Pointers on Not Buying Potential Problems in a Used Car
Not all cars are created equal. Some are going to give you more problems than others. Let us give you some pointers on spotting current and potential problems with that used car you’ve been eyeing.
Features That Aren’t Good Values in Used Cars
The temptation when shopping for a used car is to go for the models with all the bells and whistles like navigation, satellite radio, DVD monitors and massage seats (among others). What sounds great on paper, though, can end up costing you hundreds of dollars down the road when it comes time to replace the items. Plus, some of them wrongly spike the value of the car you’re trying to purchase.
The temptation when shopping for a used car is to go for the models with all the bells and whistles like navigation, satellite radio, DVD monitors and massage seats (among others). What sounds great on paper, though, can end up costing you hundreds of dollars down the road when it comes time to replace the items. Plus, some of them wrongly spike the value of the car you’re trying to purchase.
Worst of the Worst Used Cars
Consumer Reports has a list of what it calls the "Worst of the Worst" used cars. As the consumer organization explains, “These models have multiple years of much worse than Used Car Verdicts in the 1998 to 2007 models.” Consult this list before your next used car purchase.
Consumer Reports has a list of what it calls the "Worst of the Worst" used cars. As the consumer organization explains, “These models have multiple years of much worse than Used Car Verdicts in the 1998 to 2007 models.” Consult this list before your next used car purchase.
Avoid Fraud When Buying Used
Look to the bottom of the home page for Fraud Awareness Tips from Auto Trader. With more than 45 million used cars sold annually, odds are good some of those transactions involve fraud.
Look to the bottom of the home page for Fraud Awareness Tips from Auto Trader. With more than 45 million used cars sold annually, odds are good some of those transactions involve fraud.
Don’t Get Scammed
Good information from Craigslist, the premiere site for free online classified ads.
Good information from Craigslist, the premiere site for free online classified ads.
Listen Up Dummy
Used car advice from the writers of “Buying a Car for Dummies.” The advice is overly broad (i.e. avoid station wagons because they’re sometimes owned by traveling salespeople who put lots of miles on them) but the list is a great reference tool if you’re curious about the used car you’re purchasing.
Used car advice from the writers of “Buying a Car for Dummies.” The advice is overly broad (i.e. avoid station wagons because they’re sometimes owned by traveling salespeople who put lots of miles on them) but the list is a great reference tool if you’re curious about the used car you’re purchasing.