the transmission on these. If it got to 160k then it's probably fine but a lot of them quit under 80,000 miles

They're really nice cars though. They were ahead of their time in terms of comfort

 

[UConnJim]

My concern with an older used car is maintenance and repair as the costs are hard to quantify. If you do your own repairs or have a really good honest mechanic and the car is not European, you might be OK.

It sound like this may be a first car. I would look at leasing for $300/month or less with ~3k to $4k down. Then you have fixed your expenses for 3 years. Cars like Honda HRV or Civic, Subaru Outback or Legacy.

 

[ctbro1999]

Gonna semi hijack this thread and ask for advice about a good first car for a teen. Have started to target a the used compact SUV market, and looking at Honda CRVs with AWD at the moment. Seeing 2018s with 60-90k miles listed for $17-20k (damn Hondas and their resale value!)
If anyone has any more suggestions, please share them! Thanks.

 

[Husky25]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

Have you tried entering your criteria into Car Gurus dot com, cars dot com, or similar?

 

[Chuck]

Gonna semi hijack this thread and ask for advice about a good first car for a teen. Have started to target a the used compact SUV market, and looking at Honda CRVs with AWD at the moment. Seeing 2018s with 60-90k miles listed for $17-20k (damn Hondas and their resale value!)
If anyone has any more suggestions, please share them! Thanks.

We got my son a Mazda CX-5. We got it new, so I can't speak to the 2018 or so versions. But, they have good reputations and we've been happy with our 3 year old CX-30 that we had gotten for our daughter.

 

[CCSUblue]

Gonna semi hijack this thread and ask for advice about a good first car for a teen. Have started to target a the used compact SUV market, and looking at Honda CRVs with AWD at the moment. Seeing 2018s with 60-90k miles listed for $17-20k (damn Hondas and their resale value!)
If anyone has any more suggestions, please share them! Thanks.

Get them an older outback.

 

[CCSUblue]

Have you tried entering your criteria into Car Gurus dot com, cars dot com, or similar?

There's an app for that.

 

[Husky25]

There's an app for that.

Of course there is.

 

[huskeynut]

Our oldest son is a sales manager at a Subaru dealer. He's in Bewster, NY. I know ihat's not helping. He use to sell Mazdas for a nmber of yearts. However I will give you his advice.

Mazda3 or a Mazda CX30 or a CX 50. Subaru's have real good track records. Outbacks, Forrester's, and Impreza's. He picked up a used 2010 Impreza for $6,000.00 for his oldest son. 35,000 miles on it.

For the comment on Lexus, we are on our third one. 2004 RX330 went to 170,000+ before we sold it. We have 2013 ES350 with a 108,000 miles on it and no problems. This is my car. The wife has a 2024 NX250. Never heard of the of them going into reverse too easily.

 

[storrsroars]

You do have to watch out for the transmission on these. If it got to 160k then it's probably fine but a lot of them quit under 80,000 miles

They're really nice cars though. They were ahead of their time in terms of comfort

Nobody uses the term here, but for me, it's a station car. Use locally only to shop and get to my dog clients. If tranny starts slipping, I can probably get around town in low gear, lol.

 

[Umami Zen]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

Live in FV. Have bought from Canton Auto Exchange in the past. Good guys. Also have a biz client who owns a Subaru dealership in Hartford area(within 20-25 miles of FV). They sell new and used and have an excellent Service Dept. If interested-Can help with intro.

FWIW-My wife is on her 5th Outback-Solid and reliable-Great in snow

 

[HuskyHawk]

Gonna semi hijack this thread and ask for advice about a good first car for a teen. Have started to target a the used compact SUV market, and looking at Honda CRVs with AWD at the moment. Seeing 2018s with 60-90k miles listed for $17-20k (damn Hondas and their resale value!)
If anyone has any more suggestions, please share them! Thanks.

We got my son a Mazda CX-5. We got it new, so I can't speak to the 2018 or so versions. But, they have good reputations and we've been happy with our 3 year old CX-30 that we had gotten for our daughter.

I got a 2016 CX-5 new and after driving it 4 years or so it became my daughter's car. Hasn't had any mechanical issues at all.

