Buying a used car
 

When you go to buy a used car what are some of the things you always make sure to check before purchasing the car?

Re: Buying a used car
 

carfax

Re: Buying a used car
 

look for rust... anywhere..

pop the hood and see if it looks like it was hit by looking at the engine bay, if it was there may be spots where the metal is still slightly rippled from the repair

check that the boots on the axles are in good shape

any noise or problems with tranny

any overheating problems

any vibrations/knocking while driveing

theres more but i dont feel like typeing it all out

basicly look for anything that your afraid of being wrong with it and you'll be fine.. carfax is always a good idea

Re: Buying a used car
 

When driving, dont have the radio on or anything, constantly listen for any noises that are out of place.

And if you suspect body damage, take a magnet with you to check to see if there is bondo or not.

Re: Buying a used car
 

thats a good one, forgot about that

Re: Buying a used car
 

Make sure when you first turn the key on that the check engine, abs, service vehicle light etc, all come on for a couple seconds. If not some one popped the bulbs out.

Re: Buying a used car
 

Some pretty good ones so far.


I like looking for any sign of oil on the motor and trying to trace it to see if it's something stupid or it's something major. Either way you wanna claim it's major. ;)

Turn the wheel all the way and accelerate to hear if the axles click.

Do a compression test.

Look for any sign of rust, repaint, or ---- that doesn't line up.

Anything that is broken and the owner claims is "minor", I always ask myself "If it was so minor, why didn't he fix it before I came to look at it."

And finally the lowball. 0-$1000 take off $100 at least. $1000-$3000 take off min. $300. $3000-$6000 take off min. $500. Anything more expensive than that and you shouldn't buy it cause this is HMT. A good way to lowball is to tell them you think the car is worth what they are asking, but personally you're only willing to spend _______ on this car. The first comment eases into the lowball. Another one is that you think the car is worth what they're asking, but you just can't spend over ______ on the car. If they say no, always leave. If you want the car, then call the next day and say you'll give them what they want for it. If you don't leave, it doesn't give them an oppertunity to give in to your lowball request. The bottom line is always leave at least once after this conversation. lol.

Re: Buying a used car
 

we have a law here that makes that theft by mis-representation, i dont know if other states have that but im sure it'd be a bitch if you had to deal with it