im a teen buying a used car off facebook, what should i look for?
Posted by Medical-Pop-6295@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 28 comments
hey guys! title says it all, i just got my license and i’ve been looking for a cheap but reliable used car off FB marketplace and its kind of scary. my family arent knowledgable about this stuff so im pretty much on my own lol. i feel like i overall have pretty good judgement but are there any really red flags i should watch out for? anything in general that i should keep in mind would help!
OddTheRed@reddit
A mechanic. It's easy for an unscrupulous douchebag to hide some defects in a way that no non-mechanic will see it.
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
where would i find a mechanic to bring along?!? or do you mean take the car to one lol, if so how much do you think id have to pay to get it inspected
Berek2501@reddit
Whenever I've bought a used car, I'd ask the seller if we could take it to a mechanic of my choice for a "pre-purchase inspection." In my part of the USA, this would usually cost me about $75, but I've seen it as low as $50 or as high as $120.
The benefits are that along with finding all the glaring problems ahead of time, you can also use their estimate of the work needed to help you negotiate a selling price.
Because these cost money, this is my last step in the car buying process after I'm already 95% sure it's the car I want.
OddTheRed@reddit
When I still worked in a shop, it was like $50-100 for the inspection. You're either going to have find a mechanic friend or take it to a shop. Call the shop ahead of time for an appointment.
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
Get a pre-purchase inspection at the best rated independent mechanic in your area.
grim1757@reddit
another place to look for a car other than FB marketplace should the first thing you should look for!
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
where else has prices so low? the only other place i look on is offerup and i still find facebooks to have more options
grim1757@reddit
Don't know offerup but a large percentage on FB are scams be extremely careful with those, there is a reason they are priced so low! . Autotrader, cargurus, carsdotcom. All have settings to search miles from location as well as private sellers vs dealers. Not sure how it is now but possibly craigslist used to be good.
QwerksterDude@reddit
As a father and a mechanic, my first bit of advice...dont buy off fb marketplace. There are other options...all of them are better
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
what are some other options? i look on offerup too. i am a broke college student btw.. honestly the car would only have to last me 4-5 years
AlaskaGreenTDI@reddit
So are you insisting on only going to dealers or do you think private individuals who list cars on fb are different than private individuals who list them elsewhere?
AutomobileEnjoyer@reddit
As a mechanic and not a father, my first bit of advice is do buy off marketplace, with a pre purchase inspection.
Mostly-Useless_4007@reddit
Honestly, you should set a few hundred $ aside and hire someone to do a pre purchase inspection, ideally with putting the car on a lift. Mechanics that do this can tell you what kind of trouble that you're getting into.
Cheap AND reliable don't usually go well together, because the reliable cars have demand meaning that the price usually goes up on those (because you and the other 300,000 people turning 18 looking to buy a cheap and reliable car are going to compete for those cars....).
stork1998@reddit
Stick with a Honda or Toyota. Very reliable and easy to work on.
Lonely-Subject-6766@reddit
Hey OP, where are you located (roughly)? I'm slightly older than a teen but also looking for a car off FB. If/when you do get a car is appreciate it if you could maybe reach out with a bit more of your experience with the process?
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
im from the bay area and ill probably be buying my car from there! and of course it might be a while before i actually make the purchase but if i remember ill update you once i do and you can send me a msg too
Lonely-Subject-6766@reddit
Awesome I'm from around MKE/CHI ! I absolutely will do if/when I buy a car. Right now my two choices are a Park Ave and a Jeep. I really should buy the Park Ave just due to reliability and ease of finding parts but I've had 4 cars and each time I buy one I regret it and wish I got a SUV. What do you think I should do?
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
okay im 18 and know nothing about cars so you should take my advice with a grain of salt but if youve had 4 cars and wished you had an suv each time, id get the jeep suv. however there are other factors too like price, and reliability is pretty important especially if you rely on your car a lot. im not very helpful but i guess it mostly depends on you and what you feel is best. i think id make a little pros and cons list? good luck!
