| Do you want to buy a quality used car but are afraid | | | | Fax Report. |
| of getting ripped off? | | | | NOTE: Any good used car dealer ship will likely have |
| You're not alone, and for good reason. Used car sales | | | | one on file and gladly show it to you. |
| are far and away the most lucrative segment in the | | | | IF this dealer Fancy Dances around this issue, then |
| auto industry in terms of commissions that the sales | | | | move on! |
| people and dealership makes and therefore, the | | | | 4. Visually Inspect the Car yourself! Walk around it |
| GREED factor comes in when selling cars is | | | | and look at the fit and finish. Not all wrecked cars will |
| concerned. The potential for being taken advantage | | | | be reported, but if you see uneven spaces between |
| of increases for the unwary and uninformed car | | | | the doors, and hood and fender, then watch out! |
| buyer. | | | | Check for "over spray". If the car was repainted, it |
| Having said that, there are still quite a few honest, | | | | may not show up on a Car Fax either. Look around |
| credible used car dealerships out there and if you are | | | | the black moldings, and exterior fittings like headlights, |
| prepared with some of the tips in this article, then | | | | door handles, etc. If you see "over spray" it likely |
| you can drive off with a nice, clean used car AND a | | | | means the car has been repainted. Now, for a car |
| good deal. | | | | older than 10 years it could be perfectly reasonable |
| There are TWO basic types of Used Car Dealerships | | | | to have a re-paint. Just try and find out who and |
| you need to know how to differentiate between the | | | | where the work was done. |
| two. | | | | 5. Look Under the hood. Even if you are clueless at |
| 1. Your garden variety of used car dealerships that | | | | what you are looking at, do this anyway. Is the |
| most towns and cities have almost everywhere. | | | | engine clean? Is there mud on the inner sides? What |
| These dealerships, generally sell cars bought at local | | | | do the battery cables look like? Clean or corrosion |
| auctions or were higher mileage cars bought form a | | | | built up? Not good if the engine area is not spotless |
| local dealership, or taken as trade-ins on their lot. | | | | and had a good steam cleaning. |
| Generally speaking, you won't find the latest models | | | | 6. Check the oil and all the other fluid levels. This |
| with the lowest miles and still under warranty. What | | | | seems obvious, but still, you want to know if the oil |
| you CAN find are clean reliable cars, maybe with | | | | has been changed and the fluids - brake and |
| higher miles that you wouldn't find at a brand | | | | transmission -- are topped off. If any of these levels |
| dealership, but often lower prices. The typical used | | | | are low - RED FLAG! |
| car dealership has nowhere near the overhead of | | | | 7. Inspect the tire tread. A method for checking |
| major dealerships so, their gross profit margin - the | | | | tread depth is to insert a penny in one of the |
| difference in costs they have in a car and what they | | | | grooves with Lincoln's head upside down and facing |
| can sell it for -- can be lower, thus, ideally, saving you | | | | you. If you can see the top of old Abe's head, it is |
| some money. | | | | time to replace your tires and make sure the dealer |
| Most of the better used car dealerships offer | | | | knows this is a concern. At the bargaining table, you |
| financing and warranties for all their cars at an extra | | | | may get a new set of tires! |
| cost, of course. Some, but not most have a place to | | | | 8. Inspect the wiper blades. Normal wear and tear on |
| service their cars before putting the car on their lot. | | | | wiper blades are common, but if you are buying this |
| You need to make sure whatever car you are | | | | car from a dealership of any kind, you should have |
| looking at has at least had an updated inspection. | | | | fresh wiper blades. |
| Used car dealerships can be a great place to find a | | | | Once you're satisfied that the car you are looking at |
| good car, BUT, be careful, some of the cars can be | | | | is worth of your attention, THEN and ONLY then |
| rough around the edges and you need to know what | | | | take if for a test drive! |
| to look for and how to look at a used car. | | | | Next step Test Drive!9. The salesman may or may |
| 2. Your automobile dealerships that sell new and used | | | | not give you some BS about him driving the car off |
| cars. Usually, these dealerships keep a selection of | | | | the lot and down the street some distance to switch |
| what they like to refer to as "pre owned" or even | | | | for "insurance" reasons. Not true! They want to keep |
| "certified pre-owned" vehicles and they usually spend | | | | as much control over the process as possible that's |
| more time on the prep of the car before it goes on | | | | all. |
| the lot. They have a shop and certified technicians to | | | | There are several things to look and listen for when |
| go over these cars and make sure these cars are in | | | | starting out: |
| good shape. Especially the Certified Pre Owned cars | | | | 10. Start the engine with the window down so you |
| need to look and run close like new. All of this does, | | | | can HEAR and SEE what its like. |
| of course make the Brand Dealership Used cars | | | | Is the muffler quiet? Is there smoke blowing out? |
| priced on the higher end. Be ready to haggle! | | | | 11. Assuming you are in an automatic, move the |
| Buying a used car or "pre-owned" car can make a lot | | | | transmission back and forth between the gears, |
