Car Auctions

[fbird01]

Has anyone here ever gone to an auction, public or closed, and bought a car???

Just wondering how everything went down because I'm on my 3rd winter with my Lebaron and I know it's not going to hold up another year.

I hate going to dealers cuz when I tell them I'm only looking to spend 5-6k on a car (which is for the winter) they don't even want to deal with me. And if they do stay to talk thet start showing me cars around the 10k range or the biggest POS in the lot that I'd choose a bicycle over.

But back to the original topic, I've been to a couple public auctions but all their cars are crap, if it doesn't have 150k on the clock it looks like someone drove it off a cliff.

So just wondering what input people have on the topic or any ideas where to get a decent winter car for around 5-6k.

Ryan

[Earnhardt132000]

Get a high mileage winter beater. My sister's car came from an auction ('98 Sunfire), it was somewhere around $3500 about 4 years ago. And I think it has under 100k on it.

[HokieBird]

My parents have gotten two cars through a connection at a dealer auction. They were both in nice condition for a good price. I've never been to a public car auction, but I would imagine it would be hard to find a good deal. You can easily find something decent for 5-6k in the regular used market.

[fbird01]

You would think so, but I'm pretty picky about my cars.

I want a car that I can drive for like the next 4-5 years or so without having to dump money into it.

I've been blessed with the Lebaron up to this point, $30 for battery, $120 for alternator and $150 for tires, then about $50 for all the oil it burns....

I'm more or less looking for a Buick Regal (GS I would prefer) or a Grand Prix (GTP again), like a 97-99 with like 75k.

I know you probably think I'm an idiot trying to find those for a winter car, but I am not driving another car like the Lebaron.

Where I live everyone wants a stupid amount for their car. I found a 02 TA, base model. Had 33k miles, int was in great condition and ext was good except for the front, and they were asking $20k for it. Please, the car isn't even worth $14.

I do alot of highway driving from school to work so I need something with reasonable power and that is very reliable. The whole auto trader and ebay don't work for me. And it's hard to find a decent auction to get into thats open to the public.

[Question]

Originally posted by fbird01:
Where I live everyone wants a stupid amount for their car. I found a 02 TA, base model. Had 33k miles, int was in great condition and ext was good except for the front, and they were asking $20k for it. Please, the car isn't even worth $14.

Actually, in my Zip Code KBB says that a base model Transam with 33k miles in Excellent condition is worth 19,295 private party value.

[fbird01]

In my zip it's 14.5 or so in good condition, cuz it def wans't excellent.

But anyways, you can find an 02 TA WS6 with 20k miles on it for alittle more than $20k, so theres no way the base model is worth just as much

[SpeedingFirebird]

I went to an auction with my brother. He got a great deal on a decomissioned police car. $2K less than book.

[Fbody3400]

Originally posted by fbird01:
Where I live everyone wants a stupid amount for their car. I found a 02 TA, base model. Had 33k miles, int was in great condition and ext was good except for the front, and they were asking $20k for it. Please, the car isn't even worth $14.

Did the car have front end damage? Around here a TA with 33k miles on it would be in the 20k range for sure.

[95fbirdkid]

Where I live everyone wants a stupid amount for their car. I found a 02 TA, base model. Had 33k miles, int was in great condition and ext was good except for the front, and they were asking $20k for it. Please, the car isn't even worth $14.

base model T/A? oxymoron?

20K for a T/A w/ that low of miles doesnt seem bad at all

[LD]

http://images5.theimagehosting.com/transampricing.JPG

id say 20 is wwwaaayy too much
theres no way I would pay 5 grand over kbb
every car I have ever bought has been less than kbb

btw on topic
my buddy buys a $500 POS every year and beats the crap out of it for a few months until he can drive his lowrider again
is that out of the question for you?
they may not look nice, but they get you where you need to go lol

[fbird01]

Yeah, thats kinda out of the question LD, thats what the Lebaron was kinda for, but I honestly hate being in it.

Thats really why I want to get either a Regal or Grand Prix cuz I like the motor and know it will last me a long time. I could find a beater every year but I don't like going to look for a car that might break down 10 miles down the road. I'll pay more for the peice of mind that I will get to where I need to go safely or just plain get there.

Also, 20 grand for a 01-02 TA WS6 with 20k miles on it is a decent price. The car is 4-5 years old, it easily has halved in value. I saw an 01 WS6 today with 22k on it for 19995, so that just tells you the other one just isn't right.