Whether you are in the market for a gently used Limo, or just need a fresh ride to get around town-finding and buying a used vehicle can be pretty tricky.
Why it is smart to buy used:
- -it is cheaper (you will pay 20-30% more buying brand new).
- -insurance will cost less.
- -negotiation can be easier when working with an individual as opposed to dealer.
- -some used cars have warranties and are very reliable.
Be sure that you are making the best choice:
Just because your high school hero drove a ’65 mustang, or you adore the body style of a Trooper, is not a good reason to buy one. Old cars can have endless issues and they don’t make Isuzu trooper parts any more which mean repairs will be both costly and difficult.
-Research different vehicles online and ask your mechanics their opinions.
-Check online how reliable the vehicle is for the year that you want.
-Consider the amount of driving you will do and think about how much more cylinders will cost in gas( more cylinders mean more consumption).
-Ask yourself how much cargo capacity you need.
-Think about what you budget is (Mercedes dreams don’t match with Ford Focus budgets).
Once you have settled on the type of vehicle and are looking at individual cars:
-Before you see the car, ask for the condition and get the VIN# to check.
-Use the VIN to learn about the cars history (there are several online companies that offer this for a fee).
-Owner won’t give up the VIN easily? Move on to another choice.
-Ask for receipt for all of the work that the owners claim to have made on vehicle (If there are no receipts then move on).
-Check the typical value of the car (you need the year, the condition, and the mileage) it takes a few minutes online.
-Take a test drive with a friend. The friend can help check out all of the buttons and knobs to see what works and what doesn’t.
Talk to your mechanic again.
Most mechanics will give a vehicle a check over for anywhere from $50 to $100. It might seem like a lot to fork over but can save you a lot of money and heartache later on down the line. Not every person that is selling a used vehicle is trying to give you a bad deal. Sometimes the car could have issues that the owner doesn’t even know about. If you absolutely cannot get your mechanic to check the car out then ask what you can look for yourself, such as; what the oil should look like or how the engine might smell if something in particular is wrong (a leaking radiator might smell like the syrup that you had for breakfast).
