Ok so I was thinking about this tonight. I've owned 4 vehicles during my driving history. Not a great deal I know but I've only been driving for 4 years so bear with me..
It seems within a month of owning each vehicle something has gone wrong, something requiring hard earned cash and time to repair. Each time I've asked the seller directly, "Is there anything wrong with it?" and "Is there anything I should keep my eye on in the near future?" - They always answer no.
Now I don't think I've brought Lemons each time, I've always been really happy with my new to me vehicle over the long haul but I'm noticing a pattern.
Has anyone else noticed the same pattern? Is it the previous owners off loading the vehicles after there first splutter and lying about the condition? Or do these vehicles really have soul and its there way of adjusting to a new owner, a new driving style? Or is it simply just bad luck?

 

its hard to say....


Perfect example. I bought a 1987 aerostar, and a head cracked. I fully rebuilt the engine IN THE VAN.

I sold it to my best friend. He rode in it, drove in it, and knew it ran great. The day I sold it to him, the tranny went out. I had no Idea it was going to go out. I drove it over 500 miles on the rebuilt engine, and never had problems with the tranny



oh yeah, ive been driving for 7 years and have owned more than 60 cars, and currently own 7 cars.

although one is in pieces, I drive them all and Ive owned them for more than a few years, except the blazer. Ive only had it 2 months and have driven it on a 1 way 700 mile trip no prob, AND I paid 500 for it. You just have to keep an eye out for good deals, and not just buy the first car you look at, otherwise its a serious case of buyers remorse......

 

I'd say bad luck... I've been driving for about 3 years now, and am on my 2nd vehicle, both new to me. The only things I've replaced on my Blazer were brakes, tires, and a U-Joint... I'm at 100,000 kms now. My Cavalier didn't give me ANY trouble and seeing as I was 17 when I had it, I had "My first car syndrome" and kicked the crap out of it, the thing kept coming back for more, just the rear shocks are starting to go on it because of the abuse. (My parents bought it from me.)

 

Well... been driving for roughly 5-6 years now.....
First Vehicle
Dad bought it brand new and it has over 126k miles... with all being put on by me, him or my sister with the exception of the first 20 miles... woot woot... got about 12mpg highway, loaded/unloaded/with a trailer/without atrailer... speedo went to 85... but it easily ran harder...
1993 Chevy G30 1 ton work van.... thing was a beast... all black.. and a cage in the back housing my father's tools (for the carpentry business he left long time ago)... thing was called the death van... now it just sits in his yard rusting because of a bad alternator

Second Vehicle....
1995 Mercury Tracer Station Wagon....
bought it with 95k on the clock and now has 119k... got 30 mpg easy
woot woot... 4 cylinders with a rating of 88hp... ftw... put three 10" subs in the back and made it bounce... Took it over a set of railroad tracks I thought were smooth... pretty much f*ed the rear suspension... Had the head gasket replaced, had a girlfriend of 3 years kick in the front fender, and some random douche smash the windshield while at college.... its for sale... 800 bucks!

Third Vehicle
1998 Blazer...
Bought it with roughly 115k miles on the clock... and then have already almost put 1000 miles in the first three weeks of owning it...
No real problems *YET* but just a few quirks here and there that I am getting adjusted to and fixing... Have gotten 18mpg up to 23.3mpg.... so its doing a good job, and I am just debating on whether or not to get a body lift or wait a month or two to make sure nothing sh*ts on me with it....

 

22 years driving and have owned about 30 cars. Some I have kept for years some I have only had a few months. I use to buy cars on a feeling. If I saw a car and I liked the look of it I normally got it. I have had some real dirt bags cars and some real nice cars. My VW was a great car and that was loaded with miles when I got it and had so many more when I got rid of it and had very little problems with it, but then again I have owned a 98 Suzuki Vitara that I got at 6 months old, I spent £2000 on it within 6 months. My Seat Leon I got brand new and in the first 12 months the dealer had, had it longer then me, and of course my Lotus Calton, I drove that hard, real hard and it never went wrong on me. So it's just luck. There are a few things I stick to when buying a second hand car. Always make sure the car is not running when you get there and the engine is cold when you try to start it, look along the side of the car and make sure the doors shut correctly, check the inside of the engine bay to make sure there are no creases, check for even wear on the tyres and watch for black/white smoke when you start it and rev it. I know it's not going to cover all the problems with the car if there are any but it's a quick check for any major faults, crashes, worn piston rings, head gasket, tracking, injector/carb problems

 

I have been driving vehicles since the 1960s & that is common with USED vehicles I find. The trick is to buy them at the cheap price. WHOLESALE PRICE or BELOW. Then you have the money to fix them.
But heck I have bought several NEW vehicles that were as big a pain as used ones Yea there is a warranty but fighting with dealers to get them fixed takes time plus the vehicle being tied up is money.

 

Generally to me I end up putting money into any vehicle I buy. When I finally start driving the vehicle after the initial test drive, i'll start noticing things that will need attention. Sometimes though, they will need a lot of work.

There are some sellers who will jerk you around and say it has absolutely no problems. They may be telling the truth, they may be lying. It's up to the buyer to determine if the risk is worth taking based on what information is gathered. You have to remember, they are after that cash for their car, so if the car has been sitting a while they may be willing to lie to get rid of the vehicle.

 

got this yesturday
https://blazerforum.com/forum/members/black_04_blazer-18882-albums-black-2-door-blazer-lift-647/

this is my fourth ride in the states.

First once was a 2007 jeep compass,11000 miles we trades that in for a 2000 expedition eddie Bauer, with 97000 miles,very nice with full leather and air suspension.

Next up was a Grand am GT coupe 1997 3.1 with 64000 miles on the clock and runs sweet , this is now the wifes car.

all of these have been owned since may 08.

As for before that i have had 12 years driving in england, and owned 8 cars all of which I have made a profit on when have sold them My favourite was a 1988 VW GTi , with a set of Coil overs, Porshe 928 alloys, small bumpers and nicely tuned.

 

Sorry for the off subject question, but where in the UK are you from Black_04_Blazer? Are you english or just working over there?

 

No problems about the off subject question. I'm originally from the UK myself. I moved to Canada in June 2008.