7 Tips for Recognizing a Bad Used Car - Vol.379
If you want to buy a car but your finances are tight, then a used car may be your best bet. After all, prices for used cars can be almost 50% lower than those of new cars. However, don't be fooled by the price tag alone. Making the wrong deal may lead to unexpected expenses later because of issues like poor fuel efficiency and mechanical or electrical defects. Here are some tips to help you recognize a bad deal when you see one.
1. Exterior Signs of Abuse
A walk around the car may reveal a lot about what it went through in the past. The first things to look out for are marks and dents in the bodywork, chipped paint, evidence of replaced parts and cracked or broken parts like headlight housings and windows. If the car you're looking shows signs of serious wear and tear, it should be a warning sign. You should also ask for the vehicle's repair records, which brings us to the next tip on the list.
2. Lack of Repair Records
If the car dealer can't or won't show you detailed repair records, then you should automatically assume the worst. You have no guarantee that the previous owner performed regular check-ups and kept everything in order.
Some dealers allow you to perform an extended test drive and even take the car for inspection by your own mechanic. You can take advantage of this and perform a full check-up if you are still set on buying that car.
3. Interior Signs of Abuse
Take your time inspecting the inside of the car with all your senses. See if there are any missing or cracked components such as knobs, buttons or handles. Also, look for stains or scratches on the car seats.
Don't forget to use your nose. Water leaks can cause a mildew scent that is easily detectable. Remember to turn on the air conditioning as well to check if it emits any strange odor. And, if you detect the smell of tobacco, the previous owner was probably a smoker. All these may indicate that the car was not always treated with care.
4. Car is Already Warmed Up for Test Drive
You should always go for test drives where you have the chance to test the cold startup. This can help you to spot problems with the ignition, throttle body, intake valves, fuel pumps or noisy components. If the car has already been brought up to normal operating temperature, this should be a huge deal breaker.
5. Dashboard: Engine Light Behaves Strangely
When you turn the key in the ignition, keep an eye on the "check engine" light. The normal behavior is for this light to turn on for a few seconds and then off.
If the light doesn't turn on at all, then you have good reason to be suspicious. It could mean that the light was turned off permanently to keep potential buyers from seeing that there is something wrong with the car.
6. Dashboard: Airbag Warning Light Stays Lit
Besides the engine light, another common indicator that can reveal problems is the airbag warning light. If it is on, the airbag has probably been deployed before, and was either not replaced properly or at all, after the accident.
7. Dealership Financing Offer is Too Good
If the financing offer that the car dealership is offering seems too good to be true, then it probably is. As a rule of thumb, you should never finance through the dealership unless the rate is 0%.
Many times, these offers seem very attractive, but have concealed clauses in the contract that may seriously hurt your wallet later on, including pre-computed interests and pre-payment penalties. For more reliable financing, you should research local lenders, banks or credit unions.