AutoTrader Review

www.autotrader.com

Overall 4.50 of 5 view all 2 reviews

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kid-kansas
Clearwater, KS

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Buying a car does not have to be a pain

a busy person, interested in good gas mileage, Like convienence, like having lots of information

Pros

many search features, Nationwide, narrow choices to your preference, Buy or Sell, Certified used vehicles, Picture Ads

Cons

only goes back to 1981

JAN

2008

Looking for a vehicle to buy can be a daunting task to say the least, trying to find want you want can be difficult and time consuming. What if they had a place where you could search not only where you wanted to buy from, but also only the model, style and year you wanted to buy? Well they have just such a place AutoTrader.com, it will allow you to search the way it should be, a search that you determine and within the limits you're willing to travel in order to get what you want.

How it Works

The search feature on AutoTrader.com allows you to pick by year, model and price range you desire. Once you have done that the ads load and you can begin to choose among them. Want to get even more detailed in your search? Then just click on advanced search options and choose from engine, transmission, color, body type, accessories, fuel type, number of doors and even mileage on the vehicle.

Once the listings appear you can sort them by price (high to low or low to high) by year (same way as price) by model and mileage on the vehicle (same as price and year). Then you are greeted by the results that have all the information on the vehicle as well as price, location and other terms. You are also presented with pictures of the vehicle as supplied by the owner.

Another great feature is the availability of a Carfax report on many of the vehicles listed. A Carfax report will tell you all about the vehicles history, has it been wrecked or even any work performed on the vehicle. Was it the subject of a recall? A Carfax report can be priceless as it is the entire history of that vehicle.

I got the Carfax report on the pickup I now own. It told me when it was first bought and all the work ever performed by a company for its whole life. I knew the warranty work done on it and at what mileage it was done at. Each time it had been registered by Motor Vehicles I was able to know that as well and in what state and city.

In fact I found my pickup on AutoTrader.com, it took me about 2 weeks to find exactly what I wanted and when I did I drove to the dealer that had it. I was handed the Carfax report and was able to read it before I ever test drove my truck. That left no surprises to find out after I drove away, it was in my hand in black and white.

Because of AutoTrader.com I had all the ammunition I needed to buy my truck from the seller. I knew what the history of the truck was and all the important things I needed to make an informed purchase. Although a Carfax report is not required it has become used more and more because of places like AutoTrader. It gives the buyer the information that a lot of dealers won't ever tell you about.

Because every time you take your car to a dealer they have to enter the VIN number of the vehicle they are working on, it is then public knowledge and Carfax in turn collects that info for you. Then honest dealers and sites like AutoTrader make that report available to the consumer. It is a win - win situation for the consumer.

Bottom Line

If your in the market to purchase a vehicle then AutoTrader.com is a great place to do just that. From the comfort of your own home you can browse through ads that are geared for you and by you. There are no high pressure salesman breathing down your neck. You don't even have to get dressed to shop for a vehicle. You set the conditions of what you want and are looking to pay. Then you can haggle with the seller once you find what you want. It may not save you money (although you will not waste gas looking) on the vehicle, you will save many hours of dealing with salesman/saleswomen on a dealers lot.

You can even get directions to the seller and even apply for financing all without leaving your home. So why do it the old fashioned way? Shop from your computer under your terms and when you want to shop! If you only want a certain color then thats your choice and thats the beauty of AutoTrader.com! Just think of how places you would have to drive to compare vehicles of only one color?