Ever bought a car from craigslist?

Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I've been without a car for nearly two years, so every now and then I browse my local craigslist to see if there's anything worth my time and tiny savings. I've looked at a few, and since I have a small budget, most of them have been total crap.

Has anyone ever gotten a car from a craigslist ad, though? Did it last long or was it a total POS?
09/28/2011
  • Save Extra 50% On Sexobot Attachment
  • Upgrade Your Hands-Free Play!
  • Complete strap-on set for extra 15% off
  • Save 50% On Shower Nozzle With Enema Set
  • Enjoy 50% Off Selected Items
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
All promotions
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I've been without a car for nearly two years, so every now and then I browse my local craigslist to see if there's anything worth my time and tiny savings. I've looked at a few, and since I have a small budget, most of them have been ... more
I didn't but a friend of mine did, it lasted her about two years and then it crapped out on her but it got her around until she could afford a better car and it was dirt cheap so for her, it worked, but she also could've just been lucky! I'm not sure if I'd trust it or not. I'd feel safer just getting a loan for a dealership car (not a car on a lot) or maybe look in your local paper.
09/28/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Peggi
I didn't but a friend of mine did, it lasted her about two years and then it crapped out on her but it got her around until she could afford a better car and it was dirt cheap so for her, it worked, but she also could've just been lucky! ... more
Yeah, I have a friend who got a kind of POS car, but it runs and doesn't have major problems and she got it for $800.

I'd love to get a loan, but I have zero credit whatsoever and have tried for a few loans in the past and it hasn't worked because of that.
09/29/2011
Contributor: The-IT-Guy-And-My-Secretary The-IT-Guy-And-My-Secretary
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I've been without a car for nearly two years, so every now and then I browse my local craigslist to see if there's anything worth my time and tiny savings. I've looked at a few, and since I have a small budget, most of them have been ... more
Keep in mind you pay more for a car from a dealership BUT in the long run how much more would you pay not to be stranded in a shitty place because you got a good deal. I have to depend on my vehicles alot more than most and it kills me in payments but ive never broken down and im always on time to my jobs.
09/29/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by The-IT-Guy-And-My-Secretary
Keep in mind you pay more for a car from a dealership BUT in the long run how much more would you pay not to be stranded in a shitty place because you got a good deal. I have to depend on my vehicles alot more than most and it kills me in payments ... more
Oh yeah, I totally agree. I've given up on actually finding a car that would be useful and last me long from CL. I just hope one day I'll get lucky and find something that will last a long time.

Just right now, I don't have enough money for a downpayment and I don't make enough money at my job to get approved for financing without a co-signer. And my parents who could co-sign with me live in another state and some dealerships won't accept a co-signer via fax. At least not a few I've gone to.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Vegan Silk Vegan Silk
I found my last car on craigsslist, but I took it to a mechanic before i bought it. had it checked out. '

I've had it going on 3 years, and so far so good. (its also a honda, so it is a good car to begin with.) Definitely didn't go with the cheapest one though.
09/29/2011
Contributor: js250 js250
I haven't purchased a car, but have purchased about 72 motorcycles over the last year and a half. I have gotten everything from a premium '79 Honda Elsinore (pd. $650.00 & sold $2900.00-no work done) to rare parts bikes, (1974 Indian MX70). I have sold many bikes and three cars on it as well. RESEARCH!!And look at the item first!
09/29/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
I haven't purchased a car, but have purchased about 72 motorcycles over the last year and a half. I have gotten everything from a premium '79 Honda Elsinore (pd. $650.00 & sold $2900.00-no work done) to rare parts bikes, (1974 Indian ... more
Oh yeah definitely! My girlfriend is a bit of a mechanic, luckily, so on the rare occasion that I find something she takes me and looks at the car.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I've bought my last few cars off of Craigslist. My last one was a good deal, but as soon as winter hit we found out it needed a motor. I had had it for something like a month and a half at that point. It lasted me until I sold it to a friend the following June or July, at which point they flaked out, something happened with the car that they tried to blame on us not telling them about, and they got completely screwed by the shop it got towed to and tried to force us to pay to get it out. I lost so much fucking money on that.

