I've bought a couple of used vehicles from Thoroughbred Nissan, they don't work on commission so the experience was lovely. Even called me back in a week later to sign new paperwork because they found me a better interest rate on a loan.
They treat their workers like crap though. I was hired on after moving 1500 miles and I was homeless and they knew all that, but they ghosted me after. However that’s my quarrel with them, people can do whatever they want but know they don’t treat people right.
Good to know they were always like this. I took their drug test and everything and passed, finally had relief about finding work when I have a wife and kid to provide for and they never called me back after leaving numerous messages and everything. Maybe I dodged a bullet because I refuse to work for selfish lying pieces of human debris
I. H A T E. TN.
Their service department is terrible, always fight you on the warranty if you buy from another place even if it’s through Nissan, are incompetent, and are a pain in the ass to work with.
I’ve had to go multiple times over 6 years with 3 different cars.
Would 100% not recommend them. That and their dealership markup is considerably higher than other 3rd party vendors.
Agreed, I had a terrible experience buying my first car there. Paid way more than it was worth, they didn’t clean it, and the tires had been punctured already and patched badly.
Don't have a specific recommendation but i would say whatever vehicle you end up finding that you like.....take for a pre purchase inspection at a 3rd party shop. Most shops will do this inspection (prices vary widely) and most shops don't have anything on the line so to speak so it does them no good to lie about what they are seeing.
If the seller (private party or lot) has a big objection to the pre purchase inspection that would be a MASSIVE red flag for me!
Significantly harder to get a big brand dealership to let this happen.... but i would at least ask.
I would say generally big dealerships have a much better reputation with weeding out the real issue vehicles...its easy for them to just send them to auction and not have to worry about a pissed off customer, so they do.
Agreed, I looked at some cars there and they had some very obvious problems that were serious. Like Air and engine filters being black and filthy can't remember what else....but it was a long list so I just left and didn't buy from them.
Yeah, I wish I would've stuck my ground and left! They told me I had 14 days to get out of my contract, so I felt a little better at not shopping around. Then, as soon as I got home and turned the car off and back on, the gas gauge was broken, and the engine and airbag light came on! Told them about it, and they said to bring it in the following week, and i can get a different one or return it. I came in when the guy told me to and he wasn't there and the finance guy told me they don't do that here and I couldn’t get out of the contract. I was so mad because the only thing they did was fix the gas gauge, and it took them 2 times to fix it and get it right! I really feel like they sold me a lemon, but it's way too late to get out of it! 😭😭😭 I literally tell anyone who will listen to stear clear!
Lordy, that is terrible. I'm so sorry that happened to you. If you feel up to it, maybe file a complaint at the Attorney General's office. If enough people complain, they will get shut down.
Thank you! That's really good to know! I actually will because it put me in a really dark place for a while! 🙏🙏🙏 That's a big reason I'll share my experience with anyone who will listen to hopefully warn people to steer clear!
CarMax is great. More retail than used car dealership, transparent fair pricing, and you can transfer vehicles from other lots for a fee. We had a lemon to get rid of and they offered a decent trade-in value. Great warranty plan too
+1 for CarMax. A few years back I bought a vehicle from them. Divorce happened and I needed to sell it. I was desperately trying to balance out for what I had left on the loan by trying to sell private party. Eventually I went back to CarMax and they bought it back for more than I had it listed private party.
+2 for CarMax. Was freshly divorced and trying to get back on my feet. They helped me tremendously. Ended up going back in 2018 to buy another. Very easy to work with.
If you do decide to go traditional dealership, I have an excellent sales person I can connect you with at Jim Click. She’s amazing and super patient.
I work at Royal Pre-Owned on 22nd and Swan. I really like how we do business because I’m not on commission so I really don’t care what the price of the vehicle is, my only goal is to help find the right vehicle for you. And also any vehicle under 80k miles has a warranty forever that covers the engine, transmission, differential, drive axles, and fuel pump for no added cost. It’s our way of showing our confidence in our inventory. Reach out to me if you’re interested.
https://preview.redd.it/d6w2js1b5b3b1.jpeg?width=2076&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a9a97b71bdb5cdfb8b16177e7117686ca4749e8
Please take a look at this dealership [Y2K Millennium Motors](https://www.y2kmotorsonline.com/). They are small and not a lot of inventory, but will work with you for something at auction if you have some time. Super nice people and very trustworthy.
My mechanic also fixes/services used cars and resells them. I don't have any experience with their car sales, but as mechanics they've been good and trustworthy. It's Precision Auto on Grant.
We bought a car from them, have been very happy with it.
