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Continued from Previous Page
Some of the sources to consider when buying a used vehicle
include:
The Internet (Investigate if the source is reputable)
Rental car companies
Company vehicles
New automobile dealerships (investigate if the
dealer is reputable)
Private owners
Contacting a used vehicle source by telephone and obtaining
specific information can help to reduce unnecessary legwork.
The telephone inquiry will enable you to determine if a vehicle
is worth your time to investigate.
Some questions to ask a private owner or other used vehicle
source about a vehicle include:
How many miles has the vehicle been driven
(the average is about 10,000 to 12,000 miles
per year)?
Is the transmission an automatic, a semi-automatic,
or a manual? If the transmission is not what you
want, there is no need to ask further questions.
What is the condition of the vehicle's body? Is
there any rust?
Has the vehicle been repainted and if so, why?
Avoid repainted vehicles. It is better to see the
original paint even if a few small stone chips
need to be touched-up.
Has the vehicle been involved in any accidents?
Avoid vehicles that have been involved in any
accidents.
When are the next state inspection and emissions
standard test due? The vehicle should have a
minimum of at least six months remaining until
the next required state inspection and
emissions test.
How often were the engine oil and the oil filter
changed, and who performed the service?
An acceptable answer would be every
3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every
three to four months.
Are you the original owner of the vehicle?
Original owners tend to take better care of
vehicles.
What is the reason that the vehicle is being
sold? It is encouraging if the individual is
the original owner and if he or she is
planning to again buy the same make of
vehicle.
Are parts and service readily available for
the vehicle? Where can parts and services be
obtained? Avoid buying a vehicle if parts and
service are not readily available.
Has the vehicle had any recent repairs (new
brakes, tires, exhaust, battery) or service
and if so, what garage performed the repairs or
service?
What price are you asking for the vehicle?
The interior and exterior inspections and the vehicle test-drive
are used to verify the information obtained during the telephone
inquiry.
Inspecting The Exterior
Before conducting a vehicle exterior inspection, make certain
that good whether conditions exist. The ground should be dry
and there should be plenty of sunlight.
Some aspects of the exterior inspection include:
Consider the environment that surrounds the
used vehicle. Are the dealership surroundings
clean and orderly? Does the retail car company
provide courteous and efficient customer service?
Is the private owner's property well maintained?
Was the vehicle kept in a garage? Rather than
just a minor point, the surroundings, in point of
fact, can provide an indication of how well the
owner maintained the vehicle.
Look to see that the state inspection and the
emissions test stickers are valid and note when
they will be due.
Observe how the vehicle sits. The vehicle should
sit level horizontally when it is viewed from the
front and the rear. When viewed from the side,
the rear of the vehicle should sit slightly higher
than the front. A vehicle that does not sit properly
or have a "good stance" has been driven hard.
Check all four of the tires for evenness of tread
wear (similar to how the soles of a person's
shoes indicate how he or she walks). Also, check
to see if all four of the tires are the same brand and
type. Be suspicious if the front tires are a different
brand than the rear tires. Sometimes, an owner
will install a new set of front tires on a vehicle to
hide the uneven tire wear caused by a steering
and/or a suspension problem.
Finding More Information
In addition to the points covered in this article, information about
the exterior and interior inspections, the test-drive, saving money,
and selling a used vehicle are explained in the book: Drive the
Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility
Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money. To find out more about the
author and this book visit: Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money.
t.
In 1991 the book's author, Kyle Busch, purchased a used
vehicle for $2,600 that a private owner had driven 82,000 miles.
He has driven the vehicle for over nine years and the odometer
has now logged over 292,000 miles. The vehicle continues to
provide for his daily transportation needs.
Kyle has written articles about transportation for the Colorado
Springs Business Journal, the Dallas/Fort Worth Community
Newspapers, VW Trends Magazine, Bankrate.com, 4Wheel
Drive.about.com, Family Network.com, ParentsDB.com, and
Seniority.co.uk.
Go60.Com accepts well written guest articles and editorials. Preferably, we are looking for materials which inspire, or offer wise guidance and tools for living as an older adult. If you would like to suggest a contribution, please write us at contact@go60.com.
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