• Interior
• Suspension
• Rear End
• Front Wheel Drive
• Body
• Engine

INTERIOR:

The condition of the interior is an important factor to consider when purchasing a used car. We search for only the cleanest new car trades Excessive wear and tear on the interior may actually be a good indicator of a vehicle's mileage without even looking at the odometer. Additionally, dampness and musty odors, while not indicators of excess mileage, point to potential leaks in the weatherstripping, windshield or the vehicle's heater core. Foggy windows indicate excessive moisture inside the vehicle.

Brake pedal

A brake pedal pad that has worn through to the metal beneath it is a good indication of a vehicle with excessive mileage. Think of all of the stop and go traffic it took to wear through the rubber, not to mention the wear on the braking system. If the odometer says 12,000 miles, RUN!

Driver Seat

Take a close look at the drivers seat for another indication of excessive mileage. If the seat's outer edge has worn through, chances are the vehicle has quite a few miles... or it was used to deliver newspapers!

Floor mats and interior carpet

First, don't be fooled by a new set of floor mats. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to dress up a worn interior. While checking interior conditions don't be afraid to lift up the mats and feel the carpet to check for water leaks or look for wear on the right of the accelerator pedal and directly underneath. Remember the worn out brake pedal pad? While sitting in the drivers seat, look at the windshield, taking note of pitting in the glass or stone chips.

Odometer and Instrument Panel

Take a close look at the instrument panel to see if it has been tampered with. Indications that an odometer has been tampered with are fingerprints or scratches inside the plastic cover. If the mileage has been tampered with, the numbers may not be aligned. The numbers should be aligned evenly accross. Look for scratch marks on the numbers which usually indicate a crude attempt at fixing the mileage.

Water Spots

In t-top cars and those equipped with sunroofs, water marks on the headliner are good indicators of a leak. To test it, grab the hose and hit it with a good spray. If it leaks, you can chew a few more dollars off the price to pay for the new seals. T-top seals run at least $100 per side, plus installation.

SUSPENSION:

Ride, comfort and safety are also important aspects to consider in purchasing your used vehicle. Visually inspect car to see if it sitting level in the front and back. If car is lower in front or back it is very possible the springs could be worn. The first components to check are shock absorbers and springs. An easy test for worn front and rear shocks is to bounce the front and back of vehicle. Do not push on the center of the hood or trunk with your body weight or you could dent either costing you money before you even test drive it. The vehicle should not bounce more then one time, if so replacement of the shocks and or struts could be needed. In the event that the car bounces easily and multiple times, visually inspect the shocks or struts. If oil or wetness is visible, this is another indication of worn components, which will require replacement to maintain the safety and comfort of the vehicle.

On cars equipped with air ride suspension; it is even more critical to inspect height and level of car, because air ride suspension components can be very involved and very costly to repair.

Now take a look at the tires. Are the outer edges worn? This usually indicates a front end that is out of alignment and or has worn front-end components. Deduct money for this. Do not buy a car from anyone who would do an alignment on worn tires.

Now it is time to test-drive the vehicle. When test driving check for ride comfort and stability. The vehicle should not be bouncy and/or feel unstable. Remember bouncing is an indication of worn shocks or struts. When cornering, the vehicle should not lean excessively.

A vehicle that pulls to the left or right while being driven could indicate a front end that is out of alignment or tires with uneven pressure. Does the car shimmy or vibrate? When the front tires are out of balance, the front of the vehicle or the steering wheel will shake, especially at or approaching highway speed.. Usually when a front end has been maintained properly, the front tires will be worn evenly across the tread. The vehicle will feel very tight and responsive. Be very careful when addressing this area, because it is a very important part of the your state's safety inspection.

REAR END:

There are only a few checks for rear end. Put the vehicle in gear. Do you hear a clank? This loud noise could be the drive shaft universal joints, which are located on each end of the driveshaft connecting the transmission to the rear differential. If you are able to rule out the universal joints, or U-Joints as they are commonly know, the gears in the rear end could be worn. Unfortunately, to diagnose the rear gear wear, the housing has to be opened and is not something most used car shoppers can undertake. Have a certified technician diagnose the problem.

Now that you have finally left the driveway, as you are accelerating, listen for a humming or clanking noise from rear end. This is especially true when you are on the highway and accelerate then immediately decelerate. For a rear end with worn gears the symptoms will be as follows: A whining or humming noise at a steady speed or at coast down. Bad universal joints, sometimes give you a vibration at high speeds in either the floor or body of the car. They can also give you a squeak on acceleration. These components also have seals and bearings that need to be inspected for leaks and wear. A rear end differential uses a special fluid to lubricate the gears. This level should be checked periodically, like any other fluid in the vehicle.

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE:

Front wheel drive axles consist of [CV] constant velocity joints, which are filled with grease and contained in rubber enclosures called boots. When test driving a vehicle with front wheel drive, first turn the wheel all the way to the right and slowly accelerate. To test the other side, repeat this procedure. If the axles are bad you will hear a bad clicking noise from the axle. Visual checks on axle boots are also recommended. If the boots are broken, usually there will be grease thrown around the inside of the front tire area and on the tire itself. If you see grease inside of the tire area, these axles more than likely need to be replaced. This is another good bargaining point and this is not a cheap job unless big mike from elmont does it.

BODY:

Don't be fooled by shiny paint jobs or flashy rims. There could be major problems hidden beneath. Make a thorough visual inspection of the complete exterior of the vehicle. Check all body panels to see if anything has been repainted [Also check to see if any of the front end panels have been replaced or realigned]. One way to check for repainted panels is to look at the colors of adjoining panels- does the door match the front fender?. If the whole vehicle was repainted there is a good chance that the moldings or lights will have paint on them. When a front-end panel has been replaced, the paint on the inside will be fresh and clean as opposed to the rest of the car. Most Ford vehicles have serial numbers on the inside of their panels. A replacement panel will not. Another way to see if the vehicle has been in a collision is to look at the space between panels. Make sure both sides of the vehicle have the same space between panels. Body alignment should include the opening and closing of hood, trunk and doors as well as how easy the hood opens when pulling the release cable.

ENGINE:

The engine is the heart of the vehicle and should be scrutinized. Before you start the vehicle, take a look at the overall condition of the engine area. Is it clean or oil filled, dirty, and clearly neglected? Many owners bring their dirty engine compartment to the car wash to be power washed with a high pressure hose using degreasing fluid or hot water. If the engine is the only clean part of the vehicle, this is probably the case and calls for extra attention to what you cannot see. The internal parts of an engine depend on oil to live. Check the oil first. If the oil is clean- tan or brown, but not black, ask when the last oil change was completed. Look on the windshield for your local quick-lube's oil sticker and if present, check the date against the mileage on the car. If the oil was changed that morning or recently, remember to check the oil again after your test drive. If it is black after the drive, there is serious wear and the price should reflect that.

Where You can Look for Used Cars?

Online Car Classifieds are great place of looking for cars on sale. With details of the cars with images and other information, online car classifieds have become people's number one choice for finding cars to buy. Newspaper classifieds are another great place to look at. You can also check out your Local Car Dealers for finding out their inventory.

Don't be Ashamed to Burgain:

Always burgain the price. Sellers will set the price little higher then the expected sell price. As a general rule, you can start wih 30% less then the asking price.

Don't Show too much Interest:

If you show too much interest, seller will definitely try to take advantage. Be calm.

Resources: 

Free Advertising on our website www.WebCosmo.com  for cars for sale, jobs, apartments, personals, pets and much more in more then 30 countries.