| One of the biggest moments in many | | | | involved in a crash. |
| people's lives is driving off in their | | | | 4. Call up your trusted mechanic. Used |
| brand-spanking-new automobile. It's an | | | | car dealers, especially the big lots, |
| exhilarating feeling. It's also a big | | | | will say they put their used cars |
| moment because in that very instant, | | | | through a "100 point inspection," or |
| that brand-spanking-new car loses a big | | | | something like that. Once again, a |
| chunk of its value-the difference | | | | second opinion is in order. Get this one |
| between the retail price you paid and | | | | from your own mechanic. He'll be able to |
| the car's wholesale value. That's | | | | tell how good a shape the car actually |
| typically thousands gone in an instant. | | | | is in. Also be sure to ask him or her |
| That's why some car buyers choose to | | | | how often the car had been serviced. A |
| shop around for a used car. You save | | | | good mechanic can even gauge that. |
| yourself that steep initial drop-off in | | | | 5. Research for recalls. Needless to |
| value. More importantly, you get a car | | | | say, a used car dealer may sell you a |
| that runs just as well, is just as | | | | car that's actually under recall in his |
| dependable, and looks and feels as good | | | | mad rush to get the car off his lot. So |
| as that new car-that is, if you play | | | | be sure to call the car manufacturer, or |
| your cards right. | | | | visit their Web site, to see if the |
| For if there is one pitfall of buying a | | | | vehicle has any active recalls. |
| used car, it's the risk of buying a | | | | 6. Avoid the leftover lemon. Along with |
| lemon, a junker-call it what you want, | | | | recalled vehicles, dealers may even |
| you get the point: the wrong car. Used | | | | perpetrate something much worse on |
| car dealers, after all, have nearly as | | | | you-sell you a lemon. (By definition, a |
| bad a reputation, if not worse, than | | | | lemon is a car that's still under |
| lawyers do. This holds true for | | | | warranty, which has such major problems |
| individual people selling their cars | | | | that, warranty or not, it still cannot |
| through newspapers, Web auctions and | | | | be fixed in a reasonable way.) The best |
| classified sites, or with the | | | | way to avoid this is to research in |
| old-fashioned signs in their car | | | | Consumer Reports or the various |
| windows. The saying, "Buyer Beware," no | | | | automobile magazines, which all have |
| where has more meaning than with cars. | | | | yearly reviews of every make and model |
| The opposite to that, of course, is that | | | | on the market. They'll tell you whether |
| there are some real steals out there in | | | | a kind of car is known for being a lemon |
| used cars. We're talking about quality | | | | and prone to breakdowns. |
| vehicles that will perform beyond your | | | | 7. See through the old paint and bait. |
| expectations at a low price. Here's how | | | | Along with performing their "100 point |
| to find these perfect used vehicles, and | | | | inspection," car dealers may shine and |
| avoid the top 10 scams that used car | | | | wax a used car-even repaint it-to hide |
| dealers everywhere try to pull on you. | | | | dents, dings, and rust spots. A keen |
| 1. Get a second opinion for the hype. | | | | eye, though, can see right through this. |
| Used car dealers will bombard you with | | | | 8. Take the test drive. Once you've done |
| every adjective under the book to sell | | | | all your research, homework, extra |
| you on a car-sporty, thrifty, fast, and | | | | credit, and everything else called for |
| etc. Don't take their word for it. | | | | in the first seven steps, then comes the |
| Instead, find someone you know, whether | | | | fun-the test drive. Drive the car for as |
| a neighbor, a colleague, a family | | | | long as its owner or dealer will allow |
| member, or a friend, who owns the same | | | | you. Then you'll get a better feel for |
| make and model of the vehicle, and ask | | | | how the vehicle handles, accelerates, |
| them for their opinion. | | | | brakes, and otherwise suits your tastes |
| 2. Do a background check. One of the | | | | (or doesn't). |
| most unethical, but legal, things | | | | 9. Be wary of the pushy seller. At any |
| someone can do to you is sell you a used | | | | stage of the game-from the moment you |
| car that's been in a flood (and sort of | | | | first talk to the seller to the test |
| repaired), or one that's had 10 previous | | | | drive-be careful if the seller gets |
| owners (none of whom repaired it). To be | | | | pushy. Any dealer or seller who is in a |
| sure you don't fall victim to this, | | | | rush to move a vehicle should set off |
| track down a history report, including a | | | | bells and whistles. Why the rush? Are |
| clearance check on the vehicle title. | | | | they hiding something? In some cases the |
| You can even get some of this | | | | seller may just be excited to sell you |
| information from the seller, simply by | | | | the car-and actually happy for you-but |
| asking why they are selling it. You'd be | | | | in many other cases, they may be up to |
| surprised what beans people may spill. | | | | something. Better be safe than sorry. |
| 3. Examine for past damage. Used car | | | | Follow these 9 simple steps to avoid the |
| dealers may also try to peddle a vehicle | | | | scams and pitfalls of used car deals, |
| that was wrecked in a major accident. | | | | and you could get the car of your |
| It's amazing what autobody experts can | | | | dreams-for far less than you'd pay if it |
| do to repair a car's exterior. So don't | | | | was brand-new. Plus, you get that same |
| go by the outer appearances of a | | | | high when you drive your new used car |
| vehicle. Before you buy it, make sure | | | | home, without losing thousands of |
| that it does not have serious damage to | | | | dollars. |
| its frame, which it would have if it was | | | | |