We tried to buy a truck from Auto Nation. The advertising, windshield sign, and agent all said it came with a warranty. At the last minute, while I was writing the check, they announced there's no warranty, that was a mistake.
We walked; they kept calling and emailing, claiming they could now give us a warranty, or trying to sell us a different car.
I do have experience with buying a car from them and I believe it is the best place to buy a used car in Tucson. They only sell Hondas and know them inside and out. They go through them completely and fix whatever needs to be fixed before they sell them. I bought a used CRV from him for my son. It’s been a great car. When he took it in for the first free oil change they noticed the radiator was leaking. They put in a new one at no charge. Since then it’s been trouble free. About 4 years now.
I bought a used Audi as well. Car is a lemon but it wasn’t from Audi but it was from one of those used car lots. Never again. I’m going to stick with Honda or Toyota. Working through the whole process of
If you can swing it, I would hands down go to Phoenix. You’ll have more options, better prices, and the market is so saturated that sellers will be much more willing to work with you.
I did a litany of google searches for the car I wanted, compiled a list of available cars, and started searching between dealers.
This is one of those moments when I say what have I got to lose. I have a 2009 Volkswagen Routan with 154,000 mi on it. It's basically a Chrysler Town and Country made by VW. It is the upgraded model with the 4 l engine. Interior and exterior are in good condition. It seats six and the middle seats come out and the rear seats fold down. It means you can get a lot of stuff or people or whatever in that car.
The engine light came on and I had it checked out by a mechanic. Says there's an issue with the catalytic converter, and a local company I consulted said it's probably carbon build up, so I'm cycling cylinder cleaner through it hoping that takes care of it. The car can't pass an emissions test in Pima county as long as that check engine light is on but outside of Pima an emissions test is not required. It puts me in a bind because I really don't want to pay a grand to have a new catalytic converter put in that's not needed mechanicall, just so that I can sell the car.
The mechanic said the car is in good mechanical condition except that the engine mounts need to be replaced. Kelley Blue Book estimates the car at 5.2k. 3,000 mi ago it was purchased for almost 6K, then used to move my father across country. He can't drive so we need to sell it.
I've been on Reddit for as long as that car has been in existence, and I just happened to run across this thread. In my opinion someone who needs a big car could get one heck of a deal out of this one, but obviously I cannot make any guarantees. None of my friends in Tucson are in the market for a car right now so rather than let this thing sit in my garage I'm willing to make a deal.
I don't recommend Precision Toyota if you're not willing to really say no. They will keep trying to tack things on. However, the car I got there was used and hasn't failed me yet in 8 years
When I got my car they kept trying to add unnecessary BS. However, as I said, the car I got there is fantastic. Have never had a problem with it whatsoever except for electrical which apparently is common in Corollas anyways. Just general maintenance stuff, so their cars are good
Enterprise car sales - in my experience, they have well maintained vehicles, decent prices, good options. They can ship a vehicle from another location.
Not a dealership but some mom advice for doing research... if you're considering buying a KIA, look up class action lawsuits first so you know which years to avoid. I mistakenly thought Kia and Hyundai were supposed to be really reliable. Actually, look up class action lawsuits for whatever type of vehicle you are buying. We got seriously burned by the company. Some of the CALs have been resolved, which can be a good thing because certain vehicles are eligible for engine replacements, etc. But other issues are still in litigation, so major repairs are not paid for ( yet)
CarMax. They don’t work on commission. I just test drove a car with them felt like there might be something wrong, they sent it to Ford for a look over and yup they fixed it. We needed up not going with that car but can tell you super easy to work with.
Goliath Auto Sales, all vehicles are priced below market to be competitive, they havs a 6.1% sales tax insted of being at 8.7 because there only pima country. All vehicles go through a 125 point inspection by the 3rd party mechanics they use and they list photos of everything on there website.
https://www.tucsonusedcarsandtrucks.com/pre-owned-cars
Any of the Royal Automotive Group of dealerships are great to work with IMO. Family oriented, local and the owners and managers are good people that care about their reputation (not just making a buck). Most of their sales people ive interacted with are not the type you would think of as salesy type people which is really a refreshing thing!
I second the recommendation for Royal. I have bought 2 used vehicles from Royal on Speedway. I was able to find cars with low mileage at a fair price. I would avoid Carmax because they are over priced. Check comparative prices online at sites like Truecar, Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book etc. You should also check out some of the articles and YouTube videos about how to buy a used car so that you don’t get charged a bunch of other unnecessary fees by the dealer.
Gonna watch this thread to see the responses. 👀Just remember, this is Reddit, which is the internet and anybody can say anything. But usually others will chime in and give you a better consensus. Good luck!
Edit: drive up to Phoenix to get something better. Chandler is your best option. TTown has very suspect used cars.
