Very OT: Car Buying in the USA
Guest
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Re: Very OT: Car Buying in the USA
"Ian S" <iws51remove@***.net> wrote in message
news:kX0tf.2899$ZA5.2005@fed1read05...
> "Stuart" <dontuse@this.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:lPTsf.61394$vl2.60458@fe2.news.blueyonder.co. uk...
>> I have had some excellent feedback from this group in the past, this is a
>> long shot but I hope that someone may be able to provide some insight. I
>> also realise that this group has an international audience.
>>
>> If you can point me at another more appropriate group then please do.
>>
>> I may be moving to the USA for about 1-2 years, California specifically.
>> I need to two family vehicles.
>> In the UK I was very impressed with www.HonestJohn.co.uk for second-hand
> car
>> information.
>>
>> Does anyone know of any other good sites pertaining to the USA that could
>> accelerate my understanding of how the second-hand market works in the
> USA.
>>
>> Bought my last UK car at auction and it has been an excellent buy.
>>
>> I have heard that www.carfax.com is good for checking the background of a
>> vehicle.
>>
>> My main goals will be to get good reliable vehicles, that have lost most
> of
>> their depreciation already. However, I am not sure what the local
>> pitfalls
>> are.
>>
>> Any advice gratefully received.
>>
>> Stuart
>
> http://www.edmunds.com/ is one place to start. They have a lot of info on
> used cars especially prices. For more independent information, Consumer
> Reports does a lot of car testing and maintains a large database of
> reliability information going back several years.
> http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home.htm Some of their website is only
> available to subscribers. Their monthly magazine devotes an entire issue
> (April) every year to automobiles both new and used. A summary of their
> testing is available in an annual Buyers' Guide published in December.
>
> As far as the used car market itself, the best cars will most easily be
> found at a new car dealer but at the highest price. Many cars now come
> with
> 3-4 year warranties so you may still get one under the manufacturer's
> warranty even if it's a couple of years old. If you buy from an individual
> you can often get a good deal but you really have to know what a car is
> worth and be alert to and understand possible mechanical problems - caveat
> emptor! There are aftermarket warranties available but they will typically
> exclude many items. It is easy to find independent mechanics to work on
> American and Japanese models; there are typically fewer available to work
> on
> European cars. Since you'll be registering your car in California, it's
> important to buy one that meets California smog regulations to avoid a lot
> of hassle. That's no problem if you buy in California but can be one if
> you
> buy out of state. Good luck!
>
>
Thanks for taking the time to write this up, much appreciated.
Some excellent points to consider.
Stuart
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Very OT: Car Buying in the USA
"Ian S" <iws51remove@***.net> wrote in message
news:kX0tf.2899$ZA5.2005@fed1read05...
> "Stuart" <dontuse@this.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:lPTsf.61394$vl2.60458@fe2.news.blueyonder.co. uk...
>> I have had some excellent feedback from this group in the past, this is a
>> long shot but I hope that someone may be able to provide some insight. I
>> also realise that this group has an international audience.
>>
>> If you can point me at another more appropriate group then please do.
>>
>> I may be moving to the USA for about 1-2 years, California specifically.
>> I need to two family vehicles.
>> In the UK I was very impressed with www.HonestJohn.co.uk for second-hand
> car
>> information.
>>
>> Does anyone know of any other good sites pertaining to the USA that could
>> accelerate my understanding of how the second-hand market works in the
> USA.
>>
>> Bought my last UK car at auction and it has been an excellent buy.
>>
>> I have heard that www.carfax.com is good for checking the background of a
>> vehicle.
>>
>> My main goals will be to get good reliable vehicles, that have lost most
> of
>> their depreciation already. However, I am not sure what the local
>> pitfalls
>> are.
>>
>> Any advice gratefully received.
>>
>> Stuart
>
> http://www.edmunds.com/ is one place to start. They have a lot of info on
> used cars especially prices. For more independent information, Consumer
> Reports does a lot of car testing and maintains a large database of
> reliability information going back several years.
> http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home.htm Some of their website is only
> available to subscribers. Their monthly magazine devotes an entire issue
> (April) every year to automobiles both new and used. A summary of their
> testing is available in an annual Buyers' Guide published in December.
>
> As far as the used car market itself, the best cars will most easily be
> found at a new car dealer but at the highest price. Many cars now come
> with
> 3-4 year warranties so you may still get one under the manufacturer's
> warranty even if it's a couple of years old. If you buy from an individual
> you can often get a good deal but you really have to know what a car is
> worth and be alert to and understand possible mechanical problems - caveat
> emptor! There are aftermarket warranties available but they will typically
> exclude many items. It is easy to find independent mechanics to work on
> American and Japanese models; there are typically fewer available to work
> on
> European cars. Since you'll be registering your car in California, it's
> important to buy one that meets California smog regulations to avoid a lot
> of hassle. That's no problem if you buy in California but can be one if
> you
> buy out of state. Good luck!
>
>
Thanks for taking the time to write this up, much appreciated.
Some excellent points to consider.
Stuart
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Very OT: Car Buying in the USA
"Ian S" <iws51remove@***.net> wrote in message
news:kX0tf.2899$ZA5.2005@fed1read05...
> "Stuart" <dontuse@this.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:lPTsf.61394$vl2.60458@fe2.news.blueyonder.co. uk...
>> I have had some excellent feedback from this group in the past, this is a
>> long shot but I hope that someone may be able to provide some insight. I
>> also realise that this group has an international audience.
>>
>> If you can point me at another more appropriate group then please do.
>>
>> I may be moving to the USA for about 1-2 years, California specifically.
>> I need to two family vehicles.
>> In the UK I was very impressed with www.HonestJohn.co.uk for second-hand
> car
>> information.
>>
>> Does anyone know of any other good sites pertaining to the USA that could
>> accelerate my understanding of how the second-hand market works in the
> USA.
>>
>> Bought my last UK car at auction and it has been an excellent buy.
>>
>> I have heard that www.carfax.com is good for checking the background of a
>> vehicle.
>>
>> My main goals will be to get good reliable vehicles, that have lost most
> of
>> their depreciation already. However, I am not sure what the local
>> pitfalls
>> are.
>>
>> Any advice gratefully received.
>>
>> Stuart
>
> http://www.edmunds.com/ is one place to start. They have a lot of info on
> used cars especially prices. For more independent information, Consumer
> Reports does a lot of car testing and maintains a large database of
> reliability information going back several years.
> http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home.htm Some of their website is only
> available to subscribers. Their monthly magazine devotes an entire issue
> (April) every year to automobiles both new and used. A summary of their
> testing is available in an annual Buyers' Guide published in December.
>
> As far as the used car market itself, the best cars will most easily be
> found at a new car dealer but at the highest price. Many cars now come
> with
> 3-4 year warranties so you may still get one under the manufacturer's
> warranty even if it's a couple of years old. If you buy from an individual
> you can often get a good deal but you really have to know what a car is
> worth and be alert to and understand possible mechanical problems - caveat
> emptor! There are aftermarket warranties available but they will typically
> exclude many items. It is easy to find independent mechanics to work on
> American and Japanese models; there are typically fewer available to work
> on
> European cars. Since you'll be registering your car in California, it's
> important to buy one that meets California smog regulations to avoid a lot
> of hassle. That's no problem if you buy in California but can be one if
> you
> buy out of state. Good luck!
>
>
Thanks for taking the time to write this up, much appreciated.
Some excellent points to consider.
Stuart
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