How to find a good used car and not get ripped off

A lot of people have been buying used cars recently because they either don't want to take on the commitment financing a new one, or due to personal financial changes, they can't afford a new car. In this hub, I'd like to publish some advice on how not to get ripped off when looking at used cars. I have been buying and selling them for about 25 years.

The first thing that I do is to check the odometer and find out how many miles the car has on it. Mileage is not as critical as it once was, (cars made in the past 15 years can go well over 150000 miles, if well maintained). It used to be that a car was close to being worn out when it hit 100000 miles. The mileage will give you an idea on where to start negotiating the price.

Second, look under the hood. The engine will be dirty from dust and road grime, but it should not be real oily or too clean. If its too clean, (like if someone just washed it out), they may be trying to hide something. Pull the dipstick and check the oil level. Look for any white deposits on the dipstick, under the oil filler cap or under the valve cover. It may be a good idea to bring a flashlight with you to illuminate any dark spaces (such as in the oil filler). If there is any white deposits, that means it may have head gasket or intake gasket issues. If any antifreeze is present in the oil, it can and will erode the rod and main bearings within a very short time. When that happens, the engine requires major work. Unless you know up front that the car needs major engine work, I would look elsewhere.

Look at the tires. Make sure that the tread is worn evenly. Worn out suspension components will cause the tires to wear unevenly because the tread isn't contacting the road like it should. Push down on the front and rear of the car to check the shocks or struts. If they are good, then the body will come up and then stop. When doing this, listen for any rattling or clunking. Worn struts will make a creaking sound when they are worn  to the point that they need replacement. Worn struts, to me, isn't a deal breaker, but it does give you some ammo to persuade the seller to come down on the price.

Take the car for a test drive. Go somewhere safe, and put your foot into it to see if there is any hesitation. Look at the tailpipe and make sure that there is not a lot of steam coming out of the exhaust pipe. Also make sure that the car is not putting out a lot of blueish white smoke. Steam is indicative of gasket issues, and blue smoke is indicative of valve or piston ring issues. Listen for any tapping or knocking noises coming from the engine. Make sure that the temperature gauge doesn't go much over the middle mark. Most cars run at about 195 degrees when at full operating temperature. Pay attention to the rate at which the engine heats up. If it rises too fast, or if there are large fluctuations, that can be indictive of issues inside the engine. Pop the hood and make sure that the cooling fan or fans are running properly. They help cool off the antifreeze, which in turn keeps the engine cool. Nothing will kill an engine quicker then overheating. If the fans are not working, its an easy fix. 

While the car is running, its a good time to check all the lights, the power windows, and all the other gadgets that cars have. Pay attention to any lights that might be lit up on the dash (commonly called idiot lights). If a light such as a head light or turn signal is not working, it is most probably a bulb burned out, but be aware that it could also be a problem in the wiring. Make sure that there are not any sort of hot smells coming from inside the dashboard or from the heating and cooling vents. (In my opinion, smoke or hot smells from the dash is a major deal killer.)

When stopping, listen for any squeaking or grinding noises coming from the front or back tires. Check for how far the brake pedal is off the floor, and how much effort it takes to get the car to come to a normal stop. Make sure that the pedal does not feel "spongy". If it feels that way, there is a pretty good chance that there is air in the brake lines or a leak in the brake system. 

Make sure when stopping that the steering doesn't pull to the right or left. You need to use your own judgement on how much pulling is acceptable. (I live in Michigan, and the roads here are full of holes, so most cars pull one way or the other due to the alignment getting thrown off a little.) Feel for any excessive vibration in the steering wheel, the brakes or coming from the floorboard.

I always suggest that an auto novice take someone with them when they go and look at used cars. Two sets of eyes are better then one. If the person is knowledgeable on cars, then so much the better.

Use your eyes, nose and ears when looking. If anything is excessively abnormal, then it should be readily apparent. Ask about the cars history. Try and revisit the same questions worded in different ways to see if the answer changes. If it does, then the seller has something to hide, and I would suggest not purchasing from them. Most sellers are honest people, but, like everything else, there are some pretty dishonest sellers out there.

Used cars are pretty easy to evaluate if you take your time, do your homework, and use your common sense when looking. Carfax, Kelly Bluebook, and automobile pricing guides are useful and I would suggest using them.

Good Luck and happy car shopping.