Buying a Used Car - September 30, 2009

While there are many good quality used cars out there with only one careful owner and there are also unscrupulous dealers out there who will swear that the car has only been driven by their grandma.
So when looking for a used car you should use common sense and a little judgement. Some of the main pitfalls which you should be aware of and which you should avoid at all costs are laid out below to help you avoid buying an ‘old crate’.

One of the most common rip-offs which is seen in used cars is tampering with the odometer. This allows the seller to change the mileage from a high amount to a lower one to make it look as though the car hasn’t done as many miles as it actually has done.

You should always pay close attention to the dashboard. Things like lose screws could mean signs of tampering. Chips on the grille, bumper and bonnet could also indicate high mileage.

Always be on the lookout for any signs that the car has been “cut and shut”. This means that two halves of separate cars that have been involved in accidents have been welded together.

Bring along someone who knows about cars with you to the viewing as two heads are better than one. And don’t forget to do a test drive.

The car should always come with documents and recent MOT certificates. If for whatever the reason the dealer doesn’t offer you documents or gives you excuses for not having them, then run away from the deal as fast as you can.

Finally, a good way to check out a cars history is to have a vehicle data check done. This will look at the car’s background and show up whether it has been stolen or if there is outstanding finance on it, plus whether the mileage is correct.

Louis Rix is a Director of Netcars.co.uk, one of the UK’s leading motoring websites. First established in January 2000, its mission is to become the UK’s number one site for used car searches and motoring information. Netcars also provide netcars.co.uk Car Finance, loans and insurance.

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Buying A Used Car - June 2, 2009

Buying a used car could save you much on cash, compared to if you were buying a new one. However, the difference would be that if the used car you are thinking of purchasing has had its own share of potholes, bad weather, and plain wear and tear, chances are that you still would be spending more on replacement and on repair.

That is why it is best to first check the car you are about to buy. See if there are some things that you need to consider first before you do give a go ahead and agree that the vehicle would be yours.

First thing to check would be if the vehicle you are eyeing has working air bags. You see, some older cars do not have air bag systems that work well. At least, the newer used cars at present do have this feature as well as side air bags and passenger air bags. Automobile experts suggest that you ask assistance from your trusted mechanic and let him check out the air bag. Ask him if it is still working and is still in place.

If you have not yet chosen a vehicle or you still are in the process of knowing what kind of vehicle to look for, try browsing through the Internet or reading through automobile magazines. These feature a large range of used car selections so that you can choose and find which vehicle would suit your preferences and your budget as well. Oftentimes, there are also lists of dealers of used cars in your area. Also, there are some sources which offer good points and bad points of used car models and makes. You could make your comparison from there.

Before you buy a vehicle, try to check the vehicle’s horn, lights, heat, air conditioning, brakes, seat belts, steering, and seats. It would be best to check early than find out later that there are some parts that need repair. Also, look for evidence that the car has been in a major accident. Sure enough, you would not want to buy a car that has been in an accident.

If there are some minor changes or needs for car accessories so that your used car would look like new, you can go to accessoriesgiant.com Auto Accessories Giant for these. The store holds

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Buying a Used Car - April 15, 2008

It can be a nightmare, especially if one has a budget.

Why one should buy a used car? Obviously because one cannot afford to buy a new car. Buying either a used or a new car is complicated because of the wide variety of automobiles and models in the market. If one has a fixed budget, it may be hard to get a car of one’s choice.

Generally the factors that should be considered while buying a car are the price, the make and model of the car, the condition, the mileage, repairs required, safety and emission testing etc. There could be many other factors that one has to consider while purchasing a car.

A used car can be purchased from a used car dealer, directly from car owners, from brokers or from government sources. There are many seized cars available from public agencies as well.

There are some varieties of cars which are in high demand. This is especially so with some Japanese cars. These cars are in high demand and have a good resale value.

In fact resale value should have a higher weightage while buying a second car. This is because if one does not like a previously owned car, one should be able to resell it without much loss of value.

One has to be careful while buying an old car. One should know a little bit of mechanics also. The usual things that one should check are the type of transmission, the engine size, mileage, condition of the body, tires, exhaust system, alignment, condition of seats, availability of air conditioning, air bags, power locks, power seats etc.

It is hard to find a vehicle that matches all the desired features. And when there is a tight budget as well, there is usually a chance of give and take.

Obviously, price is one of the main factors. One has to compare prices of the same vehicle at different places. Generally cars offered for sale by owners will be cheaper than those being sold by car dealers.

The sources of used autos are newspapers, auto magazines, Ebay, other online websites, posters, used car dealers, friends and colleagues, TV, radio, liquidators, car mechanics etc.

While buying, one should be careful because this is an unregulated market, with no warranties, lack of full details about a car, blind spots etc. One may find a gem some time and may also get a junk.

Many times it may be better to buy a car through a used auto dealer because the dealer may take the responsibility, may be more open and professional, may reveal more, may be more cautious, and provide complete service. All this depends upon the level of comfort that one will have while buying an older vehicle.

The author has background in business, economics and finance. He is presently researching in finding ways to make money and working on the following website and blogs:

businesses-jobs-careers.com businesses-jobs-careers.com

IWant2MakeMoneyOnline.blogspot.com IWant2MakeMoneyOnline.blogspot.com

ReviewAnythingOnline.blogspot.com ReviewAnythingOnline.blogspot.com

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Buying a Used Car - March 7, 2008

If you don’t want to invest in a new car for any reason, you of course have to go with something that has been owned by someone else. You can get a great car this way, but you have to be smart about buying a used car. There are a lot of great pre-owned vehicles out there, but there are plenty that you want to stay very far away from. Though most people are honest, there are some people who want to make money from a car that perhaps should be sitting in the junkyard instead of in your driveway.

If you are buying a used car from a car lot, you don’t have as much to worry about. However, you still want to have someone look over the car for you to make sure that you aren’t buying what they call a lemon. A lemon is a car that by all appearances seems to be a good car but ends up giving you a lot of problems after you buy it.There are laws out there called lemon laws to protect those who are buying a used car. Make sure you know what those laws are in your state.

If you are buying a used car from a private source, make sure you have a mechanic give the car a thorough inspection before you commit to buy or hand over any money whatsoever. You may have to pay to get someone to look over a car for you, but when you are buying a used car from a classified ad, you really need to know what you are getting into. If you know a mechanic who would do this for you for free, take them up on the offer. Don’t trust your eye if you don’t know much about cars. Some mechanics can tell if a car is good or not just by listening to the motor for a minute or two.

When you are buying a used car, make sure you have a receipt and perhaps a witness to the sale. If you are sold a lemon, you need to be able to show that you paid for the car, and that the car was misrepresented to you. This is not always easy. If you are buying a used car from someone who seems nice and you don’t want to insult him or her there is something you should remember. An honest seller will have no problem with you protecting yourself. If someone protests, you have to ask yourself why. Perhaps that is when you should look elsewhere for your new wheels.

for additional useful gocarbuyingguide.com car buying advice please visit gomovers.com GoCarBuyingGuide.com

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