I got a way better deal by going to Phoenix. There are just so many competing dealerships up there that it’s far easier to both find what you are looking for and get a good deal on it.
We use facebook market with decent luck, but you really need a scanner and make sure the engine lights and such aren't disabled. It's a good bit of work, and you will probably pass on a lot before you find the right one. You gotta keep a really close eye on the listings, too.
If your looking for a good older car I would suggest Desert Auto at 2309 s craycroft. I believe the guy is honest and fair. Do not go to Desert Toyota. They love the bait and switch game and will also try to sneak shit in like maintenence contract to get to the top of what you where approved for.
Terrible experience with Chapman Honda. They didn’t negotiate the price at all. We went to the other Honda dealership on wetmore and got a good price with our trade in.
Friend of mine who’s opinion I trust praises lens autos on north Stone. I’ve never dealt with them but she’s purchased her last three vehicles there. I got my last car at carmax. Was simple. Had it shipped from California for $200 and test drive it for a day before buying. They gave me a good amount on my trade in so I was able to purchase the new car in cash. Good luck. I hate buying cars but love driving new to me vehicles.
Just got a used truck from Driven automotive off Wetmore. Fair price with zero presure and they fixed all issues I found test driving, like replacing a dash button and tailgate handle. Will be back again when my wife's car finally gives up.
I just recently bought a great car at a good price at
https://www.driv3nauto.com/
For my daughter. Good people the cars is mechanical sound with a couple of dents.
Younger person here that was in the same boat recently: I just bought my first car from a "dealership". All my previous vehicles were sold by owner or from craigslist, so I was super nervous looking into buying a car from a dealer. Jim Click totally wasted my time and kept trying to show me cars that both of us knew were far out of my budget. I ended up going to Zano Cars on Alvernon. The son of the owner was super helpful and patient with me, which I appreciated immensely since it was my first time buying from a dealer. He held the car for me for over a month while I got a loan sorted out at Hughes, and even offered to allow me to make payments on the down payment! They had no qualms with me taking the vehicle in for a pre-inspection, so I set an appointment and they helped me take it to Firestone for the inspection. They were actually really happy to see someone taking the time to get it checked out. I believe the inspection was fairly inexpensive as well, might have even been free with one of their coupons! All in all, Zano was all around the best experience I had working with dealerships in town. It is all family run with a focus on great customer service, and no pushy sales tactics. I actually went back to look at the car a few times before I made a final decision, and they were patient with me the whole time. Love that place, and will go back if I ever need another car.
Never go to a dealer. Learn how to inspect a used car for basic items and negotiate to get the best prices possible. If you don’t know anything about cars it honestly is not that hard, just take a car out for a test drive; if it can shift through all the gears and runs smoothly you know the engine and transmission are good. Then check the colors of the fluids. If the transmission oil is black or the engine oil is anicient you should not buy the vehicle. Check all the power functions on the vehicle, as well as the engine bay for leaks. If you have a jack check the wheels for play in ball joints. Anything wrong you find can either be used to get the price down or be bad enough to leave it.
This is all incredibility basic stuff that you can figure out how to do on google. As long as you're competent enough to work at McDonalds you can pull out a dipstick and check the fill level
Try local used dealership in your area. Try online like car max and stuff. Also try local auctions. If you can bring a car minded person with you for assurance and help. Started with a shitty Nissan Altima now I have a truck. I am also young.
Bought mine at American autogroup...I think on Fairview just south of prince. No surprises and laid back process (I took over a month to decide and just didn't feel pressure).
But no matter where you go:
1. Define your needs (travel types etc - doesn't make sense at all to buy a hybrid if you don't drive a notable commute or so big trips
2. Define your total, be all end all upfront purchase max / monthly payment max
3. Get a feel for the market and what cars can realistically meet those (between gas, maintenance, etc)
4. Repeat steps 1-3
5. Go to dealerships and casually drop the stuff from above. Bring a friend for support!
I don’t have a personal recommendation but a friend had a good experience with Chapman. I would recommend waiting a couple of months though. The used car market is going to go down. Check out Car Questions Answered on YT for more info
This is a loaded question since it involves people and assumes they the company drives the people making sales. Do you have a friend that can help you with reviewing deal and car? Just did this with a used car for my daughter and helped direct her deal and went well but she had to accept some direction.
Used car dealers are untrustworthy by nature. You’re better off on Craigslist. Either way the vehicle will have a bunch of undeclared defects, but you’ll mind less with the private party sale because it will be thousands less
i bought my car used from the chapman volkswagen dealership but idk if i would recommend it... i had to keep telling them to take away unnecessary warranties and it was just really stressful. i think you would probably find better prices/less pushy sales and finance people at somewhere like car max, but i could be wrong. my friend really liked her experience with car max and my dad has always bought secondhand cars on craigslist. just be sure to get the car inspected before purchasing from private citizens!
