DeusVictorae

So this is my first time buying a used car, period. This will also be my first unshared car (I shared a 95' camry with my older sister for a while), so I want it to be a worthy purchase. My budget is around 15k and I'm trying to obtain a used TL, and I've searched cars.com, yahoo autos, craigslist, etc. So far, my best bet has been craigslist in terms of finding local TL's for sale. I don't want to buy from a dealer if possible, I just don't trust them in general, and plus I don't feel like I'll ever get a good deal out of them. My problem is a lot of the ones I'm interested in are too far for me to get checked out by my mechanic, and I don't like dealing with unknown mechanics. Also, some of them aren't even within range (2+hrs away just to look at a car? Can't do it).

So what is the complete process I should go through when purchasing this car, specifically one that I probably won't see in person nor check out with a mechanic? I know I risk getting a lemon right?

Gfaze

Keep searching, there are too many TLs around to risk buying a car you can't see or have checked out by a mechanic. I'd suggest looking into CarMax or similar type of car lots.

DeusVictorae

So I should get it checked out no matter what? What if I search a nearby dealership to the car's location and take it there for a checkup

Costco

I would never buy a used car that I never got the chance to see/drive even if it only had 1,000 miles on it and it seems like a pretty good deal. I like to drive at least 3-4 of a specific to get a feel for what a good condition, say, TL feels and drives like and what a shitty, poorly maintained one drives like. You learn a lot about the car before you even buy it, and it usually sheds light on issues you might not have stumbled upon when you were researching the car pre-purchase.

I just don't know how people take a leap of faith and fly/drive out to where ever to buy a car. Even through super detailed photos and talking to the owner in detail about the car, how he used it and everything, I could only do it if I really, really wanted that, exact car with those exact options and it couldn't be found anywhere else and it was a good deal and there were valid service records on hand. I'm not going to waste money on a plane ticket to find out the pictures of the car are a month old and the guy just got in an accident last week.

For some even better insurance.... if you're not familiar with funny noises and behaviors that poorly-running cars make when you drive them, a compression test is a great idea, but I would think that owners will only allow mechanics to do that. At least I would. Personally I was too lazy to test all 8 cylinders on my car .... but I listened to it at idle, high rpm, inside and outside the car, etc.

Gfaze

I suppose that would work, personally I'd want to drive the car myself to verify it's condition. I just don't see how you can't find any nice TLs in your area. There should be several available at any given time.

atticusbcr

Donnnnnttt

atticusbcr

too many things to worry about :/

WillrunifChased

Be patient and wait for a good deal in your area.

DeusVictorae

Thanks for all your advice guys. I'm such a newbie and forums like these are a godsend to me. I'm under a time constraint because I need a car before school starts, and I REALLY want a TL. But I will play it safe rather than getting a lemon

Anhedonia

dude why are you so desperate to up your post count?

Pitman

I agree with the be patient part, but disagree with the wait for a good deal in your area part.. My motto is you gotta go where the deals are. I drove 4 hours to get my car, and I got one hell of a deal, granted the purchase process , but if I would've waited to find a deal in NYC, I would still have my previous POS car.

WillrunifChased

Well area has to be used as a relative term. Anything you can drive to in a day and back seems to be within range. You just need to be able to personally check it out and have a Mechanic look at it.