Want to Buy: Used Car, any advice?

[dkiefner]

I'm looking to buy a used car, for about $3k in USD. I don't need anything fancy, just reliable and with a lot of storage space (a station wagon or something like a Kangoo would be perfect.)

Is anyone on here selling a car like this? If not, can you recommend any good used car lots to check out? I live in Palermo, and obviously there aren't any lots here. Or, does anyone have experience buying a car off MercadoLibre? Thank you for your help.

David

 

[el_expatriado]

You're gonna have a very hard time getting a car for $3k USD.

That'll buy you a 20 year old car.

 

[dkiefner]

Right, I know that cars, even used, are stupid expensive here vs. the US. A 20 year old car with rust and dented doors is fine, as long as it's reliable.

 

[French jurist]

Yop, $3K USD won't get you anything really reliable.

If I was obliged to buy a station wagon for that price, I would go for a "Renault 12 break" like http://auto.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA...12-tl-break-1978-cubieras-nuevas-46652325-_JM

Those cars are cheap, virtually indestructible, can be repaired anywhere in Argentina, there are plenty of spare parts.

On another hand, it's somehow not advisable to buy a car for 3.000 USD here, I'll explain why with an example:
- 3.000 USD will buy you a Fiat Uno from 1997 with maybe 200.000 kms or more.
- for 4.500 USD, you can buy a Fiat Uno from 2007 with 30.000 kms on it if you search well.
The price difference is well worth the hassle you'll avoid.

 

[PhilipDT]

And not a pretty one at that. This is what a 22 year old car that wasn't that nice when it was new looks like. http://auto.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-150855125-escort-flamante-fachero-deportivo-_JM

And thats nearly 2x the 3grand you want to spend.

The largest car you'll find for that price will be a late 70-80's falcon. And it may not be pretty.

 

[Crema Americana]

My husband bought and sold a car on MercadoLibre.

You have to be very careful when buying an old car, because it's very possible the engine and chasis don't match. You should get a police verification on the car.... it's best if you both go, although the seller can do it on his own and present the document.


Also be incredibly careful about visiting a seller with cash. Go with someone or meet in a public area if possible.

 

[el_expatriado]

Go with the seller to get the police verification. That's the safest way. Don't just take the paper from him. You don't want to be tricked into buying a stolen car.

 

[ElQueso]

I'm not sure how things are now, but almost 5 years ago when I bought my car, I found that most of the prices I found from individuals selling their cars were about the same as I was seeing on car lots. It wasn't like in the States where you got a good discount from someone selling privately.

Having heard of issues that some people have had buying from individuals (nothing that couldn't be overcome, for sure), I would try to buy from a car lot. There's a good selection usually (better than going to see one car at a time) and the nice thing for me: the dealership handled all of the details of transferring the title. I just showed up about a week after I bought the car and received my papers and the cedula verde y ya estaba.

I ended up buying my used Megane 1999 5-door in 2007 from a Renault dealership that also sold new cars. I paid 25,000 pesos for what was at the time an 8 year old car. It had about 170K kilometers on the odometer. The dollar rate at the time was a little over 3 to 1, so I paid just a little over $8K USD.

 

[dkiefner]

Thank you. ElQueso, can you recommend where in the city I should look for used car lots? Is it like most cities in the US, where most car dealerships are located in the same area?

 

[PhilinBSAS]

If you go to Avenida Warnes you can buy in instalments exactly what you aspire to - just take a supermarket trolley, start at one end and pick up all the bits you need n.b dont forget you'll do well to also borrow a good socket set