Help me out here PLEASE. This is my first time. So, it seems most of you would lean towards a personal seller than a small dealership. So okay, I got a couple numbers of people who are selling cars that I'm interested in.
1. What should I ask them when I'm on the phone with them for the first time?
2. What should I ask/check out/do when I see the car for the first time?
(By the way, I have a mechanic who would check the car out for me for free if I'm really interested in it. But that would be later on. I wanna narrow down my field so that I don't bring him like a million cars.)
Thank you! :)
(quick replies are really appreciated)
2006-06-26 03:56:58 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
Also, if by chance I DO buy from a small dealership--which would only be if they had a warentee--what questions would I ask them over and phone and what to ask/check out in person? This is an optional question.. please answer the other one if you can.
2006-06-26 03:58:51 · update #1
1st time on phone: year make and model? How many miles? salvage or clean title? Ever been wrecked? Have any new parts? Original engine? How many miles are on the tires? Are there any malfunctioning parts? How many owners has the car had?
1st time you see it: Check for rust all over. Ask to see the title (to ensure its not salvage) Have mechanic go with you for under the hood. check for all working parts ie: windows, radio, locks, seats, etc... check for any flood or fire damage. start it up listen to it. check to see how much tread is on the tires because if you have to put tire on it figure putting another $300-400 in it.
2006-06-26 04:05:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are many answers here that are useful. However, I I would add a couple more items to your "to-do" list:
(1) Is there any body rust on the vehicle? I think this is important to know, because no matter how well-maintained the car is, rust is like a cancer that eats away at the car and gets progressively worse. If the car has some, you may ask the seller for a slight reduction in price.
(2) Did the owner purchase the car new? If not, ask if they have an idea how many previous owners it has had.
(3) Do they have all the receipts of previous repairs on the car? How about for oil changes? If not, ask how often the owner has changed the oil.
(4) Finally, I suggest asking the seller WHY he/she is selling the car. Sometimes you can learn a lot just from their answer. In fact, if they get nervous or try to avoid the question, I would not do business with them at all, no matter how nice the car is. Who knows, it could have some hidden serious defect, or even be stolen!
Hope this helps. Good luck to you.
2006-06-26 11:48:23 · answer #2 · answered by whabtbob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Run a "Carfax" check on the title history of the car. These cost about $25 and are worth every penny!!! This should be done for a couple reasons. First, it shows the ownership history (including mileage) from the time the car rolled off the assembly line (assuming the car is not 25 years old). Second, it shows whether the car has been declared a total loss or "rebuild". Three, it confirms the current owner (legal and registered). If there is a bank lien on the car, technically the owner can't seel you the car without the bank being paid off.
2. Any bill of sale should be conditional upon satisfactory inspection by a mechanic of your choice.
3. Do not hand over a penny until you know this is the car you want and the seller has the right to sell it. Used car dealers are notorious for sopme shady transactions. Be careful.
2006-06-26 11:11:36 · answer #3 · answered by justaguy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, what kind of car are you interested in buying? Also, whats your price range?
As for the phone call, you don't need to tell the sales person much more than what car you're interested in, and when you'll be comming to take a look at it. Also ask for any other details about the car (mileage, options, etc.) You can ask for a price over the phone, but most likely you'll just get the asking price (dealers almost NEVER give prices over the phone.)
Check Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds.com and even eBay to get an idea of what similar cars are going for. (Make sure you get the year and the milage right, or it won't match up.) Once you get to the car, make sure they have a Carfax report you can look at. If they haven't run a Carfax, or won't let you see it, leave. That isn't a good sign.
If you would like any more of my advice, just let me know what kind of car you're looking for as well as your price range. I work in the business and would be happy to help.
2006-06-26 11:14:59 · answer #4 · answered by parallax49 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not much the description will tell you most of what you want to know. You could ask for service records and what features it has but other than that just get the VIN number, then carfax it. Then take it to your mechanic. One other thing Carfax WON'T tell you everything wrong with a car but it does help.
2006-06-26 11:06:22 · answer #5 · answered by DialM4Speed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having the mechanic is a great idea. make sure you ask to see the title so you know it is clear and can be transferred without hassle. Ask to drive the car, and for any service receipts for it. Look at everything they have to show you.
2006-06-26 10:59:43 · answer #6 · answered by But why is the rum always gone? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find a dealership you think is trustworty and go in for a visit.
A private party is NOT obliged to stand behind anything, there are laws that force a dealer to.
2006-06-26 11:01:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that you have someone with you that is car smart. You should always ask to see how the car looks and make sure that this person is legit.
2006-06-26 11:04:09 · answer #8 · answered by Shay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