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Ask HN: Buy Car

3 points by live_to_code 17y ago

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 17y ago
Isn't there a car forum somewhere with car specialists for exactly this sort of question ?
- live_to_code 17y ago
  I trust the HN community more, and want to know of tricks / optimizations others have used.
  - bdfh42 17y ago
    OK - but where in the world are you - such advice needs to be localised to some degree?
  - jacquesm 17y ago
    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.
Edinburger 17y ago
What are your requirements? 2 seats or more? Need to move stuff? How much stuff?
karanbhangui 17y ago
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 17y ago
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.

Ask HN: Buy Car

3 points by live_to_code 17y ago

jacquesm 17y ago

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

live_to_code 17y ago
I trust the HN community more, and want to know of tricks / optimizations others have used.
- bdfh42 17y ago
  OK - but where in the world are you - such advice needs to be localised to some degree?
- jacquesm 17y ago
  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.

Edinburger 17y ago

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

karanbhangui 17y ago

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 17y ago

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.