Used Car-Buying Do's And Dont's

What To Look For So You Don't Get Stuck With A Lemon, And How To Get Best Deals

(CBS) 

OVERALL TIPS, FROM CHAMPION

(There's some repetition here, but it's well-worth reading!)

When beginning your search for a new car, head to the Web first. A lot of used cars are for sale online, and search capabilities make it easy to quickly track down the features you want in a vehicle. Of course, the classified section of a newspaper is always a good option as well.

What's the best place to buy a used car? It doesn't matter — you just need to find the car you want. You'll probably get the best deal if you buy from an individual. But if you buy from a dealership, you have more recourse — if something's wrong with the vehicle, you can take it back to the dealership.

Many people like the comfort of buying a "certified" used car. Typically, "certified" means the car has been checked over by a dealer and deemed to be in good shape. Dealers sell a variety of used cars, but the certified are the cream of the crop. They come with a warranty AND a higher price tag. They can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more than non-certified vehicles.

Consumers should be aware that the term "certified" has no legal definition, and any used-car dealer can legally call their cars "certified." So, don't take it for granted that you're getting a car that's in top shape just because it's labeled "certified."

Once you've found the car you want to buy and made an initial phone call to cover basics such as the color, mileage, maintenance record, why the owner is selling, etc, it's time for a physical inspection. Most people will automatically see if the seats are comfortable, if the sightlines are good, if there are any big scratches or dents.

But there are a few things the average car buyer might fail to check.

When you're inspecting a car, you want to make sure the seller isn't lying about the mileage, telling you it's low when actually it's quite high, or the car's accident record.

Here are some things to look for.

EXTERIOR
Take a walk around the car and closely examine all body panels. They should each be exactly the same color and have the same finish. Any variations indicate the panels have been replaced or repaired. Also, if a car has been repainted, you can check for "overspray" — paint that's adhered to the rubber seals around the hood and trunk lids.

TRUNK
When you open the trunk to look for overspray, lift the carpet and look at the trunk's floor. The condition of the floor will indicate if the car has been rear-ended or suffered another type of rear impact.

TIRES
You can tell a lot by looking at a car's tires. You want to make sure all of the tires are the same, and appear to be the same age. A tire's tread should wear evenly across the tire itself and on both sides of the car. Aggressive drivers tend to put heavy wear on the outside shoulder of the front tires, at the edge of the sidewall. Assume that a car has been driven hard if that area is badly worn relative to the rest of the tire. Also, be wary of a car with relatively low miles and brand-new tires — a sign the odometer may have been rolled back.

INTERIOR
Another way to check for hard driving and high mileage: Take a look at the gas and clutch pedals. If the pedal rubber appears quite worn, it indicates high miles. While you're inside the vehicle, be sure to check all the electronic aspects — all the automatic windows, stereo buttons, etc. Consumer Reports studies show that these electronics are the parts of a used car most likely to break, and they're quite expensive to fix.

Finally, nobody wants to buy a car that's been damaged in a flood, and consumers in the South may be the most vulnerable to vehicles in this condition over the following months. For starters, get a car's vehicle identification number — a 17-digit number that's stamped in several places on a car, including where the windshield meets the dashboard. Using this number, you can investigate the car's history at www.carfax.com. The Web site compiles info from motor vehicle records, police departments and other sources.

Luckily for consumers, cleaning all of the muck out of a flooded car is difficult. Look under car carpets and in other nooks and crannies for mold or mud. The small crack where the interior front and back panels meet is a good place to look for mud and other debris.

Of course, you should always have a car inspected by an independent mechanic before you buy. In addition to finding problems you can't spot yourself, this also gives you some negotiating power. If a repair is required, you should approach the seller and ask that some money be knocked off the price.

[sociald63]

dont buy a used car from a sales person wearing a 3-pc plaid suit

[cbsfan73]

photogeezer wrote:
"Be careful of people posing as "individual sellers", "original owners", etc. They''''re often dealers who buy cars on auctions and have you meet them at a shopping center parking lot."

In most states, dealers are required to list their dealer number on the bill to sale.

[photogeezer]

Be careful of people posing as "individual sellers", "original owners", etc. They''re often dealers who buy cars on auctions and have you meet them at a shopping center parking lot. Here''s a way to spot them; they are highly insulted when you look under the car at CV joint boots, suspension damage or junk yard stock numbers painted on the transmission and other essential parts in yellow paint. We''ve lived in both the Washington, DC ''burbs and SF Bay Area. These scammers are plentiful.

Better yet, get the car''s vehicle ID (VIN) from the seller and run it through one of the on-line title checking services. Look for accidents, salvage situations, and mileage discrepancies.

Avoid trucks and SUV''s. Stick to simpler cars such as the Toyota Camry/Corolla, and Honda Civic/Accords. The Plymouth Neon, Chevy Cobalt and Ford Focus have had their share of problems.

[rational_1]

My philosophy has always been to buy a car a couple of years old, so someone else takes the depreciation. I''m not that in need of a new car. I''ve bought two used cars each 2-3 years old from dealers and maybe I''ve just been lucky, but they''ve both been great cars. I bought a ''96 Maxima in 1998 with 35K miles on it and it''s now at 190K miles. The car runs great and I wouldn''t be surprised to get another 5-7 years out of it.

[cbsfan73]

NEVER buy a used car from a dealer.

Always buy from someone that you know who has taken good care of the car.

If possible, buy a new car and take proper care of it and it will last you 10-15 years.