Looking to buy a used car! Need advice!

[HBP]

Hey,

I'm looking to buy a used Mazda 6, pretty good deal for a 2004 Sport GT-V6 package at 45km.

I recently found out it was in a fender-bender, where the grill, front bumper, and hood were replaced. The seller said they have documents to prove there was no other damage.

What do you think? How should I proceed?

[Jon Lai]

You get what you pay for. The only thing you should be worried about is how big was the impact of the accident and if any interior has been damaged, but that's not something you can determine.

In this case, it's just like tossing the dice. Personally, I'd play it safe. Pay the extra few thousand and get a safe used vechicle. Those that are superstitious would worry that the car would bring bad luck again, so.. ;)

[HBP]

You get what you pay for. The only thing you should be worried about is how big was the impact of the accident and if any interior has been damaged, but that's not something you can determine.

In this case, it's just like tossing the dice. Personally, I'd play it safe. Pay the extra few thousand and get a safe used vechicle. Those that are superstitious would worry that the car would bring bad luck again, so.. ;)

But if they have a quote and a document stating all the necessary repairs done wouldn't that be safe?

[dbx]

I wouldn't take the gamble on it, besides .. if you have to really convince yourself of it, is it worth it?

[Jon Lai]

But if they have a quote and a document stating all the necessary repairs done wouldn't that be safe?

Are you really poor? No offense or anything.. you only save $3K MAX when you buy a used car, and a used car that has been in an accident. The $3K is really for your piece of mind. Personally I wouldn't risk it, perhaps you would, I don't know. If $$ was an issue, I'd rather step down to say a used Mazda 5 or take an older year, or more milage, than take the risk in this situation.

[HBP]

Are you really poor? No offense or anything.. you only save $3K MAX when you buy a used car, and a used car that has been in an accident. The $3K is really for your piece of mind. Personally I wouldn't risk it, perhaps you would, I don't know. If $$ was an issue, I'd rather step down to say a used Mazda 5 or take an older year, or more milage, than take the risk in this situation.

A new Mazda 6 Sport GT-V6 package will cost you over $38000 on the road. This car is selling for $18000.

Just to add: I find that you're really misinformed in most of your posts, and you go off on opinion-sake. Do you own a car? And BTW, why would I go from a sport sedan to a van (Mazda 5)

[rchong]

Take the car to a mechanic you trust or the dealership so they can see if there needs to be any repairs.

[chickenbones]

A new Mazda 6 Sport GT-V6 package will cost you over $38000 on the road. This car is selling for $18000.

Just to add: I find that you're really misinformed in most of your posts, and you go off on opinion-sake. Do you own a car? And BTW, why would I go from a sport sedan to a van (Mazda 5)

Yeah, John Lai's posts doesn't make the most sense most of the time.

I would spend the money to get the car checked out. Check for frame damage. Don't cheap out on the inspection. But there's nothing poor about buying a used car.

[trixstar]

lol.. step down to mazda 5... from sedan to minivan!

[iam_immigrant]

As long as there's no FRAME damage and only cosmetic (bumpers/fenders/headlights/etc...) it's fine. Only down side is when re-selling it's value will be lower. If you plan on keeping the car for at least a few years then go for it.

[HBP]

This is the message I received:

The hood was replaced because it had a slight buckle in it. The total for everything to be replaced was $4900.00 and alot of that is just because all the new pieces had to be painted and the paint is a pearl white and a higher end paint. I have the papers showing what was all done. There was absolutely no damage under the hood or to any part of the frame.

So I will have to take it to a mechanic to check it out, and check out if there is any other damage as well. Should I just take it to Mazda? It's under warranty.

[rong_feng]

Yeah, John Lai's posts doesn't make the most sense most of the time.

I would spend the money to get the car checked out. Check for frame damage. Don't cheap out on the inspection. But there's nothing poor about buying a used car.

pwnt! +1

[MkmBandit]

As long as there's no FRAME damage and only cosmetic (bumpers/fenders/headlights/etc...) it's fine. Only down side is when re-selling it's value will be lower. If you plan on keeping the car for at least a few years then go for it.

^Best advice so far.

In all these threads to do with salvage cars, I keep using myself as an example, in that all four of my cars were prior salvages, plus several cars before my current ones. With salvage cars there is a very thin line between what can be fixed back to spec, and what can make a car extremely dangerous. If you are smart about what you invest in, a salvage car can be no worse then a clear branded car.

The salvage safety in Ontario is extremely strict about what passes and fails. Despite what others in this forum have claimed, it is near impossible(if not totally impossible) to find a mechanic who will fraud SALVAGE safety certificates. That being said, if all the previous owner had to replace was the skin, and no pulling/stretching was required, then theres absolutely no reason why the car should be any less safe or functional then another. If theres no mechanical damage, and no bent/twisted frame, I would go for it. You save TONS, but it works both ways so be prepared when it comes time to sell.

As for where you can get it inspected, take it to your trusted mechanic. If you dont have one, the next best place to get inspections done are CT.

[HBP]

Thanks for your help, I'm pretty sure the car does not have a salvaged title, but I'll need to do a CarFax to make sure.

Is CarFax the best?

[G-Yo]

Typically, the value of a new car decreases by about 1/2 after 4 years.

The car you are quoting is a 2004 ( 3.5 years old), so the price seems just a little cheaper than what you could get an undamaged vehicle for.

So, what Im wondering is just how good of a deal are you actually getting ?

Here is a link, to an almost identical car in the autotrader for $ 18 999.99

http://www.trader.ca/Search/Details.asp?mknm=739&Region=-1&subcategory=&CAT=1&ADID=6203913&ADS=6203913%7C

(I hope its not the same car you were looking at :))

[HBP]

Typically, the value of a new car decreases by about 1/2 after 4 years.

The car you are quoting is a 2004 ( 3.5 years old), so the price seems just a little cheaper than what you could get an undamaged vehicle for.

So, what Im wondering is just how good of a deal are you actually getting ?

Here is a link, to an almost identical car in the autotrader for $ 18 999.99

http://www.trader.ca/Search/Details.asp?mknm=739&Region=-1&subcategory=&CAT=1&ADID=6203913&ADS=6203913%7C

(I hope its not the same car you were looking at :))

That's a nice car.

The car I was looking at would be about $18500 taxes in, so I hope he can drop to a price around there. I've sent him a message. Shame it's not a manual though.

[Jon Lai]

A new Mazda 6 Sport GT-V6 package will cost you over $38000 on the road. This car is selling for $18000.

Just to add: I find that you're really misinformed in most of your posts, and you go off on opinion-sake. Do you own a car? And BTW, why would I go from a sport sedan to a van (Mazda 5)

Sorry, I'm not familiar with Mazdas, what I meant to say was I would personally rather get a lower but comparable model or pay the extra $2-3K for the same spec used than buy one that had been in an accident, just for a piece of mind.

iam_immigrant is right, as long as there is no frame damage, it should be okay, but again, there's no definite way you can check for frame damage, so personally, I wouldn't take the risk.