I know having a car is something debated on here, but I needed a new one that would be dependable (longer commute, drive out of state several times a year), but wanted to do so on a budget. So after much looking around, I came to realize that some luxury car dealers sell their trade-in vehicles below blue book. They usually don't do any repairs on them and will simply wash them and put them out. So, a 2007 Nissan Sentra caught my eye that was listed for $6,500 with a BB for good condition at $8,500. The exterior and interior were in surprisingly great condition for being seven years old. Before purchase, I was able to find out it would need new front brake rotors & pads, 2 new bulbs & a serpentine belt. Also didn't know the last time transmission or engine oil was changed so I wanted to do that too. I was able to get the car for $6,400, and purchased the necessary parts for $300. Six hours of work with my dad and the car is running great. It also gets 36 mpg on the highway, which is a major plus from my last car (22mpg). Even if the car has some issues in the months to come (which I don't believe it will), it will still come out below BB!
