Top Things To Look For When Buying A Used Car

Car buyers all over the world have asked this question in one form or another: is it better to buy a used car instead of a brand new one? The depreciating value of cars is actually the main reason why people purchase pre-owned cars instead of brand new ones. But before you spend your money, here are the top things to look for when buying a used car.

We have been in the automotive industry since 1984, ranging from apprentice to master technician, workshop foreman, controller, service advisor and service manager, in numerous premium vehicle businesses. We have built a level of loyalty that in the 21st Century is vital. After all, customer service and care is a point of difference.

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Things You Should Look For Before Buying A Used Car

Intensive research is the key to finding the perfect pre-owned car that would suit your needs and fit your budget. If you don’t want to waste your money on lemon cars, then you should follow these basic guidelines before trying to purchase a pre-owned car.

1. Read car reviews

Fortunately for car shoppers, there are plenty of car review websites that they can visit for advice or guides. Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, Which Car and Australian Car Review are just some of the more popular websites that publish informative car reviews. Car reviews are usually separated into two categories: expert review and user review. It would be wise to read both to better gauge if your chosen used car model is worth the purchase.

2. Avoid Vehicles That Have A History Of Product Recall

There are many reasons – mostly related to safety issues – that car manufacturers would declare a product recall. For example, Chrysler has recently announced a product recall for one of their most renowned models, the Dodge Charger, because of reported problems with its anti-lock brake system. The biggest car product recall in history probably goes to Toyota with almost 9 million various sedan models pulled out of the market in 2010 because of a curious combination of manufacturing problems.

3. Create A Mechanical Checklist

With new cars, the only thing that you need to be concerned about is picking the car model and colour that fits your budget. The same cannot be said when shopping for pre-loved cars. Some used car sellers still put damaged vehicles on sale, and some unsuspecting buyers fall victim to this. To avoid getting duped, you need to create a comprehensive mechanical checklist to serve as a guide when you check the car’s physical condition.

A mechanical checklist is usually composed of things to check on the exterior (chipped paint, scratches, dents), interior (upholstery, weird smells) and engine (leaks, signs of extensive repair). If you are not familiar with the inner workings of an automobile, you can ask a trusted professional mechanic to help you inspect the vehicle to discover any hidden mechanical problems. You can also try shopping at certified pre-owned vehicle dealers to avoid the risk of purchasing a lemon car.

4. Inspect Before Buying A Used Car

If you’re buying a used car, it’s always worthwhile having a history check done. This will make sure that the car’s identity has never been logged as stolen and that all its identification features such as VIN plates qnd registration plates match up.

And before you purchase that secondhand car, have a professional inspector like German Precision to do a thorough pre-purchase car inspection in Melbourne to ensure that your dream car is operating properly and not a scam.

We have engaged with many clients for independent, personal car purchase advice.