When you are looking at used cars...what things do you ask & what do you check?

Question

I am not really a car person but I am looking at buying a used car and will be checking it out. I have always bought from a car lot in the past but I have a chance to buy a car from a private individual that seems like a terrific deal.I know enough about checking its history with Carfax and its Kelly blue book value, but as far as what questions to ask to the owner and what to look for mechanically to make sure it will be reliable I am sadly in the dark.

What suggestions can you give me?

Answer 1

What I have done before is ask the current owner if they mind if you take the car to you mechanic...if they refuse---no good, if they do have you mechanic check it out and see if everything is good. It has worked every time my family has bought a car, and we have never had problems with the cars we have bought.

Good luck

Answer 2

ask if they've any higher autos on the market? Just kidding,,,,If this can be a vehicle from an person they must have solutions. A trader may not recognize whatever and he's going to simply provide you BS for the reason that the vehicle simply rolled onto their lot from the public sale final Tuesday. Seriously you have got to be competent to seem the vehicle over entirely and ask questions approximately the whole lot that you simply see. If you notice a few paint light or chipping, ask used to be it repainted? Check the trunk for the odor of mold (like an historic basement). Does it leak or is it rusty? Ask to look each receipt for each fix and protection they did at the vehicle. Even oil alterations and vehicle washes. If they stored their receipts that is a signal of anyone who cares approximately their autos. Make definite the tires are all of the equal. You'd be amazed how commonly I seem at a vehicle and it is going to have 3 one-of-a-kind tires on it. Check beneath the hood. determine the oil, Is it blank? Check the radiator, is it filled with anti freeze or water? Brake Fluid, trans fluid. If those fluids are blank and crowned off that is a well signal. If they are not, ask why? Check the inner entirely, seem for burns (people who smoke vehicle!!) smells, stains, rips. If it is splendid blank that is a well signal.

Answer 3

#1 "Has it been in any accidents?" The seller isn't required to volunteer information about past accidents but by asking you are forcing them to commit to an answer. If they lie and say "no" it can be used against them in court.

#2 Ask for all maintenance receipts.

#3 Hire a mechanic to inspect it. There are many mobil mechanics that will come to wherever the car is for convenience.

Answer 4

A little homework on your part, I been buying and selling cars for 30 years am retired and build a website how to buy a car as a hobby its free with no strings attached, study my 10 steps you wont be an overnight expert, but I guarantee you will not end up having a lemon parked in your driveway http://www.usedcartips.org/

Answer 5

Consumer's Report magazine has a wonderful article guiding you through the maze of the "preowned" car world. One of the items judged is the repair history of each model as well as the usual life span. Just go to the library & each yrs last magazine has an index for ALL of the articles.

Answer 6

Drive it. How are the brakes? How is reverse? Do the windows and seats move properly? Any strange noises? Look at the hoses under the hood, are they cracked, leaking? Windshield wipers work?
How does the transmission feel when it changes gear? What about the brakes? How many miles does it have on it? Were oil changes kept up? Does it have a good sound system?
Do you LOVE It??

Answer 7

Above all good, one thing I do is look under the wheel wells and bumper panels to see if it was ever wrecked. you can spot repaired panels and framework pretty easy if it was just done.