Shopping for a new used car Kijji or dealership?

[jabjab]

My daily driver (2007 Santa Fe) requires about 2k worth of mechanical work due to a CEL that just appeared. I don't know if its worth it to fix as it has higher kms so i figured i'd cut my losses and either sell it for dirt cheap and look to get something with less kms.

My budget is max 12k (preferably 10k). Would it be better to see if i can get a used car at a dealership and maybe try to get low rate financing or can i get a better deal with kijiji?

Thoughts?

[zieg]

What's your definition of 'low rate'? Typically interest rates on used cars are pretty high IMO, dealership or not. For that price range I think your dollar will go a lot farther in a private sale, so I'd be looking on kijiji. Just make sure you get it inspected, preferably at a dealership for whatever make you end up going with.

[jwslam]

My daily driver (2007 Santa Fe) requires about 2k worth of mechanical work due to a CEL that just appeared. I don't know if its worth it to fix as it has higher kms so i figured i'd cut my losses and either sell it for dirt cheap and look to get something with less kms.

My budget is max 12k (preferably 10k). Would it be better to see if i can get a used car at a dealership and maybe try to get low rate financing or can i get a better deal with kijiji?

Thoughts?
A used car dealer would not and cannot give you a low rate financing. That's where most of their profits come from, people who make bad money decisions.
If you need to finance, get a personal loan from a bank would get you a much better interest rate.

For the Santa Fe, exactly what is the work that needs to be done and who is suggesting it?
In general, most CEL are for emissions control and really don't affect the reliability of the car. So you could drive it, just being annoyed by the light.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-the-check-engine-light-on

[2020]

I think you can get a better deal with kijiji because you don’t have to pay a doc fee or gst. I doubt you’ll get a good interest rate from those small lots anyways.

Have you brought the Sante Fe to another mechanic for a second opinion?

[Skrilla]

Normally when financing from a dealer, the lower the cost the higher the rate. They need to make up the money difference so most banks offer different levels of rates to the finance manager ie. under 12k - 8%, 13-20k 7%, 21-30k 6% and so on. Those numbers aren't exact but its usually how it works for most major lenders through dealerships.

For the reason, I would definitely shop private.

[revelations]

CPO Car dealer:

- pay GST
- pay markup
- pay admin fees/etc.

On the plus side the warranties can be a good idea for certain vehicles.


Also if you took the vehicle to a dealer the cost to fix certain CEL codes is wildly exaggerated. My wife was driving around a cheap (but good) Mazda when a fuel EVAP pump started acting up on an intermittennt/ monthly basis (posed zero issues).

It was quoted 1500$ (USD) typically by the dealer (found this on forums) but as it was intermittent, I just got her a Bluetooth OBDII connector and then she just reset the CEL light on her phone once a month.

[jabjab]

I do have a line of credit i can use that is 6% interest so i can use that. I just figured that with this whole Covid stuff, dealerships are moving anything and would offer a lower rate just to move a car .

The code I got was a cam shaft position - timing over retraded (P0012 and P0016) these often related to one of the guides on the timing chain and to get to it is 8 to 11 hours and parts are about 600. It has higher kms so i dont want to spend the money to fix and have the chance of something else going

[tonytiger55]

A used car dealer would not and cannot give you a low rate financing. That's where most of their profits come from, people who make bad money decisions.
If you need to finance, get a personal loan from a bank would get you a much better interest rate.

For the Santa Fe, exactly what is the work that needs to be done and who is suggesting it?
In general, most CEL are for emissions control and really don't affect the reliability of the car. So you could drive it, just being annoyed by the light.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-the-check-engine-light-on

+1

If you need financing on a used vehicle. LOC/HELOC might be a better place. Dont ask for a Auto loan at the bank. Too much headache for a used vehcile.

Check what the CEL means. If if makes you feels better, ive been driving with the engine light on for the past two years. My vehicle is so dam old the electric connector to one of the sensors gives a false positive if the signal does not come right. But other than that, the vehicle runs normal.

[370Z]

You will ALWAYS find a better deal on kijiji than at a dealer... dealers exist for one reason only, profit. Kijiji exists for profit too yes, but there are people too who need to get rid of their cars or are just looking to get a bit more than "the wholesale value" the slimey dealer is offering them.

The dealers will also ALWAYS sell their cars above market value... again, their sole reason for existence is profit, not to be a charity.

