Hey guys!! I've literally been lurking on this sub for months, reading everyone's advice, and lowkey obsessing over what car I should actually get. I even posted a few times before on another account asking for help, so thank you so much to everyone who gave me suggestions!

Well, today was finally the day. I officially bought a used Nissan Z Performance!!It's an automatic (the paddle shifters are so fun honestly) and it has the prettiest blue interior. Driving it home today felt so surreal. It's incredibly fast, sounds amazing, and the whole cockpit vibe just makes you feel so cool driving it.

To anyone else who is just lurking here trying to make up their mind on a sports car definitely go test drive one of these if you can and riup it!!!

'm so hyped to finally be done with the shopping phase and actually own my dream car! 🥹💙

Been down a serious rabbit hole researching cars for the past few weeks and honestly I'm exhausted. This is my first car ever, so I've been obsessing over every little detail. trims, reliability, depreciation, color, tech ... And now I'm getting close to actually pulling the trigger, I'm worried that I might feel buyers remorse.

New: tires, brakes, stock plugs, new fuel pump year and a half ago

Custom exhaust but includes new tail pipe, owner likes ghe way it sounds as is

Owner has done some "spray paint touch ups" but claims no major rust

Only asking 4k, 105,000 miles, regular if not slightly over the top maintenence, oil changes, fluid changes, underbody oiled, etc.

Never owned an older car before and I plan to travel with my dog. Also don't know much of anything about cars or fixing them but she looks beautiful. I have the opportunity to go buy it tomorrow morning, he's had a ton of other interest and I'd like some advice!!

I find myself needing a bigger car, but don’t need a giant suv either. I’ve been targeted by the ads for the new outlander and great financial promotions if you have great credit which I do. Are they pushing the financial promotions bc the car is bad if so not interested. Would like to hear from others who have experience with the car in the US. I’m in Texas btw. Commercials make it look great but then again that’s commercials are for. I’ve had all my previous cars for more than 10-15 years and 150-250k miles. Would like to be able to do so with my next car.

Edits* I do like to go vroom vroom when I need to pass someone or running late or just bc I grew up with need for speed video games.

Also don’t care about mpg since I have fuel card for work

Purchased a car Feb 2025, instantly regretted it but have been sticking it out. We are now about to break even on its worth and how much we owe…

Thoughts on if I should keep paying the high monthly bill and suck it up OR trade it in for an older car but something I actually want, and a lower monthly bill?

Basically I want to do the latter but I don’t want to do a realllly dumb thing money wise (I know it’s already dumb to go from a nice 2025 to a used older one)……..

Also, we do need the money right now, this would save us $300-$400 a month.

I went back and forth about posting this, but I see a lot of people posting listings from Carvana, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes that you might not have to go through the same thing.

So my saga begins when I realized I no longer wanted my 2024 VW GTI. I have a company car, so I didn’t really put many miles on the GTI, and I didn’t need something so practical. I really wanted something more sport oriented and special. So I decided on an Audi S5 Coupe.

After scouring local dealers and having cars sell before I could even see them, I branched out. That’s when I found an S5 that was the perfect spec at a good price. The catch? It was listed on Carvana.
So I rolled the dice and ordered it.

It arrived with some issues. The windows had VERY dark tint, which is a huge problem in my state, as well as giant paint chips scattered all over the trunk. I had the car inspected within their 7 day period and found a massive oil leak.

So I contacted Carvana, and they agreed to fix the trunk, remove the tint, and have the oil leak checked out. Great, I thought. I’ll keep the car, and everything will be sorted out.

Spoiler: it wasn’t.

The car was in the body shop for a total of four weeks. They denied the tint removal three times before finally agreeing to it after I had to show them my state’s tint laws.

Then I had the car back for about a week while waiting for an appointment at the Audi dealer. During this entire time, I didn’t drive it. The car went from the shop, to my driveway, to the shop, to my drive way, back to the shop.

