Things To Do Before Buying A Car

For most of us, purchasing a new car is a serious investment we should not take lightly. Regardless if you have failed the mechanical aptitude test or you are engine savvy, purchasing a vehicle is not that hard. With numerous sources of information, you can definitely make the right choice when time comes and not receive less than your money can buy. You only need to devote the necessary time and energy to complete each step with the ultimate success.

First, decide on what type of vehicle best serves your current wants. Before choosing the color of your new automobile, you have to take under consideration your personal lifestyle and family needs. Are you living alone, or do you have family members who need you to transport them to various places? If you are a parent, a sedan, minivan of SUV might suit your family needs better than a luxurious sports car. A convertible is always looking "cool," but will your city's weather conditions allow you such a "carefree" car model? Furthermore, with the gas prices escalating the way they do today, you better also consider the fuel efficiency of the car you are about to purchase. Is this model you like designed to save on fuel by reducing gas mileage consumption? When you become a car owner you will thank yourself for thinking this beforehand than having to fill up your car's tank way too often for your weekly budget. Most importantly, remember that the vehicle you will choose has to cover first your needs and then those of your friends or significant others.

Now that you have a better idea of the type of car you are looking for, is time to conduct some serious and in-depth research on possible deals. Online research, magazines, colleagues and friends can help you tremendously during this process as you need as much information on the make and model that can fit your budget and needs. Consumer review boards and numerous websites have a wealth of information on what other owners like or dislike about their vehicles. Do not get misled by colorful advertisements and "once-in-a-lifetime" deals offered by numerous car dealers in your area. Finding the best possible deal needs some time, knowledge of the market and of course, good instinct.

After completing your "homework" in advance you will be able to negotiate a better deal at your local car dealership and not be afraid of getting scammed. Having a rough idea of how much the vehicle of your choice is likely to cost you is also very important. Thus, review price guides and take notes on information like which year was the car manufactured, how much mileage has on its meter, when was last used, if it was involved in any accidents, what type of bonus features are offered in case you pay cash, if the dealer offers any refunds and/or auto-service, if the vehicle comes with a guarantee, the last time it was inspected, etc. The more you know the better informed choice you will be able to make at the end. It is also a good idea to ask a mechanical savvy friend to join you when you limit your choices to two. If you are considering of a specific car but you are far from being considered an expert when it comes to inspect a car's engine, this is not a time to be ashamed for the things you are ignorant about. Be prepared, stay cautious, and most importantly, stay within your budget no matter what type of "dream" deal you come across.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Automotive, Football, and Recreation

Tips For Buying A Used Car

For the average individual who knows little about cars or mechanics, buying a used car can be a worrying experience. Buying a car is often one of the biggest purchases we make in our lives and the nagging doubt of whether or not you are about to buy a lemon always makes buying a used car difficult. So how do you go about choosing a car that is unlikely to be a lemon?

If you have found a “bargain” or a car you like the look of go check it out. At this stage it is always useful to take someone who knows something about cars with you if you can. If you haven’t got anyone whose opinion you can trust then you are going to have to use your own instincts.

Check for obvious accident damage. Accident damaged cars can be spotted by little tell tail signs. Look for signs of overspray to panels, bumpers and fittings, look for areas of paintwork that are inconsistent with the general condition of the car (these may indicate filled dents, filled rotten patches) and check that all the tyres are wearing evenly (uneven wear may indicate the car isn’t running straight and true as a result of a crash or poorly executed accident repair).

If you are happy there are no obvious clues to suggest accident damage check the general condition of the car for wear. Is the amount of wear consistent with the mileage of the car? Worn foot mats, shiny steering wheels and worn/damaged driver seats are not what you would expect to find on a low mileage car.

Does the car have missing interior fittings or scratched paint work? Would you expect a car you owned from new for a number of years to have accrued a similar amount of damage? Make a mental note of the amount of wear for bargaining purposes should you decide to buy the car.

Check the vehicle for rot in the doorways and wheel arches. A little rot can become a serious costly problem after as little as one year. A lot of rot, especially to structural areas of the car where panels and sections of the car come together could indicate the car is not safe to drive.

Once you have established the car looks to be cosmetically genuine and that the condition is as you would expect for the cars age start to look at the mechanics of the car. Check the oil on the dipstick. Are there bubbles in the oil? If there are bubbles this is a sure sign of water in the oil and likely to result in expensive repair. Check the water filler. Is there a white residue on the cap or visible in the filler area. This is an expensive sign of oil in the water. Check the oil filter (easy to spot, generally looks like a brightly painted tin can sticking out of the side of the engine) does it look to be recently fitted or like it has been on for some time. This is a standard part that is replaced at service and can indicate how the owner has been treating the car.

Start the motor up. Does the engine rattle or have a pronounced ticking noise or does it sound healthy? Is the exhaust loud or well silenced you don’t need to be paying for a new exhaust system. Once the engine has warmed go look at the exhaust. Are there large quantities of smoke, black or white being omitted? Both can indicate expensive faults. At this stage check to make sure headlamps, indicator and brake lights work.

If all seems fine the next step is a test drive. Check the steering. Is it light or vague, neither is a good sign. Does the wheel have a large amount of play in it? Steering is important for clear safety reasons. The steering should be responsive and direct. Neither to heavy nor light.

Check the brakes. Do they inspire confidence? They should pull the car firmly to a stop in a straight line without fading or feeling as if they are about to run out. Find a car park or space where you can turn the car on full lock in both directions. Do the front wheels grind or shriek? This could indicate expensive wheel bearing problems.

If you do not come across these problems then it is fair to say you have a solid used car that is unlikely to be a lemon. Now if you can recall all the little details you spotted you can use these points to bargain a good price and buy the used car with the confidence that you have avoided a lemon.


About The Author

John Rodgers writes for Used Car San Antonio at http://www.usedcar-sanantonio.com