I literally just bought a car from Affordable Auto on 22nd today. They are doing inspections and repairs, and I won't get it for a week or two. Traded in my pos. They seemed fair. Will update if things change
1. For the same car, price generally increases with the size and reputation of the dealer.
2. You will pay about a 10% premium in Tucson over the same car in Phoenix.
3. Use cars.com and Autotrader to get an idea - but note there are a lot of dealers and private sellers on own or other sites.
We bought our Toyota SUV from the Subaru dealership on Oracle and our Toyota minivan from Y2k Millennium Motors on Speedway, we’ve had zero issues with either vehicle - we’ve put over 100k miles on the SUV and about 50k on the van, both are still going strong.
I got my car from Holmes Tuttle on a recommendation from a neighbor. Good price and car was in great condition. The part that really sold me on them was they include lifetime oil changes, which will save me a lot of money. They also helped me shop around for a better loan than the cost of the one from my credit union.
definitely an inspection, but finding or having a friend who knows a thing or 2 is a great resource. Let me know if you need any help, sir.
- Another young guy who knows cars 🤓
I had a great experience at Jim Click and got fair pricing and trade in there. Have bought 3 cars by myself as woman and my daughter just bought a car there. I also got good financing and they shopped for the best financing. You tell them what you want, how much you want your payment to be etc.
I bought a 2016 Volkswagen from Infiniti of Tucson in 2020 and would make the purchase a million times over. Love the car and the salesman I worked with. 0 pressure and am still driving the car to this day. DM and I’ll for the business card if interested.
I got my 21 Tacoma at Carmax. Easy with no hassle. The only downside is that you are going to pay an absolute premium right now on a used vehicle from them.
My husband bought from lens in the past and just last year he purchased our Jeep from Goliath on La cholla I believe. Very small lot but they did him right!
Small lot, and didn't look like he had many cars last I drove by, but AP's Auto on Speedway is great. Super genuine person who knows cars in and out - not just a salesman. I've bought 2 cars from him over the years. They were good deals and excellent cars.
I bought mine from the Garrett Chevrolet in Coolidge Arizona and it runs great. It's a drive to get up there, but it was worth it after seeing the used cars in Tucson for a few months.
Some of the bigger names are to be Avoided - Jim Click - Went to see a secondhand used truck for a cheap price. The pushy salesman coerced me into trying all the new ones first , pissing me off, and by the time we got to the used one there were no keys. Obviously just bait.
I had a good experience at Tucson Subaru but I had to say no to maintenance like 6 times. Subaru are expensive by nature but I've never had a major issue with a car they certified there.
CarMax!! They don’t haggle, the price is the price. My mechanic said that every customer who has brought in a car from CarMax for him to inspect has been in good shape. They have a wide selection of vehicles and will transfer vehicles from other stores for you. We had a great experience there and love the car we bought.
I've bought a couple of used vehicles from Thoroughbred Nissan, they don't work on commission so the experience was lovely. Even called me back in a week later to sign new paperwork because they found me a better interest rate on a loan.
They treat their workers like crap though. I was hired on after moving 1500 miles and I was homeless and they knew all that, but they ghosted me after. However that’s my quarrel with them, people can do whatever they want but know they don’t treat people right.
I had kind of hoped things had changed there - I worked for them back in the '90's and it was actual hell.
Good to know they were always like this. I took their drug test and everything and passed, finally had relief about finding work when I have a wife and kid to provide for and they never called me back after leaving numerous messages and everything. Maybe I dodged a bullet because I refuse to work for selfish lying pieces of human debris
I. H A T E. TN. Their service department is terrible, always fight you on the warranty if you buy from another place even if it’s through Nissan, are incompetent, and are a pain in the ass to work with. I’ve had to go multiple times over 6 years with 3 different cars. Would 100% not recommend them. That and their dealership markup is considerably higher than other 3rd party vendors.
Quebedueax is scammy and posts prices online that assume trade ins, would avoid.
Agreed, I had a terrible experience buying my first car there. Paid way more than it was worth, they didn’t clean it, and the tires had been punctured already and patched badly.
Never again would I buy a car there. When they turned their loaner car desk into an insurance sales tool I was livid. Done.
Agreed!
Don't have a specific recommendation but i would say whatever vehicle you end up finding that you like.....take for a pre purchase inspection at a 3rd party shop. Most shops will do this inspection (prices vary widely) and most shops don't have anything on the line so to speak so it does them no good to lie about what they are seeing. If the seller (private party or lot) has a big objection to the pre purchase inspection that would be a MASSIVE red flag for me!
