Buying a used car is a gamble and there is no guaranteed success. To avoid ending up with a lemon car with recurring problems, it will require extensive research and home work. Use this guideline and make a careful decision before parting with you hard earned cash.
You will want to know exactly what you want, think about your driving habits, your needs and your budget. Read reviews, consumer reports, talk to friends, relatives or colleagues, compare options, gas consumption, maintenance costs, etc. on the make and model you are interested in. Try to narrow your choices down to only one or two models to make your search easier. Consider your payment options: pay in full or finance. If you finance, consider how much you can put down, monthly payment, the length of the loan and annual percentage rate. Always check the vehicle history report, this will help eliminate the vehicles from your list with potential problems. Hire a private mechanic to inspect the prospect car thoroughly. Never buy a car before you get a chance to test-drive it yourself. Take your time because problems may only be caught under certain conditions. Test-drive it under various conditions, i.e., fast highway driving, on the hills, in traffic, twisting or bumpy roads and don’t forget to check reverse.
Last, Do not buy the car if you have a bad feeling about it one way or another. Trust your gut feeling if something does not feel right about the car, move on. Remember you always have other options. Do not give a deposit or sign anything until you are completely satisfied with the car and its conditions.
