Choosing the right preowned car-“Buyer beware”
There are thousands of preowned cars that are sold in this country on any given day. Some of these cars are really good cars, and some are really bad. The key is to make an educated decision, as to which ones are the good ones. This is not always easy, because there are so many choices available at any given time. None of us has a crystal ball to tell how a preowned car is going to be in terms of reliability and incidence of problems. This is up to chance, but you can take steps to protect yourself and limit your exposure to a potentially problematic car or truck.
1. Research carefully
There are many makes and models available, but more often than not the same problems seems to arise with frequency in certain models. Do some research on the overall reliability of the vehicles you are considering. This can be achieved in many ways, but Consumer Reports is a great way to start. They compile all the information you will need to make an informed decision about the car of truck you are considering. They provide information such as reliability, customer satisfaction, and recall information. There is a small fee to subscribe, but it is well worth the cost for the information and gives you access to hundreds of different makes and models.
You can also google search the cars you are looking at to see if anyone has posted firsthand information about their experience with the same vehicle. More often than not you can uncover potential trends with recurring problems on a specific model. This can prove to be invaluable and keep you from purchasing a known problematic car or truck. Trading in and out of vehicles can become really expensive. This is something you want to avoid so it pays to research the your potential choices carefully.
2. Ask owners
It is more than likely, that there are several vehicles on the road that are the same as what you are considering. A very easy thing to do is approach someone, and ask them politely if they are happy with their vehicle. Most people will be happy to chat with you about their car, and give you honest feedback about it. It is quite simple, and highly effective in getting accurate information.
3. Ask a mechanic
Another simple step is to ask a reputable mechanic if they have had experience with repairs on your desired vehicle. They will usually give you great information also, and steer you away from problematic cars. This is a great way to get solid information, about the incidence of potential repairs pertaining to a certain make and model.
4. Backround Check
If you have found a preowned car that you have interest in this is an absolute must, if you want to avoid a potentially troublesome car, or one that has been in an accident or some type of event. When I say event, I am referring to things like flood damage, storm damage(usually hail), manufacturer buyback (under lemon law), salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed titles, etc. Many times consumers purchase these cars only to find out later that when it is too late, that the value has been severely diminished due to these types of events. It is imperative that you get a CarFax Vehicle History Report® and AutoCheck® report on the car or truck that you are looking to purchase. I recommend both because nothing is fool proof and things can be missed. Having two reports to compare may uncover something that was missed by one or the other, and can give you added peace of mind. These are the two largest and most reputable sources for these types of reports. There is a small fee for these reports, but they are without a doubt well worth the money spent. They have millions of vehicles in their databases, and they can uncover serious problems or discrepancies with a vehicle. This could save you thousands of dollars, and untold amounts of heartache.
DO NOT SKIP THIS IMPORTANT STEP!
5. Pre-purchase Inspection
This is also something that should not be skipped. Most car buyers are not mechanically inclined, or know much about a car other than how to operate it. That is why we have professional mechanics and automotive technicians. Many of these individuals are extremely intelligent and gifted when it comes to identifying, isolating, and fixing problems with today’s sophisticated automobiles. Their expertise can be invaluable in helping you avoid potentially troublesome cars and trucks. If you have narrowed your search to a couple of specific vehicles, then you should absolutely have a pre-purchase inspection done on the vehicle by a reputable mechanic or certified technician. If you do not have a family mechanic then ask some friends or family for a recommendation. This is another step that can save you thousands of dollars in potential repair costs down the road.
6. Body Inspection
There is a good chance that you know someone who owns a autobody shop. If you do not then I am certain that someone you know does for sure. I suggest running the car by an autobody shop and have them take a quick look at the car. They can spot a car that has been repainted or repaired in minutes, if not seconds. There are many cars that have had paint work and it is not the end of the world. Things happen and many cars get scratches or minor fender benders repaired. This is normal and not what we are looking for in this case. We are looking for major damage that may have occured, and has been repaired. They can spot things like misaligned body panels, improper gaps in body parts, and shoddy paint repairs. There is a good many people who just look at a car that is shiny and cannot see these things. As I stated, backround checks are not fool proof and an accident may have just occured and it has not made it on to the report yet. This can prevent you from unknowingly purchasing a car that has been in a serious accident. It only takes them a few minutes and most are willing to help if they are not too busy. I suggest buying them lunch as a form of repayment for their time. It will be worth it if they spot something serious that you were unaware of and save you the heartache.
7. Bring a Friend
There is an old saying that states “two eyes are better than one” and this is very true. Sometimes in our excitement over a car or truck, we can overlook the obvious. With someone coming along with you as an objective set of eyes, they can sometimes spot things that maybe in your haste you simply missed. They can also act as the voice of reason, and keep you from making an ill advised decision to purchase the vehicle.
8. Control Your Excitement
This is one of the most difficult things to control for many car buyers. We all get caught up in the adrenaline rush of getting our new set of wheels, and it is easy to be distracted by a shiny vehicle. I have been guilty of it many times, but I learned the hard way when it cost me money. The key is to keep this in check as much as possible for many reasons. The first is making an impulse purchase based on the looks and condition alone. There is no doubt that the condition of a car is usually a good indicator of the care that was taken, but not in all instances. Today’s reconditioning specialists can make some of the worst kept cars look showroom new again. Do not be fooled by a pretty face, and follow the steps I have outlined for you on this page. It will save you a lot of money and aggravation for sure.