Bought a truck last weekend from what I think was a very nice salesperson. Advertised 5 year/0% rate for a Chevy Silverado OR $15k in discounts. Asked about the 0% and she said that only 2% of people qualify for that (through GM financing) and the rest get raked over the coals on their interest rate. In order to get the discount on the truck, we had to finance through them and not pay it off for at least 6 months. I get it, but when we applied for a loan they came back with 7.6%. I laughed and told them my bank had already approved 5% without even looking anywhere else. They then said that if we finance for 72 months instead of 60, it would drop to 7.14. (?) They wouldn’t budge on that. My credit score was 791. I got the usual dealership runaround, and ended up just bending over for it so we could get the discount. I don’t think I’m obligated in the 6 months so I’ll refinance immediately and pay it off asap. Does this seem right or ethical for them to gouge on interest rate in order to get the discounts?

I’m curious what people do before they get to VIN checks, inspections, and specific listings.

Most of the advice I find is either “buy a Skoda or Honda or the equivalent” or a list of common problems. What I struggle to work out is what those problems actually mean for an owner. At what mileage do they tend to appear? How expensive are they? Is there solid evidence that they’re common, or does the same forum story just get repeated everywhere? Am i better to buy a 2017 120d diesel at 100k and do the timing chain myself or buy one already done?

Thinking about your last used-car search:

• What made you add or remove a model from your shortlist?
• Which sources did you actually trust?
• Was there anything you couldn’t figure out until you started looking at individual cars?
• Would it have helped to have the likely maintenance and ownership risks collected in one place?

I'm currently inbetween a higher mileage m235i or a lexus sc300, but also exploring an idea around this problem to help me for my yearly search for a new car. I don’t have a finished service to promote or really anything to show.

I’m curious what people do before they get to VIN checks, inspections, and specific listings.

Most of the advice I find is either “buy Toyota or Honda” or a list of common problems. What I struggle to work out is what those problems actually mean for an owner. At what mileage do they tend to appear? How expensive are they? Is there solid evidence that they’re common, or does the same forum story just get repeated everywhere?

Thinking about your last used-car search:

• What made you add or remove a model from your shortlist?
• Which sources did you actually trust?
• Was there anything you couldn’t figure out until you started looking at individual cars?
• Would it have helped to have the likely maintenance and ownership risks collected in one place?

Full disclosure: I’m exploring an idea around this problem. I don’t have a finished service to promote and I’m not looking for anyone’s VIN just helpful advice!

In what scenario would you recommend GAP insurance? Bought 2-3 vehicles previously with no gap insurance. Context - it’s used 2023 bmw x5 CPO. CARFAX says my purchase price is $4K below market value.

I’m looking to get a 2026 Camry SE AWD w/ cold weather package, convenience package, multi media screen upgrade.

First dealership I went to through Costco has a $2400 discount through that program.

I’m in PA outside of Philly. Wanted to see what everybody got discount wise on a similar vehicle!

Thanks!

Back in 2024, I leased a leftover 2023 Mazda cx30 preferred trim. They had good incentives, I put 1k down plus first month, and my payment end up being 380$ for 36 months 15k miles a year. I have 4 months remaining on my lease and my buyout price is 16k, I have 30k miles, and have offers appraised at 20-22k.

I have been car shopping around and the prices are crazy, I dont want a 500 car payment, and theres no car in the market that has the same features, same mileage as mine for 16k. The only thing that worries me is that my warranty ends in January 2027, and Ive had a few issues, some cosmetic, but some are the battery being replaced, the AC motor blower, the steering wheel rotor, the sunvisor but all covered under warranty.

Not sure if i should lease again a brand new car, or just buyout my car by financing and sell it later if it gives me issues.

I found a 1988 Cadillac devil 4 door for 400 dollars but it does have a good amount of flaws Im wondering if it’s worth it. it is missing the steering wheel and brakes but it starts so would it be worth to buy and fix up? It has 130,000 miles

I am really in between these two cars and I don’t know which to go for!!

What are people’s experience with both of these vehicles and which would be more reliable?

