Where is the best place to find used Kia cars for sale?

Question

So I have been saving up some money from my side gig and I finally hit my 8k budget goal! Im honestly so pumped to get my first car because taking the bus in Chicago during the winter is brutal. I was looking around online and decided that a Kia seems like the best bet for me since everyone says they are reliable and dont cost a fortune to keep running. But man I feel totally lost trying to find where to even look for one.

My logic was that I would just check the big websites like Craigslist but then my cousin told me that is a total nightmare and I might get scammed or end up with a lemon? So I got kinda scared and started looking at dealership sites instead. But there are like a million dealerships in the city and suburbs and I dont know which ones are actually honest or if they just overcharge people who dont know anything about cars like me. Should I be looking at those official Kia certified pre-owned sites or just random lots I pass by on the way to work?

Im hoping to have something parked in my driveway by next month so I dont have to deal with the snow anymore. Im just so confused if I should be filtering by price on those big car aggregators or if I should just walk into a local place and ask what they have. Is it better to go to an actual Kia dealer or one of those generic used car lots that have a bit of everything? I feel like such a newbie asking this but I really dont want to mess this up and buy a hunk of junk that breaks down in a week. Does anyone have any experience with buying used Kias around here or know which websites are actually legit? Im just spinning my wheels at this point...

lizxldnrns · Accepted Answer

Congrats on hitting your goal! Dealing with Chicago winters without a car is rough. Honestly, skip Craigslist for now. I would suggest looking at CarMax or the CPO section on the official Kia site. Just make sure to get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you trust before handing over cash.

Check Kia Soul 2018 2.0L listings

Use Autotrader to filter inventory

Always run a history report

xxuquzoref · Answer

To add to the point above: you absolutely have to look at the Kia Forte 2017 LX Sedan if you can find one in your range. Honestly, that model year is a sweet spot for reliability and maintenance costs. I drove one for years and it never let me down once, even in the nastiest Chicago blizzards! If you are worried about getting scammed at some random lot, check out these sites instead:

Autotrader and Cars.com: These are way better than Craigslist because you can filter by private sellers versus dealers and see if the price is actually fair for the area.

Facebook Marketplace: People hate on it, but it is actually pretty solid if you search for local sellers who have full service records. Just bring a friend who knows cars to check the engine bay. My biggest tip is to look for a Kia Optima 2016 EX Sedan if you want something a bit more comfortable for those long commutes. Just watch out for weird transmission shifts during the test drive. Definitely skip the tiny neighborhood lots that look sketchy because they usually just flip junkers. Stick to the bigger dealerships or private sellers who have proof they kept up with oil changes. You've got this! Just take your time and dont let a salesman pressure you into something that doesnt feel right.

iyjmpfyxfh · Answer

Saw this earlier but finally have a sec to chime in. Regarding what #2 said about the Forte, it is a solid pick, but dont ignore the Kia Rio 2016 EX Sedan if you want to save a bit more on gas and insurance. Since you are avoiding Craigslist, here is how you should handle this:

Stick to Autotrader or Cars.com for your search. They are way safer than FB Marketplace and let you filter by dealer ratings.

Always check Carfax reports. If a seller refuses to show one, walk away immediately.

If you find a Kia Optima 2015 LX Sedan or similar at a non-Kia lot, take it to a third-party shop for a pre-purchase inspection. It costs maybe $150 but saves you thousands. Basically, the others mentioned CPO and specific models, so just make sure you focus on maintenance records over how shiny the paint is. Good luck in the snow!