r/carbuying

So im saving to buy a vehicle i just need one i'm without a vehicle right now and i got like 10k to maybe 15k to put into one, But i want a toyota no matter what unless this idea with the used police car is better but Would buying a used police suv be worth it? Like i see some of the ones they drive and they look pretty good i think they are made by ford . But what do u think about buying a used one? would it be a good vehicle?

Also where would i look if i wanted to purchase a used police vehicle? like i don't even know where i would look for one of those? is their a website that would show me or point me in the right direction? Thanks

I was feeling proud of myself, having gotten a dealer to quote me an out the door price $6k below MSPR, but... Google is now telling me my quoted lease payments are $200 over high-average. ARGH... another trap! How can I avoid getting screwed on a lease? WHY is this such a sleazy snake pit?? Do men have this much trouble when shopping solo?

I'm overthinking the process and need help breaking things down so I can comprehend it. I understand negative equity and how it rolls over into the total of whatever car I'm buying.

What I'm confusing myself with is, what if I still owe the same amount my car's trade in value is at? I understand this to be having no equity. But how does that amount get taken off the price of the new vehicle, if I still technically owe?

I recently posted a classic car on FB marketplace and so far it has gotten some recent traction, roughly 1,200 clicks but no saves or shares. I’ve posted the listing to probably about 10 different groups but none yielded anything much besides a conversation that’s completely one way.

Is there any tips I can get to help boost and promote the listing? Does anyone know any additional websites I can post to?

I'm in the middle of the car buying process, closer to the end then the beginning. One of the cars I found and am interested in was a 2024 GV60 listed as new. I'm just wondering when cars are "new" old, how much wiggle room is there on pricing? The car is already listed low, around 46k. Just trying see what I can expect when I try and start negotiating. I'm still not sold mainly because there are so many 0% financing deals out there that I'll be passing up for this car.

I know the make, model, trim, and color I want and have been emailing/texting basically every dealer in a 20 mile radius hoping to get the best OTD price, but it seems like no one wants to budge or get close to my target. I haven't bought a car in 13 years and this is my first car purchase as an adult so I don't entirely know how to approach this.

For reference I'm looking at a CR-V Hybrid Sport-L and am in the Southern California market. Planning to purchase tomorrow. Everyone on reddit is saying you should be able to get an OTD of 7-10% under MSRP. My real goal was $38.5. So far the best written offer I have is $40,436. I have one dealer who verbally promised me $40K flat OTD (but it's in a slightly different color) and another who has promised to work with me "toward a $39,999 OTD" if I come in (whatever "working toward" means?). When I sent the lowest written offer to some other dealers, one is saying he can work with that but I have to come in first, and I kind of want to tell him I'm not coming in anywhere first without an agreed upon number. Another came back with an offer that was literally higher.

How do you get them down? Is it just grinding and sending the written offer to each one, round by round, or should I be really aggressive and just CC every dealer on one email like I'm deciding tomorrow, who can get to my target price first? Or do you think that I won't get anywhere and that's just the price in the market (despite what others on reddit have said)?

I used to think car buying was mostly about choosing something you like and making payments.

But once you actually look into it, there are so many variables:
price, reliability, mileage, maintenance costs, insurance, financing, resale value, hidden issues, dealership pressure, timing… it turns into a full research project

Just bought a brand new 2026 Toyota Camry XSE and I’m trying to figure out which dealer add-ons are actually worth keeping vs canceling.

Here’s what I purchased:

• Prepaid maintenance $1,255.00
• Mechanical breakdown / extended warranty (VSA) $1,870.00
• GAP coverage

One thing that changed is my commute. Before buying the car, I would drive around 120 miles/day for work. My first maintenance appointment for the 5,000 miles is this Saturday. But now my situation changed and my commute is only about 15 miles/day max.

Because of that, I’m wondering if some of these add-ons make less sense now, especially the extended warranty and prepaid maintenance.

Since it’s a brand new Toyota, I know it already comes with factory warranty coverage already, so I’m trying to figure out:

• Which of these are actually useful? (I plan on keeping GAP)
• Which are usually unnecessary or overlapping?
• Which ones are commonly canceled after purchase?

I don’t want to overpay for things I realistically won’t use.

Would appreciate advice from anyone familiar with Toyotas, dealership finance add-ons, or long-term ownership.

I'm 27, doctor, live with my wife who doesn't drive as of yet.

So I'm so confused between buying two automatic cars at as a first time buyer, almost torn between them, just passed my test 5 months ago, will be a new driver.

1. Honda FIT 2015 Hybrid Sports trim in Black, Mileage 36K miles verified with auction sheet, Jap import with 12 months MOT and engine service, 2 years warranty on engine, gear, hybrid battery included, brand new infotainment TV system, brand new undersealing done for rust protection up to 5 years, extremely reliable car seller, Price £8.7K, £230 Road Tax!!

