How to Buy a Used Car That Is No Longer Being Produced

All automobile models stop production at one point or another and are replaced by a new model or simply phased out entirely. By definition, most used car purchases involve vehicles that are no longer being produced unless the car in question is only a couple of years old or newer. Buying a used vehicle can be a confusing undertaking, with a bewildering number of choices.

Instructions

1

Find the car you want. There are many places to look for a used car. Start with the local newspaper classifieds and the Autotrader (see Resources) which is a weekly publication with photo ads of used cars for sale. Another great place to look is the car and truck sales section of your local Craigslist. This has become a hugely popular venue for selling cars and truck, since it's free to use and sellers can post photos and as long of a description as they want. eBay is another potential source for out-of-production cars, but beware of anything that you can't inspect in person and drive. Another potential source for used cars are your local used car lots, though you may not get as good of a deal that you might from a private seller.

2

Visually inspect the vehicle you are interested in purchasing. Look carefully at the bodywork in different light to make sure the body is straight. Inspect underneath it for rust, as well as around the windshield, fenders and inside the trunk. Look for accident damage in the engine bay, which may show up as wrinkled sheet metal. Inspect the door jambs to see if the car was repainted.

3

Test drive the car on city streets and on the freeway. Pay attention to how it drives, especially at higher speeds. Vibrating and shaking may be a sign that the vehicle needs an alignment, new tires, suspension work or, worse, has been in a collision. Make sure the brakes do not vibrate when you slow down from high speeds and listen for odd clunks from the driveline while driving it.

4

Ask for receipts and how many owners the car has had. It is far better to buy a car that has documentation of its service history. The fewer owners the better, too. If a car has had many owners over the years, it may have issues. Also, ask to see the title to make sure it is free and clear and is not a salvage or a rebuilt title. While salvaged or rebuilt cars can be OK buys, you need to know what you are getting into.

5

Have a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) performed on the car by a reputable mechanic of your choosing. If the seller refuses to let you do this, run, don't walk, away from the deal. A mechanic will be able to inspect every aspect of the car and give you an itemized rundown of things that are potentially wrong with it. And maybe you'll get lucky and the car you are looking at will get a totally clean bill of health.

6

Barter for the best price possible. Almost every used car can be bough for less than the asking price, whether it's only a couple hundred dollars are a couple thousand dollars. Start low and then meet the seller at a point you are both happy with.