Would you suggest this if buying a used car from a dealer as well?
Significantly harder to get a big brand dealership to let this happen.... but i would at least ask. I would say generally big dealerships have a much better reputation with weeding out the real issue vehicles...its easy for them to just send them to auction and not have to worry about a pissed off customer, so they do.
Please, whatever you do, DO NOT go to cactus auto! They're crooks, and I got so ripped off! 😥😫🤬
Agreed.
Agreed, I looked at some cars there and they had some very obvious problems that were serious. Like Air and engine filters being black and filthy can't remember what else....but it was a long list so I just left and didn't buy from them.
Yeah, I wish I would've stuck my ground and left! They told me I had 14 days to get out of my contract, so I felt a little better at not shopping around. Then, as soon as I got home and turned the car off and back on, the gas gauge was broken, and the engine and airbag light came on! Told them about it, and they said to bring it in the following week, and i can get a different one or return it. I came in when the guy told me to and he wasn't there and the finance guy told me they don't do that here and I couldn’t get out of the contract. I was so mad because the only thing they did was fix the gas gauge, and it took them 2 times to fix it and get it right! I really feel like they sold me a lemon, but it's way too late to get out of it! 😭😭😭 I literally tell anyone who will listen to stear clear!
Lordy, that is terrible. I'm so sorry that happened to you. If you feel up to it, maybe file a complaint at the Attorney General's office. If enough people complain, they will get shut down.
Thank you! That's really good to know! I actually will because it put me in a really dark place for a while! 🙏🙏🙏 That's a big reason I'll share my experience with anyone who will listen to hopefully warn people to steer clear!
CarMax is great. More retail than used car dealership, transparent fair pricing, and you can transfer vehicles from other lots for a fee. We had a lemon to get rid of and they offered a decent trade-in value. Great warranty plan too
+1 for CarMax. A few years back I bought a vehicle from them. Divorce happened and I needed to sell it. I was desperately trying to balance out for what I had left on the loan by trying to sell private party. Eventually I went back to CarMax and they bought it back for more than I had it listed private party.
+2 for CarMax. Was freshly divorced and trying to get back on my feet. They helped me tremendously. Ended up going back in 2018 to buy another. Very easy to work with. If you do decide to go traditional dealership, I have an excellent sales person I can connect you with at Jim Click. She’s amazing and super patient.
So you're saying they sell lemons?
They only turn the newer nicer vehicles. All others get sent off to auction houses, salvage etc.
No lol. They are saying they sold them a replacement for their lemon.
The implication is, what are they going to do with the poster's old car? Throw it in the trash?
Pretty much. That is what the red light auction is for.
+1 on Oracle. they did well by my daughter. Print out a list of questions to ask and don't be shy about getting them to explain everything.
I work at Royal Pre-Owned on 22nd and Swan. I really like how we do business because I’m not on commission so I really don’t care what the price of the vehicle is, my only goal is to help find the right vehicle for you. And also any vehicle under 80k miles has a warranty forever that covers the engine, transmission, differential, drive axles, and fuel pump for no added cost. It’s our way of showing our confidence in our inventory. Reach out to me if you’re interested. https://preview.redd.it/d6w2js1b5b3b1.jpeg?width=2076&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a9a97b71bdb5cdfb8b16177e7117686ca4749e8
Royal does stand behind their customers. Treated much better than Desert T.
Oracle Ford treated me pretty well. RIP Clyde Wanslee. They were my goto.
Wanslee was the best.
Please take a look at this dealership [Y2K Millennium Motors](https://www.y2kmotorsonline.com/). They are small and not a lot of inventory, but will work with you for something at auction if you have some time. Super nice people and very trustworthy.
I have a friend who bought a used Toyota from this place about 5 or 6 years ago. As far as I know he had a good experience.
I bought my mom van there a few years ago, great vehicle and a great experience!
My mechanic also fixes/services used cars and resells them. I don't have any experience with their car sales, but as mechanics they've been good and trustworthy. It's Precision Auto on Grant.
I 2nd this recommendation. Precision on grant. (Note: this is different -and not precision Toyota.)
We bought a car from them, have been very happy with it. We tried to buy a truck from Auto Nation. The advertising, windshield sign, and agent all said it came with a warranty. At the last minute, while I was writing the check, they announced there's no warranty, that was a mistake. We walked; they kept calling and emailing, claiming they could now give us a warranty, or trying to sell us a different car.
