Jonko Auto Repair Online - Purchasing a Used Vehicle

There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing a used auto. Aside from the obvious questions about make, model, year, color... one of your biggest decisions will be whether to purchase rom a dealer or an individual. There are positives and negatives to doing business with either but here we will simply concentrate on a few ways you can protect yourself when buying from an individual owner.

First, do your homework
Prior to ever contacting the individual, you should have an idea of what you're looking for and about what it should cost. Browse the classifieds and auto sales magazines to get an approximate cost of the vehicle you are looking at. Additionally, you should take a few minutes and visit Intellichoice which will provide you with a detailed analusis of the lifetime costs of the auto. (e.g. insurance premiums, repairs, etc...) For accurate pricing based on geographic location you may want to check out Kelley Blue Book.

Contact the Owner
Assuming you didn't just happen to see the auto on the street, you will need to contact the owner to take a look at it. Prior to calling, think about what you want to ask. This will help you eliminate the vehicles you really do not need to take the time out to see. For example, you may want to ask about the mileage or if the vehicle was ever in any accidents if these things were not listed in the ad.

You may also want to consider asking the following:

Why are you selling the auto?
Is there anything wrong with the vehicle?
Are you the original owner?
Do you have copies of your maintenance and repair records?
When was the car last inspected? (Or smogged... depending on your state...)
When and where did you purchase the car?
Does it have a salvage title?
How do you use the car? City v. Highway? Has the truck been offroad or used to tow anything?

If the answers you receive pass muster, arrange to see the vehicle. Try to arrange a location where you will be able to view the auto in as many different lights as possible. What you may not see in direct sunlight may be readily evident in the shade.

Examine and Question
When you arrive you will want to throughly inspect the vehicle and ask any questions you did not cover in the telephone interview. Check around the bottom of the doors, where body panels meet, and just inside the wheel well for rust .

Look for tell tale evidence of an accident by examining the black plastic or rubber moldings around the door, hood, or trunk. These should be free of paint. If they're not, get an explanation.

Start the vehicle. Note any peculiar sounds or emmissions. Look beneath the vehicle for leaks. Open the hood and look for potential problems. Are the belts and hoses in good shape? Or are they frail, cracked, and brittle? Check for evidence of leaks here as well. After looking everything over, take your test drive.

The test drive can be one of the most important steps in your purchase. Try not to get caught up in the excitement of buying a new car, but rather to pay attention to everything. Here are a few things you should be looking out for:

Difficult handling or a rough ride - These could indicate something as simple as misaligned wheels or under inflated tires, to more expensive problems like bad steering or suspension components
Abrupt shifting or slipping of gears - These are indicative of transmission problems. Be very cautious if you experience either on your test drive.
Squealing or clicking under the hood - Usually indicative of loose belts or bent fan blades which are not too problematic to remedy. Clicking can indicate a stuck valve lifter as well.

Following the test drive you can pursue on of a few routes:

1. Leave - If the car wasn't what you wanted, had mechanical problems, or just didn't pass your tests, forget about it. They're are way too many quality cars on the market to waste time with an auto you are not completely satisfied with.

2. Buy it - If everything was up to spec and your're aching to own the auto you may decide to pony up the cash then and there. Although not what we'd recommend, at least you took the time to thoroughly inspect your purchase before committing.

3. Think about it - This is our choice. Take a minute or two to decide if this is a car that you truly want. If it is, go ahead and take one last precaution. Ask the owner to let your mechanic give it a once over. This inspection can run anywhere from $65 - 150 but it is very well worth it.

If the owner agrees (...if he does not I am not so sure I'd do business with him...) arrange a time to pick up the car to take to your mechanic. Work with the owner on the logistics. He may want to meet you or drop the auto off himself. Once there the exam should take no longer than an hour and a half.

Your mechanic will check everything from the fluids to the frame and give you a rundown of additional expenses that you may see in the not so distant future. Common things that show up during these exams include the following:

Dirty fluids
Worn tires
Leaking shocks or struts
Minor oil leaks
Belts that need replaced
Dirty air filters
Timing belt service needed

Most of these are routine fixes that most autos will need after several thousand miles. The one to concern yourself with is the timing belt. Most timing belts need replaced around 60K miles so if the auto you are considering is near or over that benchmark ask the owner for proof the service has been completed. If it hasn't, get it done immediately. Missing this one is costly!

If your mechanic gives you the thumbs up you're all set. Sticking to your plan and being prepared are always essential when purchasing an auto.