| of sense regardless of where you buy one. | | | | "P", "D", "R", "N" etc... does if shift easily? What does |
| Any new car will drop 25 - 40% once it drives off | | | | it sound like when you put it into the drive gear? If |
| the lot. In this day and age of better cars and cars | | | | there is a CLANK sound, look out, could be trouble! |
| lasting over 100k miles, used cars, especially almost | | | | 12. If it's a manual drive, make sure the gears shift |
| any Japanese car, can last to well over 200k miles | | | | easily from one gear to the next. Test the clutch. |
| and you get an even better price. Again, make sure | | | | Is there a lot of "play" when you press down before |
| the Car Fax checks out! | | | | the clutch catches? If there is "play" then the clutch |
| BIG MYTH: "When you buy a used car, you're buying | | | | could be worn. |
| someone else's problem"Not necessarily so. Many | | | | 13. Driving. First, get into an open stretch and |
| used cars are lease turn ins. Many used cars the | | | | accelerate as fast as possible. Is the acceleration |
| owners simply out grew the car or, like so many | | | | smooth? Does it hesitate or halt or stop? Not good! |
| people on the road, they just like to trade cars often | | | | 14. BreakingNext, apply the brakes firmly but don't |
| and change cars like underwear! | | | | slam on the brakes. Does the car swerve to the left |
| Following are some tips on how to maneuver through | | | | or right? If so, could be alignment problems. Not |
| the sometimes shark infested waters of used car | | | | good! How far does the brake pedal go before |
| dealerships. | | | | engaging? If a lot, then the car may need brake |
| 1. Know what you want. Or at least, have an idea. Do | | | | work. If it goes to the floor, then you have real |
| you want an economy car? A luxury sedan? An | | | | brake problems. |
| SUV? You will find a good selection on some of the | | | | 15. Interior Controls.Does the Air Conditioning work |
| many Used Car lots that dot our landscapes. A good | | | | and blow cold? Is the heater working? How's the |
| way to shop discreetly is to shop online. Compare | | | | stereo? |
| similar models and makes. | | | | Do the power windows roll up? Do the crank |
| Check Consumer Reports for Best Used Car deals or | | | | windows roll up easily? |
| the Kelly Blue Book online. | | | | Do the locks work? Make sure you take the time to |
| 2. What will it cost? Once you have an idea of what | | | | learn about the interior aspects of your potential |
| you want, get an idea of what it would cost. The | | | | next car. |
| most popular and the oldest service is Kelly Blue | | | | 16. Take the car for a good drive! Have fun! Crank up |
| Book. At KBB, you can select practically any model, | | | | the stereo! Bring along a CD to play! |
| make and year of vehicle and get a | | | | Drive in traffic as well as on an Interstate Highway if |
| "good-better-best" price, depending on the vehicle | | | | possible. Listen for any unusual noises or loudness. |
| condition and various features. With KBB, you can | | | | Accelerate and brake frequently to test the car's |
| get a general idea of pricing or even narrow it down | | | | responsiveness. |
| to specific features. For instance, if that cool sports | | | | Okay, you took the Test Drive, you think you love |
| sedan you've spotted at a lot has leather upholstery | | | | the car, now what? |
| and alloy rims vs. cloth seats and wheel covers, then | | | | Make sure you have paid attention to steps 1, 2 and |
| you'll pay more for the leather and rims. Also, you | | | | 3. Demand a Car Fax report. Always seriously pour |
| MUST know what the mileage on the car you are | | | | over the report as if you were preparing your Last |
| interested in. Cars with over 100,000 miles | | | | Will and Testament. |
| automatically drop in price compared to similar cars | | | | NEVER let the sales person know you are totally |
| with under 100k miles. | | | | thrilled with the car or in any way desperate for a |
| 3. Get a Car Fax report! A Car Fax report provides | | | | car. This opens up an opportunity to be taken |
| the detailed history of practically any vehicle on the | | | | advantage of. |
| road today.. To do this you need to accurately write | | | | Also, if you want to trade your old ride for a new |
| down the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). | | | | one, NEVER tell the dealership you intend to trade up |
| A Car Fax report will tell you a LOT! It will tell you | | | | front because this can skew the numbers you are |
| important stuff like: Has the car been wrecked? Total | | | | being offered. You ALWAYS want to know what |
| loss? Has the car been in a flood? Are there any | | | | the car will cost BEFORE the trade! |
| recalls? Has the air bag ever been deployed? Has this | | | | It goes without saying you need to be ready to walk |
| car been "salvaged"? Has the car been inspected | | | | away from any deal you are offered. If it smells |
| annually? How many owners and where? If the car | | | | fishy, it probably is! DO NOT let your emotions get |
| you are interested in has been through several | | | | the best of you! There's always as good or better |
| owners, that could be a red flag so pay attention to | | | | car out there with your name on it! |
| the number of owners in the past. | | | | In summary, be like the Boy Scouts whose motto is: |
| These are important things to know before even | | | | "Be Prepared" and you will likely find a good car you |
| taking a test drive! You can get the Car Fax yourself, | | | | can live with for several years or more. |
| or ask the dealer to present you with a recent Car | | | | |