[Xtrema]

No access to HELOC? Can't beat prime+1% or less right now.

[ExtraSlow]

Heloc or bust Playas

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I bought a car and a supercharger kit on a 8.19% line of credit once. Never again.

[jabjab]

No access to HELOC? Can't beat prime+1% or less right now.

I should apply for one now and use that, its a great idea! thank you

I'm going to be look at a used EX35 or G37. Had a G a long time ago and the VQ engine seemed pretty bullet proof

[bjstare]

That's a really solid choice in your price range. Just make sure you get '07+, the '05/'06 cars had oil consumption issues.

[revelations]

I should apply for one now and use that, its a great idea! thank you

I'm going to be look at a used EX35 or G37. Had a G a long time ago and the VQ engine seemed pretty bullet proof

The engines are OK - but I've heard issues in Calgary (cold) with the interior electronics.

[jabjab]

The engines are OK - but I've heard issues in Calgary (cold) with the interior electronics.

what do you think is a reliable awd car or suv for 10k?

[bjstare]

FWIW I had one and had no issues at all related to cold weather.

[tonytiger55]

what do you think is a reliable awd car or suv for 10k?

Honda CRV. They have have K series chain engines.

I have keeping a eye on these on Kijjiji for a bit. The 10-15k is my budget if my current 2002 dies.
If I was to spend only 8-10k to keep going then that would be one of top choices just on Reliability and Utility. I would look around the 2010 models (+/- a few years). The milage is not too much of a big deal. Its if you can find good records of the oil changes and how it was driven. The engines do burn oil, its not isue just so long as the owner dos not let it get low as it can stretche the chain. Then engine is kaput.

[jwslam]

Honda CRV.

The 10-15k is my budget if my current 2002 dies.
Pretty sure you'd be waiting longer than waiting for Trump to die from covid

[370Z]

I should apply for one now and use that, its a great idea! thank you

I'm going to be look at a used EX35 or G37. Had a G a long time ago and the VQ engine seemed pretty bullet proof

If you're willing to stretch your budget, I have my 2013 FX37 for sale soon...195,000km, gray with black interior, 2 sets of wheels/ tires, flawless CarFax, previous owner was a lady who lived in Canmore and traveled to Calgary often. PM if interested.

BTW, can't go wrong with any of the VQ era Nissans... just make sure it's not mated to a CVT, eg. Murano.. also, some models such as Pathfinder and Xterra had problems with tranny fluid pipe cracking in radiator and mixing with coolant, just have to make sure it's been replaced or rerouted, just beware that some people have had that happened, esp with lower km models, and are trying to sell it for that reason (check the coolant for the purple slush of death).

[zieg]

If you're willing to stretch your budget, I have my 2013 FX37 for sale soon...195,000km, gray with black interior, 2 sets of wheels/ tires, flawless CarFax, previous owner was a lady who lived in Canmore and traveled to Calgary often. PM if interested.

BTW, can't go wrong with any of the VQ era Nissans... just make sure it's not mated to a CVT, eg. Murano.. also, some models such as Pathfinder and Xterra had problems with tranny fluid pipe cracking in radiator and mixing with coolant, just have to make sure it's been replaced or rerouted, just beware that some people have had that happened, esp with lower km models, and are trying to sell it for that reason (check the coolant for the purple slush of death).

Well, there was the timing chain guide issue and the oil gallery gasket leak issue as well, the latter was pretty widespread across VQ engines and also hard to detect until it's too late. I got lucky since mine has a functional oil pressure gauge, I was able to notice the drop in oil pressure at idle and fix it immediately. Less observant people, or ones without gauges, may not be so lucky.

[370Z]

Is the oil gallery leak that widespread??? I've owned at least 10 VQ powered vehicles and knock on wood, have not come across it... same with the chains, how many hours of labor are we talking?

[zieg]

It's probably hard to tell because many people can have a minor leak and not know about it if they don't have an actual oil pressure gauge. And to be honest, if more of the gasket doesn't blow out, it probably doesn't even matter. It's just shitty because you have to remove the timing chain to get to the gasket, so at that point it's basically a timing chain job plus ten minutes. When I pulled mine apart the chain and guides seemed fine, but I sure as hell didn't want to do it twice so I just took the opportunity to do the full chain and tensioner job. The good news is, once you do it once you should never need to touch it again.