10 Vital Questions To Have Answered When Purchasing A Used Vehicle - Part 2

By Author: Robert Brogden
Total Articles: 2
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Price: Forget the asking price, ask what the bottom line best price is. If it does not fit into your budget, ask if the price is negotiable. It should be. It's a used vehicle after all, and unless you buy pre-owned from a dealer it doesn't come with a warranty, or even a new car smell (unless the seller is smart enough to spray banana oil in the interior).

Extras or special features: By the way, if it does smell new, ask if the seller used banana oil. Also ask about anything else you notice. Does the air conditioning work? Are the power windows dependable? Does that aftermarket CD player come with it? Even more importantly, do all the optional accessories or add-ons work?

Damages: Has the vehicle been in any accidents or suffered any kind of major damage? The sellers should be aware that their answer can be checked even with the free version of the online car facts services. Take a good look at the paint in the door frames and the trunk edges (inside). If it doesn't match the body exactly, there's a dead giveaway that some major repairs have been performed.

Gas economy: Gas prices go up and gas prices go ...
... down. This is a good reason to inquire about the fuel economy of the vehicle. Again, you can check the seller's answer online, but remember that the fuel efficiency figures assume a well-tuned engine and some other pretty sedate driving methods. Find out what the real-world numbers are on some car user forums.

Service records: Are there complete records of the repairs and maintenance? Are there any at all? One car forum participant told of purchasing a 1984 Volvo from someone who kept every records of every oil change, and even calculated gas mileage on business trips. The notes and receipts filled two spiral notebooks. The forum poster bought the car, drove it for five years, and when he sold it, that old Volvo still ran like a new car.

The test drive: Always ask to take a vehicle for a reasonable test drive. You can arrange to take the car to your own trusted mechanic at this time, to get a quick once-over.

The emotional attachment factor: Find out if the owner was happy with the vehicle. This is the one question you should never fail to ask, and the one usually met with the greatest surprise. It's also the one that can cut through the sales talk and get right down to how the seller really thinks. There is just no hiding pride of ownership, and if the seller is proud of the car, that's a great sign.

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