Buying a car is like having a night job.
I looked at this car last weekend:
http://www.branchville.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=0462887X10K27K2006J1I10I10JPMQ610R0&veh=403549
It's just the sort of Corolla I want: the new (2003 and later) body style, with power windows and locks and cruise control. The mileage isn't bad for a Toyota (47K), and there's no sunroof (I hate sunroofs). No accidents, but it has some denting on one side and some nicks in the paint in a couple of spots, which means rust is possible, especially here. There was a problem with the window regulator last weekend, but supposedly they replaced that this week. The brakes have about 60% left on the front and 50% on the back. It's not my favorite color, but it's not white. I hate white. It's clean inside, but there's a little stickyness on the window buttons and whatnot. Not a big deal. Oh, and one of the little cubby holes in the center has a cover that's broken, so I'd either take the cover off altogether or try to make it close with some gimpy rigging with Velcro or something.
He'll sell it to me for $11,450. He says that's his bottom dollar. That's a good price; I think that car is worth that, and I think that's below the Blue Book value.
I'm just not wowed. It's the color and the dents. Like I say, the dents aren't that bad, and it's silly to be worked up about the color, but I realized just the other day that my favorite car color is that gunmetal gray. Nice! This is gold/tan. Hmm.
However, this is the best price I've found so far (except from ole Sonny, but I'm never buying anything from him, ever). I'm pretty sure I'd have to pay at least a grand more, and more likely $2,500 more for a Corolla with agreeable miles and the power package I want--and that's used! I talked to a dealership today who had a slew of 2005s that they want $15,900 for, and by the dealer's own admission, the same car as a 2007 can be bought for $16k or $17k. So why is the price on the 05 so high? I'm not paying that. Even if I pay $11,450, my wad of cash won't cover the tax, title, and tag; that's going to go on my credit card.
I'm not sure if I should go for this one because the price is good or I should hold out for another car that's the color I like and with no dents, and then I'd have to pay more.
Any thoughts?