How do you make a major purchase with out jumping at the first thing you see?
I think I've cleaned up my credit enough to start looking-I'm just working on a down payment now...How do you guys put money away for big purchases?
I know there are a ton of cars that I WANT however, BF is a bit more conservative-a car needs to get me from one point to another....I want something to do road trips in...a cd player and a/c...he says that the AC is somewhat of a must...road trips and CD player not important...
then there is the price...what is a good price for a car? a used car? how do I know I'm not getting raked over the coals? How do I find something reasonable with low miles and will run for awhile...BF said he would help look and stuff but he looks at cars that are like $7000 and have a gazillion miles on them...
I guess I got lucky with my last car b/c my parents got it at an auction...it was 5000$ with like 26000 miles on it...but I've since killed it and it needs to be put to rest...
any insight is greatly appreciated!

aw, fifteen views and not a single reply. Clearly, none of us here has a clue. :nono: How do you know you are not getting raked over the coals? You don't know. It is the job of an auto salesperson to make you believe that you are being treated better than any other customer, that he or she is your friend and that you are getting the deal of a lifetime. My advice (and this will sound like it goes against my general opinion of gender roles) is to let your BF help you. From what you said, it sounds to me like he has a more realistic handle on the car situation. Not 'cause he's a guy, just 'cause he's using the rational part of his brain on this dilemma. It is so easy to get blinded by all the fun extras and lose some perspective.

If you are looking at buying "pre-owned" and unwarrantied (but I want a shiny new Ford P.O.S.), make sure you have an independent mechanic check it out for you. If you have someone in mind, you can sometimes get it inspected pretty quickly during the test drive. Try to get your financing before you go looking, or you can end up with a sucker deal.

Have you thought about leasing? It is not always a bad idea. Especially if you go into it knowing that an automobile is not an investment. There are disadvantages and advantages.

Good Luck. I hate buying cars.

Try looking at consumer reports. It is dry and boring, but cheaper than a book or you can use the library to look at it--or to check out books.

Also if you get the VIN off the car, you can look it up online for a small fee and get information about the car.

The Kelly Blue Book value is also a good source for estimated value.

My Dad and Grandfather, who taught me about all of that, are like your BF--a car needs to run. That's it.

Me, I'm like...it's gotta be cute and have a radio and a CD player and be fun to drive....

My thing, though, is that the seats have to go up and down as well as foward and back. My dad thinks that's a luxery, but I keep trying to explain, when you are my height, it's not. It's the only way you see over the wheel!

hmmm...some good views here.
I do have a mechanic that said he would look over any car I wanted him to (he currently works on my neon and would do ANYTHING to get me out of that car!)

I planon getting a loan from my credit union...at least I know in that respect I won't get burned...I've got my neon for a "down payment" if you can call it that...maybe it could pay for a new air freshener or something *LOL*
A friend of mine gave me the name of a place to look...I would really like to have a low monthly payment so I've been saving like MAD! I have to have a new car by Feb. of 2005-in NY each year you have to have your car inspected...mine only passed b/c my mechanic knew the guy that did it...so I have a little less than a year...but if I stick to the plan I will have just about 4000-5000 dollars to put down-if not just buy something out right if it comes from an auction or something
EMTchick...I agree with you...its gotta be something I WANT TO DRIVE. BF thinks the CD player is a luxury...I just want something good to listen to...so I told him that if it didnt come with a cd player he could put one in AND PAY FOR IT!!!