What to watch out for and ask when buying a car?

Question

Hi,

I am looking to buy my second car and I don't want to make the same mistakes as when I bought my first. I don't have a clue about cars and neither does anyone in my family. Are there any essential questions to ask/ things to look out for?

Thanks

Answer 1

well, there are a lot of things that you should look at to see if the car has been abused before. :) first, check the tires. you should look for uneven wear on the tires. if the tires get worn out lopsidedly, then there is something wrong with the alignment. It might have been involved in an accident already. 2nd, emissions. start up the car and let it run idle for about 10 mins. ask someone to revv it up to about half of it's rev limit while you are at the back near the exhaust pipe. observe the exhaust fumes. if it has any color at all (black or white, medium density), then it's a sign of engine damage (be careful not to confuse smoke with fog if it's cold in your place). 3rd exterior, if your are particular about the paint or body structure, just keep on knocking on the hood and the body and listen to changes of density. (ie; knock on a wooden chair and then knock on your refrigerator, they produce different sounds). 4th, interior is entirely up to your taste but one sure way of telling if there are any loose parts is to drive the car through a short stretch of rough road, if you hear any vibrating sound in the interior ask the owner. (personally, i'd put the interior last on my checklist). 5th drive the car, check for the feel of the drive, if you feel that there is something odd by the way the steering or engine responds, dont take it. There's a myriad of things to check but these are the basics. last one i'd guess would be the car plates. it should be in in good condition. any bends, dents, tears on the car plates whether at the front or the back signifies a car accident. idea here is the car plate is not a moving part and it's attached to the fender. how in this world would it be mutilated without something happening to the fender? happy hunting.

Answer 2

In your situation, have the car professionally inspected by a qualified mechanic. It will usually cost you somewhere around 100 dollars (1 to 2 hours of labor), but a mechanic can put the car up on the lift, drive around, and tell a whole bunch that you or I could ever be able to tell.

Have him write up a report on what it needs and how much it'll cost him to fix it. It will be a good negotiation tool, and you will be well informed.

If the seller refuses to have a professional look at the car, walk away. Even used car dealers will let you take it to YOUR mechanic if you insist on it. If they don't let you.... WALK AWAY....

Answer 3

The simplest way is to make a "pre-purchase" inspection a contingency before you buy the car. Take it to any uninterested mechanic, and for a small fee, have it inspected, and a written report provided.

Answer 4

Get the car tested by an INDEPENDENT mechanic BEFORE you make the deal.

if the person is not willing to do it, go to one that will. And demand a CARFAX report...

Answer 5

Dont buy a new one the wuistion is is it new...

Answer 6

most important rule, EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE