Are you shopping for a used car but worried about walking away from the dealership with a lemon? There are certain things you need to look for when you're buying a used car. Once you know what to look for the chances of buying a car that you'll regret buying will be slim.
When I purchased my first used car out of college it was no more than 3 months before I regretted my purchasing decision. I knew I wanted a 4x4 mid sized truck but I had no idea what to look for. I ended up paying nearly $10,000 for a car that blew it's transmission 5 months after I bought it. Luckily I had purchased an extended warranty on the car and therefore did not have to come out of pocket for the full cost of a rebuilt transmission. However the car simply never drove the same and ended up dying on me 3 years later. Here are 4 tips you can use to avoid the same fate that I had when I bought my first used car.
Check out the car's history using the vehicle's VIN number. A car's history is one of the most important things to look into when you're buying a car. By using the car's history you can find out several things about the vehicle before you spend thousands of dollars on it.
The history report will give you valuable information such as does the car have any flood damage, has the odometer been rolled back, does it have a junked title and even state emissions inspection results. All of which are very important factors that you can use to help you determine if you want to buy the car.
Check out the heater and air conditioner. Let the car run for a few minutes and then turn on the AC. The AC should be cool immediately when you turn it on. If you do not feel any cool air after a few minutes then it's likely that the AC isn't working and that can be a big warning sign. Air conditioners can be very expensive to fix so be careful. Turn on the heater to see if t works on all speeds when you turn it on. Heaters also can be very expensive to repair so you want to make sure that it's working properly.
Check out the engine. A car's engine needs to have it's motor oil changed regularly in order to run properly. If a car hasn't been getting it's regularly scheduled oil changed the motor can die in a hurry. After running the car let the car sit idle for a few minutes and then check to see if the engine has any odor. Also use the dip stick to check if the motor oil comes up dirty and sludge like or if it's clean. This is an important step and shouldn't be overlooked.
Test drive the car. A test drive may be the most significant thing you can do when buying a used car. Take it on the highway to see if it's stable when you're drive. See if it's responsive when you speed up or hit the brakes. Listen to see if it makes any noise when you're driving. See if the car drives straight or is pulling to the side.
You should never sign a contract unless the car meets what you are looking for. Buying a used car should be a stress free process so never make the dealer feel as if he has the upper hand. It's your money and he's looking to get your business, not the other way around.
Read Full Article Here: Car Buying Tips - 4 Tips on Buying a Used Car
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