Lonely-Subject-6766@reddit
Ayyy man, congrats on your car journey. Yeah, I had 4 cars 1) 05 Saturn ion 2) 11 Ford fiesta 3) 14 VW Passat 4) 17 Honda Accord. The only one I wouldn't recommend in the VW but that's only because there aren't many VW/import mechanics in my area (you in the bay is different lol)!
Honestly, I really just need a car to get me and my roommate to and from work, then me to college... I am in a rough spot financially atm so my big thing is cost. The things I'd like to have is space, Bluetooth, heat/ac, and something that moves haha. The only con with the Jeep is that the mpg isn't the best but living the Midwest life you need some what of a bigger vehicle to keep you safe in the snow but then again it's a park Ave, so imagine a yacht on land
bonchokey@reddit
Make sure the car shifts below 3k rpm (automatic) and doesn't run rough. (holds steady RPM idling and doesn't jerk around letting off the gas etc) Check the oil cap (where you would fill oil) and the oil dipstick, make sure there is no foam or chocolate milk colored fluid. Slam on the brakes (safely) once and let go of the wheel (safely) once to see if either make the car pull in a direction. (bad tire balance/bad rim or bad brake rotors/pads)
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
thank you so much! im not familiar with cars at all so.. how do i make sure it shifts below 3k rpm? what does foam or chocolate milk fluid indicate?
Lonely-Subject-6766@reddit
The easiest way to see your shift is watching your RPM gauge. In a stick you want to normally shift at about 2500 rpm so that is roughly where the car should auto shift if it's an automatic. You'll see the gauge go up to 2500/3000 and then drop back down. I recommend going at least 35 mph for about 3/4 minutes watching the rpm gauge. Once you get to speed and maintain that 35 mph your rpm should be pretty stable at 1500 rpm.
In regards to the oil, you want to take a look at that because it shows how often the previous owner took care of their car (if at all). You want to make sure that the oil looks normal and the right consistency. If it's not, that could indicate some pretty bad issues. You could have a bad seal which could lead to oil getting mixed with water, you could have a tran fluid leak too which isn't that bad if you get it fixed right away but that isn't always a possibility.
hunterseel@reddit
I could be wrong but the 3k rpm most of the time cars have a display for RPMs usually next to the speedometer. This is to make sure the transmission is working fine I think so you don’t have problems in the future. The “chocolate milk” fluid would indicate that a oil change needs done or was neglected. It can be hard to trust strangers who may not take care or maintain a car the way it’s supposed to be maintained.
Best of luck to you
bonchokey@reddit
Ehhh the chocolate milk is mainly about a blown head when coolant and oil mix, it's pretty hard to tell how old oil is by visual alone. But yes most cars will shift below 3k rpm of you aren't stepping on it, just watch the rpms rise and fall for each gear shift and make sure there isn't any sudden jerks during said shifts.
Loose_Payment_411@reddit
Depending on your budget, it might have some issues. If you have a mechanic in your family, bring them with you. Some things are an easy fix, others aren't worth the headache. Like "chocolate milk" in the oil, to fix it you have to remove the top half of the engine. Parts aren't expensive but it takes time and shops bill by the hour.
If the check engine light is on, Autozone and the like will pull the codes for free. If you can borrow a scan tool (OBD2 reader), or pick up a cheap one, even better.
Turn the key to the 2nd position, no engine, just so the radio comes on. All of the lights should flash for a second near the spedometer. If they don't, like with the check engine light, someone may have disabled it. My first car had the CEL disabled, didn't realize it until the problems rolled in. People aren't always truthful.
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
no mechanic in my family unfortunately :( im looking for something that has no major issues so that ill for sure wont have to bring out to a shop anytime soon, i think my family and i would probably break the car if we tried to DIY 😭 my budget is up to 4,000-5,000 and i know that might sound a little low but im not looking for anything fancy. i know some people get lucky on fb marketplace so im hoping im one of those people who get a great deal!
abgtw@reddit
What state are you in?
Medical-Pop-6295@reddit (OP)
california