Buying a car off of craigslist

[ariel_2005 0]

you haft to be very careful with people on craiglist!... i never got burned which is good and we sell and buy a lot from craiglist but only locally ...we've traded our motorhome for a nice truck, my husband bought me a used car and we end up selling again cause some financial problems bummer ...if you do everything local then craigslist is awesome!!!!...

[forchika 4]

We bought husbands first car from craiglist locally, it was a 98 isuzu rodeo. The guy sold it for a couple hundred dollars less because it needed a break job. It was also fully loaded with sound system, keyless entry and remote start even had a dvd player in it. He did not want anything extra for the things inside. You have to call as soon as you see something you are interested in because if its a good deal it's liable to go fast!!!!! All in all it was a very good experience!!!!!

Edited May 8, 2008 by forchika

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sheesh, 2 more responses, both trying to sell me a car from far away (one from IL, one from CA).

I'm not sure what you are doing, but you certainly can choose the area where you are searching from.

Go to front page:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html

Click on city or state you wish to narrow your search in. Also, you can filter out to show only private sellers.

[Marilyn. 340]

Sheesh, 2 more responses, both trying to sell me a car from far away (one from IL, one from CA).

I'm not sure what you are doing, but you certainly can choose the area where you are searching from.

Go to front page:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html

Click on city or state you wish to narrow your search in. Also, you can filter out to show only private sellers.

sometimes people who post the ads post them in the wrong spots...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sheesh, 2 more responses, both trying to sell me a car from far away (one from IL, one from CA).

I'm not sure what you are doing, but you certainly can choose the area where you are searching from.

Go to front page:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html

Click on city or state you wish to narrow your search in. Also, you can filter out to show only private sellers.

sometimes people who post the ads post them in the wrong spots...

If the listing doesn't have the location noted like this - (LOS ANGELES, CA.) I won't bother with them...most likely scammers.

For example:

1995 Toyota 4Runner 4Runner Limi - $2600 - pic

2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4 - $2800 - pic

CAMARO-RS 1992 !!!!!!!!! FLOW MASTER EXHAUST SYSTEM !!!!!!!!! - $1200 - (LOS ANGELES, CA.) pic

2005 Mazda 3i sedan 46K Silver - $10900 - (Anaheim) pic

2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 4x4 - $12000 - (Fullerton)

1994 BMW 325I LEATHER , AC RUNS GOOD - $4200 - (ANAHEIM) pic

......

The first 2 listings don't have a location...a definite red flag.

[shadtov 0]

We just sold our car on Craiglist. I received a lot of emails from scammers. I didn't know they also tried to scam buyers with the "shipping" thing. I also had emails from people who flaked on me. They'd tell me they were going to come look at the car and never showed. We had two serious buyers. The first paid for a 50 point inspection and a car fax. She wanted me to lower the price $800 and I said no, especially since the car passed the inspection with flying colors. She gave me the mechanics report and the carfax and I gave those to the man who eventually bought the car.

I'd be careful where you meet to look at the cars. You can choose an neutral place like a well-lit grocery store parking lot. I also don't think it's too much to ask for copies of receipts for all services done on the car.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I'm trying to buy a used car, and have been looking through craiglist. Over the past few days I've sent emails to 10 of the posters regarding their vehicles and haven't heard back from even one of them. What's going on? Do they just go so fast that sending an email 5 minutes after the ad is posted is too late? Are they all scams?

So confused. Has anyone had luck with craigslist for a car?

make a free email account and use it to send from, it may be someone trolling for emails to spam.

Bingo. I have:

1.) Found a house to rent.

2.) Got a good job.

and 3.) Bought a car off of Craigslist.

The problem is the spammers.

We just sold our car on Craiglist. I received a lot of emails from scammers. I didn't know they also tried to scam buyers with the "shipping" thing. I also had emails from people who flaked on me. They'd tell me they were going to come look at the car and never showed. We had two serious buyers. The first paid for a 50 point inspection and a car fax. She wanted me to lower the price $800 and I said no, especially since the car passed the inspection with flying colors. She gave me the mechanics report and the carfax and I gave those to the man who eventually bought the car.

I'd be careful where you meet to look at the cars. You can choose an neutral place like a well-lit grocery store parking lot. I also don't think it's too much to ask for copies of receipts for all services done on the car.

Ever consider a job in car sales?

[kerewin21 2]

Sheesh, 2 more responses, both trying to sell me a car from far away (one from IL, one from CA).

I'm not sure what you are doing, but you certainly can choose the area where you are searching from.

Go to front page:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html

Click on city or state you wish to narrow your search in. Also, you can filter out to show only private sellers.

sometimes people who post the ads post them in the wrong spots...

Yeah, all of the ones that I contacted claimed not only to be in NYC, but in my borough, in the title of the post. Argh.

So still no luck with craigslist, I am fed up and going to dealers.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Have you tried backpage? They're local classifieds with an interface not unlike Craig's list but not quite so overwhelming.

http://newyork.backpage.com/AutosForSale/c...p;category=4423