1st Car - 2018 Audi Q2 1.4L Petrol, Manual. 88,000 miles perfect MOT history and full service history. £8684

2nd Car - 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA 180 urban edition. 1.5l Petrol, Manual. 59,438 miles, perfect MOT history, full service history. £11,490

I'm thinking of getting this 2013 infinite g37x for 9,995 is it a good first car? I'm splitting payments.

Budget is under $7k. I need something that can take a beating and keep going.

Looking for:
• Reliable motor that can push past 250k with just regular oil changes and basic maintenance (no money pits)
• SUV preferred, truck even better
• 150k miles is fine if it was taken care of. Nothing more
• 4x4/AWD is a plus, not required RWD would be nice
• Decent cargo space (I surf, camp, and keep a lot of shit in the back, sometimes haul material )

Sedans are okay if the trunk is actually usable.
I don’t want some random clapped-out car off Marketplace from a dude who’s been beating the piss out of it. Ideally looking for something that was owned by a regular suburban family that actually maintained it.

Any years/models that are known tanks in this price range? Or better places to look besides the usual FB Marketplace/Craigslist lottery?
Bay Area if that matters.

Hello all needing some advice , I am 24 in the Army and need some help/advice I’m wanting to purchase a truck because of the roads where I am stationed aren’t that great for the car I currently have . My credit is pretty low 570-600 . I have $4,000 to get a truck but they are requiring a co signer . I was denied by navy federal for $25,000 . My current payoff for the vehicle I have now is $4,000. What should I do ?

Right now I'm in a situation where 3 cars are being spread between 4 people so I'm trying to find a car for myself to even those numbers out and make things easier. It will be my first car that I will have to myself and I will probably be paying for most, if not all, of it. Due to this I am looking for something with at least decently low mileage and something I won't have to spend too much on for maintenance. With all that being said, I don't really want to compromise my interests in terms of style, especially considering how I have access to transport and I can stand to wait to find the right car. My opinion, even though it is an unoriginal one, is that cars right now look very similar to one another in terms of coloration, body shape, and interior design, so, in light of that, I tend to enjoy cars that are different or just interesting. I love the like vintage FIAT look and the VW Beetles. So right now I am looking for either a 2-door FIAT 500 lounge or just an interesting enough 2-door FIAT 500 or an interestingly-colored VW Beetle. Also, love a non-standard interior design (the white interiors on the FIATs are so cool). What I would like to know is either 1. people's experience owning one of these types of vehicles, 2. people's experience repairing these types of vehicles, or 3. any knowledge of these types of vehicles for sale in the state of Texas.

What am I supposed to do dawg I bought a used 2025 frontier and I find out the frame is bent today after buying it barely 2 weeks ago.
Do I get an attorney do I just roll up and demand they fix this wtf do I do.

Rav 4 has the reliability, durability, tons of place to store stuff, looks a bit better outside, parks the car for me (no clue how much i would or would not use this), way better fuel economy, its dash cams have built in recording for when anything dangerous happens.

Kia looks WAAAY better inside, has so much tech, (has a big factory discount), has better tech in it, felt way more comfortable to sit in it, driving felt more smooth which i prefer to the ravs more rigid.

A BIG thing about the toyota to me is also its DURABILITY reputation. I will prolly have the car for 5-10 years, however next to some people as i understand i drive VERY LITTLE. About 10 000KM a year.

Now i am not a car guy at all, if i open the hood i can point at the engine and know where to put the coolant. So for those who are car guys, just how much do i have to worry about durability and reliability even with a kia if my yearly car usage is only about 10 000km (6213 miles).

(If people have STRONG arguments of good or bad for either car i am all ears)

Budget: ~70,000–80,000 PLN (~$18,000–$20,500 USD), used, cash
Location: Poland (Warsaw)
Current mileage/vehicle: 250000km toyota rav 4 2007
Wants:
• Good looks / doesn’t need to be a specific body style
• Low fuel consumption is a priority
• Reliability and decent resale/value retention
• Open to sedans, hybrids/PHEVs, or something with character — not locked into a segment
Considering so far: Lexus IS200t, Lexus LS (V8, but fuel consumption is a dealbreaker), Volvo S60 T5 AWD
Daily driving: Mixed city/highway, no extreme commute distance
Must haves: Automatic transmission preferred

How much would you say a 2023 Toyota Corolla LE with only 60k miles is worth