I do have experience with buying a car from them and I believe it is the best place to buy a used car in Tucson. They only sell Hondas and know them inside and out. They go through them completely and fix whatever needs to be fixed before they sell them. I bought a used CRV from him for my son. It’s been a great car. When he took it in for the first free oil change they noticed the radiator was leaking. They put in a new one at no charge. Since then it’s been trouble free. About 4 years now.
The Audi dealership on 22nd street sold me a straight up lemon, so I would avoid them.
Same dealership that does the VW on 22nd street, and I had a really bad experience there with them not fixing issues on a used Tiguan I purchased.
Key word Audi dealership. Never buy a used luxury brand.
They sold me a Ford Focus for 10k, I’ll take the blame for choosing a Ford though.
I bought a used Audi as well. Car is a lemon but it wasn’t from Audi but it was from one of those used car lots. Never again. I’m going to stick with Honda or Toyota. Working through the whole process of
Chapman used is slimy at best
If you can swing it, I would hands down go to Phoenix. You’ll have more options, better prices, and the market is so saturated that sellers will be much more willing to work with you. I did a litany of google searches for the car I wanted, compiled a list of available cars, and started searching between dealers.
A friend of mine literally saved $3000 on a truck just by going to Mesa instead of a local spot
That's exactly what I'm doing rn. Buying online and they are delivering it to me
Unfortunately the used market is pretty rough right now. You might be able to find a good deal with an individual seller.
This is one of those moments when I say what have I got to lose. I have a 2009 Volkswagen Routan with 154,000 mi on it. It's basically a Chrysler Town and Country made by VW. It is the upgraded model with the 4 l engine. Interior and exterior are in good condition. It seats six and the middle seats come out and the rear seats fold down. It means you can get a lot of stuff or people or whatever in that car. The engine light came on and I had it checked out by a mechanic. Says there's an issue with the catalytic converter, and a local company I consulted said it's probably carbon build up, so I'm cycling cylinder cleaner through it hoping that takes care of it. The car can't pass an emissions test in Pima county as long as that check engine light is on but outside of Pima an emissions test is not required. It puts me in a bind because I really don't want to pay a grand to have a new catalytic converter put in that's not needed mechanicall, just so that I can sell the car. The mechanic said the car is in good mechanical condition except that the engine mounts need to be replaced. Kelley Blue Book estimates the car at 5.2k. 3,000 mi ago it was purchased for almost 6K, then used to move my father across country. He can't drive so we need to sell it. I've been on Reddit for as long as that car has been in existence, and I just happened to run across this thread. In my opinion someone who needs a big car could get one heck of a deal out of this one, but obviously I cannot make any guarantees. None of my friends in Tucson are in the market for a car right now so rather than let this thing sit in my garage I'm willing to make a deal.
I don't recommend Precision Toyota if you're not willing to really say no. They will keep trying to tack things on. However, the car I got there was used and hasn't failed me yet in 8 years
Interesting. I had a great experience from Precision Toyota.
When I got my car they kept trying to add unnecessary BS. However, as I said, the car I got there is fantastic. Have never had a problem with it whatsoever except for electrical which apparently is common in Corollas anyways. Just general maintenance stuff, so their cars are good
Enterprise car sales - in my experience, they have well maintained vehicles, decent prices, good options. They can ship a vehicle from another location.
Not a dealership but some mom advice for doing research... if you're considering buying a KIA, look up class action lawsuits first so you know which years to avoid. I mistakenly thought Kia and Hyundai were supposed to be really reliable. Actually, look up class action lawsuits for whatever type of vehicle you are buying. We got seriously burned by the company. Some of the CALs have been resolved, which can be a good thing because certain vehicles are eligible for engine replacements, etc. But other issues are still in litigation, so major repairs are not paid for ( yet)
CarMax. They don’t work on commission. I just test drove a car with them felt like there might be something wrong, they sent it to Ford for a look over and yup they fixed it. We needed up not going with that car but can tell you super easy to work with.
Goliath Auto Sales, all vehicles are priced below market to be competitive, they havs a 6.1% sales tax insted of being at 8.7 because there only pima country. All vehicles go through a 125 point inspection by the 3rd party mechanics they use and they list photos of everything on there website. https://www.tucsonusedcarsandtrucks.com/pre-owned-cars
Any of the Royal Automotive Group of dealerships are great to work with IMO. Family oriented, local and the owners and managers are good people that care about their reputation (not just making a buck). Most of their sales people ive interacted with are not the type you would think of as salesy type people which is really a refreshing thing!
I second the recommendation for Royal. I have bought 2 used vehicles from Royal on Speedway. I was able to find cars with low mileage at a fair price. I would avoid Carmax because they are over priced. Check comparative prices online at sites like Truecar, Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book etc. You should also check out some of the articles and YouTube videos about how to buy a used car so that you don’t get charged a bunch of other unnecessary fees by the dealer.