2. Lexus CT 200H - 2013 to 2015 models, hybrid, available with leather seats too or normal seats, some available with full Lexus service stamps, UK model, 75K or above mileage, 3-6 months warranty, Price 8.5-9.5K, Road Tax £20!!

FIT was my heart choice because I drove it, it was quite good, loved the look and was very clean then after went down the rabbit hole of similar priced Lexus CTs which are available in sexy red or black colours, more powerful and premium, bullet proof engines, and just look cooler, also Road Tax is freaking £20 which is an absolute bargain!

I have never driven a Lexus CT but I can say it will be smooth and premium, will get better compliments from people and will look cooler as a doctor.

Whereas the Honda FIT is just such a safe and amazing car, really good rear seat spaces, cool features, brand new infotainment, nippy and a great buy!

I also want my car to last long, be reliable, and not cost much in repairs and maintenance and can pass it onto my wife later if she wants when I get a new car!

PLEASE HELP!!

Edit: Insurance on both about the same about £1.7K

Convince me to get the FIT over the Lexus!

I have a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E that I currently lease, and the lease ends next year. Since Ford doesn’t allow third-party lease buyouts, I would need to either buy out the vehicle or finance the remaining lease payments plus the residual value before trading it in for a Tesla.
How can I avoid paying sales tax twice — once when buying out the Mach-E and again when purchasing the Tesla?
For context, I’m in California, and I’d prefer not to use my savings to buy out the Ford since the lease has a 0% APR anyway.

Any advice is much appreciated, thanks in advance!

I have never purchased a vehicle before.

I have $30,000CAD to purchase a vehicle.

I am looking to purchase new or next to new and if I have to (which I most likely will as I am having a hard time finding anything out the door under $30,000 and new or newish) finance the rest - say approx $5000 - $7000 is the range that I am thinking I may have to finance.

I need help with how I go about this all.

I know I don't walk into a dealership announcing that I have $30,000 cash. I have figured that much out on my own!

I don't have anybody to help me with buying a vehicle and I am so worried about getting taken.

This is a big purchase for me and I'm really hoping to not screw it up.

Any advice, tips, things I should be aware of and how or if I am able to bargain a lower price etc?

I am starting my search today by visiting a couple dealerships (Kia, Mazda, and possibly Toyota)

Help please!

Had a weird experience this week. I bought a new Bolt, negotiating the price before going in, (https://redd.it/1tjyf4k) and when we got to the finance office they had a tabletop signing screen. After turning down the extended services and signing the small box to store our signatures, the finance manager took the pens and said you don't need that anymore.

Then he started to quickly say what each document was and began to click sign! I stopped him and asked him to slow down and not sign for me. There wasn't anything nefarious that I was able to see, so I guess he was just ready to move on to the next customer, but he did say he does that for everyone and his arm gets tired on busy days.

Is it even a valid contract if someone is pressing sign on each page for you? Not sure how you would prove it, of course, but seems shady.

I’m a 21-year-old recent CS graduate and I’ve been obsessed with AMG Mercedes cars since I was a kid, especially the facelift CLS63 S. I currently work a lot (around 60 hrs/week recently) managing a store while still trying to break into the tech field after graduating. I live with family, don’t really have major expenses, and I’ve saved around $28k liquid.
My current daily is a 2007 Lexus ES350 that’s honestly falling apart cosmetically and mechanically. It still runs, but I’m tired of it and I’ve never really rewarded myself with anything in life. I’ve spent most of my life stressed, working, studying, helping family/work, etc., and part of me feels like I finally want to enjoy something for myself.
I found a black-on-black 2015 CLS63 S with 84k miles for around $35k before taxes/fees. With shipping, warranty, taxes, etc., it’ll probably land around $40k+ total. I’d probably put around $12k–15k down and finance the rest. I also planned on keeping the Lexus as a backup/daily and using the AMG more for weekends/night drives.
Here’s my issue though: I’m the biggest overthinker alive. One minute I’m imagining finally owning my dream car, and the next minute I’m panicking about maintenance, repairs, financial mistakes, and whether I’m being irresponsible. My dad also thinks we’re “not AMG people” and that I shouldn’t do it, which honestly adds to the guilt.
Part of me feels like this is a terrible financial decision. Another part of me feels like if I keep waiting for the “perfect” moment, I’ll never do anything for myself.
For people who’ve owned AMGs or made emotional enthusiast purchases young:
Did you regret it?
Did the stress go away after buying?
Is keeping a reliable backup daily enough to make ownership manageable?
Would you do it in my situation?
Be brutally honest.

