How to Buy a Good Used Car, and Not a Lemon

New cars are nice, of course, but sometimes we need to buy a used car for a variety of reasons. The best buy you can make is often a 3 to 5 year old car, which costs about half the cost of a new one. But you want to be sure the car has been well-maintained by the previous owner. Here are some ways to make wise decisions when purchasing a used car

Instructions

1




Do your homework. Decide what you want and check consumer magazines and the internet; ask a mechanic which makes and models he has seen to be most reliable.

2




Shop at a new car dealers lot.
The new car dealer only keeps the better trade-ins, and wholesales the others to dealers who sell used cars. You could also do well with a private sale, unless problems develop with the car later.

3




If possible, find out who owned the car previously, ask to see the title. If the owner lives locally, look them up in the phone book, and call to ask how often the car was serviced and the oil was changed.

4




Don't worry too much about the mileage. A four year old well-maintained car with 85,000 miles may go another 100,000.

5




Check the car out to the best of your ability. Check for rust, of course. Inspect underneath for leaks. Take the car for a good half hour test drive and pay close attention to how it sounds and performs.
Finally, pay your own mechanic to give it a going-over. If the current owner won't agree to let you, walk away.