I see a lot of carfax ads here. If you are buying a used car, ask the seller to provide a carfax report. Most of them will do that. There are some basic things you have to do before buying a used car -
understand what its value is - use kbb or a similar site
ask the seller for a carfax report
make sure he is going to do the smog test
after you test drive etc. if you like it, get it checked out by a mechanic - most repair shops have a deal for this. It could cost you $60 or more but it's worth it to make sure you aren't stuck with a leaking radiator right after you buy the car.
Buy the car that feels right. your gut feeling is usually right.
This is just for the benefit of the carfax people here :) Buying used cars
>> it's worth it to make sure you aren't stuck with a leaking radiator right after you buy the car.
That is the simplest and one of the cheapest to fix - heck even don't need a mechanic (have changed several). I would gladly buy a leaky BMW iif I can get a great deal.
The single most important to check - which the mechanic will not check unless you ask him to is "compression testing" Will show if you have a leaky piston, cylinder head gasket or a blown cylinder - all of which might need a new engine. You can even afford to put up with all other problems in a car. But, then these are applicable only if you are buying a used car > 5,000. There are other indirect ways to "reasonably" check if your car has a blown engine.
This is for the people who cannot afford a carfax report....:)
That is the simplest and one of the cheapest to fix - heck even don't need a mechanic (have changed several). I would gladly buy a leaky BMW iif I can get a great deal.
The single most important to check - which the mechanic will not check unless you ask him to is "compression testing" Will show if you have a leaky piston, cylinder head gasket or a blown cylinder - all of which might need a new engine. You can even afford to put up with all other problems in a car. But, then these are applicable only if you are buying a used car > 5,000. There are other indirect ways to "reasonably" check if your car has a blown engine.
This is for the people who cannot afford a carfax report....:)