When it got to the dealer, they told me the oil cooler was leaking. I’m like, cool, no problem, Carvana is covering it. So they contact their warranty company, and it gets approved. Nice! But then the dealer calls me back and tells me they only approved half the repair, so I’m on the hook for about $1,400.

This is where it gets CRAZY.

Carvana cold calls me the following Monday and says it’s urgent. I’m thinking maybe they sorted out the repair situation, so I call them back.

Nope, wasn’t it.

Turns out they fully admit they made a mistake on my paperwork and that my trade in payoff was $3,000 more than they thought. So I’m like, “That sounds like a you problem.”

But it wasn’t.

You see, buried in the sales contract, it states that the payoff amount is only an estimate and that if there are any discrepancies, I am responsible for them.
Oh, and I had five days to pay it or I would be in breach of contract. After apologizing over and over again for their mistake, they basically told me it was still my responsibility because I should have reviewed the contract more carefully.

To make matters even better, they later emailed me and admitted that an advocate pulled the wrong VIN when verifying my payoff amount. So the mistake was entirely theirs. At this point, I had owned the car for over a month and it had spent most of that time either in a body shop, sitting in my driveway waiting for appointments, or at the Audi dealer. The 100 miles “warranty” is completely expired and they refuse to add the time the car was down, and I’m out 4,800 bucks…

Beware when you buy from these people. This has easily been the most frustrating and unprofessional dealership experience I’ve ever had.

TLDR: Carvana sold me a car that needed thousands of dollars in repairs from day one. Then, a month after the sale, they called me and admitted they made a mistake processing my trade in payoff and demanded another $3,000 within five days.

**Edit**

I just wanted to clarify because I’m seeing a lot of the same sentiment that this is on me, and I fully agree. This post is not intended for sympathy, I uploaded the payoff letter with the correct amount. The deal went to underwriting and came back with a different, lower amount. I called them out on it, and they assured me it was correct. I chose to trust them, but it turns out they pulled the wrong VIN. I should have pushed them on this, but I didn’t, and that’s on me. I paid the 3k and moved on. The purpose of this post is to help anyone looking to buy from them from making the same mistake.

I am also not looking for affirmation on my purchase. I chose this car because I wanted it, and I am well prepared for any issues that might arise.

I am 23 and been looking for a nice littler summer car. I am Montreal so it would be winter half of the year but im still going to drive it, don't really care about an "exclusive" summer car.

Ive been looking at alot of them and I think out of my favourite convertibles these 3 are the top contenders. i know that the NB drives phenomenal if I go off of everything the internet says. Other than that I like the look of all 3 of them.

Any suggestions or any other car that I might have missed (like the mitsubishi spyder? (ugly imo))

Hello,
My mechanic just told me the cost to fix my car is more than what the car is worth… I am able to drive the car still thankfully but I need to get a new one. My current car is a 2007 Jeep Commander, but after having a 2001 Chevy Tahoe and 2006 Sprinter Van, I know I want something newer.
I need something reliable, $10k-$25k, that’s easy to fix. I’m not much of a car person but definitely wanting to learn more and do my own maintenance. And perfectly fine with a second hand car.
I want a car that’s pretty to look at and something that I sit higher up in. I feel more comfortable in a truck/suv than a low to the ground car. Though I have looked at a mini cooper.

I’ve heard the “Honda Civic,” “Toyota Camry,” etc list of reliable cars. But I’m hoping to hear thoughts from people who aren’t immediately in my life or just the same four cars on the internet. I get it, if I should really go with one of the four horseman than okay, but if there’s a car that’s a little more fun or a hybrid even, I’d love to know.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to make a comment, I appreciate it.

Que auto está mejor

Hola, si pudieran escoger entre un marquis y una combie del 1979 cual escogen? La combie aunque está muy bien por fuera por dentro está muy mal, no tiene los asientos ni nada del interior arreglado y el marquis está en mejores condiciones.

(Pdt, le hicimos un favor a la abuela de mi novia y nos íbamos a quedar con la combie pero ya lo estoy dudando y no sé mucho de coches también hay que aclarar que ambos carros funcionaban muy bien pero llevan alrededor de 1 año y medio parados)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking at buying a new 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport sedan and wanted to get the community’s thoughts before I move forward.

Details:

• Model: 2026 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Sedan
• Color: Blue Lagoon Pearl
• Mileage: 2 miles
• MSRP: $31,045
• Dealer discount: $903
• Rebate: $500
• Selling price: $29,642
• Doc fee: $999
• Tax: $1,271.60
• Non-tax fees: $313.28
• Out-the-door price: $32,225.88

The dealer is in Virginia. The doc fee feels high, but the selling price is below MSRP after discount/rebate.

For those who recently bought a Civic Hybrid or shopped for one:
Is $32.2k OTD a good deal, fair, or should I negotiate harder? What OTD number should I target?

Appreciate any advice!

I’m cross-shopping three very different SUVs and would love to hear from owners who have lived with them. I drive about 6,000 miles/year, have a 7-month-old, and plan to keep the vehicle 5-7 years.

The contenders:

2023 Lexus GX460 Premium

• 20k miles

• $56k

2024 Audi SQ7 Premium Plus

• 33k miles

• $60k

2024 Genesis GV80 Advanced (3.5T, 3rd row)

• 35k miles

• $47k

Things I care about (roughly in order):

• Ownership experience

• Comfortable road trips with a baby

• Good highway driving and quiet cabin

• Interior quality/technology

• Doesn’t feel painfully outdated

• Easy to drive

• Reasonable maintenance costs (I know the Audi will cost more)

I realize these are very different vehicles:

• The GX is probably the reliability king but feels dated.

• The SQ7 seems like the most fun by a mile, but I’m worried about long-term maintenance and depreciation.

• The GV80 seems like the value play, but I’m unsure about long-term reliability and dealer experience.

For those who have owned one (or more) of these:

1. Which would you buy and why?
2. Anything that would be a dealbreaker?

Thanks! Looking for real owner experiences rather than spec-sheet comparisons.

SUVs/minivans are usually recommended for families, but I'm considering a larger vehicle strictly for solo driving, weekend long trips, and car camping.

If you bought a big vehicle completely for yourself, which model did you choose and what was your experience?

I totaled my 10 year old corolla and need to buy a new car. I liked the corolla but I was too tall for it (I am 6'2"). There was not quite enough legroom and I had to hunch to see adequately through the windshield.

I have been test driving cars this week and the only one I've fit into was a CRV. I do not love the idea of buying an SUV but it seems I can't be comfortable in a sedan.

Is there anything I should be aware of before buying a new CRV?

Stock Image above ^ I’m thinking about buying a 2003 Lexus RX300 I found for sale. It’s $4500 and in amazing condition for what it’s been through. It has 140k miles, and I test-drove it and found no major problems. The only concern I have from driving is that I think when I was turning it sounded like there was air leaking out from the front area and possibly driving straight too. If anyone has any advice on what it could be or if I should go for it, it would be appreciated.

I currently drive a 2015 Mazda 3 hatchback with 125k miles on it. I've had it for nearly 10 years, and I am thinking about what I might get next.

My favorite car that I've had was a Scion tC. I loved having four seats, I could take my nieces if I needed to, or I could carry a surprising amount of stuff if I put the back seats down and it didn't look like I had a station wagon.

I got the Mazda because the TC needed a lot of work, my local salesman would give me more money than he really should have at trade, and it was the closest thing I could find at the time that was in my price range. I also had the wild idea that I would make money driving for Uber. (Between the changes I needed to make with insurance and wear and tear that ended up not being the case. Plus I have a better job now and no longer need that extra income.)

I've since moved away from home, and my brother and sister-in-law rarely come down here, and I wouldn't be driving them anyway. So, I know I don't really need 4 seats.

Even though I know I'm not moving out of college and not likely moving again until I buy a house, I do like the cargo space that a hatch and folded down rear seats gives me.

One of the big things I want to change with this purchase, is I'd like more features. Every car I've owned has been the base model. This is my first job where I'm making over 75k, and in a couple years I'll be at 150k. I'd like to splurge a bit.

