There are not many other better feelings in the world than signing that contract and being able to take your new car home. More often than not though, the customers who are in a rush usually miss one important step: inspecting their prospective car before buying it. New-to-you used cars will still require a hefty investment, so below are some important tips for buyers so they can take a deeper look at the car other and have a better opinion than just test driving it around the block.
1. Body Conditions
Your new car’s exterior is a great indicator of the remaining life you’ll be able to get out of it. Before you even start talking to a dealer, check out the car yourself and take note of any rust, dents, or scratches. Little issues are nothing to worry about bigger pieces of damage are signs that there could be a serious issue.
Checking the tires is also extremely important as they also can tell you the lifespan of the vehicle. Examine if all the tires are the same brand and if the sidewalls have any cracks, scuffing, or bulges. You will also want to look at the tread as this will tell you if the tires need to be replaced and can give an idea of how much the car was used.
Don’t forget to test out lights as well and make sure they all work. If the light housings are damaged, cracked, or have moisture coming in, you’ll want to let the dealer know immediately.
2. Interior Conditions
The interior of a car should not have any odd odors such as mildew or mold. Smells from water damage or leaks are hard to get rid of so if anything seems off, don’t be afraid to check the carpet and the trunk to see if there are any wet spots.
You will want to play with all the instruments and controls to see if any service lights pop up and if everything is working properly, such as the turn signals and audio system. The last things to look at are the seats and roof for any staining and tears so the dealer can fix them as part of your sale.
3. Fluids and Any Leaks
The four main fluids you need to look out for are transmission, oil, power steering, and brake. If the oil hasn’t been changed, it will be dark brown or black. Check the dipstick to ensure the oil doesn’t have water droplets or is graying because these are both signs of a severe issue that will come up sooner than later. A good transmission should smell of oil and have a pink color. Anything otherwise, along with metal particles, means there is a problem. Brake fluid should always be filled to proper levels and shouldn’t be leaking underneath the car.
4. How the Test Drive Feels
Test drives are usually brief, so you will want to see how the new car feels to you. You will have to take note of anything you find concerning, such as noises, turn smoothness, and pressure of the steering wheel. Driving around the block isn’t enough to really identify any major issues so be nice and try to insist to let your dealer drive for a longer period so you can parallel park, turn, and speed up and down as much as you need.
5. Mileage
Mileage is more than just a number; it can indicate whether a used car is worth its price or not. Generally, cars with higher miles will be cheaper because they’ve been used more and will need more maintenance – but this is also considering that everything is straight forward. While examining mileage, you might find that a car with more than 60,000 miles is in pristine condition while the one with less than 40,000 miles has an issue, such as an accident on its record.
You will also want to make sure your dealer isn’t trying to commit odometer fraud by checking the reported mileage with maintenance records, seeing the odometer is actually readable without any obvious alterations, and how the number compares to similar vehicles.
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