Anyone have any recommendations for buying a car? I'm in the market for something fuel-efficient, safe and relatively cheap. I've got my choices narrowed down, but I'm polling for tips. Anyone know how to find a car online? Or any recommendations for sending someone else out to test/buy a car for me? (My dad will probably have to face the dealer without me).

(I first asked this in the "what car do you drive thread" but it go buried quickly. Seriously, I need help).

These are great cars, Ive had two now. The diesel ones get so much milage out of their gas its f**king disgusting. Love them. Love them so much.

Not hard to find at all. Cars.

I will never drive another car, and my family will likely be all VW owners. My favs.

WANT!

Do not want...

Consumer Reports. Your local news stand or anywhere that sells magazines should have a copy of the 2008 New Car Buyers Guide. It also has recommendations on used cars as well. They also have an online service that gives you vehicle information like reviews and the actual cost for the vehicle (i.e. Sticker Price vs. Dealer Invoice Price vs. Actual Invoice Price)

Sticker Price = MSRP on Sticker

Dealer Invoice = What the Dealer says the paid

Actual Invoice = What the Dealer ACTUALLY paid

I used their online service and was able to talk $1385 off the cost of the vehicle. The dealer only made aboot $700 on my purchase. A little research can go a LONG way. Hope this helps. Good luck on your search, eh!

Yea, I did research on Consumer Reports and Edmunds, but now I'm worried about moving to the next step of actually finding/buying the car. But this is really helpful — it's good to know it actually makes a difference.

Actually I believe that is an ox.

FINE! DON'T TAKE MY ADVICE! JUST TRYING TO SAVE YOU A FEW BONES. WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW, EH!?

j/k

/silly rant

I <3 you, Punthe.

Hm,... you're right. Definitely not a horse...

I will second what MM said. My husband has been in various parts of the auto service business for a few years now, and he's a sucker for Volkswagens (although not the Beetles... just because he's 6' tall and finds them a bit too small). There are a couple things with the frame that VW does, that American made cars usually don't, that he feels makes them a lot safer in crashes. He also just likes them a lot. :)

How new or old are you looking to go? If you have a specific brand, and a year range in mind, I would be happy to ask him what to look out for.

How much money is cheap?
Also how old are you (that can definitely change what type of car I will recommend)
You are talking to an X-valet so for like 4 hours a day I got paid to talk about cars.
(ahh being a know it all teenager at its best)
Also are you a girl or a boy?

Freshly-graduated college-student cheap. Like, less than $22,000?
And, young twenties female lynx.

But a bug dude.
Isn't it hard to respect yourself driving something that comes with a flower vase?(unless your a girl)
(the old bugs are f**king cool though)

I'm thinkin' pretty new, as I hope to run it to the ground, but I wouldn't mind a used car within the past two years. I really want a Bug or a Rabbit, but I'm worried about their fuel economy.

*you're*

The rabbits are really sweet!
I would definitely recommend them I have driven them a few times and they not underpowered. They get 22 City and 29 highway which is decent.
And you could definitely get a new one for under 22 grand.
(and you can get the logo of the humping rabbits)

Grammar nazi.

Decent, but decent is less good in a high-gas-price world. The other cars I've been considering are hybrids...

I will definitely run those past him tomorrow and see if he's got any tips for you.