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)  Is your high school or college-bound kid nagging you for a new car this fall?

Well, according to David Champion, the director of automobile testing for Consumer Reports, a quality used car can be a smart and affordable alternative for a new driver — or for anyone, especially in a tough economy.

On The Early Show Saturday, Champion offered pointers to make sure you don't get taken for a ride when buying a used car.

You'll benefit most by buying a model that's reliable, in good condition, and reasonably priced. Here's what to do, and look for — first, tips from the magazine, then, from Champion:

Think safety

Look for a model with critical safety features, such as electronic stability control, side and curtain air bags, and antilock brakes. To see how a model has performed in government and insurance industry safety tests, go to www.safercar.gov and www.hwysafety.org. Free videos of insurance industry crash tests are available on ConsumerReports.org and safety ratings are available to the Web site's subscribers.

Check the car's reliability and worth

Reduce the risk of purchasing a trouble-prone vehicle by selecting models with a good reliability record. In Consumer Reports' used-car reliability history charts, you'll find detailed ratings for 17 trouble areas over 10 model years, so you can see the areas in which a model has had problems. The ratings are included in the April issue and special Consumer Reports Cars publications, and are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers.

A car's value depends on its age, mileage, condition, features, and local demand. You can get a car's overall retail value for free from online auto pricing Web sites or from a Consumer Reports Used Car Price Report ($12), which also includes reliability ratings. Then, to help gauge how much money sellers are asking for a model in your area, check out the classified ads in local newspapers and other publications. Also check online car-buying sites such as Autotrader.com, Cars.com, and eBay.

A nice feature of eBay is that you can see how much cars have sold for. Usually you'll get a lower price from a private seller than from a dealership, but it might take more effort to assess the vehicle and complete the transaction.

Do a thorough inspection and test drive

Check inside and out. Walk around the car and look for dents, rust, and mismatched body panels. Check for paint overspray on exterior trim or on wheel wells, which is a sign of repair work. Make sure all interior components are in good condition. Frayed safety belts or belts with melted fibers might indicate a frontal crash above 15 mph.

Stay away from any vehicle with lighted warning lights. A mildew smell, discolored carpeting, silt in the trunk, or electrical problems are indicators of flood damage.

Wear on tires should be even across the width of the tread and the same on both sides of the car. Heavy wear on the outside shoulder near the sidewall indicates that the vehicle has been driven hard.

All components under the hood should be relatively grease- and corrosion-free. Belts and hoses should be pliable and unworn. Look for damp areas in the engine compartment and under the vehicle, which might point to fluid leaks. Melted or burned areas might be signs of overheating or even an engine fire. Check that all fluids are at the proper levels. The transmission fluid should be checked after the car is warmed up. Motor oil should be brown and not gritty, frothy, or gelatinous.

Take a test drive: Drive a vehicle for at least 30 minutes on a variety of roads. Make sure the car takes off briskly, shifts smoothly in all gears, and brakes without pulling right or left. On the highway, note whether the car is tracking straight or pulling notably to one side. Once warm, there should be no tailpipe smoke. Try every button, switch, and control, and note any that don't work.

Ask a trusted mechanic

When you've found a vehicle you're interested in, take it to an independent, certified mechanic for a diagnostic checkup. That inspection, which usually costs about $100 to $150, is well worth the investment.

Do a background check

While far from foolproof, a vehicle history report from CarFax (www.carfax.com) or Experian Automotive (www.autocheck.com) might alert you to possible odometer fraud or past fire, flood, or crash damage. To get one, you'll need the vehicle identification number, or VIN. Reports usually cost $25. Also check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.dot.gov; 800-424-9393) to see whether any safety recalls were issued for the model. If so, ask the seller or a franchised dealer for documentation that the recall service was performed.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[sociald63]

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