But the car I have now I found on Craigslist, paid a lot more for it than the last one, and it hasn't needed anything major that we didn't expect. It's a decommissioned police car, so some things we knew were going to be really worn out, but the only time it's ever let me down was when the battery died with no warning one day. Just stopped holding a charge while I was at my night job.
09/29/2011
Contributor: domsub1993 domsub1993
Yes, we bought a truck from craigslist a few years ago. We didn't realize until we were transferring the title that we actually knew the extended family of the guy who was selling. They are a very value-minded family and we knew we weren't being taken across. The truck has been so good to us!
09/29/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I've bought my last few cars off of Craigslist. My last one was a good deal, but as soon as winter hit we found out it needed a motor. I had had it for something like a month and a half at that point. It lasted me until I sold it to a friend ... more
What's the most you paid for a car off of craigslist? When I say I have a super small budget, I'm talking, I really can't afford anything more than $1200, which is almost destined to get me a total POS.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
What's the most you paid for a car off of craigslist? When I say I have a super small budget, I'm talking, I really can't afford anything more than $1200, which is almost destined to get me a total POS.
I paid $2,600 for my Crown Victoria, and $750 for the Celebrity that needed the engine. $1,200 may get you a total POS, but if you can find something like an old Civic, you should be ok with that. Civics and older Toyotas are usually pretty good about lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles with nothing terribly major.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
No, all of my vehicles were purchased through friends. I'd probably have been screwed less if I had gone to Craigslist.

My first car was held together with electrical tape. My second car needed a new clutch (that I replaced myself) and then my idiot brother-in-law used anti-seize on an engine mount bolt and it slid out, causing the motor to drop two inches while I was driving. My third vehicle was my favorite, but the clutch was getting soft and I had to replace the radiator and the brake pads...luckily some asshat came barreling down a side street at 50 miles an hour and totaled it by slamming into my driver's side door. The wheel was smashed into the engine, pushing it about six inches to the right. I haven't had another vehicle since and I think I'll keep it that way until it's absolutely necessary otherwise.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Illumin8 Illumin8
Never bought one from Craigslist, but did sell one a few years ago on there.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Lucky21 Lucky21
I bought my last car off a craigslist post. It's been fantastic! I've put 70k on it in 3.5years.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Ash1141 Ash1141
Nope
09/29/2011
Contributor: darthkitt3n darthkitt3n
Craigslist isn't really popular in my area yet, so there's usually only a couple of cars for sale on there. I haven't bought one off of there. I did sell one on there a couple of years ago, which wasn't the greatest car. It leaked oil pretty bad.
09/29/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
No, all of my vehicles were purchased through friends. I'd probably have been screwed less if I had gone to Craigslist.

My first car was held together with electrical tape. My second car needed a new clutch (that I replaced myself) and ... more
Holy shit were you in the car when this happened?
09/29/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I paid $2,600 for my Crown Victoria, and $750 for the Celebrity that needed the engine. $1,200 may get you a total POS, but if you can find something like an old Civic, you should be ok with that. Civics and older Toyotas are usually pretty good ... more
Oh yeah, I have a friend who has a late 90s Civic and it's had a few issues, but they were fixed rather quickly and the car is still running well.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Pink Jewel Pink Jewel
Yes I have
10/01/2011
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Never bought one, but had sold one on Craigslist a few years back. I think the guy bought it, fixed it up and sold it within a week.
10/01/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
Holy shit were you in the car when this happened?
You mean when the woman t-boned me? Yes, I was. I was slammed into the gear shift and thrown into the passenger side. I haven't had the desire to own and maintain another vehicle since. My husband does all of the driving now. The really weird thing? I have zero issue driving someone else's car, I just don't want one of my own anymore.
10/01/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
never have, but it cant be as bad as buying from a used car dealer. they are snakes.
10/01/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
You mean when the woman t-boned me? Yes, I was. I was slammed into the gear shift and thrown into the passenger side. I haven't had the desire to own and maintain another vehicle since. My husband does all of the driving now. The really weird ... more
Yeah, I do not blame you AT ALL. Goodness gracious. glad you're hear to tell the tale though...
10/01/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
Yeah, I do not blame you AT ALL. Goodness gracious. glad you're hear to tell the tale though...
You're so sweet, thank you! I'm pretty glad to be here too, Lord knows it could have been a lot worse in the end.
10/02/2011
Contributor: MrWishyWashy MrWishyWashy
No, I have not.
10/03/2011
Contributor: Jordan B Jordan B
no i haven't but always check the car before you buy it
12/11/2011