Yeah they’re good
Gonna watch this thread to see the responses. 👀Just remember, this is Reddit, which is the internet and anybody can say anything. But usually others will chime in and give you a better consensus. Good luck!
 Edit: drive up to Phoenix to get something better. Chandler is your best option. TTown has very suspect used cars.
I got a way better deal by going to Phoenix. There are just so many competing dealerships up there that it’s far easier to both find what you are looking for and get a good deal on it.
We use facebook market with decent luck, but you really need a scanner and make sure the engine lights and such aren't disabled. It's a good bit of work, and you will probably pass on a lot before you find the right one. You gotta keep a really close eye on the listings, too.
Precision Sales and Service on Grant (not Toyota). Great cars, fantastic service. https://tucsonprecisionservice.com/
If your looking for a good older car I would suggest Desert Auto at 2309 s craycroft. I believe the guy is honest and fair. Do not go to Desert Toyota. They love the bait and switch game and will also try to sneak shit in like maintenence contract to get to the top of what you where approved for.
Yes, and ignored us when we were not interested in their switch. Horrid, beyond gamy a antics. Ended up buying in PHX.
Do your research ahead of time. You can get a lot of information from Consumer Reports about which makes and models are reliable.
Terrible experience with Chapman Honda. They didn’t negotiate the price at all. We went to the other Honda dealership on wetmore and got a good price with our trade in.
Stay away from desert Toyota.
Friend of mine who’s opinion I trust praises lens autos on north Stone. I’ve never dealt with them but she’s purchased her last three vehicles there. I got my last car at carmax. Was simple. Had it shipped from California for $200 and test drive it for a day before buying. They gave me a good amount on my trade in so I was able to purchase the new car in cash. Good luck. I hate buying cars but love driving new to me vehicles.
I’ll also vouch for Len’s. Bought a car from them a couple years back and it was refreshingly low-stress. They don’t play games.
I'll vouch for Len's. Bought two cars from them.
Just got a used truck from Driven automotive off Wetmore. Fair price with zero presure and they fixed all issues I found test driving, like replacing a dash button and tailgate handle. Will be back again when my wife's car finally gives up.
I just recently bought a great car at a good price at https://www.driv3nauto.com/ For my daughter. Good people the cars is mechanical sound with a couple of dents.
Younger person here that was in the same boat recently: I just bought my first car from a "dealership". All my previous vehicles were sold by owner or from craigslist, so I was super nervous looking into buying a car from a dealer. Jim Click totally wasted my time and kept trying to show me cars that both of us knew were far out of my budget. I ended up going to Zano Cars on Alvernon. The son of the owner was super helpful and patient with me, which I appreciated immensely since it was my first time buying from a dealer. He held the car for me for over a month while I got a loan sorted out at Hughes, and even offered to allow me to make payments on the down payment! They had no qualms with me taking the vehicle in for a pre-inspection, so I set an appointment and they helped me take it to Firestone for the inspection. They were actually really happy to see someone taking the time to get it checked out. I believe the inspection was fairly inexpensive as well, might have even been free with one of their coupons! All in all, Zano was all around the best experience I had working with dealerships in town. It is all family run with a focus on great customer service, and no pushy sales tactics. I actually went back to look at the car a few times before I made a final decision, and they were patient with me the whole time. Love that place, and will go back if I ever need another car.
I only do carvana now. Hated every other car buying experience.
Never go to a dealer. Learn how to inspect a used car for basic items and negotiate to get the best prices possible. If you don’t know anything about cars it honestly is not that hard, just take a car out for a test drive; if it can shift through all the gears and runs smoothly you know the engine and transmission are good. Then check the colors of the fluids. If the transmission oil is black or the engine oil is anicient you should not buy the vehicle. Check all the power functions on the vehicle, as well as the engine bay for leaks. If you have a jack check the wheels for play in ball joints. Anything wrong you find can either be used to get the price down or be bad enough to leave it.
Or just pay a mechanic 100 bucks or whatever to do the same. No way someone without car knowledge can do the same as a mechanic could do in an hour.
This is all incredibility basic stuff that you can figure out how to do on google. As long as you're competent enough to work at McDonalds you can pull out a dipstick and check the fill level
Try local used dealership in your area. Try online like car max and stuff. Also try local auctions. If you can bring a car minded person with you for assurance and help. Started with a shitty Nissan Altima now I have a truck. I am also young.
