hey guys. im planning on getting a car sometime next year. im just a college kid so i dont think i need anything fantastic just something that is decent and cheap so i guess that's why im looking at 2nd hand stuff.
what are the right steps to go about doing this? i am totally new to cars. so any input and what not is very much needed and appreciated :D.
Easy ones.
Look for spots under where it has been sitting for oil or coolant leaks. Check and see if the bottom of the engine and radiator are wet or damp.
Go ahead and check all of the fluids to be sure they are filled to the right level and that they are not in need of replacing.
Look for rust or bubbling paint. You don't want it to be your problem down the road and at the very least you can use it as a bargaining chip.
Make sure the features WORK. A/C, Power locks/windows/seats, lights and turn signals.
Don't listen to the seller's bullshit about something being an easy fix. If it were really that easy, they would have fixed it themselves before selling it.
Make sure you are comfortable driving it and that it rides good.
The listed price is a suggestion, and it's a bad suggestion.
Don't be afraid to walk away from the vehicle or the sale at anypoint.
And when you go to look at it, bring a friend who has a nicer car than the one you're looking at, and if you're paying in cash, bring less cash than the asking price. That way you can tell them that's all you have on you if you like it.
If emissions is mandatory for all cars like it is here and you are interested in getting it and like the thing, take it down to emissions to make sure that it will pass before you give any cash.
On the title, if the guy/girl is cool, ask for them to put a lower amount on the title of the car that they sold it for, so that you get taxed less (if you get taxed on used car purchases in your state.) You can end up saving a lot of money.
Be careful about engines that just looked like they came from the cleaners. It might look pretty, but they could have been done to hide leaks.
Check all fluids to make sure they are in line, and how soon they might need to be changed. Needs new transmission fluid, that is a $250 job, need oil change, that is a $35 job, ect. ect. And if you find things like these, you can use these to lower the price a little. Same goes for tire tread, and any kind of wear items on the car.
The Escort that we bought, had 130,000 miles on it. Guy was asking $2,000 and because the coolant light was on (only on because the reservoir was low, lol) the brakes felt kind of funny, the price was dropped down to $1,750 a long with some general haggling. So we ended up getting it for a lot cheaper then even what kbb.com says.
Oh, also go to kbb.com to see what the car is worth. If needed, us this as leverage.
Don't forget, if you go to a dealer, you can use all of these as well against them, but do remember that they all usually steam clean the engines which can be a little iffy.
never buy a used car on a rainy day[yes]
While i agrea with you on that, there is also truth in that it is an easy fix but they haven't done it. Take for example, the auto door lock on the drivers side in my car is dead, i need to replace a part and it'll be good as new again. It's an easy fix, but it's also an involved fix. IE i have to take the panel off my door among a few other things. While it's easy, it's just something you can't have fixed in a matter of minutes (like changing out wiper blades). So while goliath is right, remember that there is a very slight chance the seller isn't bsing you, but is lazy or doesn't have the full amount of time to fix the problem himself.Originally Posted by Goliath
Plus he would/could charge you for the work time. Therefore he lets the buyer do the little repairs so they can chose whether to save money or let a pro do it. Nothing wrong with that.
Depends, good for finding out if it leaks.
wait what?
what's the real reason?
Go to CarMax. You get a decent price, a warranty and the sales staff gets a fixed sale fee so they're not incented to move specific stock or expensive cars.
I took my Dad and one of my mates with me when I bought my first (and current) car. They both went over it vigorously looking for problems. They found some but they were only minor, nothing my Dad said he couldn't fix. He then took it for a quick drive to see how it felt and came back to tell me it was much different then his car but nothing I can't get used to. And he was correct, I love my car[thumbup]. Only problem I have with it (besides the crappy idling problem) is the stiff clutch and sometimes the gears play up (don't go in properly) but I changed the gearbox oil myself and put in some lubricant to soften the feeling and now it works great.
Always a good idea to bring someone along with you that knows a good deal about cars. And ask if you can take it for a test drive.
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