| Q. Why are you selling the car? | | | | service performed at the dealership? |
| A. This is potentially the most | | | | Dealer service is most expensive, and is |
| important question in your telephone | | | | usually of high quality. Has the owner |
| conversation. You can learn a lot about | | | | claimed lots of recent service, but has |
| the car -- and a lot about the owner. If | | | | no receipts? Be suspicious. |
| the owner says he has been transferred | | | | Q. What recent work has been done to the |
| and has to start work in Denver the | | | | car? |
| following week, there's a chance this is | | | | A. This question gives you a snapshot of |
| a legitimate distress sale. That's an | | | | the car's maintenance history. If you're |
| opportunity to get a bargain. On the | | | | looking at a car that's only one or two |
| other hand, beware of implausible | | | | years old, don't be concerned if nothing |
| answers. If the car is a Chevy Camaro, | | | | has been done recently. It just hasn't |
| and the seller said it belonged to his | | | | reached the point where things have |
| mother, think twice. You can uncover | | | | started breaking. |
| such discrepancies in you Carfax history | | | | Q. Are you the original owner? |
| search. | | | | A. This question is basic and |
| Q. What condition is the car in? | | | | self-explanatory. It's a good opener |
| A. This is an obvious question. But the | | | | when responding to a classified or web |
| way the owner answer this question can | | | | ad. If the owner isn't the original |
| tell you a lot about how well the car | | | | owner, don't forget the corollary: how |
| has been maintained. As you listen, take | | | | long have you owned the car? There are |
| notes of all the problems, so you can | | | | two important things to be gleaned from |
| refer to them should you go ahead with a | | | | this. One, how well does the owner know |
| test drive. Your list will also be | | | | the car in question? Two, you can test |
| helpful if you take the car to a | | | | the veracity of the response by |
| mechanic for a professional inspection. | | | | performing a [[linkurl=http:/ |
| Q. What Color is the Car? | | | | www.carfax.com/]Carfax [/link]vehicle |
| A. This is a deceptively important | | | | history check. Any discrepancies should |
| question. Some cars just have hideous | | | | cast a deep shadow on the value of the |
| colors. Ford Aspires from the late | | | | car. The biggest problem is weekend auto |
| 1990s, for instance, were made in a | | | | dealers posing as owners. They buy cheap |
| variety of revolting "nail polish" | | | | and sell quick, passing along |
| shades. Audi and Lincoln both have | | | | undisclosed problems to the new owner. |
| pearly off-whites which many admire, but | | | | Q. Does it have any rust? |
| which some guys find too feminine. So | | | | A. In Boston, where I live, all cars |
| ask first. Plus, this is a good car to | | | | rust out. It's just a matter of time. |
| open the conversation with the owner and | | | | Even well-made luxury cars like Mercedes |
| get a sense of how chatty he or she is. | | | | will eventually succumb to the red |
| A word or two about colors. Black cars | | | | cancer. The same goes for other areas of |
| are extremely hard to keep good-looking. | | | | the country that get lots of snow. |
| Red cars do sometimes attract attention | | | | So the question of rust is crucial. All |
| from the police. And if you really don't | | | | cars will eventually corrode. When you |
| like the color of a used car, you may | | | | inspect the car, you may not see |
| find yourself unhappy with it not matter | | | | everything. Asking the owner can point |
| how well it performs. (Ask me about my | | | | you towards potential problems. |
| 1998 Audi A4 in pearlescent white.) | | | | But don't overreact. If you're buying a |
| Q. Do you have receipts for recent | | | | 10-year-old commuter, some surface rust |
| service? | | | | won't make any difference. For that |
| A. A conscientious owner who has | | | | matter, neither will a big hole in the |
| maintained the car will will have | | | | bottom of the driver's door. Your |
| receipts. If you inspect the car, take | | | | mechanic will tell you if the chassis |
| 15 minutes to go through the receipts. | | | | has been weakened in any way. |
| See where the work was done and whether | | | | As with other questions, the owner's |
| it is consistent with the owner's | | | | response will give you a clue about how |
| description of recent work. Are there | | | | well the car has been maintained. |
| records of regular oil changes? Was | | | | |