Applied Math

1
Applied Math

• Car Notes 2
• Buying a Used Car

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Why buy used?

• If you buy the car outright, you need not carry
  full-coverage insurance.
• You will save thousands of dollars.
• You may even find a vehicle suped-up the way
  you want it.

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Price, price, price.

• To determine the value of a vehicle, you can go
  to Kelley Blue Book and find the market value of
  any vehicle.
• Check the papers and look for models similar to
  the one youre looking into to get a ballpark
  idea.
• Keep in mind, dealerships will almost always be
  higher-priced than private owners.

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Big things to look for when buying a used car

• Mileage
• Engine compartment
• Frame/underside of vehicle
• Tires
• Brakes
• Suspension
• Miscellaneous

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Mileage

• Obviously, the higher the mileage a vehicle has
  on it, the less life it has left
• Domestic up to 1994 (Ford, GM, Dodge) 100k is
  high
• Domestic 1995 to present (Ford, GM, Dodge) 150k
  is high
• Foreign (Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc.) 150k is
  high
• Some places ROLL BACK THE ODOMETERS
• You can get a CARFAX done to check
• Also, check the brake pedal
• If theres wear, be suspicious of the mileage

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Engine compartment

• Look for leaks on the engine
• Look for Junk Yard Crayon on parts
• Stay away if you see it
• Check
• plug wires (tune-up at least 75 for 4-cyl)
• air filter
• belts hoses
• Fluids (milky oil stay away)
• Radiator (disintegration) new rad 100

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Frame/underside of vehicle

• Check oil transmission pans for leaks/dents
• Check control arms for dents
• Check exhaust for leaks, loose parts (100 for
  most basic exhaust repairs)
• Check frame for scrapes
• These all tell the story if the vehicle has been
  in an accident, or abused
• Check floorboards for rusting out

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Tires

• Check tread depth (new tires at least 200 for
  most cars)
• Check wear
• Uneven tread wear indicates alignment problems
• Flat spots indicates the brakes were locked up
• Check rims for dents
• Dented rims indicate the car had been curbed
  and probably will have alignment and steering
  problems
• The tires may leak air too

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Brakes

• Make sure they work
• Check lines for leaks
• Check pads, rotors shoes if possible (most
  brake jobs start at 50 go up)
• Check the e-brake, especially for manual
  transmission

10
Suspension

• Rock car up down
• Visually check springs, struts shocks for
  cracks and leaks. (Struts run about 120 per side)

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Miscellaneous

• Make sure things that you always use work
• Wipers
• Turn signals
• Door handles
• Windows
• Radio
• Cruise
• A/C heat
• Gauges
• Trunk
• Hood latch
• Fuel door
• Etc.
• Make sure the owner has a title for the vehicle

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So the moral of the story is

• If you do your homework when shopping for a used
  car
• You can save thousands of dollars
• and get a dependable vehicle in the process
• Not have this happen
• If you dont feel comfortable checking for these
  things, bring along someone who does
• Theyre usually glad to come along for the ride