what do i need to know before buying my first new used car?

Answer 1

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 foresee 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.

Mileage is critical, too many and you may be simply wasting your money, even on a beater. Normal mileage usage is usually considered 12-15000 per year. Of course the type of mileage is also critical, is the mileage mostly in city with a a lot of stop and go, or mostly high way miles. These are important answers to find out if possible.

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.---Listen for unusual noises, clatter, knocks etc. Make sure the transmission shifts properly--Hot and Cold

Make sure the seller has a "CLEAR" title in hand, don't pay until he/she does. Often times the title may be in another persons name and you may be forced to pay for several transfers.

Inspect for signs of body/paint repairs. Look at the paint surfaces carefully for any bubbles, trash embedded under the paint, mis colored panels etc. See the link below for sample pictures that will help identify signs of repairs.

See the links below for more info that may help

Jerry
http://www.usedcarwise.com

Answer 2

First check for water marks inside the car--may have been in a flood.

Take some with you that knows about cars and have them look it over.

Having a mechanic check it over would be a good idea also.

Check with Kelley's Blue Book to get a rough idea what the car might be worth.

Watch the loan terms---especially the interest rate.

Answer 3

How much money can you afford to spend on the purchase. That is the one question hundreds of people fail to answer honestly before going car shopping.

This is the correct order to do things in:
1 - Do your homework. Know the type of vehicle you need.
2 - Set your budget.
3 - Get pre-approved for the loan.
4 - Know how much you can afford and do not go over limit
5 - Go Shopping.

Answer 4

The following article offer you lots of excellent information on how to buy a used car or purchase a new car. Check them out and hope it is helpful.

Answer 5

you need to know the lemon laws of your state.