Buying a used car in Sweden...

[Jakub72]

My family and I landed here a couple of weeks ago from the states and we need to acquire a couple of cars. Seeing that I am not made of BMW money I will be searching for something a little more 'reasonable'. Currently I am renting a KIA Cee'd, which by Kia standard for the US is a much, much better vehicle then the crap they try to pass off there as transportation. So the questions I pass on to all the knowledge here is......
1. Does one haggle for the price of a car?
2. Resale value....what keeps its value over three years here? And where can I go to find out?
3. Private seller or a dealership?

I have been lurking on Blocket for awhile and the vehicles I am attracted to seem to be always BMW, Saab, VW. Stateside, all descent cars that keep their resell value and have good reliabilty records. I would love to own one newer (3-4 yo) for my wife and another older vehicle for myself. I have a substantial tool box being shipped and I am not affraid to get a little dirty, again not sure what I can work on here with out getting into trouble with the vehicle inspections. I appriciate any help that can be givin.

Jake

[Engelsmannen]

It depends a little on where you're moving to. VW would be a great choice for Stockholm or further south, especially something with the highly respected 4-motion system.

If the roads are likely to be snowy/icy, you can't beat a Subaru Forester/Legacy/Outback. The handling is sublime on every surface, summer and winter, and the have the best record for reliability with the swedish vehicle inspection authorities.

Plus, if you like to tinker, you can soup up a basic model into a real monster

[Engelsmannen]

I forgot to mention that resale values are consistently high - the biggest problem is finding someone who is willing to part with one!

Avoid older Saabs like the plague, and look up the dictionary definition of oversteer and you'll find an icy road with a rear wheel drive BMW heading backwards into a hedge.

[Osk]

Jake

Where are you?

My 'wife' sells cars

[Rap43]

In Sweden, there is a system...

If you want to know the facts about cars without any sales opinions or personal loyalties, go here:

http://www.bilprovningen.se/ex...!opendocument&m=7

The inspection system in Sweden means you are generally pretty safe buying a used car.

Have fun! I am jealous of the idea of buying not one, but two 'new' cars at the same time

[Renfeh Hguh]

[Renfeh Hguh]

[Jakub72]

I am in the Lund/Malmo area......and I would not buy a Volvo/Saab that is older then an 2002, I did car audio/security/mobile video for 15 years there and these cars do not hold up very well, kind of like GM and Ford in the US. It was always the Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans and Mazdas that held up the best.....still do. And they retain their resale value the best. I do not see too many Honda's here......and why I bailed on importing our Pilot.

I appreciate all the info...thanks!