Ask HN: Buy Car

[live_to_code]

Having recently gotten my BS CS, I'm planning on getting a car. Nothing luxury, but also nothing that requires constant tweaking (it's a car, not .vimrc). So I just want something inexpensive & stable. Suggestions?

[jacquesm]

Isn't there a car forum somewhere with car specialists for exactly this sort of question ?

[live_to_code]

I trust the HN community more, and want to know of tricks / optimizations others have used.

[jacquesm]

Ok, well, for what it's worth it sounds like a second hand toyota or something to that effect would be your ticket, they're reasonably cheap and about as reliable as it gets.

Other than that... you'd have to provide a whole pile of information on what your budget is (cheap is not the same for everybody), where you are and how much you expect to drive annually.

The way I do it is I set a budget, research the hell out of what is available on the local car sites within that budget, then pick a car make & model.

Then for the next month or so, every day I log in to all those sites and scan the listings for one that does not match the price/model year/mileage bracket.

The ones that are far below the average are worth looking in to and then you can probably still get a deal 20% better than what is listed. It's a buyers market at the moment.

I just bought a car listed at 11950 euros everywhere for 7000, (a c5 diesel), I expect to drive it for years.

EDIT: regarding the 'trust' factor, if I'm going to code up some stuff and I need advice I'd go to HN, not to my 'mechanic buddies' because I trust them more. Trust is not just personal relationships, it is also expertise.

[bdfh42]

OK - but where in the world are you - such advice needs to be localised to some degree?

[karanbhangui]

Can't go wrong with japanese cars. Very reliable, low maintenance, and hold their value really well. Check out Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

[rabble]

The TDI diesel's get great mileage and last forever. You can hack on it to make it run straight veggie oil at some point if you want.

[Edinburger]

What are your requirements? 2 seats or more? Need to move stuff? How much stuff?