| Many of us dream of buying a cheap used car. Well, | | | | not adhere to the repair as well as it does to the |
| let's amend that a bit. Many people dream of buying | | | | other parts of the body. Crawl under the car and |
| a cheap, good, used car. Unfortunately it's all too | | | | check the frame or unibody members for any signs |
| easy to get a cheap used car that's, well, cheap. | | | | of bending, corrosion or other damage. See if it looks |
| You've probably already got one of those, though. | | | | like the car's underside has been places you wouldn't |
| Here is how you can get one of the cheap, good | | | | take a car you loved. |
| used cars. | | | | Pop open the hood. Pull out the dipstick to check the |
| There are several things to consider. The first thing | | | | oil. See if the oil is between the "add" and "full |
| to think about when you're looking for a used car is | | | | markers, and if it's black or a nice, golden brown. If |
| what your requirements are in a vehicle. If you need | | | | it's thick and black, the oil probably has been |
| to drive yourself 40 miles a day to work, a Chevy | | | | neglected. Check to see of there's any white |
| Suburban is probably not your best choice. | | | | substance mixed with the oil. That's usually engine |
| Conversely, if you take your family of 7 on trips | | | | coolant. It's not supposed to be in there with the |
| while towing your boat, a Suburban would be a great | | | | engine's oil. If it is, there's a blown gasket or an even |
| vehicle for you. You can save quite a bit of money | | | | more serious engine problem. That won't be an |
| by getting only what you really need in a vehicle. | | | | inexpensive car, but it may be a cheap one. |
| While that may not be very exciting, the money you | | | | Check the tires for uneven wear. If the tires need to |
| save will be. | | | | be replaced soon, that may not be a trivial expense |
| Once you've decided what type of vehicle suits your | | | | on many cars. You could spend $350 - $600 on a |
| needs the best, narrow down which vehicles in that | | | | new set of treads, mounted and balanced. The car's |
| category will be the most desirable. The less picky | | | | tires are extremely important to vehicle safety, |
| you are when it comes to things such as colors, | | | | handling, braking and acceleration however, so don't |
| brand, and features, the easier it will be to get a | | | | skimp if you do have to put on a new set of tires. |
| great used car, cheap. A few features you shouldn't | | | | Just be sure you use the fact in your negotiations. |
| overlook are safety and reliability. After all you, and | | | | Uneven tire wear may also be indicative of a greater |
| possibly your family, will depend on this car, and if | | | | problem, such as a suspension or alignment issue. It |
| you think about it, your lives are at stake every time | | | | could also mean the car has been wrecked in the |
| you ride in it. Check Consumer Reports and MSN | | | | past and not repaired correctly. |
| autos for reliability figures. The Insurance Institute for | | | | You need to decide where you want to look for |
| Highway Safety does some very good tests to | | | | your car. You can choose a private party. You can |
| determine the vehicle safety in a variety of different | | | | often get a great deal from a private party. See if |
| collision situations. Check them out as well. | | | | you can discover their reason for selling the car. |
| Once you've narrowed down the field a bit, it's time | | | | Some insight here may determine if you have a |
| to start looking for your new, used car (isn't that an | | | | highly motivated seller and give you the upper hand in |
| oxymoron?). Look for some of the less popular, but | | | | the negotiation. Another benefit to a private party is |
| still functional, reliable, and safe brands. You'll save | | | | that you'll often get the car's service records. These |
| some money for example, by foregoing a Honda for | | | | can boost the resale for you later and shed light on |
| a Nissan, or skipping a Toyota and landing in the | | | | any past problems. |
| driver's seat of a Mazda. One other point to consider | | | | You can obviously buy from a dealer. There are |
| is that today's vehicles hold up remarkably well with | | | | hundreds of lots brimming with shiny used cars in |
| far beyond 100,000 miles showing on the odometer. | | | | most metro areas. You won't get as good a deal |
| In fact, they can still look and run almost new at this | | | | from a dealer (?) in most cases, but you won't have |
| figure. So, don't let a few miles scare you. You're | | | | to meet 46 different sellers either. In addition, you |
| buying the car for what it has left, not what it has. | | | | can possibly get some kind of warranty of the dealer |
| Once you found a car that seems to fit your | | | | offers one. If you do elect to avail yourself of a |
| requirements, there are some things you should | | | | warranty, read the entire contract vewy, vewy |
| check to make sure you are in fact getting a good, | | | | carewfuwy. |
| cheap car, not just a cheap car. Locating one that | | | | You can buy your cheap, used car from an auction. |
| has been well taken care of is vital. While today's | | | | There are many different kinds of vehicle auctions. |
| vehicles are remarkably robust, they do require | | | | Many law enforcement agencies sell off vehicles |
| regular maintenance to ensure they will provide the | | | | confiscated according to property forfeiture laws. |
| years of service of which they are capable. | | | | These laws allow the agencies to keep property of |
| They may run like Swiss watches, with the highly | | | | those arrested for a variety of crimes, particularly |
| engineered, internal parts spinning about in a fine, | | | | drug crimes. If the perp had pride in his ride, you can |
| choreographed ballet, but that example of modern | | | | get a very nice vehicle. Other auctions are held to |
| engineering could turn into a pile of very expensive | | | | dispose of vehicles seized by customs officials, |
| junk if it doesn't get the care it feels it deserves. | | | | abandoned at towing yards, or to satisfy tax liens. |
| The subsystems for modern vehicles are very | | | | You can also find fantastic deals at auctions held to |
| expensive. It's not uncommon for a transmission to | | | | liquidate vehicle fleets of large businesses, such as |
| cost between $3,000 and $6,000. An engine may set | | | | phone and utility companies. It's not uncommon for |
| you back almost $10,000. The moral here is that a bit | | | | vehicles to be sold for far lower than they would in |
| of careful investigation could save you a big | | | | any other marketplace, often at only pennies on the |
| headache later. You need to act like a horse trader in | | | | dollar.. |
| the old west. Look at the old girl to be sure you | | | | The downside of auctions is, you guessed it, you |
| really want to take her home. | | | | know nothing about these cars. In addition you can't |
| When you're out shopping, you should definitely | | | | drive them in most cases. In the cases where you |
| check the vehicle's history. You may discover all | | | | can drive them, you'll only be permitted to take them |
| manner of horrors hiding in it's sordid past. Carfax | | | | for a slow spin around the auction yard. Another |
| works very well for this. Bring a laptop or mobile | | | | downside is inventory selection at many vehicle |
| device to access the web while you're shopping. You | | | | auctions. The selection can range form outstanding to |
| can get unlimited uses for a month for a pretty | | | | very limited. You know what, though? Many used |
| reasonable price, so you can check out a large | | | | cars on dealer lots are found at auctions. The dealers |
| number of prospective vehicles as you're shopping. | | | | keep this little secret tucked safely away inside their |
| When you're actually looking at the car, kneel down | | | | little book of tricks. If you could get your new car at |
| and sight down the car's body lines. If they are wavy | | | | an auction you could pay what the dealer's pay, |
| or you can see obvious imperfections in the paint, | | | | sometimes less. |
| chances are the car has been damaged and repaired | | | | Next time you need to buy a cheap, used car, |
| at some point. Another trick is to bring a small | | | | remember there is one for you out there |
| magnet with you. If the car has metal body that's | | | | somewhere. You just need to find it. Remember, |
| been repaired with body filler putty, the magnet will | | | | cheap and good! |