After a few people finished reading my book, EFFECTIVE ADULTING, they remarked that Chapter 5, Buying a Car should have included buying a used car. I explained that buying a used car was much more involved than buying a new car. A chapter dealing with used car purchases would have added a thousand pages to the book and would have not provided any input other than DON’T if you can avoid it.
In the interest of providing some information regarding buying a used car I decided to put some highlights in this blog.
First off, there are four ways to buy a used car:
- Buying from a new car dealer that also sells used cars.
- Buying from a “TRUSTED” friend.
- Buying from a stranger.
- Buying from an independent dealer.
Secondly, your objective is to buy a car that is mechanically sound. This may take some shopping but there are mechanically sound used cars out there.
Let’s try some generalities.
Prices are extremely NEGOTIABLE with new car dealers and independent dealers, not so much with a friend or a stranger.
People trade in cars because the car is giving them trouble or they are expecting trouble perhaps because of age of the car or high mileage. Perhaps the car has not been maintained as it should have been.
No matter how much you like a car be ready to walk away as soon as you discover something that is pointing to a potential problem.
High performance cars are not usually a smart buy. Those cars usually have been hot rodded; street raced and possibly strip raced. Cars are not made to withstand punishment like that.
A car that has been in an accident should be avoided.
A car salesman can not sell the car. At a new car dealer there will be a used car sales manager. This is the person that can sell it.
Many cars are trade-ins but many come to the dealers from auto auctions. The dealers try to fix them up. Many of the independent dealers buy cars from the new car dealers. The new car dealers don’t want to be bothered trying to fix them.
Here are some tips for buying:
Walk around the car looking at the way body panels fit. The paint should match. If a panel or 2 fit funny or the paint doesn’t match, walk away!
Look at the tires. There should be plenty of tread. The tires should match. If not keep this in mind as a bargaining chip.
Make sure all the lights work properly. The dealer should correct this if they don’t.
Get in and start the car. Adjust the seat and mirrors meet your requirements. Try all the features of the interior that you can. Everything should work. If not the dealer should fix the problem. If the dealer won’t fix it, shut the car off and walk away!
Prior to starting the car and IF the engine is cold, open the hood and remove the radiator cap and look inside. It should NOT look like liquid chocolate. If it does, walk away! Caution: to avoid severe burns the engine must be cold before you remove the radiator cap!!!!
Time to drive it. If you can, drive on rough roads paying attention the handling. The steering wheel should not be shimmying or vibrating. If it is take the car back and walk away!
Make sure the car accelerates smoothly and reasonably fast. The exhaust should not be loud. If it is loud or not accelerating to suit you take the car back and walk away!
Pay close attention to the feel of the brakes. They should work smoothly and quietly. No grinding sounds. If not walk away!
Back at the dealers or the driveway of the seller leave the car run. Open the hood. Listen for rattling noises in the engine. If it doesn’t sound right to you, shut it off and walk away! If all seems well, pull out the transmission dipstick and smell the end. It should not smell burned. If it does, walk away!!
If you are buying from a stranger, try to look around the garage. You are looking for tools for working on cars like floor jacks, compressors, spray guns, and perhaps a creeper. If you see these things that should tell you that this person buys cars to fix up and sell. Walk away!!
Some tips for buying:
- Never accept the first offer.
- Ask about a warranty. Most are worthless. Listen closely to how it works. You may be better off without it.
- Be ready to walk away.
That pretty much sums up buying a used car. Be very careful and good luck.