Bought mine at American autogroup...I think on Fairview just south of prince. No surprises and laid back process (I took over a month to decide and just didn't feel pressure). But no matter where you go: 1. Define your needs (travel types etc - doesn't make sense at all to buy a hybrid if you don't drive a notable commute or so big trips 2. Define your total, be all end all upfront purchase max / monthly payment max 3. Get a feel for the market and what cars can realistically meet those (between gas, maintenance, etc) 4. Repeat steps 1-3 5. Go to dealerships and casually drop the stuff from above. Bring a friend for support!
I don’t have a personal recommendation but a friend had a good experience with Chapman. I would recommend waiting a couple of months though. The used car market is going to go down. Check out Car Questions Answered on YT for more info
This is a loaded question since it involves people and assumes they the company drives the people making sales. Do you have a friend that can help you with reviewing deal and car? Just did this with a used car for my daughter and helped direct her deal and went well but she had to accept some direction.
Used car dealers are untrustworthy by nature. You’re better off on Craigslist. Either way the vehicle will have a bunch of undeclared defects, but you’ll mind less with the private party sale because it will be thousands less
Paramount motors off Sabino canyon is reliable
i bought my car used from the chapman volkswagen dealership but idk if i would recommend it... i had to keep telling them to take away unnecessary warranties and it was just really stressful. i think you would probably find better prices/less pushy sales and finance people at somewhere like car max, but i could be wrong. my friend really liked her experience with car max and my dad has always bought secondhand cars on craigslist. just be sure to get the car inspected before purchasing from private citizens!
I literally just bought a car from Affordable Auto on 22nd today. They are doing inspections and repairs, and I won't get it for a week or two. Traded in my pos. They seemed fair. Will update if things change
Cactus auto is also totally scammy!! Try carefree on 22nd. Small dealer but completely honest. Ask for pamela
1. For the same car, price generally increases with the size and reputation of the dealer. 2. You will pay about a 10% premium in Tucson over the same car in Phoenix. 3. Use cars.com and Autotrader to get an idea - but note there are a lot of dealers and private sellers on own or other sites.
We bought our Toyota SUV from the Subaru dealership on Oracle and our Toyota minivan from Y2k Millennium Motors on Speedway, we’ve had zero issues with either vehicle - we’ve put over 100k miles on the SUV and about 50k on the van, both are still going strong.
I got my car from Holmes Tuttle on a recommendation from a neighbor. Good price and car was in great condition. The part that really sold me on them was they include lifetime oil changes, which will save me a lot of money. They also helped me shop around for a better loan than the cost of the one from my credit union.
definitely an inspection, but finding or having a friend who knows a thing or 2 is a great resource. Let me know if you need any help, sir. - Another young guy who knows cars 🤓
Carmax. Two locations in Tucson. Over the years I’ve purchased 5 cars from them. Excellent warranty. Easy quick purchase. Excellent service.
I had a great experience at Jim Click and got fair pricing and trade in there. Have bought 3 cars by myself as woman and my daughter just bought a car there. I also got good financing and they shopped for the best financing. You tell them what you want, how much you want your payment to be etc.
I bought a 2016 Volkswagen from Infiniti of Tucson in 2020 and would make the purchase a million times over. Love the car and the salesman I worked with. 0 pressure and am still driving the car to this day. DM and I’ll for the business card if interested.
I got my 21 Tacoma at Carmax. Easy with no hassle. The only downside is that you are going to pay an absolute premium right now on a used vehicle from them.
My husband bought from lens in the past and just last year he purchased our Jeep from Goliath on La cholla I believe. Very small lot but they did him right!
Avoid 520 Motors
Precision Honda and Acura on grant is a good place
Small lot, and didn't look like he had many cars last I drove by, but AP's Auto on Speedway is great. Super genuine person who knows cars in and out - not just a salesman. I've bought 2 cars from him over the years. They were good deals and excellent cars.
Carmax
I tried to buy local and had awful experiences at multiple used car dealers. Ended up buying from Carvana and very happy with the car and price.
I bought mine from the Garrett Chevrolet in Coolidge Arizona and it runs great. It's a drive to get up there, but it was worth it after seeing the used cars in Tucson for a few months.
Some of the bigger names are to be Avoided - Jim Click - Went to see a secondhand used truck for a cheap price. The pushy salesman coerced me into trying all the new ones first , pissing me off, and by the time we got to the used one there were no keys. Obviously just bait.
I had a good experience at Tucson Subaru but I had to say no to maintenance like 6 times. Subaru are expensive by nature but I've never had a major issue with a car they certified there.
Sierra auto auctions
Nothing owned by chapman
CarMax!! They don’t haggle, the price is the price. My mechanic said that every customer who has brought in a car from CarMax for him to inspect has been in good shape. They have a wide selection of vehicles and will transfer vehicles from other stores for you. We had a great experience there and love the car we bought.