Ask the right questions when buying a used car Gather all the information before
you make a decision When you've found one or more vehicles you're interested
in whether being sold by a dealership or private party you can begin sizing up
their condition and history over the phone. Ask some basic questions. The
answers can help you determine whether it's worth a trip to take a closer look.
That's especially true when you're buying from a private party. You might break
the ice with soft questions such as the car's color,but then get specific about
its condition,features,and history. Any strange or far-fetched answers should
put you on guard. "How many miles has it been driven?" If the mileage is higher
than,say,20,000 per year or lower than 5,000,ask why. If a car has high mileage
because the owner had a long highway commute,that's better than if it did a lot
of short trips,stop-and-go driving,or a delivery route. Still,take any "these
were all highway miles" claim with a grain of salt. Low mileage is nice,but is
no guaran-tee of gentle care. "How is it equipped?" Whether they're listed in
the ad or not,ask about key features: trans-mission type; A/C; antilock brakes;
air bags; sound system; power windows,locks,seats,and mirrors; cruise control;
sunroof; upholstery material; and so forth Autel
Maxivideo MV208. Double-checking on those could produce some telling
comments. "What is the car's condition?" Start with this broad question and see
where the seller takes it. He or she could bring up something you wouldn't have
thought to ask about. "How about the body and interior?" If these areas weren't
covered in the discussion above autel,ask about them specifically. "Has
it been in an accident?" If yes,ask about the extent of the damage,the cost of
repairs,and the shop that did the work. Don't worry too much about minor
scrapes,but think twice about a car that has been in a serious crash. "Do you
have service records?" You want a car that has been well cared for. It should
have had maintenance performed at regular intervals manufacturer-specified
intervals. If the owner claims to have done the main-tenance but can't produce
any receipts for parts,be skeptical. Ask for receipts for any new
muffler,brakes,tires,or other "wear" parts that have been replaced. Repair-shop
receipts normally note the car's odometer reading,helping you verify the car's
history. "Has the car been recalled?" Ask if any safety-recall work was
performed or,more important,still needs to be done. Dealerships keep records of
that. Note the mileage when work was performed. See our car recall section to
search for issues affecting the vehicle you are interested in buying. Questions
for private sellers "Have you owned it since it was new?" You want to be able to
piece together as much of the car's service history as you can. Be wary about a
car that has changed hands several times in a few years. "Are you the person who
drove it the most?" Ideally,you want to meet the car's principal driver or
drivers to see if they strike you as responsible people. "Why are you selling
the car?" Look for a plausible explanation rather than an interesting story. If
the answer sounds evasive,be wary. Ask to see service records and other evidence
that the car was maintained properly.
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