Take the tension out of buying a used automobile with these six tips. All aspects of buying a used automobile are covered. Don’t just stroll into a used automobile showroom without being armed to the teeth with data; you know what will happen if you do.

ARTICLE: Virtually every adult, in this country, is going to buy or sell a used car, or do both, in their lifetime. Learning how to avoid all the used car landmines can be a very valuable skill set to have. Do your homework then just about every problem, you can envision when buying a used car, can be converted into a positive outcome for you. This journey will be less frightful and even pleasant if you use a little common sense.

1) Budget. Set up a practical budget and stick to it. Spend less than your budget - don’t be tempted to spend more. Since most automobile sales are completed in cash, transfer the money into a bank account where you can rapidly convert it to cash. You must do research first and come up with a budget that you must not surpass.

2) Do your homework. There are lots of sites, on the Internet, to promptly and easily get information and prices of used cars. Public libraries have free computer terminals to the Web and many subscriptions that they pay for - utilise them. Find out the Blue Book price or use a Car Cloud to quickly find makes, models, and years of used cars that fit into your budget. Arm yourself before you go shopping.

3) Shop Smart. Walking into a used car dealership without doing any kind of research or a budget is asking for problems. “What’s it going to take for you to buy today” is what that salesrep is going to ask and its downhill from there. Come armed with an idea of the models and years your budget permits. Be ready to pay for a CarFax or AutoCheck report for your final car selection if one is not provided.

4) Read the CarFax/AutoCheck for the car. These reports MUST be understood if you are purchasing a used car - you can’t just “wing it”, there are so many scams with the odometer, title, and repair history. Once a car passes the CarFax/AutoCheck you must inspect the car from hood to trunk and know what you are doing.

5) Inspect the car. You must do a 100+ point inspection of the car whether the automobile is at a dealership or a private sale. The interior, engine, trunk, and undercarriage are all checked. Bring a magnet and flashlight which will be put to good use. The magnet sticks to steel body parts and falls off if the car has had body work. The flashlight is used everywhere to look for all kinds of inspection points which must pass. If the car passes your inspection it’s time to take a test drive.

6) Test drive the car. Listen to how the car starts and idles. Check the A/C, radio, power windows and locks, wipers, rear window defogger and all lights. Take the car for a test drive down the highway and around the block if the car has passed all your tests. Listen for weird noises, smells, and vibrations.

The last stop in this process, assuming the previous six items passed, is an automobile mechanic. Expect to pay the mechanic $100+ to connect computers and run all his diagnostic tests. Make an offer to buy the automobile if the mechanic gives the thumbs up.

Tags: Auto

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