need help finding palce in CA o buy a van

[weiz2707]

Hello All!

My name is Yonatan and i am coming this year to BM from Germany, along with friends from Israel and Poland. We would like to buy an RV or van, but can't spend much more than 1000$, and all the stuff online is much more expensive. If anyone knows of a good place to shop for used cars, any kind of old junker will do, we would love to know. Please share you knowledge with us, so we can make it to the festival too! In return, we promise our love, and also a ride to the Playa!

Thanks, and just for reading this you get some love for free. here:

Love

Yonatan
and the gang

[teardropper]

A thousand dollars doesn't buy much and, where are you coming in, San Francisco? ... really doesn't buy much there. You want something reliable. You'll be crossing mountains, pretty big ones, and deserts. You will be going to a very remote place, a place that is hard on 'good' vehicles. You need good tires and a spare, a good cooling system... you get the idea. I think I would rent a car, a better use of your limited money, or try to get a ride.

I live 200 miles from the playa and I spend all year planning and getting ready. I admire you, and those, that come in from far away to visit Black Rock City.

[weiz2707]

teardropper,

Thanks for you reply. We are trying to do our best with what we have. Perhaps we will rent, but i think that will be more than 1000$ as well. Any tips you can provide as to where we should rent from.

Thanks!

Yoanatn

[gyre]

Look on craigslist and look for something functional but with body damage.

[AntiM]

And then there's registration, and safety inspections, and emissions, and insurance. Renting might be more feasible.

[dragonpilot]

A reliable rental RV is going to cost at least $2500 for a week...likely more.

For a truck $1000 isn't going to buy more than an old chassis and frame...no engine or seats. And a car with an engine will be lucky to make it out of town.

Good luck, though!

[gyre]

California may be higher, but I bought a solid van for under $1000.
Damage on most sides and bad paint knocked the price down.
Same goes for any vehicle.

I would think $1500 or less should be possible.
Bigger engines often cheaper,

No a/c- cheaper.
Bad heater- cheaper.
If it needs minor repairs- cheaper price.

[mdmf007]

www.craigslist.com
www.traderonline.com

that should help. Traderonline will let you search by price and location.
Also google "auto wreckers" give them a call and let them know what your looking for, they always have severely banged up but road worthy rigs.

I just whacked in a random zip code and found 16 buys under 1550.00 bucks some look pretty straight. Dont forget you will be able to sell the rig when your done and recoup some of your money. So spend a little more and get some security as well.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchres ... 0483176819

[AntiM]

I still maintain that the problem will not be finding a vehicle to buy ... it is insurance and registration as a non-resident of the US which is going to be problematic. I've been trying to look it up, but I've not found much information.

[mdmf007]

registration and insurance isnt that hard to overcome as well.

The registration is a mute point because he wont be in the US before a temporary permits are expired.

You can buy insurance online in the US you can also print proof of it instantly, one month policy is all you need. I have had friends from England buy from one of the larger insurance companies online with a UK license.

and all you need in Nevada to register a vehicle is a heartbeat. I have registered all sorts of things there for work - no questions. They run VIN you pay for however long you want to drive and walk out with new plates and registration. Title takes longer.

[AntiM]

I guess California is stricter? Or am I a worrywart?

[Elliot]

Well, liability insurance is mandatory in California.

007, we might want to inform our foreign friends which insurance company is known to cover overseas visitors.