Checklist for Buying a Used Car
Buying a used car rather than a new car does have its perks. Not only does a used vehicle have a lower sticker price than a new one, but also the U.S. Department of Transportation reports the average life span of a vehicle is 12 years or 128,500 miles. Surveys have shown that, on the average, a person trades in or sells a car when it is only 4 1/2 years old with just 41,000 miles on it. Therefore there is still a lot of life left in most used cars. However it is important to be smart when purchasing a used vehicle, after all you don’t want to inherit a car riddled with problems that the previous owner is just trying to unload. Before buying…
• Decide what type of vehicle will best suit your needs.
• Decide how much you can afford to spend.
• Find out how much it will cost you to finance such a vehicle.
• Find out how much it will cost you insure the vehicle.
• Research the asking price to make sure you aren’t paying too much.
• Find out the history of the vehicle you want to buy by researching the VIN number.
• Is there a clear title on the vehicle you are interested in buying?
• Are there maintenance records available on the vehicle?
Inspect the Vehicle
When you go to look at a car you are interested in purchasing here are some things you should look for…
• When looking at the body of the car, look for ripples, waves, poorly fitted panels and mismatched colors, all of which may indicate that bodywork may have been done. Look for dents or rust around the bottom of the doors and fenders. Bubbles along molding or chrome indicate there may be rust underneath. So be sure to look under the vehicle for rust as well.
• Check the shocks by pushing down on each corner of the car and letting go. Your car should bounce upward only once and then settle back to its original position. If the car bounces several times, new shocks may be needed.
• Check the tires. They should be in good shape without sidewall cracks. Uneven tire wear may indicate improper wheel alignment, tired shocks or worn front-end components. In addition, check the inside of the tires for brake fluid leakage (indicating leaking wheel cylinders).
• Look under the car for oil spots, or leaks from the transmission, power steering or shock absorbers. Open the hood and check belts and hoses for cracks or wear. Remove the radiator cap. The coolant should be a clean, greenish (or blue or yellow, depending on brand of coolant used) color. Brown sludge inside the radiator neck may indicate poor maintenance.
• Be sure and check the fluid level in the master cylinder as well. If the fluid level is low, check for leaks and have brake pads checked. Look inside the trunk. Make sure there are an inflated spare tire, a jack and a lug wrench.
• Is the owners' manual in the vehicle? How about the operating instructions for any accessories, and any warranty information that still applies to items like tires and exhaust?
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Print Article | Download PDF | 17 views | Jul 15 2008
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