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Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice


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Arman
New User

Apr 13, 2016, 4:05 AM

Post #1 of 12 (1538 views)
  post locked   Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Hello I'm new here and I love reading posts from this forum. And I would like to seek for your advise. :)
I'm planning to buy the below used vehicle and I'm thinking twice.
Chevrolet Lumina 2008 LS 3.6 V6
It has 130,000 Kilometers in it.
  • We already checked the vehicle in a service center with the help of a diagnostic scanner but found no problems.
  • So we lifted the car, and under it we found traces of leaked oil.
  • The mechanic said it maybe just a leak from the transmission hose and can be repaired easily at low cost.
  • AC was cold but only in the driver's seat, mechanic said it lacks Freon.
  • The body was perfect and no sign of accident and the car still pulls fast and shifts good.
  • Engine mounting and shocks are new.

Now I'm thinking twice and maybe in the future, repair costs will be expensive for me. Or should I buy a Toyota Corolla let's say they are in a same year model and kilometers?







Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Apr 13, 2016, 4:22 AM

Post #2 of 12 (1530 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

That vehicle is not sold here in the states anymore, so really don't know too much about their track record. We don't know your financial situation or what you prefer in automobiles. Every vehicle is going to require maintenance. Have you looked around at other vehicles and had them checked out? If not, don't be afraid to look around. When shopping for a vehicle, you don't have to buy the first one you see.





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(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Apr 13, 2016, 4:23 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 13, 2016, 4:25 AM

Post #3 of 12 (1527 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Good for you for checking it out FIRST. Now that your mechanic found some items to fix how much was any estimate to fix those? That's bargaining power for the sale or pass - always your call prior to purchase.
A/C said to just need "Freon" (it's called refrigerant BTW) isn't a comprehensive diagnosis nor telling of costs to really fix that. If mandatory to have good working A/C find out more about that which may take an A/C specialty shop.


Toyota is a good vehicle by history but you are still starting over again. Brand names don't mean that one is any good.


Good luck. The more you check things out the better luck you'll have,


T



Arman
New User

Apr 13, 2016, 5:04 AM

Post #4 of 12 (1522 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Yes that's the 1st vehicle I checked personally and I have been tempted by that V6 engine. I can only buy used car as I don't want to loan a car and pay it monthly. Only have a budget of $7000 and can spare some for minor repairs. I will try to look around for more options and hold on to my urge. Thank you for your reply.


Arman
New User

Apr 13, 2016, 5:13 AM

Post #5 of 12 (1520 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Yes it's true to have it checked from a A/C specialty shop. I will let the owner fix the A/C first and tell him to get back to him in a week. I'll check other used vehicles too and try in a used car dealer with a bit of guarantee. And I hope to be lucky enough to get a good used vehicle.


Yes brand names don't mean which one is good, that's why I cant decide. I think I will check out things so I will have many options but the problem is I like the car but worried that it might cost me someday for repairs. Usually what is the average kilometers a good maintained car can go?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 13, 2016, 5:37 AM

Post #6 of 12 (1516 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

You seem right on target for a used car purchase - any kind. YOU hold all the cards and seems you can take your time too which is a wild advantage.
I meant in used vehicles that brand reputation alone isn't the end game the condition of what you find would be more important to me.
If you can have the seller fix the A/C and or other things first so much the better with proof of what it took to fix them.


My warning is that A/C is often written off as something simple and that plain isn't known yet by a pro not just any DIYer as real problem can get nasty expensive up to a reason to dump a car if you MUST have it.


Good luck, Tom



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 13, 2016, 9:33 AM

Post #7 of 12 (1505 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

All they will do is recharge it and leave you with the leak.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Ngan Merrifield
User

Jul 6, 2016, 2:15 AM

Post #8 of 12 (1438 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  


In Reply To
Hello I'm new here and I love reading posts from this forum. And I would like to seek for your advise. :)
I'm planning to buy the below used vehicle and I'm thinking twice.
Chevrolet Lumina 2008 LS 3.6 V6
It has 130,000 Kilometers in it.
  • We already checked the vehicle in a service center with the help of a diagnostic scanner but found no problems.
  • So we lifted the car, and under it we found traces of leaked oil.
  • The mechanic said it maybe just a leak from the transmission hose and can be repaired easily at low cost.
  • AC was cold but only in the driver's seat, mechanic said it lacks Freon.
  • The body was perfect and no sign of accident and the car still pulls fast and shifts good.
  • Engine mounting and shocks are new.

Now I'm thinking twice and maybe in the future, repair costs will be expensive for me. Or should I buy a Toyota Corolla let's say they are in a same year model and kilometers?








I should say that if that's the case, its better to purchase a Toyota Corolla. We had related experience with Chevy and based on our own personal opinion. Toyota is far better in performance. You are right, that it might costs you a bit expensive to pay for repairs in the future.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 6, 2016, 4:37 AM

Post #9 of 12 (1430 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Perhaps just have a car checked out as you always should for used with a bit more hard info than you got.


Used is used and comes with risks no matter what you choose. Both mentioned are mainstream vehicles a good bet to stick with popular vehicles for future work costs. Condition of the exact one you choose will matter most IMO,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jul 6, 2016, 10:01 AM

Post #10 of 12 (1422 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

I don't know who that was that just replied but he wasn't the OP.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 6, 2016, 11:32 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1414 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Just saw that and old thread at that. Hope it didn't take this long to decide on a car!
Lock it up if it should be - think so, T


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jul 6, 2016, 11:46 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1407 views)
  post locked   Re: Used Chevy Lumina 2008 thinking twice  

Yes, I will. The OP hasn't responded since April.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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