By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
Increasingly, new car incentives are being used by many manufacturers to increase sales. Dealers offer low financing or cash rebates which allow them to sell more new cars, but with an increasing number of new cars being sold, used cars are starting to flood the market. Purchasing a pre-owned vehicle can be a great way to get a newer car that somebody else has paid the depreciation value making it a great deal… if you know what to look for.
When the time comes to buy a pre-owned vehicle (whether from an individual or a car lot), a 30-minute time investment could help ensure you’re buying a decent used car and not somebody else’s lemon – saving you time, money and sanity. Not everybody has a mechanic to take it to or the time to spend getting it checked out, so Autotropolis.com offers a few quick tips to help ensure complete satisfaction when purchasing a used car.
First, while the owner or the salesman is telling you about the little old lady that previously owned it, do a quick visual check of the car. Inspect the gaps between all of the body panels (like the doors, trunk, hood and fenders). This will help indicate if the car has ever been in an accident before. CARFAX and other car background searches only work if there is an official accident report or insurance claim. All body panels should have an even gap and not interfere with each other when opening and closing. The latches for the doors, hood and trunk should latch easily as well. If they aren’t latching properly, something is probably out of adjustment. When the hood is up, check the bolts holding the fenders on. If the paint is chipped on the bolts, they have been removed in the past. When the trunk is open, this would be a great time to make sure the spare tire and jack are in their proper place. Also, check all the exterior lights, too. A burned out headlight or taillight may seem small, but may indicate poor vehicle maintenance.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to get dirty. It isn’t uncommon for a vehicle to be thoroughly cleaned car inside and out to make it more attractive. Who would want to buy a dirty car anyway? Unfortunately, this also gives the owner an opportunity to conceal any possible leaks or defects that the car could be exhibiting. A little dirt on your hands can be cleaned up while a leaking engine or transmission can end up costing thousands of dollars. Look underneath the vehicle and inspect the oil pan and transmission for any damage or leaks. Also, inspect the radiator, power steering reservoir and brake master cylinder reservoir for any obvious leaks. Doing a quick check of the fluid levels and their conditions can also be a way to tell how the vehicle was maintained (oil and power steering fluid should not be dark, automatic transmission fluid should be bright red, brake fluid should look like apple juice and the color of the radiator fluid differs but should not be dark or dirty). It sure wouldn’t hurt either to ask for car maintenance records.
Next, make sure you go on a test drive that lasts long enough to allow the engine to reach a normal operating temperature (aim for at least 10 minutes). This will also give you the amount of time to perform a comprehensive test of how the vehicle drives. Listen for any abnormal noises and feel how the transmission is shifting. While driving, test the A/C and the heat as well as any other accessories (cruise control, power seats, radio switches, etc.). A big parking lot would be a perfect place to go over some speed bumps and also make some turns so the wheels go all the way to their extreme (listen for any rubbing or power steering noises). Make sure to do a couple quick stops, too.
Most importantly, listen to your gut. If something seems out of whack, it probably is. Make sure the area where you look at the car is well lit and, if possible, dry (water hides scratches, dents and paint imperfections that will be apparent in the sunlight). If you don’t like what you see, move on to another vehicle.