There’s more to finding a great deal on a used car than looking at the sale price. Beyond how much you’ll have to pay to drive the car home, you need to think about the long-term prospects of how much that particular pre-owned car will cost you. Sure, that used car may seem like a steal at the moment, but it also can be a ticking time bomb that could blow up in your face — leaving you with hefty repair bills. Ultimately, putting you in a really bad position.
Although buying a car — used or new — is a bit of a risk under even the best circumstances, buying a used car means you should be extra-careful. You may not be able to make your used car purchase a 100 percent success. Though you can take a lot of the risk out of buying a used car if you know the warning signs of which you should be aware. By taking a few moments to look for some of the most common warning signs of maintenance issues, you can save yourself the nightmare of buying a lemon and be much more confident in your used car purchase.
For example, before buying a used car, it’s crucial to inspect the interior. The previous owner might not tell you that the car had been submerged in a flood, but musty floor mats and a water line around the inside of the car will tell you all you need to know. Even if it runs fine otherwise, a car that has been submerged in water may have damage to its sensitive electrical systems lurking under the hood or behind the dashboard. What’s more, it may only be a matter of time before that damage sinks the car for good.
Don’t Buy a Used Car at Night
You want to be able to check it carefully so don’t try to do this under artificial light you want to have good daylight for this step.
Dead give-aways are things like “normal wear and tear”. You should check to see if the front of the car has lots of nicks and chips, dings in the doors, chips in the windshield, or on the front side of the rearview mirrors. Inside you should check for wear on the gas pedal, driver’s seat, steering wheel and driver’s armrest. If you see a lot of this wear and the mileage on the odometer is low something is wrong and you should probably pass it by.
Check the Tires
Look for uneven wear which could indicate an alignment issue or even needing replacement on worn steering components.
Check the Fluids
Not only should the fluids not be low but they should be clean and not smell “burnt”. Transmission fluid should be red. Low brake fluid can indicated worn brakes.
Buying a used car can be a great way to save a few bucks. However, if you’re not careful, it could also turn into one of the worst decisions you can make. Although a professional opinion is always the best defense against a lemon, you don’t have to be a mechanic to spot some of the most common warning signs of maintenance issues in a used car. The following guide tells you all you need to look out for when inspecting a used car. Read up, and make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
