Advice on used car purchase

[10basetom]

I'm interested in a 2010 Fusion Hybrid with 105k miles on it for about $7k. Naturally, I have some concerns about the high mileage. From your experience, is 105k miles too much for a Fusion Hybrid? Does having an 8yo NiMH battery reduce your MPG by much?

 

What should I ask the dealer or inspect in the car to see whether it's in good shape or will likely break down soon after I drive it off the lot? Right now I'm just planning to see if there are any warning lights when I test drive the car, but maybe there are other things I should be checking that I'm not aware of.

[ceilidhdog]

If you have an independent mechanic you trust, ask the dealer to let him give the car a thorough inspection. We just bought a 2010 Escape Hybrid with 150k miles on the clock. It's a great vehicle, and it rides and drives like new. FYI, they're using Escape Hybrids as taxicabs in New York City, and many have 300k+ miles and are still going strong. Good luck with your purchase. I think you'll really like the FFH.

[lolder]

If it doesn't have any warning lights it's OK. Also, with the car off, hold the reset button for several seconds while turning key to start car. An "Engineering Test" mode will appear. There are ten screens you can cycle through with the reset button, the last displaying DTCs.

Common problems will be; broken inside front door handles for which there's a YouTube video for fixing it yourself; sticking throttle plates that can be cleaned or replaced; O2 sensors and tire pressure sensor batteries reaching end of life. All these are minor.

[10basetom]

Hi guys, thanks so much for the info. This will be really helpful when I visit the dealer.

[ethermion]

Hopefully not too late, but $7k is too much.

 

Last year I picked up a 2010 FF (non hybrid) SEL with 2,200 miles (yes 2,200 miles) and all the bells and whistles for $5k. The county, for tax purposes, values it in the mid 4s as of few weeks ago.

 

Should be a nice car. We love our '13 FFH - best car I ever bought. Gas is cheap, but you will enjoy passing gas stations because you don't need gas. There is more to life than pumping gas.

[10basetom]

Hopefully not too late, but $7k is too much.

 

Last year I picked up a 2010 FF (non hybrid) SEL with 2,200 miles (yes 2,200 miles) and all the bells and whistles for $5k. The county, for tax purposes, values it in the mid 4s as of few weeks ago.

 

Should be a nice car. We love our '13 FFH - best car I ever bought. Gas is cheap, but you will enjoy passing gas stations because you don't need gas. There is more to life than pumping gas.

 

I'm glad I read your message on time (I was planning on taking a trip to the dealer this weekend since they are over an hour from where I live). I thought it was a good deal because I swear by the CarGurus app and it's listed as "Good Deal" on there:

 

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action#listing=210260357

 

$7k is also not accurate because the dealer said I should add about 11% for the out-the-door price, which puts this car at $7760.

 

Wow, FF with 2.2k miles for $5k is unheard of! I think the deal you saw is not typical because I have been monitoring search listings for a FFH for awhile and have never seen such a great deal in Northern California.

Edited August 24, 2018 by 10basetom

[ethermion]

Estate sale. Deals are out there if you are patient.

 

105k miles on paper is a lot. 1/2 the time, since it is a hybrid, the engine was off... so not horrible. But, I recall a time when 100k miles was a death sentence for an automobile.

 

If from a dealer, just be mindful, that they paid less than $5k for the car. Possibly much less.

 

Check kbb.com (kelly blue book). They suggest a trade-in value under $4k. Private sale, they suggest $6k.

 

I suspect the car has lots of life left in it, and that you will love it. But, never hurts to save a few coins here and there.

[10basetom]

Estate sale. Deals are out there if you are patient.

 

105k miles on paper is a lot. 1/2 the time, since it is a hybrid, the engine was off... so not horrible. But, I recall a time when 100k miles was a death sentence for an automobile.

 

If from a dealer, just be mindful, that they paid less than $5k for the car. Possibly much less.

 

Check kbb.com (kelly blue book). They suggest a trade-in value under $4k. Private sale, they suggest $6k.

 

I suspect the car has lots of life left in it, and that you will love it. But, never hurts to save a few coins here and there.

 

Thank you for your input. I ended up getting a 2011 Mercury Milan Hybrid from a local private seller (the Ford Fusion was from a dealer that was over an hour's drive from my house). I will pick up my new used Milan later today -- so excited! ^^

[dalesql]

I'm shopping for a new to me car, and my nearby used car dealer has five or so 2011 fusion hybrids with 20-25k miles on them. Asking $11,500 to 12,500 each. Says they were federal government fleet vehicles. Drove one, liked it. Wasn't a car that was really even on my mental radar, so I'm reading forums here looking for info and advice. Friend on social media said I should take it to a ford dealer for a 150 point inspection. What is that? What should be with it other than the keys and owners manual?

 

How do I find out if it was ever flooded out or other major booboos?

 

Thanks

[ethermion]

Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com) says $9k for a fair price at a dealer. A flooded or totaled car would not likely be on a dealer lot, and you could just ask - get the answer in writing. There is also carfax, which should turn that up, but never used them.

 

That the sales scumbag reports they are govie fleet vehicles is likely a lie. Govies unload vehicles only when they are worn out and too much trouble to keep on the road. In the same breath, he/she/it is likely to tell you their manager likes you and wants you to have a good deal. Sure.

 

A local mechanic that you trust can give a look-see for not much $$$. Definitely worth doing. I don't see the value in a Ford 150 point inspection.

 

A low mileage 2011 FFH should be a sweet ride. Keep in mind, that with 20k on the odometer, there is probably 10k on the engine...

[dalesql]

The salescumbag I dealt with is actually the owner of the lot, son of the guy who started it decades ago. I bought a used car from them about ten years ago, also claimed to be a federal government fleet vehicle. I believe it was, as about a year after I bought it, I found some mashed up business cards behind the ashtray for a national guard recruiter. other than his sale prep person dumping half a gallon of cheap perfume inside just before I picked it up, I think I got a good value. I drove it from 28k miles to 150k miles, I junked it when the main computer and the airbag computer both needed replacement due to moisture leaking onto the computers and corroding them. But driving it with all the windows wide open in december due to the stench did suck.

 

I'm looking at carfax and endmunds for a specific vehicle history report.

My regular mechanic told me that he hadn't had his hands on a hybrid fusion yet, so suggested the dealership inspection.

It seems pretty odd to me that a seven year old car only has 22k miles on it, but I can see a fleet manager deciding to dump vehicles that have five to six years on them, even though they are low mileage.

 

Leaning towards buying this car.

[murphy]

My 2013 Fusion Energi is 5.5 years old and is just now approaching 10,000 miles. I am retired and the longest trip it makes, on a regular basis, is 21 miles once a week. Before I retired I was putting 52 miles a day on a Thunderbird.

[dalesql]

Signed the paperwork for the car today. Assuming the bank likes my credit score, I'll be driving it home next saturday.

[rowekmr]

Any updates?