Buying a Used Car - Tips
Before getting into the details of information about buying a used car, it is essential that you are clear about the purpose of the purchase. Many people tend to forget the reason they are buying a used car when they enter a dealership and are confronted by shiny cars and some smooth talking salesman. Be clear why you are buying the car, is it for going to office, to ferry children to school or for goods delivery for your small business. Don't go just by the looks of the car, inspect the engine, body and tires as well.
There are several benefits of buying a used car, it is less expensive, the value of a used car does not depreciate as much as the new car, insurance premiums are less, etc. Auto dealerships have sales and even offer a payment plan on used cars, this makes buying used cars simpler. Look at some used car ratings and reviews, this will help you better decide which model suits you the best.
Tips for Buying a Used Car
For any financial transaction it is wise to have a pre decided budget, set the upper limit that you will be willing to spend. Once you have your budget ready look for the top three manufacturers for the type of the car you planning to buy, for example, a hatch back, coupe, saloon, etc. Read car magazines you will be able to get a list of used cars to avoid. Here are some of the buying a used car tips that might help you.
Body Work
In the list of what to look for when buying a used car, checking the body work, features in the top 5 things to check. Walk from one end of the car to another to check for any visible signs of dents or damage to the body, make notes if you see any. Look under the hood and check the undercarriage of the car to see if there is any metal corrosion. Check the door alignment and also see if you notice any variations in the car paint.
Engine
A good indicator to the engine condition is the engine oil, check the dipstick, if the oil is black the car isn't maintained properly. Check for any carbon deposits on the dip stick if you find any, it's an indicator of heavy oil consumption by the engine. Carefully look for any signs of oil leak from the engine, make sure the ignition is off and also check the oil cap. Once you have opened the oil cap check for oil sludge on the cap or inside the engine walls, both are bad signs.
Transmission
When you come across dirty fluid it indicates transmission problems, to confirm smell the fluid, if it gives out a burnt smell don't buy the car. If a car has a faulty transmission it will cost you a lot of money to replace this car part. When you are checking out an automatic transmission car check the dipstick. If the fluid levels are low it generally means there is a leak. Test drive the car and see if all the gears are shifting smoothly and the car doesn't cringe or jerk with gear change.
Interiors
Take a long and hard look at the interiors, wear and tear of the car interior will give you a fair indication about how the owner treated the car. It is important to check the odometer and see for any visible signs of tampering, although it is illegal to tamper the odometer, some people still do it. Check if the air conditioning is working properly and if the upholstery has any tears. See if all the dashboard indicators are functioning and are relaying accurate information.
Checklist
Here is a checklist that will help you when you go out there looking for a suitable car. This is not a comprehensive list but can act as a good guideline when buying a used car. Also take notes of any faults that you might find you can use these as bargaining chips during the final negotiation.
- Paint
- Dents
- Corrosion
- Engine Oil
- Oil Leaks
- Transmission Fluid
- Upholstery
- Dashboard
- Stereo
- Air Conditioning
- Tires
- Vehicle Identification Number
- Ownership Paperwork
- Test Drive
