buying a car

August 6th, 2016

Hey everyone
Im looking to buy my first car soon it will be a used car but i have no idea what problems i should look out for?
The most important feature for me is safety, i want to be protected as best as i can. everything else comes second.
But i dont want to buy something unreliable or will need a lot of repair..i heard mileage is an important issue but what would be a good mileage to look for..and why?
Does anyone have any ideas? i have looked at what was the best car for 2010 2009 etc… but i know it al depends on how the previous owner used it.
If you were to buy a used car, what kind of factors would you look out for?
All replies appreciated thanks

Answer #1
If you are in the US, one of the best days to buy is the day the 31st of December. Of course most people know this so there will be tons of people at dealership lots getting the end of the year deals.
If it’s your first car I’d stray away from ebay or craigslist unless you know a lot about mechanics or have a friend who does who can check for issues that would be hidden from the naked eye.
I had a friend buy a car off ebay and within driving it 20miles from the purchase point 2 tires blew out and that was just the beginning.
Answer #2

If you were to buy a used car, what kind of factors would you look out for?
thanks

Used car salesmen.
Answer #3
Consumers guide is good help
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/buying-advice/index.htm
Answer #4

If you were to buy a used car, what kind of factors would you look out for?
thanks

Used car salesmen.

Too Funny!
Here is something else to check out an app for helping buying cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEVNLwckt2k
Answer #5
you want something lowish mileage where possible… under 50thousand although if its diesel it doesnt matter too much (so i been told)
check if car has a service history
in the uk, we have a mot (annual) it may be worth have a look at these too if available
check brakes, handbrakes, steering during test drive
ideally you would want someone who knows about cars to come with you, to check under the bonnet and under the car, so they can check brake disks , pads
most stuff can easily be replaced but again thats just expense…
Answer #6

If you were to buy a used car, what kind of factors would you look out for?
thanks

Used car salesmen.

A mate of mine, years ago, told me how his wife ran off with a “Shy, sensitive, used car Salesman” Especially with an old car, you should take it for a test drive on a country type road and put your foot down,,,
Stay clear if there are any pings or rattles!…What you think might be valve bounce could be a worn out crank shaft!(especially Mazda engines).
Honest John, the car salesman, had overfilled the sump with oil to shut it up..
Mate tried new bearing shells. but it was too far gone.
It exploded eventually, throwing pieces of it’s innards out threw the block!
Oh well, at least I can say I actually blew up an engine
Answer #7
be very carefull with a used car, get a carfax report although that only tells of accidents you have no idea how the person treated the car, also check the car carefully for example check under the car if its from the east, it rains alot out there and my friend once bought a car and it was rusted underneath, if you have a mechanic friend have them take a look, although there are now lemon laws its anything to make a buck.. BE WARNED, dont get a ninja car loan, its the housing bubble all over again, you can get a car down no money down at 30-40 percent mark up, the car dealership then bundles all their bad loans and sells them as securities and you are on the hook for the extra.
IF YOU CANNOT MAKE PAYMENT THEY CAN SUE YOU FOR REST AFTER THEY REPO AND SELL YOUR CAR!, buy a car in your price range and read the contract three of four times.
example of car loan scams.
http://www.fbi.gov/birmingham/press-releases/2014/two-serra-nissan-managers-and-three-salesmen-charged-in-loan-fraud-conspiracy
Answer #8
some good info here also,

