Title: Tips for Buying a Used Car (1)
1Tips for buying a used car
21. Buy from a car dealership.
- There are dealers that have a pre-owned sales
program where secondhand vehicles of the same
brand are offered for sale. Since dealerships do
not want to lose face for selling lemons, they
usually make sure the used cars they sell are
well maintained with complete service records. - The secondhand units being sold at dealerships,
however, are priced higher than those that can be
bought directly from owners, because these
vehicles have been checked and assured by the
dealership to deliver years of useful service to
its next owner. Also, some dealerships offer a
warranty for their secondhand cars. Financing is
also offered by some of these dealers.
32. Buy from a reputable outlet.
- Large car lots and websites can also be a good
source of used vehicles. Again, service records
must be available for the vehicle to be
considered for purchase. Look for feedback from
other customers.
43. Know what type of vehicle to buy.
- What type of car to buyor, to be specific, the
type of vehicle that fulfills your needsis
crucial when acquiring a secondhand vehicle. So
buying a four-door compact sedan when you need
seating capacity for at least seven people could
be a foolish choice. Or buying a used midsize SUV
would not be appropriate if you couldnt afford
its high maintenance costs.
54. Narrow your brand choices.
- Choosing from four to five brands for a certain
vehicle can cause you to contemplate and
contemplate on your secondhand car purchase, to
the point where it is delayed or doesnt push
through. So narrow your brand choices to two or
three. Of course, choose the best brands for a
certain vehicle segment.
65. Check the car yourself.
- Always insist on test-driving the vehicle around
the block. A person or entity selling a used
vehicle will surely allow a test drive if the
vehicle is in good condition. Just make sure not
to get into an accident. - Also, check the condition of the interior and,
more important, the engine. Engine oil that
smells as if it was burned means the vehicle is
usually driven fast. Also, a less viscous
automatic transmission fluid may mean the owner
is not observing the proper way to drive a car
with AT, or is being a daredevil behind the wheel.
7Continuation
- Check the age and mileage of the vehicle.
Surprisingly, there are secondhand cars that
still run well and can offer years of relatively
trouble-free service even if they are more than
10 years old or have logged almost 100,000
kilometers. But if you have enough funds, go for
a vehicle with 50,000-70,000 kilometers of use
and less than 10 years of existence. - If you are not competent enough to check a used
vehicle, then we strongly suggest you do this
next tip
86. Bring along your trusted mechanic.
- A competent and trusted mechanic can perform a
thorough check on a vehicle better than a
motorist who has yet to get his or her hands
dirty fixing something underneath the hood. Your
trusted mechanic can also determine if a vehicle
has been involved in an accident resulting in
structural damage.
97. Research, research, research.
- Thanks to the Internet, it is easier for
secondhand-car buyers to get information about
new and used vehicles. Besides forums and posts
online, get information from websites that rate
used vehicles. You can get loads of information
especially from those based in the United States.
108. Automatic or manual?
- With the worsening (or slightly improving,
depending on how you see it) traffic in any
places, AT vehicles are selling in greater
numbers than before. However, there are motorists
who still want a vehicle with a manual tranny for
a livelier driving experience.
119. Ask around
- If you have narrowed down your choices, its also
better to ask actual owners of the vehicles you
are eyeing about their ownership experiences. Ask
questions regarding maintenance costs,
durability, fuel economy, comfort and
drivability, among others.
1210. Set a realistic budget
- This may be the most important tip to remember
because budget will determine what type of
vehicle to buy. But if you find a secondhand car
offered by a dealership too hard to resist,
consider financing of up to three years. Just be
sure the secondhand vehicle can serve you well
for more than five years if it is purchased
through financing. - While the secondhand-car market is sometimes seen
as a market for those who do not have the means
to buy a brand-new car, there are actually
moneyed motorists who still find buying a used
unit to be a wiser option. Then there are
affluent people who would rather buy a secondhand
car and deck it out later with accessories or
give it a very different look.
13note
- So buying a pre-owned car can be a good idea.
Just make sure to get a good one that can give
you years of trouble-free service.
14SOURCES