When buying a used car what should I look for?

Answer 1

Hi Peter,

Education and knowledge is the key, knowing as much as you can before buying a car will help you reduce the risk of buying something that is a "lemon".

Mechanically speaking, you can't fore see into the future on what if anything will break down. This of course is true with even new cars, if they didn't, they wouldn't offer a warranty.

With a used car, the best you can do is to make sure the mechanical condition basics are up to par, this really isn't so difficult if you know what to look for.

Research the history if possible, determine if the oil has been changed on a regular basis, look inside the oil cap if you can and see if you see any oil sludge or caked up oil.

Check the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s web site at www.nicb.org, they have compiled a list of vehicles that have that have been affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. While this list may not include every single vehicle, it’s a good place to start with.

You should also run an online history report, but once again, this database may not be all-inclusive, it’s simply another step in the process of elimination. (See the link below concerning online history reports)

Look at the cooling system as well, remove the radiator cap (COLD ENGINE ONLY) and look to see if the water is rusted or brownish looking which would indicate possible serious issues.

Know how to peform a "proper" test drive and what to look for during, this doesn't include a spin around the block either. A proper road test should include 25 miles of driving, cold and hot, along with different road surfaces as well.

Jerry
http://www.usedcarwise.com

Answer 2

Whole bunch of things - first, check used car history with Carfax - you don't want a car after an accident or the one that was flooded. Then, you need to make sure there is no signs of previous body damage or rust. Check if the airconditioner actually works. The engine and the transmission are most important - check for smoke, oil leaks, etc. Last thing, hire someone knowledgeable to have the car inspected before you buy it. It's a good idea to buy a used car from new car dealer under "Certified Preowned" program - it will cost you a bit more but the car most likely will be OK. Also don't buy used cars that have poor reliability ratings - stick with cars like Honda or Toyota.

Answer 3

You may want to get the car's VIN and run it through on of the websites such as car facts to ensure you are not buying one of the flood out cars from the south. Consumer Reports has a buying guide you might find helpful. Knowing a good mechanic who would check the car over for a small fee may help you save a lot in the future.

Answer 4

FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS BUY IT FROM A RELIABLE BUYER. YOU CAN CHECK ON CAR FAX.COM TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A ACCIDENT TO THAT CAR OR NOT. IF BUYING FROM A DEALER YOU CAN ASK TO SEE THE WORK ORDER OF ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY DID TO IT . YOU WANT TO LOOK TO SEE IF THE STOCK NUMBERS ARE ON THE HOOD AND THE FENDERS THERE WILL BE A WHITE TAG ON THEM AND YOU WANT TO CHECK THE ENGINE FOR OIL AND THE TRAIN FOR FLUID ON OR AROUND IT . JUST BE CAREFULLY YOU DON'T GET RIPED OFF, IF YOU KNOW A MECHANIC TAKE THEM WITH YOU TO CHECK IT OUT . GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

if ur buying a used car u should look if the car is in good condition, its mileage, and what features does it have