http://www.wikihow.com/Check-out-a-Used-Car-Before-Buying-It

Answer #9
First thing in buy a used car or any car…. dont buy it because its cheap. Buy something that you like and then negotiate. If your going to buy it from a used car owned business place. Be sure to check them out on the internet like yelp etc etc. There are some shady owned business.
Get carfax. I believe its only in the US? If your not much in car. Get a friend that know about car and let him/her check the vehicle out to see if its in working condition. Check the oil stick. A lots of time they overfill to make thing sound smooth. See if they have any warranty. Plenty of people do not know that or asked. What they ended up with is a purchase of “AS IS”. Meaning after you signed all the paper. The instant you drove off the lot and the car broke down. Tough luck bro your still going to make those payment Do not buy “AS IS” vehicle. Try to get some kind of insurance. Read the contract really careful and any paper that need your signature.
Other than that.. If you have a few extra grand. I would buy a use car from a dealership. Their price are much higher than those owned one. But they have extremely good warranty.
Answer #10
Do not buy "AS IS" vehicle. Try to get some kind of insurance. Read the contract really careful and any paper that need your signature.
If you are in the US, all sales of used vehicles is AS IS by law, unless you specifically get a warranty / return policy in writing to state otherwise. The contract must explicitly have this in writing – verbal contracts are virtually 100% dismissed if it is taken to court on this subject matter.
This even applies to car dealerships; as as correctly stated, just don’t buy without a warranty.
(I know of one of NY’s largest dealerships that has a full-time lawyer that does nothing but defend used-car deals as the dealership, despite the gloss and size, offers nothing more than what is required by law … and that is nothing in NY)
Answer #11
As someone who was a dealership tech for 10 years and involved with a family owned used car lot for the better part of 20 years. It’s a crap shoot when it comes to buying used cars. I could write a whole essay of what to look for, what not to look for but then there’s always exceptions to every rule. Hell I’ve seen brand new cars come from the factory with blown engines, missing motor mounts and various other problems. Those are the brand new ones that are suppose to be flawless.
The best advice I can give you is to find something you like in your price range and take that vehicle to an independent mechanic to check out (EDIT: do this BEFORE you buy the car and ask if it’s ok. they shouldn’t have a problem with letting you do this and if they do then you’re better off not buying from them). Yes it will cost you a fee to the mechanic but it’s better than buying something that explodes after you drive away and are stuck paying for as someone already pointed out. You’re only out the mechanic’s fee if it’s a POS.
BTW, carfax is worthless. There is no national database that tracks every repair and problem the vehicle has ever had. It’s just a selling scam. Repair shops keep their own in-house records for their own personal use and dealerships can look up warranty repairs done through the manufacturer but that information is warranty repairs only and solely for for authorized factory dealers.
Answer #12
@
I am not sure if its required by law or not. I know for sure the small business will most likely have AS IS. My first car was brought from a small business that sell used car. Of course there also a piece of sign paper for warranty. Parent were with me since all I though is wanting a ride and didnt know better
But I forgot to add about certified pre-owned (used) car. Thats what they called it in the dealership. Its a warranty for the powertrain and other repairs. If buying from a dealership then there will surly be a paper for your to sign regarding to what the warranty cover.
You are 100% correct on getting it on paper when buying from a local owned lot. Verbal contract will not work in court but surly they will try to do some verbal contract with you first. Sadly thats how business is. If I remember correctly. There also a paper for you to sign stating its a AS IS sell.
Answer #13
.. many places don’t have you sign anything to indicate as-is. I can definitely say that in New York state, all used car sales are default as-is unless otherwise stated, and there is no need for acceptance of this through another document. Reputable dealers would have you sign something to help with after-sales disputes, but this is to reduce their legal fees rather than being a requirement.
Other states have the same law I hear.
Answer #14
You haven’t mentioned the most important info. What is your budget?
Are you looking for a $20,000 newer year used car to make payments on, or a $2-5K beater to pay cash for?
Answer #15
Check for oil leaks, coolant level, PCV operation, gear shift smoothness, idle, throttle response, misfires, hesitation, oil level and condition.
And if manual transmission, check for clutch operation.
And of course, check the tyre wear to know telltale signs of steering and suspension problems.
Check for body damage, colour mismatch and pattern, just a few ways to haggle into good bargains.
Spam the ~love~ out of the car condition to make the owner sell it cheaper.
Answer #16
@
Its usually under the Bill Of Sale. Usually state if there are any warranty or as is.
Answer #17
thanks for the replies so far guys!!
why is mileage such a big deal though? do cars have a set mileage before they break down all the time or something?
i read a good mileage is 10-13,000/year so 5 year means no more than 50-60,000?
I see a lot of cars with 1.2l or 1.6l engines..this means how much petrol the car uses and the smaller the more economical it is, but how does it relate to car performance?
Answer #18
A bigger engined car is better on a long run, you see smaller engines have to work harder to get up to speed. Mileage mainly reflects how much wear the entire car has went through, the key components is engine and transmission.
Generally a higher mileage car will not perform as good as when it was brand new, fuel economy and reliability goes down. You may think a smaller engine will be good on fuel, it will be. However the uphill or motorway performance will require the engine to work quite hard. Most would say a Japanese car will be good for up to 200000km. Around that time, most components would be on its last legs. Wheel bearings, fuel economy rubbish, transmission noises and shifting smoothness. Of course a well maintained car will be reasonably good, but I wouldn’t buy a car that has 200000km, unless its like $1000 and still runs well.
More cylinders means that even if one cylinder is down on compression, the car will still be driveable to an extent. So I prefer cars with at least 6 cylinders.

 

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