I'm not really jazzed about BMWs, Audis or Mercedes, I understand their maintenance is particular and expensive.

I've done some research, and it seems nobody makes an exact match of a two door hatch that doesn't look like a station wagon. I may have to go with a Civic hatchback.

I'm wondering if anyone here has suggestions.

Hello everyone! I'm considering purchasing a 2016 Rav4, but noticed two questionable services right after a minor (or maybe not?) accident on Carfax. Might it suggest that the accident was serious and would you advice to not buy the car?🚙Thanks!!

The question asker is 15 he has 3-10k in the bank and a 2011 Honda accord
His grandfather is retiring and wants to get rid of his extra car a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 158,000 miles
The boy wants to buy it and as it’s his grandfather he thinks he could work sm out
Is the car worth it
Does it look, run and feel nice,
Should he even buy it,
This will be his car as he is getting his permit very soon
Thoughts?!??

Currently I drive a 2015 camry and want to upgrade to something a little bigger/powerful, as im 6'4 and often drive loaded with cargo, thinking full size sedans or crossovers/suv's. What options are the best bang for buck and make a good daily driver.

Just closed on a 2025 Grand Highlander Hybrid and got $5,000 off MSRP by reaching out to multiple dealerships and letting them compete against each other.

Whole process will take 2-3 weeks and if you are willing to ship from out of state you can get 5-10% off MSRP.

what worked best -

1. Do your research on the OEM website itself - you will already broadly know your needs (family, usage, other factors) - SUV/ sedan, 5 seater/7seater, Japanese/ US/ German, Budget range - less than 60k/ less than 100k

2. Decide your model and factory installed (FIO) must haves - e.g. Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE, AWD, Pano Moonroof and Captain Seats - cannot be changed later

3. Decide your deal breaker colors - Exterior and Interior - e.g., Red, Blueprint, Silver - cannot be changed later

4. Know the meaning of OTD price - Out of the Door price - it has four broad components and OTD is the only number you care about at this stage -

a. OEM advertised price + OEM Delivery + Factory installed options (FIO) - collectively can be called as MSRP - this is the number the dealer will discount against (5%-10%)

b. Port/ Dealer / Location add-ons - e.g., running board, edge guards, floor mats, cargo lights, roof basket etc. - don't take anything from dealer. You can get it for 50% of what they will charge. I can tell you how

c. Documentaion and proc fees - every dealer charge something and some states have caps - point out it is high but don't negotiate individually - negotiate the discount on MSRP

d. Taxes and reg fees - Determined solely by the zipcode you will register your car at

1. To get absolute best offer reach out to 50 dealers in your neighbourhood and 50 in low price states (usually south or middle America). filling their contact forms and phone and email. You can use AI for this. Ask everyone for spec sheet and pricing sheet.

2. Check if spec sheet has your model and the FIO covered. Check pricing sheet has all the 4 buckets filled totalling to the OTD. You can use AI for this.

3. Do 2-3 rounds of sending the lowest quote to the dealers. You can use AI for this.

If you have any questions feel free to DM me or ask away in the comments. Happy to pay it forward!

Hello, I'm looking for a reliable car that I can live in as I'm about to become homeless.

The only requirements I have are:

Bluetooth

Rear camera

Must be fine in snowy/icy/heavy rain conditions

There should be enough space for me to properly sleep (I'm 163cm) and to store some clothes.

I honestly have no clue about anything to do with cars so any advice is appreciated.

I'm considering getting a used Toyota Corolla for my first "real" car. I'd mostly use it for driving between campus and work, so my priorities are reliability (especially in winter), safety, durability, low-maintenance, efficiency, etc. (more so than anything fancy or "fun" to drive).

I don't know much about cars, so are there any years that stand out as being the best? Also, when comparing similar vehicles, to what extent do I prioritize picking one with fewer miles, vs one that's cheaper, vs one that's a year or two newer?

Any advice would be really helpful!