** edited to add: Thank you for all the help. I was able to get a Toyota loan for $6k paying a deposit of $25.3k. 36 months at 7%. Not the best but considering I'll be paying it off early and it's a simple interest loan, I'm satisfied. When I collect the money from my ex (I am adding in the additional interest I am paying because of him), that will pay it off.

I finally believe I found a great deal on the camry that I want. I have about $25k to put down so I would need to finance the rest - about $6-7k.

My credit is horrible. My ex took out credit cards in my name and, well its a whole big thing. I am currently fighting them so they are showing on my credit as collections and my credit is below 500 I believe. My car that was just totalled was just paid off last month (yes, my last payment was due the month my car got totalled) so that shows perfectly. What are the chances I get denied for a loan? Should I have a co-signer if possible? My plan is to get that loan and pay it off ASAP since I know that interest rate will be crazy. In quick workspace, online averages show about $225 monthly payments so I would double that each month.

I am just concerned after all this work that I'll get denied.

Please no comments about buying a cheaper car or lecturing me on credit. Trust me, I know.

People keep saying the used car market is finally calming down but every time I look at cars the prices still seem ridiculous. Maybe not as bad as a couple years ago, but still way higher than I’d expect for high mileage stuff.
I can’t tell if I’m out of touch or if this is just the new normal now.
Are people actually getting decent deals again? Or are dealers still smoking crack with these prices lol

I’m about to be 18 I have 4k for a down payment and I wanna get my own car. this would be my 2nd car I have a clean driving history. other then 1 accident that was not my fault. and I’m looking at a 5th gen Camaro 2ss I just wanted advice.

I recently bought a 2026 Toyota Camry XSE (right now at 5000 miles) after my previous car was totaled and I needed a replacement immediately. At the time, I was driving about 120 miles a day for work, so I thought getting something reliable and fuel-efficient would be the smartest decision financially. My intention was to stay at that job long term, and my parents also strongly encouraged me to go with this option since I had just graduated nursing school and wanted something dependable.

But since then, a lot changed pretty quickly. I got a better-paying RN job in California that’s only about 7 miles from home, so now gas mileage isn’t nearly as important as it was before. The problem is that I honestly don’t really like the car anymore, and because I just bought it recently, and I have negative equity on it.

Financially, I’m doing good and can comfortably pay a few hundred extra toward the principal every month, but I’m trying to understand what my options are if I eventually want a different car.

Am I allowed to sell/trade the car somewhere that gives me the best offer (CarMax, Carvana, private sale, etc.) and then buy the car I actually want from a completely different dealership?

Or do you have to trade your current car in at the same dealership where you’re buying the next one?

If I sell it separately, what happens to the negative equity? Would I need to pay the difference out of pocket immediately, or can it still be rolled into the next loan somehow even if it’s a different dealership?

I’m mainly trying to figure out the smartest financial move here and whether it makes more sense to aggressively pay down the loan for a while first or move on now.

Please give me some grace in the comments -- I know this probably wasn’t the perfect financial decision, but I made the best choice I could at the time based on my situation and the information I had.

Edit:

I also wanted to add that I purchased. Is 1 and 2 necessary?

1. VSA (covers 5 years or 125k miles $1870)

2. Prepaid maintenece (up until April 3, 2031 $1255)

3. GAP (keeping this no matter what)

I am probably repeating things that have been said many times before, but...

My advice (which I did NOT do) is: be willing to get up and leave the dealership. I really think this is your strongest negotiating tactic.

I am certain I could have gotten a better deal if I had stood firm on my demands - AND - if I had been ready to walk out. As it was, I really wanted a particular vehicle, and made the choice to take one of their offers.

Just FYI: there was an $8000 difference between their first offer and the one I finally accepted (on a $43K truck.) I think I could have saved another grand or two if I had been more resolute. If I had left and come back the next day and gotten another thousand dollars off - well, that would have been a pretty good day's pay. But, I got impatient.

I would also like to say, be kind to yourself if you don't get the absolute best deal possible. It is a tiring process, and not everyone has the luxury of spending an entire day (or several days) to shop different dealers. Sometimes good enough has to be, well, good enough.

Edited to clarify...

Their first offer included:

--- $0 discount off truck price

--- $12000 for my trade

The offer I accepted:

--- $2000 discount

--- $18000 for my trade

I have been looking into how people manage to buy cars even if their credit is not great. Some go through dealerships that offer in-house financing, while others use credit unions or bank loans for buyers with weaker credit.

Dealerships with in-house financing can be fast and flexible, letting buyers get approved based on income and drive the car the same day. This makes them a practical choice for people who need a car quickly without going through a long credit check process. Credit unions and banks usually offer lower rates, but approval can take longer and be harder with weak credit.

Has anyone here recently purchased through an in-house financing dealership? How did it compare to other options, and did it make the process easier?