help with car buying

Posted By: Carlos
Date: 9/19/09 7:09p.m.

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Help. Son starts Community College Monday and has a part time job he's had for a week. Additionally he'll be moving out to house or apt. He's been dragging his feet all summer on getting a job and finding a car so he's only got about $1,000. We're willing to lend him more (up to about $2k) to get some basic reliable transportation. I've been looking at Craigslist and just have no idea how to proceed. I mistrust just about any car under $1k and even more so if it's on CL. I bought a friend's father's VW Bug when I was 17. The next car I bought was my Rabbit in grad school. I hate buying cars. I feel like I'm going to get a real lemon and it'll cost me five times as much in the long run. I'm okay buying new because I have warrantees and reviews and all that. But buying used is a real minefield for me. I used to change oil and do basic maintenance so I know my way around a little bit, but I'm always feeling like I'm going to get ripped off. Worse, I'm trying to help my son do this and he's being a real butt about participating. He's overwhelmed by life right now - because he's been ambivalent about growing up - so he's in a corner with time and money. I'd back out totally but he's got to have transportation -otherwise he'll be tapping us for our cars all the time, and I don't want to fall into that trap. Any general advice a little more detailed than "kick the tires"? Thanks, all, Carlos