Should I buy a 2000 SSEi w/ 36k miles

[99SilverSE]

I say hold out and look for a better deal because there out there if your looking.

I really wasn't looking for a new car but, this is the first SSEi (for sale) I've ever seen in my area. So I kinda went for it since I have been wanting one for a while.

Just looked on Autotrader and there are only 2 SSEi's for sale within 100 miles. The one I'm looking at (2000 w/36k miles) for Ummm well I guess $10k after taxes and trade and another 2000 w/75k miles asking $8000 (will probably be about the same after taxes and trade)

[Whitecrystal1]

I say hold out and look for a better deal because there out there if your looking.

I really wasn't looking for a new car but, this is the first SSEi (for sale) I've ever seen in my area. So I kinda went for it since I have been wanting one for a while.

Just looked on Autotrader and there are only 2 SSEi's for sale within 100 miles. The one I'm looking at (2000 w/36k miles) for Ummm well I guess $10k after taxes and trade and another 2000 w/75k miles asking $8000 (will probably be about the same after taxes and trade)

imo, both are over priced. If your not really in a need for it I would pass and wait until you see something better. These y2k+ bonnies have tow many common problems for me to buy another. I would love to find a low mileage 90s one

Good Luck

[99SilverSE]

I'd like to get out of the "90's" look and into a sporty looking car instead of "Grandpa's sporty car" LOL

[00Beast]

00+ SSEi is still Grandpa's sporty car, sad to say. Bonneville = Grandpa Car.

[Whitecrystal1]

[99SilverSE]

True, but at least the 00+'s look like a new car.

My 99 still looks like it's from... well the early 90's


I guess I'm sticking with my origanal plan of paying my 99 off.
I got a list of stuff to fix though, and no time to do anything. YUCK

[99SilverSE]

Well it's still at the dealer and I'm still thinking about it....

If I get the $4000 from my home tax credit soon I think I might just do it.

Trade in the 99 for the 00 SSEI

[myfirstbonnie]

I know the miles are higher (http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/ctd/1269726254.htmlandhttp://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/1266317057.html), but I agree with everyone else about the price.

[99SilverSE]

I really want something with less than 75K miles on it... I drive about 10,500miles a year just to and from work. I'll be racking up miles pretty quick so I don't want to start with something near 100K already

I started at around 78k on my 99SE when I bought it in May or June of 07 now it's got almost 117k... Thats about 20k a year

[2000Silverbullet]

He even said it was so fast it could beat a Corvette. He also said the KBB and NADA are stupid places to look for prices cause they only go be the year and make and that they don't look at how the car has been kept and how nice it is.

I would agree.
Mine has similar mileage, is in mint condition and I value it at not a penny less than $15,000.!

[RJolly87]

If you don't need it, and just want it, I would have to favor the simple life. Besides, you can wait for one to fall into your lap. Don't want you to do anything you will regret later. I site the example of my dad. Basically told the salesman that if he can get financing <his credit is destroyed> than he would do it. Sure enough, they did, and he isn't exactly thrilled with payments at this point, especially with the newness of the car wearing off and the nickle and dime stuff you would expect a 12 year old car to throw your way.

Pay of the bonne, save money, and lie and wait for another grandpa/ma to pass away, and the kids just want to be rid of the car.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Low miles do not guarantee low problems. I got my car 1.5 years ago with 31k miles on it, and have had to repair several large rust holes as well as replace a fair number of parts that were worn out with age.

Also, it's staying at its current level of performance simply because of the age and ongoing rust issues that are limiting my car's life to another few years at the most.

[99SilverSE]

I don't know what I want to do....

On one hand I would LOVE to have a Ei or GXP

and

on the other I don't need a new one and could pay the 99 off and fix it up (finding time is my problem right now) And save what I would be paying on payments and extra ins (full vs. state min) for a down payment on a used G8 GT in a couple years.

[RJGill84]

There ARE some differences in the 2000 Bonnevilles versus the 01+.

Here is some info on the 01 changes - http://www.media.gm.com/ca/gm/en/produc ... ville.html

You'll note "Modified suspension for improved steering response", which seems notable, as well as several other less important changes such as "Passenger frontal air bag features dual-stage deployment", "Rear seat centre shoulder belt added", "Engine oil change interval increased to 16,000 kilometers."

If you want information on other model year changes, simply change the "2001Bonneville.html" to the model year you're interested in.

[cml37]

Too much! Don't pay that much for the car. He's making a KILLING on it at that price. He paid maybe $6000 for it at auction, if that much. It's a buyers market... don't believe a word he says, his job is to sell cars. He will say he's got x number of dollars into it blah blah blah.. you hold the upper hand. He will say he needs to fix up your car, that is BS, he is just going to wholesale it.

When I bought my Avalon a few weeks ago, I got the guy down by $4000.

EDIT: If you really want the car, tell him since the bank is willing to approve $8500, then that is your max. Then tell him to take your car and wholesale it for say $2500. Remember that and remind him that you are looking at a car that is 9 YEARS OLD

[Skippy1827]

If you need to work this hard to get in a different car, and getting rejected by banks, it is not worth it for you. It's a sign that you aren't ready..
The smart thing to do is to get your car paid off....
Save your money and buy a car when you can afford it.
Making $150 payments on a 9 year old car is going to be upside down soon, and you are in the same situation again..
You still owe $2800 on a 10 year old car? Fix it and pay it off.

[Merrillspontiac]

I myself dont buy a car unless I have the cash in hand. It saves alot of stress.

[BlackHawk99]

I myself dont buy a car unless I have the cash in hand. It saves alot of stress.

x2. You're not lying. I'm a firm believer in only buying what you can afford, AKA have money for. If you don't have cash saved up, then you don't buy it. All about self-discipline.

[99SilverSE]

I myself dont buy a car unless I have the cash in hand. It saves alot of stress.

x2. You're not lying. I'm a firm believer in only buying what you can afford, AKA have money for. If you don't have cash saved up, then you don't buy it. All about self-discipline.

I would NEVER have had a car if I had to pay cash for it.

[Grimm]

I would keep walking on this car. It's 9 years old, I don't care how few miles it has. My second car was an '84 Thunderbird. It was ten years old with like 46,000 miles. It blew three head gaskets in a year and a half and warped the head twice. It's obvious the car hasn't been on the road very much and has probably only been driven for a couple of miles at a time, not enough to even warm up the engine. I think you could be in for a disaster if that car all of a sudden has to work every day driving three times as many miles in a year. For that price you could buy something 3 years newer, and even though it might have twice the miles, it would probably last longer.