Cheap used cars
It's easier than at any other time in history to find cheap used cars, thanks to the World Wide Web. With private listings, auction sites like eBay and live auction listings, used car superstores, dealerships listing used cars online, and all sorts of other options it's a snap to find used cars, compare their features and prices and even complete the purchase. Avoid the sucker bets by keeping a few things in mind.
Online doesn't mean 100% honest. People trust newspapers too much, and the same goes for the web. Just because something is written in a newspaper or mentioned on the radio doesn't mean it's 100% true. It's the same online. Promises can be fabricated, as can proof of those promises. Unscrupulous individuals flock to the web. But now the buyer can't see their cheap suit, smell their cheap cologne, or get a glimpse of the bad condition of the cars or the facility. Photoshop lets people air brush out defects like bad paint. And all too often people purchase used cars online, as is, without taking any of the usual used car buying precautions. Diligence is always wise even though every online car seller isn't a crook.
Always have a used car inspected by a good mechanic. Take it to a garage. If it's an online listing where no contact is expected, hire a garage to inspect the car for you. There are plenty of independent garages that will perform vehicle inspections. Never rely on the word of the dealer. An independent opinion is best. For under $50 you can avoid problems that could cost thousands, including the money spent on the used car purchase price.
Don't haggle monthly payments, negotiate price. Even if the salesman keeps telling you about low monthly payments, ask for the price. Avoid the dealer's financing because it's often a way to jack up the price. Go in with your own financing or better yet save up to pay cash for the used car. The price should be discounted for a cash buy.
Cheap used cars aren't impossible. There are a lot of modern tools to aid in their purchase. But it's true for used cars just as it is for anything, if a deal looks too good to be true it is.