|
Home
MENU:
Betterthanokay.com Home
Automobile
Resources
Automobile
Articles
Recreational
Vehicles
Debt Reduction
Credit
Cards
Loans
Mortgages
Great Outdoors
A Simple Guide To Selecting The Right Winter Tire For Your Car Or Motorcycle
Affordable Car Spoilers
Are Car Tire Sizes Greek To You - Here's Some Help
Car Keys Locked Inside
Car Leasing Basics
Going Away? Store Your Car
Great Deals and Tips on Parts for Your Car
Removing Secret Sauce and Catsup from Your Car Interior - Expert Detailing Advice
|
10 Things To Know Before Buying Your First Used Car.
Here are 10 things to keep in mind before you sign the dotted line on a used car.
1. Before selecting a used car you want to buy, read some reviews and check if the car has a good track record in terms of reliability. You may get an unreliable car cheap, but it'll likely break down. Spend a little more money on something more reliable as repairs are still expensive on cheap cars.
2. Find out the fuel economy rating of the vehicle(s) you're interested in, and how much it'll cost to insure. If this is your first car, insurance will be high especially if you're getting a sporty, 2-door vehicle. Staying with a 4-door sedan will help you get better insurance rates. Also, with gas prices on the rise, fuel economy is becoming even more important.
3. Once you've selected a vehicle, make sure you know the history of it. There are a variety of companies that will run a history report on the car by checking that the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of that vehicle was not reported in an accident, stolen, flooded, or repossessed. Most people are not up front as they want to sell the car. Do your research and stay away from anything or anyone you're suspicious of.
4. Find out the used vehicle value. Check online, local newspapers, and the Kelly Blue Book for what the vehicle is worth. Keep in mind that the 'book value' is not always the best measure for what the vehicle is worth as it just gives you the average value. Knowing what other people are asking in the area will help you negotiate and determine if you're getting a good deal.
5. Have the car checked by a mechanic. Sure you'll know if the car was in an accident through the history report but a mechanic can tell if the car was properly maintained. It would be a shame to buy a car and then realize that it needs a $1000.00 repair. A mechanic may find something that you did not notice and it could save you thousands.
6. Always stay level headed when looking at a used car for sale and try not to go alone. Having a second opinion is very important.
7. If you decide to take the car on a test drive, make sure to try everything out, including the a/c, radio, and power features (windows, mirrors, locks, etc) if so equipped. Drive the vehicle on a variety of roads and go to an empty parking lot to test the brakes and handing. But remember, this is someone's car so be respectful.
8. Stay away from older cars that have a lot of electronic gizmos. These are often costly to repair and are not as reliable as vehicles that are more basic.
9. Although a lower mileage vehicle is great, a vehicle with a lot of highway miles is not bad at all. Highway driving is very easy on the car. Stop and go driving is much harder. The condition of the car is more important than the mileage so long as the car was properly maintained.
10. Stay away from ex police cars, cabs, or rentals. These vehicles are traditionally driven very hard and sometimes not as well maintained. They're cheap, but risky to buy.
About the Author :
Peter Johnson is the chief writer for http://all-about-car-selection.com. Source: www.isnare.com
Written by: Peter J.H. Johnson
|
Other Articles of Interest:
Advantages Of Buying A New Car At The Right Time
Buying a new car requires intricate planning and sorting out of your choices, whatever they may be, the best time to purchase your treasured set of wheels are...read more
Car Prototypes
A car prototype can be considered to be the test model of a new car design that is intended to be produced in mass quantity. There is no company that goes out...read more
Car Towing
Even the best car will break down at some time or another – it is the nature of the beast. When it does, it probably won’t happen at a convenient time or...read more
Cleaning Latte Stains from Your Car
Coffee stains are by far the most common stains found on the seats and floors of cars today. Most new cars have carpet stain resistant carpets installed from...read more
Removing Secret Sauce and Catsup from Your Car Interior - Expert Detailing Advice
Cleaning stains from the inside of your car is no easy job. Here are a few Auto Detailing and Onsite Detailing Tips and Secrets of the Trade. Knowing how to...read more
Special Offers: Save on quality tires with these manufacturer's promotions available from The Tire Rack.
 |
News:
Reviewing the Toyota Prius C (May 18, 2012 22:23)
The Prius C is an attractive little car, all curves, flares and bulges. And at 53 m.p.g., it can han..
Lola, Builder of Racecars, Files for Bankruptcy (May 18, 2012 19:46)
The action ended months of speculation regarding the company's finances.
During Mille Miglia, a Rare Sighting of the Fiat Scion (May 18, 2012 17:30)
John Elkann, the fiercely private Fiat chairman, was spotted Friday at the helm of a 1952 Fiat 8V, d..
Acura Recalls 53,000 TL Sedans for Leaking Power-Steering Hoses (May 18, 2012 14:54)
The action, which applied to all 2008 models, resembled a recall from 2008 that affected 273,000 TLs..
Study Finds Lack of Uniform Signage Poses Obstacle to Public Charging Networks (May 18, 2012 10:00)
Managing the federally financed EV Project, the company issued a critical report from its first year..
|
