Car/Recreation Vehicle Purchasing

[Pinocchio]

Something I've thought about off and on over the last few years (after the collapse of my family's business) is creating a sort of guide (reference?) to buying cars or recreational vehicles. I never really put the work into it, but is this something that might be valuable/useful? If so, what types of information would you be looking for from an insider's point of view (financing, values, costs, etc.)? I don't know everything (and I'm sure some things have changed over the last few years - I do still have friends in the business though), but I think I could contribute to that sort of endeavor. I could also pick my father's brain, who knows more than I do. He loves to talk about himself. I was never the car lot owner (he was), but did sell autos and RVs, held several managerial roles, and was involved/exposed to corporate level information. I know more than most about some of the ins and outs. At its peak, my family's business had more than a dozen car franchises and probably as many or more RV franchises and operated in two states (not including off site events) with about 5 locations (incorporating new and used vehicles). It may be a good exercise for me and I wonder if it might also be useful. Thoughts?

 

[cope]

As european, i am very jealous of the possibilities one has, to live in an RV in other countries. But possibly the trapping in approved housing the PTB has pushed through will, under Agenda 21, soon be extended all over the world.. If anything, a commercial vehicle, not recognizable as housing, is the best option here now.

 

[daddycat]

There was some discussion of car buying in this other topic.

https://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,43117.0.html

 

[Pinocchio]

Yes, that's what got me started thinking on it again, but I was a little late on the uptake. I'll have a closer look at that thread.

 

[monotonic]

Tips on how to find a reliable used car that you can be reasonably sure is sound would be nice as well as tips on how to find a good fairly-priced mechanic. You don't want to find out the hard way, because the hard way means all the bad mechanics will screw up your car before you find the good one. Maintenance is very important for cars, and the cost of inadequate or inflated repairs can be enormous even if you have a very reliable car.