Buying Used Cars - Dos And Don'ts
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Before the recession came our way, a lot of people didn't even think of buying a used car when they had to replace their current vehicle. The current economic conditions caused all this to change. The majority of buyers are now at least considering used cars when they are in the market for a vehicle. Because they never bought one before, however, they often make serious mistakes when buying such a car.
As far as used cars are concerned, the age of the car is not as important as its condition. If you do however prefer to buy a car that is not older than a year or two: there are many dealers specializing in this type of car. They often purchase them from the car rental companies who replace all their vehicles every year or every second year. The one disadvantage is that many of these cars have very high mileages.
Those of you living in coastal cities have an additional potential problem to look out for: rust. You should meticulously check the car for rust, especially in hidden places. Also remember that though most used car dealers are honest, not all are. Some of them will use body filler and a quick paint job to hide rust patches. If you look carefully you will be able to see this. If you don't pick it up, you may end up with a rusty old trap six months down the line.
The bodywork and interior of the car will give you a fairly good indication of the care that has been taken of the vehicle. Even if you can get it for a very low price, beware of a car that is full of dents and scratches. Chances are that if the owner did not care about the outside, he also didn't care about the mechanical condition of the car. The same is true if the seats are dirty and full of cigarette burns.
Never buy a car if it's service history is not available. Even if the dealer assures you that the car has been serviced at regular intervals, but he can't prove this, walk away. There are thousands of used cars with full service histories - you don't have to take any chances in this respect. A complete service history means a car has been well looked after mechanically. It will therefore be a good buy, even when it has a lot of miles on the clock.
You don't have to be a mechanic to test a used vehicle and find out whether it has major defects. All you have to do is use your common sense. If the paintwork and interior is in a good condition, it has a service history and the engine is clean, there are only a couple of other checks to be done before you can make a decision.
It cost a lot of money to replace items such as batteries, shock absorbers, tires and exhaust systems. Many people overlook this when buying a used car. Make sure you're not faced with expensive bills just down the road by checking the condition of all these. If the car's in an excellent condition, but it needs a new battery for example, ask the dealer to replace this or give you a discount.
Finally take the car for a test drive. Make sure the gears change smoothly and that no smoke is coming from the exhaust. Listen to any abnormal sounds from the gearbox, engine and differential. Once you have put a couple of used cars through this test, you will get the feel of it and eventually save yourself a lot of money.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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