Honda, Toyota, Mazda are all very solid choices in small CUVs for a teen. But you can get more car for your money with something like a Civic. I have friends who had had great luck with Subaru Crosstreks as well. Cheap, efficient, reliable, AWD and roomier inside than you'd expect. That and a Civic would be smart budget options.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Our oldest son is a sales manager at a Subaru dealer. He's in Bewster, NY. I know ihat's not helping. He use to sell Mazdas for a nmber of yearts. However I will give you his advice.

Mazda3 or a Mazda CX30 or a CX 50. Subaru's have real good track records. Outbacks, Forrester's, and Impreza's. He picked up a used 2010 Impreza for $6,000.00 for his oldest son. 35,000 miles on it.

For the comment on Lexus, we are on our third one. 2004 RX330 went to 170,000+ before we sold it. We have 2013 ES350 with a 108,000 miles on it and no problems. This is my car. The wife has a 2024 NX250. Never heard of the of them going into reverse too easily.

It's a Karen Read trial joke.

 

[husky99]

Have you tried entering your criteria into Car Gurus dot com, cars dot com, or similar?

Hit most of these

 

[CTHSHoops]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

.

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

New Look Auto Sales Inc. 482 Main St, Indian Orchard, MA 01151, Jack and Tony. Have used them for 30 years

 

[StllH8L8ner]

My wife drove a Toyota Venza for years and it was her favorite car. If you can find one of the older body styles (2012ish), they have a ton of room in the back and never had an issue.

She wouldn’t have gotten rid of it @160k miles but the rattles were getting a little embarrassing from her hitting the garage door frame, my car, a deer, curbs, etc.

 

[husky429]

My concern with an older used car is maintenance and repair as the costs are hard to quantify. If you do your own repairs or have a really good honest mechanic and the car is not European, you might be OK.

It sound like this may be a first car. I would look at leasing for $300/month or less with ~3k to $4k down. Then you have fixed your expenses for 3 years. Cars like Honda HRV or Civic, Subaru Outback or Legacy.

Leasing a car is RARELY the best financial decision, and this is absolutely not the spot for it.

 

[husky429]

Ok. Need help. Looking for a good reliable used car dealership (yes an oxymoron). I will ironically drive 30 to 45 miles out of the farmington valley on a good tip.
Need a 3k to 5k good 1st car for my step daughter who is about to be a carpenter (do need some space for tools).

I have looked on Facebook market place and 23 other sell by owner sites. Disaster... thank God for carfax etc.
Thanks

What kind of carpentry is she getting into? That will determine her needs. If she's starting her own company or the place she's working for

I haven't worked in carpentry for a long a** time but my uncle was a GC who did his own carpentry and hired on his plumber, drywaller, tile guy, etc. All of his folks brought all their own equipment and needed trucks or vans. But if you're working for a homebuilding company or something and they're providing everything but your tool belt (miters, air compressors, etc), then you'd probably be fine with a typical hatchback.

If the truck is needed, I'm thinking finding something where you can get a reasonable monthly payment with the 3-5k down would be the only way. A 3-5k truck is not going to get you far. I just sold a piece of crap old truck with 250k miles and no catalytic covertor for 7k and that thing is not close to a reliable ride.

 

[AtlHusky]

Chiming in on the Mazdas in general. Spent many years with Honda, Nissan/Infiniti (don't ever buy a 15 YO model or newer of either, their transmissions suck), and went Toyota when it was time for the mini-van in '05 replacing an RX-300 that we outgrew having kids. Most bought used. I replaced the Sienna (bought new) with an '09 CX-90 in '15 and haven't looked back. Traded that one in for a new '20 CX-9. Bought my oldest daughter, as a new driver, an '18 Mazda3 hatch for HS four years ago, she's passed it on to my youngest, and last year got her a '16 CX-5 to take to college. This past fall I pulled the trigger on a '21 Miata for me. Have had great luck with all of them, just needing basic maintenance.

Your price point is gonna be a challenge. Mazdas hold value based on reliability ratings, but often come in under Honda and Toyota. I'll close by adding, IMHO, Zoom Zoom is real.

 

[B1GEast]

cargurus.com

 

[alphasigko]

Don't get a Lexus, I hear they go into reverse too easily ..

I have had 4 Lexus vehicles since 2005, 3 RXs and 1 NX200t and have never had that problem. In my experience they are great cars, and are very reliable with minimal mechanical issues.

Unfortunately, they do not make a work truck model.