2006-07-15 12:16:22 · 9 answers · asked by chocobabe 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
The best thing is to take a friend with a mechanical background with you to inspect any vehicle(s) you are interested in. Other than that, visually inspect the car. What is the odometer reading? High or low mileage? What about the interior? What shape is it in? Test everything in the car, radio, windshield wipers, power windows (if so equipped), etc. Try them all and make sure everything either works or gets repaired before you plunk down your hard earned cash. Look at the tires, plenty of tread left? Are there signs of uneven wear on the tires? Pop the hood, even if you are not mechanically inclined yourself. Is the engine compartment clean? Can you notice any leakages? Is the battery clean or corroded? Look underneath the car, see if you can spot any leakages there. What about dents on the exterior of the car? Is the paint in good condition? Is the paint uneven? This could be evidence of an accident and the car was repainted.
Spend time checking the car out so you won't spend your money foolishly.
Good luck.
2006-07-15 12:24:34 · answer #1 · answered by GregW 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Before you purchase any vehicle, pay to have it checked out by a qualified mechanic. Have the mechanic check the engine compression, and completely go over the car. If the seller (be it a private party or dealer), is not willing to allow you to have the car checked out, then RUN away from the deal.
A vehicle history report from Carfax any show problems, such as a mileage discrepancy, or prior major damage, but it is not a 100% guarantee that there are not problems.
If you are buying from a private party, you want to be sure that the car is titled in the name of the person who is selling you the vehicle. Look at their ID. There are people who are not licensed dealers who will buy a car, do some minor (mostly cosmetic) work on it, and try to sell it for a profit, without ever having the vehicle titled in their name. In most states this is illegal, because they do not pay the required taxes. They take a title that was signed my the old seller, and fill in your name.
If there is a problem down the road, such as someone claiming that their name was forged on the title, and the car stolen, you want to have proof that you purchased the car from the legal owner!!
2006-07-15 13:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by fire4511 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cheak for the following:
Leaks
Rust
Mechanical Problems
Electrical Problems
Ripped Interior
Any Dings Dents Cuts Scraches on the veichle.
Any buttons are missing in the veichle
If the radio works
Speakers Sound good
Ever had any problems
Ever has been Modified
MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING A GOOD DEAL FOR THE MONEY AND HOPE THAT THE OWER OF THE VEICHLE TELLS YOU THE CARS HISTORY. MAKE SURE GOOD MILIEGE ON THE CAR FOR THE YEAR IT IS IN.
ASK WHY THEY ARE SELLING THE CAR.
Best of Luck!!!!!!!!!!
2006-07-15 14:44:37 · answer #3 · answered by Mustang Frank 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything. Is the car stolen? Is the title good? Does it have a lien? Did it come from the flooded areas in the big easy? Is the vehicle about to fall apart? Has the odometer been tampered with?
2006-07-15 13:09:41 · answer #4 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are going to buy a sporty car, make sure that the car is not modified at all. If it is modified that means the previous owner drove it really hard, which doesn't guarantee a good run for you.
2006-07-15 12:18:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm actually in the market for a used car too. All I know is you better get the car CarFaxed first.
http://www.carfax.com/
2006-07-15 12:20:59 · answer #6 · answered by Ro¥al Tree® 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be careful about if the car got into a carcrash
2006-07-15 12:22:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to be on the safe side ,bring a trusted mechanic.,
2006-07-15 12:20:15 · answer #8 · answered by da_hammerhead 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
see if it run's ok
2006-07-15 12:26:44 · answer #9 · answered by daddy girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